8:52 p.m. September 12, 2015
Logan: What time do I need to be there tomorrow?
Me: Maybe 9:30-10? The later it is, the choppier the water is
Logan: I'll probably leave my house at around 8:30
Me: Yeah, that sounds fine
Logan: Ugh I'm so excited. I think I'm going to go to bed right now so it will get here faster
My eyes open and I roll over to look at the clock.
9:10
I blink at the time before I realize.. Logan will be here any minute. *Gasp* He could be here right now! Oh my God. I leap out of bed and throw on some shorts. My mother pokes her head in my door and says, "Sweetie, what time is Logan supposed to arrive?"
I take a breath of relief and say, "I don't know, probably soon." I reach over my bed and look at my phone.
8:20 Logan: Well I'm leaving now
8:20 Logan: I'll see you in a bit
9:11 I'm like ten minutes away
"Actually, he'll be here in ten minutes," I say with a smile.
Mom nods and walks out. I finish getting dressed before walking outside to get everything ready. I hear Mom call to me as I walk out the door, "Paddle and life vests are already in the car!" I turn around and sit in the kitchen with her and Kirby.
Kirby is talking about the football games we missed last night and how his job "is really cutting into turn-up nights". I'm not paying attention, I just sit and watch out the window, waiting for Lo to pull up.
I walk over into the dining room to look for my shoes when I see a car pull into the front circle. A small squeal escapes my mouth and I smile over at my mother and say, "He's here." She rolls her eyes as I dance out the door to give him a hug.
"Welcome to my home!" I say as I wrap my arms around him.
"Jillianne, do not go down Alligator Alley. It's cold outside so they're probably all out and about enjoying this weather," my mother says as I fill up two water bottles.
"I think it's the opposite," Kirby chimes in, "They don't like the cold."
Mom gives him a glare and says, "No, there will be a ton of them, just waiting for a snack to drift by."
Lo pipes in, "I actually think this guy is right. They don't like cold. I think they'll just stay at the bottom."
I laugh nervously as I search for the lids that go with the bottles.
"Well, either way.." Mom can't finish her argument.
During the drive to the launch, I give Logan the tour of my town; telling him which bank is mine, the school I went to, where Mom works, Jane Todd's house, and the beach.
When we finally have the boats in the water, it's about 10:15. I've been kayaking during this time before and I was nervous when I realized I would be doing it again today. Normally at this time, the water starts to get wavy, making it difficult during certain stretches of the trip. But today seemed to have a different aura about it. The temperature was in the low 70s and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. There was a nice breeze but it didn't seem to affect the water at all. The water wasn't still, but it wasn't necessarily rough either, it seemed lovely. For a normal September day in the South, it couldn't be any less normal.
I push Logan out into the water and he tries to stay in place.
"Paddle out into the opening," I say.
"No, then I'll miss you. I'll sit and wait."
I laugh and sit in my kayak, scooting along into the water. Gliding past him, I head left out to the main water. He trails behind me as I tell him which way the golf course is and which way we'll be coming back from, "Just so you know where you are," I smile at him.
I look back and see Logan far behind. I put my paddle down and fold my hands in my lap, listening to the cicadas' humming fill the air. Normally in Mississippi, you can't see fall coming. There is no transition, you go to bed one day in the summer and wake up the next morning in the winter. Trees lose their leaves over night and what was once a lush green area becomes a dead brown spot all within the blink of an eye. But on that abnormal September morning, I could feel fall approaching. I looked up at the tops of the Pine trees that line the murky banks of this swamp and notice that the higher branches of needles have been dipped in shades of red and orange. The majority of the tree is still green, and I think I probably wouldn't have noticed the change in color if I hadn't stopped to look. Blades of grass that stick out above the water wave and dance as I drift, almost as if they are happy that I am back with them, enjoying this beautiful day in their company.
Logan catches up with me and says, "I need to up my game so we can paddle together."
I laugh and say, "I'll try to take it easy."
We begin making our way through Alligator Alley and Logan comments on the beauty. I nod but something next to me catches my eye. At first I thought it was just a fish, but it was too white. Then I thought it was a trash bag floating along, but when I focus on it through the dirty water, I realize: It's a jellyfish. "Logan!" I yell. "Look! Oh my gosh! It's a jellyfish! What?! I've never seen one before! Why is it here! Logan, look! Oh my gosh! Do you see it? What on Earth? Can you believe it? A jellyfish, Logan! Look! Wait, oh my gosh, come back! I need a picture. Logan, do you see it?!" I try to paddle back to find it as I whip out my camera. It dances along through the water, twirling in circles and pumping up and down below me. Logan makes his way over and watches it, not exactly sharing my same level of enthusiasm. "How have I never seen one before?" I ask as I admire it from afar.
Continuing down the alley, I spot another one. This one is red and much smaller than the last one. Logan smiles and says, "Would you look at that?"
As we paddle back around the island towards the house, Logan asks me how I know my way around so well, "Like, how did you find all of these little pathways and stuff?" I tell him how when I first got my kayak, Trea and I went out here everyday and just took a different route each time.
"So you mapped it out by just exploring?" he says.
I smile, "Yeah. I like it put that way."
As we get closer to the launch, Logan grabs the side of my kayak and thanks me for bringing him out here.
"I know how special this place is to you, and I appreciate the fact that you wanted to share it with me. This has been wonderful, truly," he says with a smile before leaning over and giving me a kiss. I smile and tell him that I hope he wants to come back sometime.
We pull up to the launch and take a breath. Logan sighs and says, "I don't want to stop, but I'm also really hungry."
I laugh and suggest a good place for lunch. I grab my paddle and look down into the water before I step out..
And there, dancing above the ground in the 6-inch deep water that sits in between Lo and I, is a jellyfish. My eyes widen and I smile, not having any words left to describe my joy. Logan smiles at it and then smiles at me, saying, "What a perfect way to end this perfect trip."
Showing posts with label fish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fish. Show all posts
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Madison
"Should we sing? I feel like we should sing," Madison calls out to me across the water.
"No, that's really -"
"WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE LIKE A BIG PIZZA PIE.... THAT'S AMORE," she belts out.
I quietly laugh and continue to paddle towards the bay.
"Am I doing better than Sarah Anne?" she asks, beginning the sibling rivalry.
I couldn't lie, "Honestly, yes. You are. I mean, nowadays, she is much better. But she's done it more often. But her first time? She sucked. She couldn't go straight, she had no idea. You, you're killing it."
"Sweet," she smiles ear to ear.
As we pass the common "No Wake" signs, I think of the first time Sarah Anne saw one and asked if they had to do with funerals. I figured Madison will know what they mean.
"No Wake? What does that mean? You can't wake anyone up? I guess I should apologize for singing so loudly earlier..."
As we're paddling towards the southern side of the Bay Bridge, rain clouds start to flood the sky. I bring this to Madison's attention and she seems pretty disappointed. I try to explain, "If it starts raining, and we're 2 miles away from the house... We are beyond screwed."
After hearing that, Madison begins to understand.
We turn the yaks around and watch a mullet hurl itself out from the water about ten feet away from Madison. She screams out, "FISH! Did you see that?!"
I laugh, "I did."
About two seconds later, it jumps out a second time, this time about five feet from Madison.
"They normally jump in sets of-"
The mullet jumps out again, flying seven feet in the air, and landing smack dab on the bow of her kayak and then flopping back into the water.
It takes a moment for us to register what we just witnessed.
"Madison!" I yell, unable to believe it.
"Oh oh oh ohhhhh ohh ohh ohhhhh oh, did you see that? It was like two feet away from landing in my kayak!"
"What would you have done!"
"I don't know! Probably jump out!"
