Exploring Horseshoe Lake

I hope everything at your end the wire is going well.  Things are okay here in Spokane.  I survived another year as being a lecturer at Gonzaga University and the powers that be want be back for another year.  That means I have at least one more summer where I don't have to sit behind a desk.  The trick will be to find that balance between not letting the 'summer rust' build up too much but at the same time get some outdoor time in.

I had my last lecture on Friday and I said "adios!" and packed up the kayak for it's first 2016 float.  I wanted to check out Horseshoe Lake which is not that far north of Spokane.  I'm actually surprised this place didn't show up on my radar when I was exploring places last summer.  I guess I wasn't that interested in places close to Spokane.  My bias is based on the high density of private property on all lakes and rivers in close proximity to the city.  If I did see Horseshoe on the map, I must of wrote it off as a privatized paradise for Spokane folk with lots of cash.

When I started paddling the weather was kind of crummy, but I was determined to get out.  Nothing like sitting behind a desk all day writing exams, then grading exams, passing out lab handouts, then grading lab reports... yeah.... you get the picture, at some point you have to drop it and go outside (rain or no rain).  So I donned the waterproof gear and went floating.

The area away from the private property on Horseshoe Lake is very pretty and worth the paddling it takes to get back there.

Also wanted to check out this area called the "Devil's Well."   Steph and I tried driving to this area to see if there were any trails that we could hike to see it.  That was a bust because the road I was on turned to crap and ended being gated.  I guess it was a blessing in disguise because if we had found a route to Horseshoe Lake we would have been stymied because I think any land route to the 'well' that circumvents the lake runs through private property.

So once I found out how to access Horseshoe Lake I thought I would see if there was a trail that could be accessed by water.  I cruised along the shoreline until I found the trail.  I moored my kayak to a small tree and started up the trail.

This is a view of the channel that connects the bigger part of the lake with the private property to the smaller and more scenic public land.

I was able to get a few wildlife shots.  I had a heckuva time trying to hold my camera still on a bobbing and drifting kayak while taking this shot.  The picture turned out better than I expected.  I wanted to get closer to get a better shot but the eagle was acting fidgety so I backed off to give it some space.  I put away the camera and started paddling in the other direction.

Ironically, the bird flew right in front of me (after I put the camera in the case of course) and perched on a tree that was almost directly above my kayak.  At this point I thought "Alright pal, I guess you want me to take your picture."

I also got a shot of this guy.  I think it's a cormorant of some kind but I'm not sure.

So the previous pictures were taken last Friday.  On that outing I noticed that there were fishing jumping all over the lake.  I brought my camera but not my pole.  Today I went back to Horseshoe with my fishing gear.  I was hoping to catch some kokanee as reports on the internet said there would be lots of them in the lake this year.  However, I had to settle for a couple of rainbow.  Not bad, would have preferred kokanee but I'll take trout.