In Pursuit of Wonder

September 16, 2024 

Jesse and I had talked about spending time with Larry for months, specifically getting the canoe out and exploring the wetlands between Kellogg and Weaver, in the backwaters of the Mississippi. I had in mind canoeing the Weaver Bottoms out to the island near where the Whitewater pours in, thinking we could go for a swim from the island. – Larry and I had gone a few years ago. It was a hot, sunny day. Jesse and I arrived at Larry’s in mid-afternoon. Larry vetoed my idea of canoeing the Weaver Bottoms saying it was too hot. Instead, we would go to Halfmoon Landing – where trees offer some shade and relief from the hot sun – with the kayak and if we liked, take a dip. 

The three of us and Larry’s black lab puppy, Bella, piled into Larry’s truck. Bella was supposed to sit on the backseat but climbed over into Jesse’s lap. Larry said Jesse could put her in the backseat but Jesse decided to keep the restless pup in his lap. As we drove along the prairie road, I took in the vast landscape. I let the guys carry the conversation since they have less opportunity to see one another. As we neared the sand road to Upper McCarthy, Larry explained how a fire that spring had ravaged that area, including around the pond where the most beautiful aspens grew. One is tempted to think the large fire, a domestic fire that had gotten out of hand, a tragedy. On the contrary, Larry pronounced it a great thing. He rhapsodized about all the good it has done revitalising that portion of the prairie. – Many prairie plants benefit from fire, some are even dependent upon it. 

Larry pulled into Halfmoon Landing, bypassing the main parking area for the boat landing in favor of the smaller parking lot for the canoe landing. Larry removed the kayak from the back of the truck. Jesse offered to carry it to the water. There, Larry stepped into the kayak, demonstrating for Jesse and I how to maneuver it. As Larry glided out over the water, Bella jumped in, swimming behind him. Larry turned before the bend in the lake. Jesse held the kayak in place while Larry hopped out. Bella trotted up onto the beach and shook off. Eagerly, Jesse stepped into the kayak and took a seat. Larry gave him a few more instructions before shoving him off. Bella again leapt into the water to swim after him. Larry called for her to come back, enticing her with a rope attached to a flotation device, a dog toy for training labrador retrievers for duck hunting. She reluctantly came back. Soon Jesse disappeared around the bend, presumably exploring the various inlets of Halfmoon Lake. 

Larry sat in a lawn chair he had grabbed from the truck, toes in the water, alternatively sipping a beer and throwing the toy for Bella who enjoyed playing in the water. I took in the landscape: trees leaning over the lake, quintessential lily pads in the shallows near us. We chatted about the farm and Larry’s idea of rewilding farms to reduce the carbon footprint of farming. He thought Jesse and I could do more, like planting trees in the pasture lanes; our farm could become a demonstration of how to make it work: leaving more wild areas on a farm while still actively farming and earning an income while doing it. Somehow, we need to figure out a way for farmers to put his idea into practice – he thought perhaps we could do it by getting corporations to fund farmers using it for their carbon tax writeoff. Jesse has put a lot of acres into pasture and intensively rotationally grazes so the plants rebound quickly. Since beginning his pasture project, in only a couple of years, we have seen an increase in bird populations and diversity. In addition to these well-managed pastures, Jesse and his dad don’t practice autumn plowing, leaving plant stub to hold the soil and moisture of the fields over winter. Even in the spring they plow just before planting, leaving a small window of exposed soil on our farm. 

Jesse returned from his explorations to allow me a turn. Again, Larry gave me instructions on how to sit and paddle. Although they were able to adjust the bars that my feet rested upon to make it shorter for me, the kayak seemed too big. It was awkward for me to paddle, with every dip of the blade in the water, the shaft rubbed against the hull. It was quite different from a canoe, you sit even closer to the water and at a somewhat reclined position. The kayak felt stable though and fairly easy to maneuver if it hadn’t felt too big for me. Bella followed behind, tailing me much longer than she had Jesse. I could hear her heavy breathing behind me, and her whimpers. A couple of times, she pulled up beside me and I thought she wanted to crawl in. Just around the bend with my grandfather willow standing stately, I turned around returning Bella to the beach. The guys managed to keep her there, or at least I moved fast enough the second time to outpace her. I explored a side channel, but turned around before hitting its fast paced current. Then I continued onward past the bend with the willow and past the large beaver lodge. I prefer a canoe but could get used to a kayak, especially if there is a smaller option. I am uncertain about bringing my camera along, although I believe, in general, kayaks are as stable as canoes. Soon, I returned to the guys, lounging, toes in the water, beers in hand. Jesse and I could have stayed for hours but we had to return to the farm for afternoon/evening chores. Having experienced using a kayak, Jesse now thinks we should buy a couple.

Don’t forget to purchase a copy of each of my books on Amazon – Dandelions https://a.co/d/96sAFHU, Raking Leaves https://a.co/d/fnbusTI, Making Applesauce https://a.co/d/bVbQ7Hw, and Pruning Apple Trees https://a.co/d/3qUIcoV