I throw my head back laughing in agreement and applaud her for having the coolest experience I've ever seen while kayaking.
We stay where we are for a few moments, laughing and processing, before the clouds remind us that we need to head back.
While we pass through Alligator Alley, one of the residents has his sprinkler on. Part of its range includes a narrow part of the water. Madison takes this as an invitation. She smiles and says, "I'm going to go for it. Sprinkler time!"
I try to stop her, but it was too late. She is gliding right under the trail, soaking herself while laughing with glee, "YAY!"
"I'll have to move it closer next time," a man calls out from somewhere. I look up and see a man standing on the house's balcony. My face floods with red as I smile and apologize.
"Oh no, it's fine. Again, I'll move it closer next time for ya."
I smile at a silent and clearly embarrassed Madison and say, "You hear that, Madison? Next time."
She laughs quietly, avoiding looking at the man, "Next time."
"No, that's really -"
"WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE LIKE A BIG PIZZA PIE.... THAT'S AMORE," she belts out.
I quietly laugh and continue to paddle towards the bay.
"Am I doing better than Sarah Anne?" she asks, beginning the sibling rivalry.
I couldn't lie, "Honestly, yes. You are. I mean, nowadays, she is much better. But she's done it more often. But her first time? She sucked. She couldn't go straight, she had no idea. You, you're killing it."
"Sweet," she smiles ear to ear.
As we pass the common "No Wake" signs, I think of the first time Sarah Anne saw one and asked if they had to do with funerals. I figured Madison will know what they mean.
"No Wake? What does that mean? You can't wake anyone up? I guess I should apologize for singing so loudly earlier..."
As we're paddling towards the southern side of the Bay Bridge, rain clouds start to flood the sky. I bring this to Madison's attention and she seems pretty disappointed. I try to explain, "If it starts raining, and we're 2 miles away from the house... We are beyond screwed."
After hearing that, Madison begins to understand.
We turn the yaks around and watch a mullet hurl itself out from the water about ten feet away from Madison. She screams out, "FISH! Did you see that?!"
I laugh, "I did."
About two seconds later, it jumps out a second time, this time about five feet from Madison.
"They normally jump in sets of-"
The mullet jumps out again, flying seven feet in the air, and landing smack dab on the bow of her kayak and then flopping back into the water.
It takes a moment for us to register what we just witnessed.
"Madison!" I yell, unable to believe it.
"Oh oh oh ohhhhh ohh ohh ohhhhh oh, did you see that? It was like two feet away from landing in my kayak!"
"What would you have done!"
"I don't know! Probably jump out!"
I throw my head back laughing in agreement and applaud her for having the coolest experience I've ever seen while kayaking.
We stay where we are for a few moments, laughing and processing, before the clouds remind us that we need to head back.
While we pass through Alligator Alley, one of the residents has his sprinkler on. Part of its range includes a narrow part of the water. Madison takes this as an invitation. She smiles and says, "I'm going to go for it. Sprinkler time!"
I try to stop her, but it was too late. She is gliding right under the trail, soaking herself while laughing with glee, "YAY!"
"I'll have to move it closer next time," a man calls out from somewhere. I look up and see a man standing on the house's balcony. My face floods with red as I smile and apologize.
"Oh no, it's fine. Again, I'll move it closer next time for ya."
I smile at a silent and clearly embarrassed Madison and say, "You hear that, Madison? Next time."
She laughs quietly, avoiding looking at the man, "Next time."
Friday, May 15, 2015
Perfect Week: Day One
Once again, I come crawling to you all on my knees. I apologize for my absence. This last weekend I was in Austin, Texas and I was pretty preoccupied with my wonderful family. But school is now over, so I am faithfully yours.
This week is the week I embark on a "Perfect Week". A "Perfect Week" is when one goes kayaking, paddle boarding, water sporting, etc., for seven consecutive days. I attempted one this time last year, but unfortunately I only made it to day 6. Looking back, I have no idea why I didn't go on that seventh day. I think I ran out of friends who were willing to go with me. But this year is different. I have people on deck for each day, everything is set, all I have to do is hope for good weather. It's supposed to rain everyday this week, but where I live that usually just means afternoon showers. Like today, it was scheduled to rain all day, but it only rained for about five minutes around 1 o'clock. Not to mention, I've pretty much put all of my eggs into this one basket. This week is the only full week when I will be able to kayak everyday. Next week I'm flying to Atlanta to visit my father; and the first of June, I begin my nannying job, working from 8-5 each day. Ergo, this week is my only chance.
This morning at around 8 o'clock, Sarah Anne drives over to my house. My mother has the volvo, and the volvo has the kayak rack. Thankfully Sarah Anne is a dear friend, a dear friend who happens to have a truck. We throw the yaks in the back of the pick-up, collapse the paddles so they fit in the back seat, fill our water bottles, and we head away. It's weird having someone else drive to the kayak drop-off point. Out of all the times I've gone, I think I've had someone else drive me there only two times. But this is exciting, the weather is nice, temperature wise.
When we arrive, the small white dog who lives at the house is yapping away, alerting everyone in the neighborhood that the kayaking girl is back. The tide is in, and I mean in. It seems as if everything is underwater. Can something that's already underwater go underwater? When we pass one of the many "No Wake" signs, I notice that one of them is almost half-way submerged. That means that the water level rose about two feet. Two feet! We have to partake in the limbo to travel under the bridges and all of the docks are level with our kayaks. That fact is good and bad. If there was an alligator chasing our tails, we would be able to pull up to land no problem with the drop of a hat, but the alligator would be able to do the same.
Once we get to a certain point in the water the two of us begin to cheat at the system. The wind is strong and the water is practically flipping over at the chance to get us to where we want, so why should we resist? We put our paddles in our laps and recline back. Immediately we start to drift. The water does the work for us while the two of joke about bringing sails with us next time.
"I like it when we do this," Sarah Anne smiles.
"I think everyone likes this. Getting the same results with doing absolutely no work," I laugh.
Our cutting corners is quickly punished. Once we turn the corner, the tide is no longer with us and I start to feel like I'm trying to drive a parked car. This was a workout I never signed up for. The water that was once amiable and helpful had now become sassy and spiteful. But after thirty minutes, we make the distance that normally takes us five minutes. We get back to the house and cheerfully high-five one another for making it through.
This week is the week I embark on a "Perfect Week". A "Perfect Week" is when one goes kayaking, paddle boarding, water sporting, etc., for seven consecutive days. I attempted one this time last year, but unfortunately I only made it to day 6. Looking back, I have no idea why I didn't go on that seventh day. I think I ran out of friends who were willing to go with me. But this year is different. I have people on deck for each day, everything is set, all I have to do is hope for good weather. It's supposed to rain everyday this week, but where I live that usually just means afternoon showers. Like today, it was scheduled to rain all day, but it only rained for about five minutes around 1 o'clock. Not to mention, I've pretty much put all of my eggs into this one basket. This week is the only full week when I will be able to kayak everyday. Next week I'm flying to Atlanta to visit my father; and the first of June, I begin my nannying job, working from 8-5 each day. Ergo, this week is my only chance.
This morning at around 8 o'clock, Sarah Anne drives over to my house. My mother has the volvo, and the volvo has the kayak rack. Thankfully Sarah Anne is a dear friend, a dear friend who happens to have a truck. We throw the yaks in the back of the pick-up, collapse the paddles so they fit in the back seat, fill our water bottles, and we head away. It's weird having someone else drive to the kayak drop-off point. Out of all the times I've gone, I think I've had someone else drive me there only two times. But this is exciting, the weather is nice, temperature wise.
