LAKE 3, OTISCO

6.7 miles | Sereme

This weekend, Manny and I kayaked Otisco Lake, and it turned out to be one of the most peaceful, grounding experiences I've had in a long time. The sun was shining bright—one of the first truly warm and sunny days this spring. The temperature reached a perfect 70°F, and the skies stayed clear the entire time.

Since it was a weekend, we did notice a bit more boat traffic than the previous two days we spent kayaking. The water was a little more active, less calm and quiet—but that didn’t take away from the experience. It was still a great day on the lake.

We paddled the full length of the lake—about 5.5 miles from the north end to the south. We ended up doing 6.7 in total. The northwest wind was in our favor, so the direction made the trip smoother. Even though the entire route could have easily been completed in two hours, we spent about five on the water. We took plenty of footage, lingered around, and just soaked it all in. No rush. No deadlines.

Otisco is actually the furthest of all the Finger Lakes, and the drive took us about an hour and forty minutes. But honestly, it was worth every mile. At one point, we saw a heron—which is always a cool moment—and the sun felt incredible after weeks of gloomy weather.

The best part? There was nothing waiting for us afterward. No meetings. No obligations. No pressure. Just pure, uninterrupted peace. We didn’t need to race from one end of the lake to the other. The boaters were friendly, waving as they passed, and we had no trouble at the kayak launches.

With everything going on in my life the past few years—a toxic workplace, living in a never-ending construction zone, and the weight of adult responsibilities—this felt like exactly what I needed. Just us, nature, the sun, the water, and a sense of calm I haven’t felt in a while.

Sometimes, the simplest days are the most healing.