Today was a day of firsts for granddaughter Margeaux.

We tallied them up as we drove from the house in West Hartford over to quiet and small Lower Bolton Pond in Bolton, CT, for our first paddle outing together since the Mystic Harbor evening.

The bright red, cheap 8.5-foot sit on top kayak in the trailer behind us has been in our possession for a couple weeks.

But it had not been in the water. Until today.

We discussed the firsts as we drove: 1. The new kayak’s first time on the water.  2. Margeaux’s first time in the new kayak.    3. Margeaux’s first time in a boat all by herself.

It was a brief but productive paddle outing.  Dark clouds were visible to the west as we unloaded.

Another boater with a weather app on his phone said a band of thunderstorms was coming our way.

I made the call: Let’s get on the water and stick close to the launch so we can get off fast if the clouds get closer.

We did just that. Twenty minutes out and we were back at the ramp.  The raindrops were right behind us.  We sat in the car a bit, the boats still at the ready, but it became obvious this was not going to let up soon.  So we packed up as the raindrops pelted us and headed for home.

So, it was a short, but very successful, outing. Margeaux was comfortable in the boat and moved it where she wanted it to go with ease. Some photos below.

Complete with personal flotation device and emergency signaling device: following all the rules for Connecticut paddling.  (Photo by Ron Haines)