When we arrive, the small white dog who lives at the house is yapping away, alerting everyone in the neighborhood that the kayaking girl is back. The tide is in, and I mean in. It seems as if everything is underwater. Can something that's already underwater go underwater? When we pass one of the many "No Wake" signs, I notice that one of them is almost half-way submerged. That means that the water level rose about two feet. Two feet! We have to partake in the limbo to travel under the bridges and all of the docks are level with our kayaks. That fact is good and bad. If there was an alligator chasing our tails, we would be able to pull up to land no problem with the drop of a hat, but the alligator would be able to do the same.
Once we get to a certain point in the water the two of us begin to cheat at the system. The wind is strong and the water is practically flipping over at the chance to get us to where we want, so why should we resist? We put our paddles in our laps and recline back. Immediately we start to drift. The water does the work for us while the two of joke about bringing sails with us next time.
"I like it when we do this," Sarah Anne smiles.
"I think everyone likes this. Getting the same results with doing absolutely no work," I laugh.
Our cutting corners is quickly punished. Once we turn the corner, the tide is no longer with us and I start to feel like I'm trying to drive a parked car. This was a workout I never signed up for. The water that was once amiable and helpful had now become sassy and spiteful. But after thirty minutes, we make the distance that normally takes us five minutes. We get back to the house and cheerfully high-five one another for making it through.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Pocahontas
A completely whimsical trip, often the best ones are. My sister had never been kayaking, mainly because her schedule never allowed it and she never wanted to wake up at seven in the morning to leave. But this Thursday was perfect timing. I was home for my manmade Easter break (college kids: don't skip class when you're sick, save the skip days so you can leave for a week and do something worth doing, like leaving the state to go to a 5-star hotel with family and friends) and Nina was in between extracurriculars. Ballet had just ended and play rehearsal was about to begin, and she was off this week for her actual spring break, which meant that we could go in the morning with no problems. I even promised her that we could leave around 8 rather than 7 so she could still have an idea of sleeping in.
When we get up that morning, I tell her to fill two bottles of water while I'm strapping the kayaks to the car. After about 10 minutes, I wonder what's taking her so long. I go in the house and find her sitting on the couch.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"Waiting for you," she responds.
I'm shocked, "What? Then come outside and help me. There's always something to do, Nina."
She sighs and follows me outside. I show her how to fasten the straps properly so she'll be able to do it when we have to put the kayaks back on the car after our adventure. She doesn't understand, but after a while she gets the hang of it.
I push Nina out in the water and she screams, "How do you go straight!?!"
"Figure it out."
The tide is coming in so I'm a little embarrassed. A first time kayaker should not have any waves to worry about or fight against. It should just be peace and quiet.
After we start heading towards the bay area, I get a text from Mom.
Are you two okay?
Lifevests??!!!
Where's Christina?
*sigh* I turn around to see where Nina is. She's way behind me. I wait for her to get closer before snapping a picture and sending it to Mom to ease her worries.
Mom quickly responds, obviously relieved we haven't been eaten yet.
She looks like Pocahontas!! :)
I laugh and respond saying she is Pocahontas.
Christina floats up next to me, panting.
"You okay?" I ask.
"Yeah, I just thought this was going to be a nice peaceful trip. Not a sprint."
I apologize and try to explain that I'm not going that quickly intentionally. She understands and I make an effort to stay near her.
As we travel, I narrate everything to her. "This is where we saw an alligator. This is where a horsefly attacked me. Over there is the golf course. This is where Uncle Mike and I saw the dog. This is where a fish almost jumped right into Trea's kayak.
When we start to pass the grassy areas and I tell her that she can go in that way and she'll meet me in the same place when she comes out.
"Oh really!? Can I do it?" she asks.
"Yeah, just go right in there."
"I will," she nods, but paddles towards the other direction.
"No, Nina, that way," I point.
Quickly, "I know! I'm trying. I don't know how you go so straight!"
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Holiday
Happy Easter holiday!! Anyone who doesn't celebrate Easter, I understand, congratulations on making it through another week! I am on vacation right now, and I thought in honor of that, I would post about the first time I went kayaking. That's right! The FIRST time! It was one year ago and happened over Easter break at this same vacation spot (feeling nostalgic). It's a very cozy and beyond beautiful spot in Alabama. Mom, Christina (my sister), Sarah Anne, and I got there on a Thursday and were staying until Monday. That gave us 5 days for opportunities to kayak. This was while I had my kayak obsession but had yet to get one of my own. The hotel was on the beach so I knew they kayak rentals, free for guests of the hotels. That's what I'm talking about, unlimited FREE kayaking! This was going to be the best 5 days of my life!
Day One: Rain. No problem, I still have 4 more days.
Day Two: High winds bringing in more rain, water is far too choppy. No problem, little bit of a downer, but no problem.
Day Three: Only free time we had was in the middle of the day and the water was so wavy we would have flipped immediately. I want water that looks like glass.
Day Four: This has to be the day!! We leave tomorrow and I WILL go kayaking!! We get to the rentals at 6:10 to find out they closed at 6. I cry.
Day Five:
Sarah Anne and I wake up at 7:30 to pack and make sure we are all ready to go. I slip on my Chacos that are still wet from last night, spray sunscreen on my back, and we run downstairs so we can be the first people at the rentals at 8.
Not even Jesus himself could have painted a more perfect morning. The water is as blue as the sky and as still as a rock, not even a ripple. Pelicans hang by calmly, enjoying the morning as well. The man at the shop is happy to see us and asks if we want one kayak or two. Huh? I didn't know there was an option. We look at each other and shrug our shoulders, "One?" He smiles and says, "One it is." He gives us some paperwork to fill out, agreeing that we are not minors and consent to the safety precautions and won't sue the hotel if something goes terribly wrong. The thing was, I in fact was a minor, my birthday was two months from then, but when I was asked to check that box, there wasn't a bone in my body that was about to let a scribble of ink stand in my way of kayaking, so I checked it without hesitation and grabbed a life vest.
The was the first time I had ever been kayaking and this was after I had spent months obsessing over kayaks so you can imagine how...happy I was in this moment in time. It was a level of Euphoria that I haven't found since.
Sarah Anne sat in the front while I sat in the back since I was better at steering, a lesson we learned years ago in summer camp when we went canoeing. We only had an hour so we didn't waste anytime. We were hauling tail across that water! There were two of us so we were going as fast as the birds flying overhead. We made it towards one end of the beach where the sand meets the rocks and the rocks meet the piers. I check my watch and we had only been out here for 10 minutes so far! I thought for sure it would be longer than that. One of those "Time flies when you're having fun" type moments. So we stopped. We were now facing the part of Mobile Bay that isn't blocked off by Mobile, it was just open water. And, hand to God, the water and the sky was the exact same color. We could not tell where the water ended and the sky began. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Then all of a sudden, a nearby pelican take off from his post to catch some breakfast. He glides down to the water and hurls his head under the surface to snag something in its beak. It was as if he was a cutout resting on a piece of blue construction paper and then the paper begins the wiggle and ripple as soon as he meets the unseen horizon. We drift for a few moments, comparing ourselves to a scene in Life of Pi.
Sarah Anne turns around and says, "This is pretty sweet."
I don't say anything back, just continue to admire where I am.
"I get it now."
My eyes open and I look at her.
"Why you want a kayak so badly, I mean. I get it."
Sarah Anne and I wake up at 7:30 to pack and make sure we are all ready to go. I slip on my Chacos that are still wet from last night, spray sunscreen on my back, and we run downstairs so we can be the first people at the rentals at 8.
