"Bella! Do you want to go kayaking?" I ask.
"Sure," she responds happily.
"You can be on my blog!"
"Ooh la la, really?"
"Of course!"
"Well, we'd have to do something awesome. Something that those Czech Republicans will remember!"
We return from Walmart, glasses and vest in hand. I grab our waters, throw the vests and paddles in the back, and I give Bella a lesson on how to strap a kayak to a Volvo. On the way to Mallini's I apologize in advance for paddling too fast or not taking enough breaks or anything else that previous kayak companions had complained about. I tell her how much I want to see an alligator again and ask if she knows when alligator feeding time is? She said she didn't. Bummer.
We pull up to the house and it's odd, but Bella was actually the first person who didn't ask, "Do you know these people?" Not a peep from her, totally on board.
Follow the routine: kayaks off, life vests on, paddles together, water closed, car locked.
"This water is so still," Bella calls to me.
"I know.. Where's an alligator?"
I pull closer to the edge of the water to look for crabs or snakes, but alas, none to be found. The bridge is approaching and I tell Bella to duck and stay as straight as she can. I make it under with no issue. I'm heading for the second bridge when I hear a loud thud followed by, "Ugh!" I turn around and see Bella stuck between the legs of the bridge.
"Sorry," she laughs.
I smile, "All good, just go backwards."
We make it out of Alligator Alley alive and without seeing a gator. I tell Bella to head for the opening ahead and we make a break for it. Soon enough, the waters get choppy and the waves splash my pants. Stay aggressive. Make it around the rocks and everything calms down. No problem. Seagulls and pelicans sit along the sidelines cocking their heads from side to side in mockery.
We're on our way back to the drop off, Bella's in front of me and I snap a picture of her. A picture isn't enough. All I want is a video. I'm thinking, I'm thinking. I don't want to stop and video everything, that's boring and it's been done before. I think about holding my phone with my chin but that would be uncomfortable and it would fall constantly. *Light bulb* I grab my phone, press record, and put in my Chaco, my toes holding it. I stretch my legs out to where they normally are, and paddle onward. I'm brilliant.
I start to pass Bella and say, "Look Bella, I made a Go-Pro."
She turns her head and bursts out laughing, "Oh my gosh, stop, I have to take a picture!"
We return home from our adventure. I walk in the house with my leg throbbing from the kayak crashing into my shin when we took them off the car. Bella shows her mom, Rene, the picture of my genius homemade Go-Pro. She laughs and says, "Toe-Pro."
I want to thank everyone who let #backontheyak be a part of their lives in 2014, and I look forward to 2015 bringing many more. This past year brought many challenges, some of which were included in this blog, but it also brought many blessings. So keep smiling and I hope 2015 brings you all more happiness and contentment than you thought possible.
Thank you and Happy Holidays -
Jillianne
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