Nearly Another Nasty Saga at Saganashkee

I've been paddling at Saganashkee Slough in the Palos Forest Preserve of Cook County since I got my first rec boat 13 summers ago. Back then I gained some renown -- or I should say ridicule -- in local paddling circles for a harrowing experience I had there. Today I just wanted to take a quick shakedown cruise after replacing the backband and foaming the thighbraces in my new boat, but I nearly repeated that earlier misadventure.

Saganashkee is one of the larger lakes in the CCFP system. It lies just north of the Cal-Sag Channel and has an outflow to it. About equidistant from my home as Busse Lake, and considerably closer and easier to get to than Lake Michigan, Saganashkee is really my home waters. Compared to the highly convoluted Busse, it has a lot less shoreline, but is in a much more rustic setting, with few humans and abundant wildlife. The surrounding skyline is the Palos forest canopy rather than Schaumburg's office buildings. And I know the water is cleaner because it could hardly be any dirtier.

But Saganashkee has a most imposing hazard: the CCFP constabulary. Back in 1998, I took my new plastic tub to Saganashkee and had just come ashore when two FP police, straight out of central casting, stopped me.

"Say! That's one of them kay-yaks, isn't it? Kay-yaks ain't allowed here."

My pleas and explanations that canoes and kayaks are legally the same were to no avail. I was given a ticket and notice to appear in court for "kayaking in FP waters." I took a day off work to show up at court. The officers did not, apparently having learned in the meantime that the charge was bogus. Among our folk, I attained instant fame, and much laughter, as the Outlaw Kayaker.

So today I was fearing the worst when a squad pulls up and the officer says, "What do you call those things?"

"It's, um, a sea kayak." Gulp. I was trying to tell if it was the very same public servant behind the mirrored aviators, and if I was now going to be ticketed for not being in the sea.

But to my great relief he just asked a few more lame questions before cruising off and leaving me to my paddle.

It was windy! I rode wind waves to the east end of the lake, by the outflow, before turning around to slog back upwind. Rolling practice satisfied me that my cockpit fit was much improved.

So by all means take a trip south and enjoy Saganashkee Slough. But in addition to the usual gear and safety devices, you want to be sure to add one thing to your packing list:

Bail money.