Not even Jesus himself could have painted a more perfect morning. The water is as blue as the sky and as still as a rock, not even a ripple. Pelicans hang by calmly, enjoying the morning as well. The man at the shop is happy to see us and asks if we want one kayak or two. Huh? I didn't know there was an option. We look at each other and shrug our shoulders, "One?" He smiles and says, "One it is." He gives us some paperwork to fill out, agreeing that we are not minors and consent to the safety precautions and won't sue the hotel if something goes terribly wrong. The thing was, I in fact was a minor, my birthday was two months from then, but when I was asked to check that box, there wasn't a bone in my body that was about to let a scribble of ink stand in my way of kayaking, so I checked it without hesitation and grabbed a life vest.
The was the first time I had ever been kayaking and this was after I had spent months obsessing over kayaks so you can imagine how...happy I was in this moment in time. It was a level of Euphoria that I haven't found since.
Sarah Anne sat in the front while I sat in the back since I was better at steering, a lesson we learned years ago in summer camp when we went canoeing. We only had an hour so we didn't waste anytime. We were hauling tail across that water! There were two of us so we were going as fast as the birds flying overhead. We made it towards one end of the beach where the sand meets the rocks and the rocks meet the piers. I check my watch and we had only been out here for 10 minutes so far! I thought for sure it would be longer than that. One of those "Time flies when you're having fun" type moments. So we stopped. We were now facing the part of Mobile Bay that isn't blocked off by Mobile, it was just open water. And, hand to God, the water and the sky was the exact same color. We could not tell where the water ended and the sky began. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Then all of a sudden, a nearby pelican take off from his post to catch some breakfast. He glides down to the water and hurls his head under the surface to snag something in its beak. It was as if he was a cutout resting on a piece of blue construction paper and then the paper begins the wiggle and ripple as soon as he meets the unseen horizon. We drift for a few moments, comparing ourselves to a scene in Life of Pi.
Sarah Anne turns around and says, "This is pretty sweet."
I don't say anything back, just continue to admire where I am.
"I get it now."
My eyes open and I look at her.
"Why you want a kayak so badly, I mean. I get it."
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Old Timers and First Timers
Last week was spring break for me and I tell you what, it was the best time I've had in a long time. It was my grandfather's 90th birthday and we had a reunion birthday bash. Family from all over the country came down to visit and the majority of them stayed at my house. It was far beyond a good time. The weather that first weekend was glorious but I didn't get a chance to kayak since I was whooping it up with my cousins. During the week I thought for sure I would go, I had nothing but time. But alas, it rained..the..entire...time. And then I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Saturday came around with the sun beaming down, not a cloud in sight. 60º. Beyond perfect for getting back on the yak. So I run to my Uncle Mike from Washington who wasn't leaving town until Monday and I tell him that we simply have to go kayaking in the morning. He is reluctant at first, saying he's not sure if he can sit comfortably in the kayak, "I don't bend that way." I laugh and take him outside for a test run. I lend him my sit-on kayak, saying he will be much more comfortable in this one because he will be able to rest his legs however he chooses. He agrees and says, "Yeah, okay, I guess I can do that. Let's do it. What time are we leaving?"
The sun is beginning to peak in through the trees as Mom and I strap the kayaks to the car. It's been a while so my arms are a little tight as I heave the kayaks over my head and onto the car. Uncle Mike strolls out of the house carrying a cup of coffee and a spare Seattle Seahawks tshirt, "Hey. I'm ready." We drive down to the bayou and are surprised by how much mud is on the ground and on the launch. I guess that is to be expected when it rains for an entire week.
When Uncle Mike sits on the kayak and I push him out into the water, I am convinced he is going to flip. The back of the kayak is completely level with the water while the front of it is raised above the water. He is wobbling like a top that is about to fall and I watch with my breath frozen still and hands covering my mouth. But... he gets it. No one flipped. He got the hang of it and begins practicing turning and stopping as I push my self out into the water. I catch up to him and tell him to head left. I watch him paddle, right, left left, right, left, right right right, left left, right, and can't help but smile.
We reach the golf course and I notice a string of bubbles appearing on the water, no more than three feet away from me, heading in the opposite direction of us. I suggest to Uncle Mike that maybe it's an alligator. He frowns, "Yeah. I'm going back that way." I laugh and follow him out. On the way back, a dog who is very happy to see us jumps off of his yard and into a boat that is tied up. He stands on the edge, silently, and smiles as I paddle up next to him to give him a rub on the head. As I float on, I watch as he struggles to find the best way to get out of the boat. A pinecone captures my attention in the corner of my eye, and when I turn my head back to watch the dog, he was lying happily on the grass again. "Wizard dog," I say to myself.
We reach a point where we could either go back to the house or head towards the Bay. When I ask Uncle Mike what he wants to do he says, "Hey, this is all you. We can keep going." So I head towards the Bay but we turn down Alligator Alley to go around the island and land back at the house instead of going to the Bay and just turning around and coming back.
I row row row through the swamp because believe it or not, I actually didn't want to run into a gator that morning. When I get to the other end, I paddle over to the other side of the floating dock and admire how calm the water is and how green the grass is while I wait for Mike to make it through.
This was the first time I had ever kayaked in the month of March, and it might be my favorite. The sun is out but it has no desire to bake you and any leaf you see is brand new and filled with life. The whole bayou had a new refreshing ora to it that I had never seen before. This place had always been beautiful, this was just a different type of beauty.
I hear Uncle Mike run into something and I quickly turn my head to make sure he alright. Sure enough, he had crashed right into the floating dock. He laughs and says, "Hey, it's alright." I laugh with him and tell him the house is right around the corner.
The sun is beginning to peak in through the trees as Mom and I strap the kayaks to the car. It's been a while so my arms are a little tight as I heave the kayaks over my head and onto the car. Uncle Mike strolls out of the house carrying a cup of coffee and a spare Seattle Seahawks tshirt, "Hey. I'm ready." We drive down to the bayou and are surprised by how much mud is on the ground and on the launch. I guess that is to be expected when it rains for an entire week.
When Uncle Mike sits on the kayak and I push him out into the water, I am convinced he is going to flip. The back of the kayak is completely level with the water while the front of it is raised above the water. He is wobbling like a top that is about to fall and I watch with my breath frozen still and hands covering my mouth. But... he gets it. No one flipped. He got the hang of it and begins practicing turning and stopping as I push my self out into the water. I catch up to him and tell him to head left. I watch him paddle, right, left left, right, left, right right right, left left, right, and can't help but smile.
We reach the golf course and I notice a string of bubbles appearing on the water, no more than three feet away from me, heading in the opposite direction of us. I suggest to Uncle Mike that maybe it's an alligator. He frowns, "Yeah. I'm going back that way." I laugh and follow him out. On the way back, a dog who is very happy to see us jumps off of his yard and into a boat that is tied up. He stands on the edge, silently, and smiles as I paddle up next to him to give him a rub on the head. As I float on, I watch as he struggles to find the best way to get out of the boat. A pinecone captures my attention in the corner of my eye, and when I turn my head back to watch the dog, he was lying happily on the grass again. "Wizard dog," I say to myself.
We reach a point where we could either go back to the house or head towards the Bay. When I ask Uncle Mike what he wants to do he says, "Hey, this is all you. We can keep going." So I head towards the Bay but we turn down Alligator Alley to go around the island and land back at the house instead of going to the Bay and just turning around and coming back.
I row row row through the swamp because believe it or not, I actually didn't want to run into a gator that morning. When I get to the other end, I paddle over to the other side of the floating dock and admire how calm the water is and how green the grass is while I wait for Mike to make it through.
This was the first time I had ever kayaked in the month of March, and it might be my favorite. The sun is out but it has no desire to bake you and any leaf you see is brand new and filled with life. The whole bayou had a new refreshing ora to it that I had never seen before. This place had always been beautiful, this was just a different type of beauty.
