Victoria Day Kayaking on the Big Lake in St Albert, AB

 We opened our kayaking season this year by going to the Big Lake in St Albert.

Victoria Day long weekend seemed like a good day to open the season.

This time of the year the lake offers nice kayaking opportunities, since it tends to be overgrown with algae later in the season.

Access to the lake and the boat launch was quite busy; many people had a good idea to come to the lake to enjoy this wonderful day.

Access to the lake is at the mouth of the Sturgeon River.

It was just two of us kayaking that day, Peter and me (Mike) with two more people, Andy and Marian, who went on the biking and hiking trip.

Andy and Marian pushed us off and waved Good-Bye so spontaneously, as if we were going at least to the Moon.

We started our kayaking trip by going down the river towards the City of St Albert.

On the river we had many opportunities to watch wildlife, including several beaver lodges. This one was really impressive for its imposing size; a real 5 star luxury lodge!

We watched numerous birds foraging for food, including these two little beauties with long beaks...

...and including this nice blue heron (I think)...

...that took off in a majestic flight upon our approach.

We saw also these beautiful birds with red wings that like to hide in the reeds.

We kayaked underneath some foot bridges in St Albert

...and underneath a railroad bridge. 

Not quite like the famous Alexander Bridge in Paris, but, hey, this is Canada, not France.

Then we went to the lake, part of which is the Lois Hole Provincial Park.

Access to the Lake is guarded by these magnificent columns, almost exactly taken from the Greek Mythology.

The Lake is quite large, maybe not quite the size of the ocean, but it is stretching at least few km each way.

There is a viewing platform jetting out into the lake

...with observation binoculars to watch the birds and other activities.

After spending few hours on the lake, it was time to go back to the shore...

...especially since the party was only starting.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the most excellent company of our good friends Andy, Marian and the General.

THE END

(photos taken by Mike, Andy and Peter, which is herewith gratefully acknowledged)