Yesterday it was my turn to go out in the kayak, to paddle across the lake and explore the creek we heard about from longtime residents.

Many streams feed the lake, but this is the first time we had a chance to explore one of them. The creek was a world apart, a ferny, reedy paradise where herons feed and turtles nest (not that I saw either of these creatures).

But I did feel the restorative calm of an alternative universe, a kingdom of water.

Yesterday’s paddle put the creek in Deep Creek Lake.