I hear Uncle Mike run into something and I quickly turn my head to make sure he alright. Sure enough, he had crashed right into the floating dock. He laughs and says, "Hey, it's alright." I laugh with him and tell him the house is right around the corner.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Back On The Yak For Yak's Sake
It's a Saturday. Winter Break comes to a halt in about two weeks. We haven't been on the yaks in a few months. It's about 50 degrees outside. I drive over to Sarah Anne's house to pick her up. She has some Nike shorts on over a pair of black leggings, a long sleeve shirt under her hoodie, thick socks and some tennis shoes. When she gets in the car I give her a Kermit the Frog hat to match my sock monkey hat. I offer her my pair of gloves but she declines.
When we arrive at the drop off, a terrible thing starts to happen. Teeny tiny drops of water start to cover the windshield. Neither one of us say anything, we just watch.
After one or two moments, I say, "I wouldn't call that rain."
"No?" Sarah Anne replies rather quickly.
"No. It's like a mist. Hardly a mist, really."
"Sure."
"The mist in the produce section of the grocery store is stronger than this," I say.
"Totally. It's a tease of a mist."
"Exactly, and it doesn't look like it's going to get any worse any time soon."
"Yeah."
"Yeah. We'll be fine."
"Okay," she says unconvinced.
"We're not going back."
"No?"
"No! We'll just go out right there! We don't have to go far, we'll just go, spin in some circles, get the blood flowing, and then we'll come right back."
"Yeah, okay."
"We're just going to go."
"Getting on the yak for the sake of the yak."
I smile, "Exactly."
So that is exactly what we do. We put our yaks in the water, put our life vests on our chests, put the paddles in our hands then in the water. I give Sarah Anne a hurl out, and she wobbles out into the open water. I follow behind her. Clouds hang every where above and the mist keeps are faces cool while we spin around each other.
"Did I ever take you to the place where I actually saw an alligator?" I smile.
She hesitates, "..no."
I laugh, "Well. We're going."
Instead of taking the way that leads out into the bay, we turn right to head towards the golf course. We tuck our heads under our chins as we pass under the bridge as I tell her about the time Trea had to hoist me up from his kayak so I could fun and get some water from a nearby fountain (a post for another time). As the water gets narrower, Sarah Anne pulls out a bag of cereal from her pack. I tease her and say that she may want to put that away as we approach gator country. She laughs and smirks back at me but in the corner of my eye I see her tuck it away. We take left turn after left turn as the water gets shallower and more murky. Probably out of nerves, Sarah Anne starts to tell me about a time when she was much younger, she visited an alligator farm and she got to hold an egg as it hatched! How cool is that? Life was brought into this world in the palm of her hand.
Unfortunately, no gators were seen on this specific kayaking trip. On the way back, we moseyed along, enjoying being back on the water. Before we hit land, we decided to make a quick video of us really just being silly.
When we arrive at the drop off, a terrible thing starts to happen. Teeny tiny drops of water start to cover the windshield. Neither one of us say anything, we just watch.
After one or two moments, I say, "I wouldn't call that rain."
"No?" Sarah Anne replies rather quickly.
"No. It's like a mist. Hardly a mist, really."
"Sure."
"The mist in the produce section of the grocery store is stronger than this," I say.
"Totally. It's a tease of a mist."
"Exactly, and it doesn't look like it's going to get any worse any time soon."
"Yeah."
"Yeah. We'll be fine."
"Okay," she says unconvinced.
"We're not going back."
"No?"
"No! We'll just go out right there! We don't have to go far, we'll just go, spin in some circles, get the blood flowing, and then we'll come right back."
"Yeah, okay."
"We're just going to go."
"Getting on the yak for the sake of the yak."
I smile, "Exactly."
So that is exactly what we do. We put our yaks in the water, put our life vests on our chests, put the paddles in our hands then in the water. I give Sarah Anne a hurl out, and she wobbles out into the open water. I follow behind her. Clouds hang every where above and the mist keeps are faces cool while we spin around each other.
"Did I ever take you to the place where I actually saw an alligator?" I smile.
She hesitates, "..no."
I laugh, "Well. We're going."
Instead of taking the way that leads out into the bay, we turn right to head towards the golf course. We tuck our heads under our chins as we pass under the bridge as I tell her about the time Trea had to hoist me up from his kayak so I could fun and get some water from a nearby fountain (a post for another time). As the water gets narrower, Sarah Anne pulls out a bag of cereal from her pack. I tease her and say that she may want to put that away as we approach gator country. She laughs and smirks back at me but in the corner of my eye I see her tuck it away. We take left turn after left turn as the water gets shallower and more murky. Probably out of nerves, Sarah Anne starts to tell me about a time when she was much younger, she visited an alligator farm and she got to hold an egg as it hatched! How cool is that? Life was brought into this world in the palm of her hand.
Unfortunately, no gators were seen on this specific kayaking trip. On the way back, we moseyed along, enjoying being back on the water. Before we hit land, we decided to make a quick video of us really just being silly.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Closed For Season: A New Tale About An Old Time
I'M ALIVE!
It's been a while. I know. But believe it or not, it does in fact get pretty chilly down here on the Gulf Coast. Maybe not chilly from a northern's perspective, but certainly not warm enough to go water sporting. So my kayaking adventures have been put on hiatus. Maybe there will be a warm spell here soon, but until that magical day when I am reunited with Sunburst I thought I would just go on telling tales about the kayaking days before this glorious blog.. ahem.. I mean "movement", came along. If that's alright with you all, of course.
"Letting Trea take the lead was a mistake."
"Why am I even following him?"
"I should turn around and go back to the car."
"I could take a nap in the car."
"Would he even notice that I was gone?"
"Doubt it."
"Jesus, letting him take the lead was a mistake."
Those are the things that flood my mind as I watch Trea's figure get smaller and smaller in the boundless water. I sit in the mouth of the Bay, sipping my water, listening to my Alternative Indie Love Song Pandora radio station. By this point, the only way I can see Trea is because of his neon orange life vest. He's now smaller than a speck, bobbing up and down.
"That jerk is trying to get to the Bay Bridge," I think to myself.
A few more brief moments go by before I say, quite loudly, "UGH! Fine."
I grab my paddle and hurl myself towards him.
The peak of the Bay Bridge is approximately two miles from where I was sitting. Two miles is nothing. Trea and I have covered that in no time at all. But.. that was when we were side by side, had house to talk about, birds to whistle to, small crabs to count, and plenty of other things to keep our minds occupied while traveling. Open water is a completely different kind of beast.
There are waves. Lots and lots of waves. And not the pretty little ripply waves. No. These are the waves that threaten to flip your yak every time they hit. There is nothing to look at, except your bare legs looking like sitting ducks to the blinding smoldering exposed sun, and of course, the Bridge itself.
With the bridge being your only focal point, time passes WAY more slowly. With the waves ganging up on you, the whole ride is just a game of two steps forward, one step back. So it takes more time than I would have liked. The bridge was not getting any bigger and neither was Trea. Time was frozen, and not in the good way. I wasn't getting any closer, but the mouth of the bay, where I had come from, had practically diappeared. Something was wrong. At a point, I did start to lose my mind. .
Only two thoughts were repeating through my sunbaked brain:
I'm gonna die out here.
I hate Trea.
After 38 billion hours, I'm there. Trea welcomes me with a high fave, "Hey! I didn't think you were going to make it!"
I scoff, "Neither did I."
Sitting under a bridge that you travel over everyday is quite the experience. You look up and listen to the cars overhead. They're all just continuing with their daily routine, completely unaware of the fact that two friends are sitting under them, drinking water, listening to a nearby fisherman's country station, absolutely dreading the moment when one of them decides it's time to go back.
Trea breaks first, "Well.."
