Meredith at Centennial Lake

Undoing the very long cam straps that keep the kayak firmly in place while the car is moving.

2009-02-22T21:24:13Z

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Undoing the very long cam straps that keep the kayak firmly in place while the car is moving.

Hoisting the boat -- which weighs 43 pounds! -- off the top of the car.

2009-06-01T12:25:00Z

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Hoisting the boat -- which weighs 43 pounds! -- off the top of the car.

"What do you mean I'm supposed to unwrap it before I eat it?!"

2009-02-22T21:29:50Z

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"What do you mean I'm supposed to unwrap it before I eat it?!"

Meredith finds the straps on her Wonderjacket PFD a bit tricky, but she always checks to make sure they're fastened correctly. (A PFD is a Personal Flotation Device -- what most people call ...

2009-02-22T21:25:23Z

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Meredith finds the straps on her Wonderjacket PFD a bit tricky, but she always checks to make sure they're fastened correctly. (A PFD is a Personal Flotation Device -- what most people call ...

After putting her paddle together, Meredith is almost ready!.

2009-02-22T21:28:29Z

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After putting her paddle together, Meredith is almost ready!.

Sprayskirts look funny when you're just walking around on land, but they keep the drips and spray out of the cockpit while you're on the water.

2009-02-22T21:28:38Z

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Sprayskirts look funny when you're just walking around on land, but they keep the drips and spray out of the cockpit while you're on the water.

Concrete isn't a great surface to launch from, but the boat is made of plastic so a few scratches won't hurt it ... much.

2009-06-01T12:37:39Z

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Concrete isn't a great surface to launch from, but the boat is made of plastic so a few scratches won't hurt it ... much.

It's important that the sprayskirt fit the cockpit perfectly. If it's too small, it won't go all the way around. If it's too big, the seal will be loose and allow water into the boat.

2009-02-22T21:29:49Z

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It's important that the sprayskirt fit the cockpit perfectly. If it's too small, it won't go all the way around. If it's too big, the seal will be loose and allow water into the boat.

The water is too shallow to paddle here, but pushing the paddle against the concrete floor will get the boat to deeper water.

2009-06-01T13:06:37Z

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The water is too shallow to paddle here, but pushing the paddle against the concrete floor will get the boat to deeper water.

Meredith is clowning around pretending she's about to roll over.

2009-02-22T21:27:09Z

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Meredith is clowning around pretending she's about to roll over.

Meredith pauses to give Mom a happy smile before she heads out.

2009-06-01T12:24:43Z

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Meredith pauses to give Mom a happy smile before she heads out.

Paddling along.

2009-02-22T21:27:07Z

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Paddling along.

After dodging the many fishing boats on the lake on this beautiful day, Meredith heads toward a point of land to meet Mom.

2009-06-01T12:31:21Z

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After dodging the many fishing boats on the lake on this beautiful day, Meredith heads toward a point of land to meet Mom.

As environmentally-friendly boats, kayaks can go just about anywhere -- including into a waterlily patch.

2009-06-01T12:41:20Z

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As environmentally-friendly boats, kayaks can go just about anywhere -- including into a waterlily patch.

A kayaker can get up close and personal with waterlilies and take beautiful photographs that can't be gotten by those stuck on shore.

2009-02-22T21:25:14Z

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A kayaker can get up close and personal with waterlilies and take beautiful photographs that can't be gotten by those stuck on shore.

As she was talking to Meredith, Mom suddenly turned to check out a bird that had just flown into a tree.

2009-02-22T21:24:37Z

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As she was talking to Meredith, Mom suddenly turned to check out a bird that had just flown into a tree.

Meredith's paddle creates whirlpools as she backpaddles to turn around.

2009-06-01T12:16:41Z

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Meredith's paddle creates whirlpools as she backpaddles to turn around.

The main dock at Centennial Lake offers paddleboat, canoe, and double kayak rental, as well as a snack bar and bait store. The flags were at half-mast because Ronald Reagan had died the ...

2009-06-01T12:59:17Z

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The main dock at Centennial Lake offers paddleboat, canoe, and double kayak rental, as well as a snack bar and bait store. The flags were at half-mast because Ronald Reagan had died the ...

Heading under the dock to take pictures of baby Barn Swallows.

2009-06-01T13:01:17Z

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Heading under the dock to take pictures of baby Barn Swallows.

A Barn Swallow sitting on one of the large concrete pilings that support the dock.

2009-02-22T21:28:11Z

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A Barn Swallow sitting on one of the large concrete pilings that support the dock.

"Feed me, feed me, feed me!"

2009-02-22T21:29:17Z

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"Feed me, feed me, feed me!"

Little did Meredith know that as she paused in her paddling, a KILLER GOOSE was lurking behind her!

2009-06-01T12:26:20Z

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Little did Meredith know that as she paused in her paddling, a KILLER GOOSE was lurking behind her!

Returning to the launching ramp after chatting with members of an L.L. Bean guided trip.

2009-02-22T21:27:22Z

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Returning to the launching ramp after chatting with members of an L.L. Bean guided trip.

Small recreational kayaks are more difficult to paddle than sea kayaks because they don't cut through the water as cleanly as the longer boats do, so Meredith has to paddle hard to get her s ...

2009-06-01T12:19:53Z

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Small recreational kayaks are more difficult to paddle than sea kayaks because they don't cut through the water as cleanly as the longer boats do, so Meredith has to paddle hard to get her s ...

Meredith enjoys the feeling of being on in her kayak for one more moment before pulling the boat out and leaving the lake.

2009-02-22T21:26:39Z

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Meredith enjoys the feeling of being on in her kayak for one more moment before pulling the boat out and leaving the lake.

I'm proud of my beautiful daughter.

2009-02-22T21:21:43Z

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I'm proud of my beautiful daughter.