Guist Creek is a reservoir in Shelbyville, Kentucky, so it is not too far from where we are. It is over 300 acres, but is definitely longer than it is wide. So, less of a lake and more of a stream. We usually take our kayaks out on a nice day, pay our $5 launch fee at the little marina, and set off.
When you first set out you have a choice to make, you can go left, towards the more open, fishing and skiing part of the lake, or right, towards the houses, where the water is narrower and less busy. We usually go right. We always try to kayak around as little boat traffic as possible. I have seen someone lose a battle with a boat motor once (at Lake Cumberland) and I definitely don't want that to happen to me. I like my legs attached to my body.
Soon the lake gets narrow, you paddle along, past the few fishers along that side, and keep going. You soon come upon a bridge, and every now and then there will be a group of youngin's jumping off into the water. After you pass the bridge, the water gets even narrower and the houses thin out. Pretty soon the water is just that, water. You are surrounded on all sides by trees and tall grass, and you rarely see any other people. It is the perfect place for kayaking.
After a bit the water widens again. You are free to paddle along and check out all there is to see, usually blue skies and tall trees. The water is almost always warm and that's hard to pass up. We like Guist Creek because there are a few places you can pull over and jump into the water. We usually stop when we come upon a dock on the water, not around any houses and obviously not used often. We'll pull the kayaks over and jump in the water. It is nice swimming since the water is clear and warm. Every time we have been I think we have only been passed by a speedboat once or twice, and all you get are friendly waves and some admiration for paddling your own boat this far.
We'll swim around and sun ourselves on our pirated dock, eat snacks and sometimes have a drink. James will pull out his fishing pole and start casting lines in a cove. He has never caught anything, and honestly, I don't really know what he would do if he did. Let it pull him around in his little boat for a while? I mean seriously... How do you reel in a fish when you are in a kayak? I have yet to see it.
It is always a good day on Guist Creek. We definitely choose the creek over Taylorsville Lake, the popular boating lake in our area, because we are never competing for space with the motor boats. We have our space and can kayak several miles before we usually turn around to head back. It is my new favorite way to get some sun and some exercise and it is totally peaceful. Just you and the water, and maybe some giant Herons perching along the side of the water (watch out for those).
Nice looks like a quite place exciting to kayak in it
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