"-Shut up. Can we just catch a ride back with one of these friendly boaters?"
He laughs, "It won't be that bad! The sun will be on our backs, the current will be on our side, and I'll stay with you the whole time. It will go by in blink."
I agree, hesitantly.
And he was wrong. Oh my God, he was wrong. About everything.
Kayaking on what might as well have been a treadmill to the middle of the Bay Bridge and back earned Trea and I major bragging rights. But you'll never see us jumping at the chance to do it again.
It's been a while. I know. But believe it or not, it does in fact get pretty chilly down here on the Gulf Coast. Maybe not chilly from a northern's perspective, but certainly not warm enough to go water sporting. So my kayaking adventures have been put on hiatus. Maybe there will be a warm spell here soon, but until that magical day when I am reunited with Sunburst I thought I would just go on telling tales about the kayaking days before this glorious blog.. ahem.. I mean "movement", came along. If that's alright with you all, of course.
"Letting Trea take the lead was a mistake."
"Why am I even following him?"
"I should turn around and go back to the car."
"I could take a nap in the car."
"Would he even notice that I was gone?"
"Doubt it."
"Jesus, letting him take the lead was a mistake."
Those are the things that flood my mind as I watch Trea's figure get smaller and smaller in the boundless water. I sit in the mouth of the Bay, sipping my water, listening to my Alternative Indie Love Song Pandora radio station. By this point, the only way I can see Trea is because of his neon orange life vest. He's now smaller than a speck, bobbing up and down.
"That jerk is trying to get to the Bay Bridge," I think to myself.
A few more brief moments go by before I say, quite loudly, "UGH! Fine."
I grab my paddle and hurl myself towards him.
The peak of the Bay Bridge is approximately two miles from where I was sitting. Two miles is nothing. Trea and I have covered that in no time at all. But.. that was when we were side by side, had house to talk about, birds to whistle to, small crabs to count, and plenty of other things to keep our minds occupied while traveling. Open water is a completely different kind of beast.
There are waves. Lots and lots of waves. And not the pretty little ripply waves. No. These are the waves that threaten to flip your yak every time they hit. There is nothing to look at, except your bare legs looking like sitting ducks to the blinding smoldering exposed sun, and of course, the Bridge itself.
With the bridge being your only focal point, time passes WAY more slowly. With the waves ganging up on you, the whole ride is just a game of two steps forward, one step back. So it takes more time than I would have liked. The bridge was not getting any bigger and neither was Trea. Time was frozen, and not in the good way. I wasn't getting any closer, but the mouth of the bay, where I had come from, had practically diappeared. Something was wrong. At a point, I did start to lose my mind. .
Only two thoughts were repeating through my sunbaked brain:
I'm gonna die out here.
I hate Trea.
After 38 billion hours, I'm there. Trea welcomes me with a high fave, "Hey! I didn't think you were going to make it!"
I scoff, "Neither did I."
Sitting under a bridge that you travel over everyday is quite the experience. You look up and listen to the cars overhead. They're all just continuing with their daily routine, completely unaware of the fact that two friends are sitting under them, drinking water, listening to a nearby fisherman's country station, absolutely dreading the moment when one of them decides it's time to go back.
Trea breaks first, "Well.."
"-Shut up. Can we just catch a ride back with one of these friendly boaters?"
He laughs, "It won't be that bad! The sun will be on our backs, the current will be on our side, and I'll stay with you the whole time. It will go by in blink."
I agree, hesitantly.
And he was wrong. Oh my God, he was wrong. About everything.
Kayaking on what might as well have been a treadmill to the middle of the Bay Bridge and back earned Trea and I major bragging rights. But you'll never see us jumping at the chance to do it again.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
It's KAYAK PLAYLIST 2, y'all
As promised, more music to jam to while hitting the yak. There's something for everyone. Whether you're a Disney fan or a Christmas fan, I've got you covered. Enjoy.
Cum On Feel the Noise - Quiet Riot
In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. & Pharrell) - Robin Thicke
Interlude: Holiday - Paramore
Ribs - Lorde
I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - Lady Gaga
I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song) - Louis Prima & Phil Harris
Below My Feet - Mumford & Sons
Till Kingdom Come - Coldplay
I Sill Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
I Lived - OneRepublic
Blue Christmas - Michael Bublé
Everything Has Changed (Remix) [feat. Ed Sheeran] - Taylor Swift
Stubborn Love - The Lumineers
Kingfisher - PHOX
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
Song for Zula - Phosphorescent
Alligator - Paul McCartney
Happily - One Direction
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore - Paramore
Something I Need - OneRepublic
Temperature - Sean Paul
Take a Walk - Passion Pit
Si tu vois ma mère - Sidney Bechet
Cum On Feel the Noise - Quiet Riot
In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. & Pharrell) - Robin Thicke
Interlude: Holiday - Paramore
Ribs - Lorde
I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - Lady Gaga
I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song) - Louis Prima & Phil Harris
Below My Feet - Mumford & Sons
Till Kingdom Come - Coldplay
I Sill Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
I Lived - OneRepublic
Blue Christmas - Michael Bublé
Everything Has Changed (Remix) [feat. Ed Sheeran] - Taylor Swift
Stubborn Love - The Lumineers
Kingfisher - PHOX
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
Song for Zula - Phosphorescent
Alligator - Paul McCartney
Happily - One Direction
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore - Paramore
Something I Need - OneRepublic
Temperature - Sean Paul
Take a Walk - Passion Pit
Si tu vois ma mère - Sidney Bechet
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Pops
As some know, I'm taking this semester off. I will not start college until January. I needed time to think and I needed time to do things I should have done in high school. Read books, not magazines. Work seriously on my art. Keep up with the world, not just the Kardashians. And it's been going well so far. I've completed over six novels, I'm putting together a show at a local art gallery, and I got a totally rad job at BCBG Max Azria. Taking these five months off was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
The only down side.. all of my friends are gone. Well, all three of them. Nonetheless, my options for kayak partners has dramatically decreased. Patrick is still here of course, finishing up his last year of high school, but he hates kayaking. So that's a dud. My sister is around, but she's too glued to studying her precious notecards. There's mom, but she's too tired, too busy, and far too grouchy. So that really only leaves one person.
My father.
When I asked him if he would like to go, he responded with ample enthusiasm.
"OF COURSE! I've been telling you since you bought it that I would LOVE to go kayaking with you!! Thank you so much for asking me, sweetie!"
It would be good. He's a triathlete and an Iron Man so I knew he would be able to keep up with me and that he wouldn't complain. I asked where he wanted to go and naturally he said, "It doesn't matter to me, Jillianne. I'm just happy to spend time with you." So I took him where I take all new-comers, Mallini's. It was the perfect place for beginners. Great sense of scenery, surrounded by houses, plenty of wildlife, all while having an easy compact route.
The morning of our adventure, I check the radar and see that we may run into some rain. I put heavy emphasis on the word "may", strap up the kayaks, waterproof my phone, douse myself in bug repellent, and drive on over to Dad's house.
He comes down the stairs and meets me in his gravel driveway. He had a long sleeve quick dry T-shirt that he no doubt acquired for free from one of his past triathlons, a pair of long khaki cargo pants that looked like they belonged to one of the members of Duck Dynasty, and a green Tilly hat. He opens the car door and takes a seat next to me.
"What on Earth are you wearing? It's like 90 something degrees outside," I ask.
He looks down at his pants, "It's all breathable. I don't want to get sunburnt."
I make a gentle scoff and put the car in reverse.
I'm disappointed to see waves when we pull up to the edge of the boat launch. Clearly spoiled from my last kayaking trip..
I give Dad a push out into the water and he rocks back and forth trying to find his balance. We roll out and the thought of taking it slow doesn't even cross my mind. After a while I look back and ask Dad if this speed is okay, is it too fast, too slow, what?
