I paddled Shumway Lake on a spring day in windy conditions.    The forecast called for stronger winds in Kamloops but lighter winds to the east and to the south.   I decided to go south to paddle one of the lakes – Shumway, Trapp, Napier, Stump, or Nicola.    I drove past Shumway and the winds drove the waves down the lake so I decided to go on to Trapp Lake.    It was windier there, and my experience is that Stump and Nicola Lakes are often very windy.   I went back to Shumway to paddle the south end since part of the route would be in the lee of a hill.    The only easy access is at the Paddling Center, but it is closed to non-members and does not really accommodate recreational solo paddling, so I used a spot I knew outside of the fenced area which has a steep rocky slope.    It is too difficult to haul an ocean-going kayak to that small spot, but my 15′ plastic Delta was easier to lift down to the spot.

I paddled past the old beehive burner and then down into the wind to the end of the lake.

Coming back downwind on the eastern shore was faster and easier.    At the start of the canoe and kayak course (2000 m), I turned back to the start, half of what I normally might have paddled, but probably the same effort battling the winds and waves of the lake.

Although I like paddling Shumway Lake, it is usually just once a year since access is so difficult.   This windy kayaking morning was a character-building exercise.

Blow winds and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow,
You cataracts and hurricanoes.   King Lear, Shakespeare