In my excitement to get on the water I forgot to pack two important items: drinking water, and my hat! I only planned to spend a couple of hours in the kayak so I knew that the lack of drinking water would only be an inconvenience but not having a hat meant the possibility of a sunburn that I didn’t want. I decided to improvise. I had a second shirt available so I twirled the cloth around the outstretched arms then placed the roll on my forehead, tied the sleeves behind my neck, then pulled the remaining cloth over my head and tucked it under the sleeves. It made a nice dew-rag with plenty of cloth to cover my neck, protecting me from the sun.

Not being on the river meant that I had to paddle everywhere. It was a beautiful Autumn day so I wasn’t in a rush to get anywhere but took time to explore the shoreline in a number of inlets. I didn’t take fishing gear as I hadn’t purchased a fishing license but there were fish jumping in the water and I knew that this might be a future destination. I spotted a deer in the woods and we eyed each other for quite a while. I saw birds of prey soaring, crows cawing, heard woodpeckers chipping, and a great blue heron took flight low to the water as if staying under the radar.

I enjoyed the time alone in solitude to drink in the beauty, but truth be told, I prefer sharing the company of a friend. Of course that also provides better safety. Hopefully while the weather is still decent, I would like to do an overnight trip so I will be shopping for a dry bag for my camping gear. I think that any leisure time on the water is a great reward for your effort and if you haven’t tried a kayak yet I recommend it.

Although my survival skills span both modern and primitive, I chose to demonstrate the primitive skills throughout the day to compliment the historic air set by the teepee. My initial demonstration was given to a group of Boy Scouts using the bow and spindle fire method to start the campfire for the day. A little later I was excited to demonstrate flint knapping for the first time. for this craft I showed the traditional tools used by indigenous peoples, but I also showed the counter-part tools made of modern materials.

I always enjoy meeting folks who stop to chat. I have often learned new things that often turn into articles that I post. As usual, I try to replicate or apply what I learn from others to validate it and add insights for clarification. Although W. Kerr Scott Reservoir has only one 50th Anniversary, they offer great programs and provide wonderful facilities for organizations and individuals throughout the year. You can learn more at: http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/wkscott/index.htm