"I don't know, you've got a nice little clip on you," he laughed.
We make it around the bend and come to the area right before the opening to the Bay. The waves pick up and I hesitate to keep going. The worst thing is to get caught in the current, you end up kayaking on a treadmill going absolutely nowhere. So we sit.
The sun gleaming down on us, rain clouds threatening, waves rocking, mowers mowing, the usual drama in Mallini's. After about 15 minutes of lounging in the yaks, I ask Dad if he wants to turn around. His head pops up and he smiles, "Oh, I almost fell asleep, it's so peaceful out here."
That makes me happy.
Distance 2.65 miles
Time 1:13:45
Min/Mile 27:50
Calories 275
The only down side.. all of my friends are gone. Well, all three of them. Nonetheless, my options for kayak partners has dramatically decreased. Patrick is still here of course, finishing up his last year of high school, but he hates kayaking. So that's a dud. My sister is around, but she's too glued to studying her precious notecards. There's mom, but she's too tired, too busy, and far too grouchy. So that really only leaves one person.
My father.
When I asked him if he would like to go, he responded with ample enthusiasm.
"OF COURSE! I've been telling you since you bought it that I would LOVE to go kayaking with you!! Thank you so much for asking me, sweetie!"
It would be good. He's a triathlete and an Iron Man so I knew he would be able to keep up with me and that he wouldn't complain. I asked where he wanted to go and naturally he said, "It doesn't matter to me, Jillianne. I'm just happy to spend time with you." So I took him where I take all new-comers, Mallini's. It was the perfect place for beginners. Great sense of scenery, surrounded by houses, plenty of wildlife, all while having an easy compact route.
The morning of our adventure, I check the radar and see that we may run into some rain. I put heavy emphasis on the word "may", strap up the kayaks, waterproof my phone, douse myself in bug repellent, and drive on over to Dad's house.
He comes down the stairs and meets me in his gravel driveway. He had a long sleeve quick dry T-shirt that he no doubt acquired for free from one of his past triathlons, a pair of long khaki cargo pants that looked like they belonged to one of the members of Duck Dynasty, and a green Tilly hat. He opens the car door and takes a seat next to me.
"What on Earth are you wearing? It's like 90 something degrees outside," I ask.
He looks down at his pants, "It's all breathable. I don't want to get sunburnt."
I make a gentle scoff and put the car in reverse.
I'm disappointed to see waves when we pull up to the edge of the boat launch. Clearly spoiled from my last kayaking trip..
I give Dad a push out into the water and he rocks back and forth trying to find his balance. We roll out and the thought of taking it slow doesn't even cross my mind. After a while I look back and ask Dad if this speed is okay, is it too fast, too slow, what?
"I don't know, you've got a nice little clip on you," he laughed.
We make it around the bend and come to the area right before the opening to the Bay. The waves pick up and I hesitate to keep going. The worst thing is to get caught in the current, you end up kayaking on a treadmill going absolutely nowhere. So we sit.
The sun gleaming down on us, rain clouds threatening, waves rocking, mowers mowing, the usual drama in Mallini's. After about 15 minutes of lounging in the yaks, I ask Dad if he wants to turn around. His head pops up and he smiles, "Oh, I almost fell asleep, it's so peaceful out here."
That makes me happy.
Distance 2.65 miles
Time 1:13:45
Min/Mile 27:50
Calories 275
Thursday, August 21, 2014
The Loop, Part II
Sarah Anne and I put the mud cookies away and turn the kayaking playlist back on, bracing ourselves for the four mile trek ahead of us.
The whole scene had a very spooky feel to it. Yes, it was breathtakingly beautiful, but it was also very frightening. The neighboring houses had no members sitting on their porches, there were no birds serenading us with their song, the lawns had no lawnmowers erupting over them. The only sound was the occasional mullet that would hurl itself out of the water and flop back into again. The water was the stillest I've ever seen it and the air was crisp with warmth. Just sitting there, I could almost see my previous worries evaporating up into the empty air. I sort of didn't want to move. It felt like time was frozen and I had found myself in an Edward Hopper painting, but if I moved, reality would strike and the waves would assume their place. That's what it felt like anyway.
I took a deep breath and began to gently pull my way forward. Sarah Anne followed as we traveled along the shore, under and around piers that had been destroyed by past hurricanes and abandoned by their previous caretakers. Leaving them alone in the water, each post jaggedly poking out covered in barnacles and slimy moss. We passed an eerie post that hung horizontally, and atop it sat about a dozen pelicans, eyeing us. Some would fly away and head for further ground when we passed by and others would remain, their eyes sitting in their fowl head following our every movement. Sarah Anne and I quietly came to a stop in an attempt to snap some pictures of the flock. The sun was blinding causing my phone's screen to appear black, but I went on capturing the moment anyway.
We drifted on by silently and once we passed the herd of birds, Sarah Anne asked if I would play some of the Pocahontas soundtrack. I don't think there is any music more appropriate for a kayaking excursion.
We make it to the Bay bridge and rest in its shade. I pull out my phone and tell Sae that we should make a fun video. We film each other paddling around, trying to be sneaky, and when we're finished I put the footage to the Pink Panther theme song. Just something fun for the Instagram followers..
Mallini's other opening was right next to the bridge, so we knew we were over half way there. We paddled on, we were both beginning to feel the strain in our shoulders, but as Sarah Anne put it, "The faster we go, the sooner we get home." Wise words.
This side of the loop was far more livelier than the other side had been. Fishermen lined the docks, they tipped their hats when we passed by and we veered to one side or the other to not get caught in their fishing line. One even suggested that we do circles around the fish and herd them towards the men. Sarah Anne and I would just laugh and continue on our way.
We passed the small harbor where Trea and I had seen the boat from New Jersey and then we passed Alligator Alley and I told Sae that we were getting closer. She sighed a sigh of relief as the house got more and more in our reach. To continue with the Pocahontas theme, I said, "The house is just around the river bend."
Arms burning, water bottles empty, collars drenched with sweat, we landed. My foot thudded against the ground and I wobbled when I stood. I checked the RunKeeper app to see how far we had gone.. 4.93 miles.
Sarah Anne hung her head when I told her. "We could just go right back out and do a few spins to put us at 5," I suggested.
She got out of her kayak, "If anyone asks, we did 5."
Distance ≈ 5 miles
Time 2:06:08
Min/Mile 25:38
Calories 485
The whole scene had a very spooky feel to it. Yes, it was breathtakingly beautiful, but it was also very frightening. The neighboring houses had no members sitting on their porches, there were no birds serenading us with their song, the lawns had no lawnmowers erupting over them. The only sound was the occasional mullet that would hurl itself out of the water and flop back into again. The water was the stillest I've ever seen it and the air was crisp with warmth. Just sitting there, I could almost see my previous worries evaporating up into the empty air. I sort of didn't want to move. It felt like time was frozen and I had found myself in an Edward Hopper painting, but if I moved, reality would strike and the waves would assume their place. That's what it felt like anyway.
I took a deep breath and began to gently pull my way forward. Sarah Anne followed as we traveled along the shore, under and around piers that had been destroyed by past hurricanes and abandoned by their previous caretakers. Leaving them alone in the water, each post jaggedly poking out covered in barnacles and slimy moss. We passed an eerie post that hung horizontally, and atop it sat about a dozen pelicans, eyeing us. Some would fly away and head for further ground when we passed by and others would remain, their eyes sitting in their fowl head following our every movement. Sarah Anne and I quietly came to a stop in an attempt to snap some pictures of the flock. The sun was blinding causing my phone's screen to appear black, but I went on capturing the moment anyway.
