Trailblazers by Canyon Lake. [photo by Ron]

Anna, Chuck, Mimi, and Lee .

Trailblazers by Canyon Lake. [photo by Mimi]

Anna, Chuck, Ron, and Lee.

For the third consecutive time on Canyon Lake, early morning winds have forced us to go to Plan B once again. We normally kayak north across the main body of the lake from the Acacia Picnic Area launch site and once in the main Salt River channel start paddling northeast to the Point Campground, about 2.5 miles from the Acacia area, take a relaxing lunch and rest break there, and then paddle back to Acacia. When I arrived at the lake earlier this morning before the others, the lake was pretty calm and looked really promising. However, by the time everyone arrives and we’re all ready to launch, the winds have picked up significantly, and it’s looking like a really challenging paddle across the water. In addition to that, with an air temperature in the mid-40s this morning, the wind chill factor would likely make for an unpleasant kayaking experience.

Panoramic view of Canyon Lake, with the bridge over First Water Cove to the right. [photo by Vicky]

Chuck, Anna, Mimi, and Lee paddle into Labarge Cove. [photo by Ron]

Plan B involves staying at the south end of Canyon Lake and hopefully avoiding the worst of the windy conditions. We’ll paddle east toward the Canyon Lake Marina and then to the far south end of Labarge Cove by the marina. After that, we’ll paddle to the far southeast end of the lake and Tortilla Cove and then paddle to the end of the cove as far as we can go. By 9:20 AM we’re all in the water and paddling toward the marina area against a steady wind coming from the east. Once past the large Canyon Lake Marina and beneath the Highway 88/Apache Trail bridge spanning the cove, we find a good place along the shore near the Boulder Picnic Site for Ron and Lee to get out and attempt to repair Ron’s kayak rudder which is malfunctioning. Lee wedges a few small stones in the rudder to keep it aligned straight and we’re off once again.

Kayakers paddle deeper into Labarge Cove. [photo by Ron]

Ron is paddling close to the shore. [photo by Vicky]

We continue paddling deeper into Labarge Cove for another half-mile or so until we reach the very end where the water becomes too shallow to paddle any further. Then we reverse course and begin paddling back out of the cove. Near the marina we link up with our sixth kayaker, who had inadvertently started out farther east of the Acacia launch area earlier this morning. After two hours of steady paddling, we finally come to the Laguna area near the east end of the lake and decide to stop here near some picnic tables and break for lunch at 11:30. A large, friendly dog is racing up and down the shore at full throttle, even jumping into the water at times, as he runs after a softball sized orange ball his owner keeps throwing. This goes on for the next ten minutes or longer until he begins to tire out and trots back to his human for a rest and water break.

Entrance to Tortilla Cove. [photo by Ron]

Trailblazers begin paddling into Tortilla Cove. [photo by Vicky]

After a relaxing lunch and rest break and another quick fix of Ron’s problem rudder, this time with a small piece of wood wedged tightly in place against the rudder instead of small pebbles, we head back out and start paddling toward Tortilla Cove, adjacent to Tortilla Campground, to the east. Here, we enter a long, narrow canyon whose walls grow progressively higher the deeper we paddle into the canyon. Thick and impenetrable large clusters of tall green reeds, growing twelve feet and higher against the base of the canyon walls, give parts of this canyon an almost sub-tropical feel and appearance. One can almost imagine seeing colorful toucans, macaws, and spider monkeys among the reeds. Just as in Labarge Cove, as we near the far end the water becomes too shallow to proceed any further, with numerous large rocks lurking just beneath the surface.

Mimi moves in closer to the canyon walls. [photo by Vicky]

Chuck, Anna, and Lee paddle deeper into the canyon. [photo by Vicky]

So, we head back out to the mouth of the cove and begin paddling west past the Laguna area, the now-closed Canyon Lake Restaurant, Labarge Cove, the Sheriff Aid Station, and finally the Palo Verde Boating Site. By 1:15 PM we’re all back at the Acacia Picnic Area, where most of us started out this morning. We pack up our kayaks and gear, bid goodbye to one another, and begin the long drive back home. Despite the intermittent winds changing our plans once again, overall, it’s been another great day for kayaking in the Sonoran Desert.

Tall reeds wave in the breeze. [photo by Vicky]

This giant saguaro is struggling to stay vertical. [photo by Vicky]