We drifted on by silently and once we passed the herd of birds, Sarah Anne asked if I would play some of the Pocahontas soundtrack. I don't think there is any music more appropriate for a kayaking excursion.
We make it to the Bay bridge and rest in its shade. I pull out my phone and tell Sae that we should make a fun video. We film each other paddling around, trying to be sneaky, and when we're finished I put the footage to the Pink Panther theme song. Just something fun for the Instagram followers..
Mallini's other opening was right next to the bridge, so we knew we were over half way there. We paddled on, we were both beginning to feel the strain in our shoulders, but as Sarah Anne put it, "The faster we go, the sooner we get home." Wise words.
This side of the loop was far more livelier than the other side had been. Fishermen lined the docks, they tipped their hats when we passed by and we veered to one side or the other to not get caught in their fishing line. One even suggested that we do circles around the fish and herd them towards the men. Sarah Anne and I would just laugh and continue on our way.
We passed the small harbor where Trea and I had seen the boat from New Jersey and then we passed Alligator Alley and I told Sae that we were getting closer. She sighed a sigh of relief as the house got more and more in our reach. To continue with the Pocahontas theme, I said, "The house is just around the river bend."
Arms burning, water bottles empty, collars drenched with sweat, we landed. My foot thudded against the ground and I wobbled when I stood. I checked the RunKeeper app to see how far we had gone.. 4.93 miles.
Sarah Anne hung her head when I told her. "We could just go right back out and do a few spins to put us at 5," I suggested.
She got out of her kayak, "If anyone asks, we did 5."
Distance ≈ 5 miles
Time 2:06:08
Min/Mile 25:38
Calories 485
Sunday, August 17, 2014
The Loop, Part I
Sunday morning, I drive over to pick up Sarah Anne. She comes out of the house with a little lunch box full of goodies, and I'm not just talking about food. I ask her what's in it and she pulls out a bag of Mud cookies - homemade -, some watermelon slices, and a bluetooth speaker. I'm excited to see that, music always makes the kayaking trips that much more enjoyable, and my phone speaker would never be loud enough for the both us to hear.
"The other day, someone told me I was looking a little more tan," she started, "I said, "Yeah, I'm a kayaker now."."
I get the RunKeeper app and the kayak playlist going and we glide on out. The water was as smooth as silk, making it that much easier to paddle.
By now, Sae has mastered the kayak. She still gets a little flustered when we have to turn around or back up, but she's always up for a challenge and never wants to fall too far behind me. I knew we were making great time when we were almost to the bay, and sure enough, we get the notification saying we're going at a speed of 17 minutes per mile.
"Oh my gosh!" Sarah Anne exclaims.
"That is so good! The fastest Trea and I ever go is 22 min/mile! 17 is fantastic!" I say.
"I knew we were bookin' it, my arms hurt. And I see you and I'm like 'How does she keep going?!' But then I remember you do this all the time.."
I laugh and respond, "If you want to go slower, just let me know! I want you to have a good time!"
"Oh no, this is great!" she smiles.
I told her we would take a break when we reached the mouth of the bay and we continued onward.
We reached the bay and I was without words.
In all of my kayaking adventures, I had never seen the water like this. There was not a wave in sight. It looked as if one could walk right on the water. The sky was crystal clear and the heat was tolerable. The kind of heat that makes you sweat but doesn't make you want to go back inside. My jaw hung open, I couldn't believe my eyes. There were no waves to pull you in a certain direction or slow you down, you only move the way you want to move. This was everything a kayaker could dream of.
Sarah Anne hadn't been out as many times as I had so I knew she wouldn't fully appreciate it the way I did. But I tried to explain the greatness of it to her as best as I could.
"I'm going to suggest something, and if you don't want to do it, say so. I'm only going to suggest it because I've never had the water like this and I know I won't have it again anytime soon," I paused, "but I think we should do the loop."
From the house, one can get to the bay two ways: the way that is taken in Down By The Bay where Trea catapulted the dead fish at me, and the other way I've taken everyone else. The house is right in the middle of the loop. The loop is where you go out into the bay one way and come back the other way and go to the house. Total distance is about 5 miles. Trea and I had always wanted to do it, but the waves in the bay were always too choppy for us.
Sarah Anne sighed, looked out at the movementless water, and said, "I guess we really don't have a choice."
"Really?"
"Yeah, let's do it," she smiles.
"The other day, someone told me I was looking a little more tan," she started, "I said, "Yeah, I'm a kayaker now."."
I get the RunKeeper app and the kayak playlist going and we glide on out. The water was as smooth as silk, making it that much easier to paddle.
By now, Sae has mastered the kayak. She still gets a little flustered when we have to turn around or back up, but she's always up for a challenge and never wants to fall too far behind me. I knew we were making great time when we were almost to the bay, and sure enough, we get the notification saying we're going at a speed of 17 minutes per mile.
"Oh my gosh!" Sarah Anne exclaims.
"That is so good! The fastest Trea and I ever go is 22 min/mile! 17 is fantastic!" I say.
"I knew we were bookin' it, my arms hurt. And I see you and I'm like 'How does she keep going?!' But then I remember you do this all the time.."
I laugh and respond, "If you want to go slower, just let me know! I want you to have a good time!"
"Oh no, this is great!" she smiles.
I told her we would take a break when we reached the mouth of the bay and we continued onward.
We reached the bay and I was without words.
In all of my kayaking adventures, I had never seen the water like this. There was not a wave in sight. It looked as if one could walk right on the water. The sky was crystal clear and the heat was tolerable. The kind of heat that makes you sweat but doesn't make you want to go back inside. My jaw hung open, I couldn't believe my eyes. There were no waves to pull you in a certain direction or slow you down, you only move the way you want to move. This was everything a kayaker could dream of.
Sarah Anne hadn't been out as many times as I had so I knew she wouldn't fully appreciate it the way I did. But I tried to explain the greatness of it to her as best as I could.
"I'm going to suggest something, and if you don't want to do it, say so. I'm only going to suggest it because I've never had the water like this and I know I won't have it again anytime soon," I paused, "but I think we should do the loop."
From the house, one can get to the bay two ways: the way that is taken in Down By The Bay where Trea catapulted the dead fish at me, and the other way I've taken everyone else. The house is right in the middle of the loop. The loop is where you go out into the bay one way and come back the other way and go to the house. Total distance is about 5 miles. Trea and I had always wanted to do it, but the waves in the bay were always too choppy for us.
Sarah Anne sighed, looked out at the movementless water, and said, "I guess we really don't have a choice."
"Really?"
"Yeah, let's do it," she smiles.
Friday, August 15, 2014
An Angelfish Among Fish
I'm not going to complain about getting the kayaks on and off the car, or the dragonflies filling the air, or even the heat. I'm too grateful and blinded by the fact that I actually got my angelfish, Patrick, to go kayaking with me. Sure, he listened to podcasts about League of Legends for a majority of the time, but whatever.
We pull up to the same ole house and I, with Patty watching, unstrap the yaks and place them in the water. I toss him a life vest and he begins to snap it on before I ask, "You're going with your shirt? Or are you going to go rogue and take it off?"
He blushes and quietly says, "Okay."
"I was just asking!" I laugh, "Trea always takes his off, so I don't know. You can leave it on."
"No, I'll take it off," he motions for me to turn around.
"Big baby," I grumble.
"What was that?" he laughed.
I turn back around, his shirt was off and life vest was on, "Nothing," I say with a big grin, "let's go."
After what felt like hours, my RunKeeper app notified us that we were traveling 1 mile every 37 minutes. When I heard this, I couldn't help from laughing.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! COMING IN AT A WHOPPING SPEED OF 34 MINUTES PER MILE, THE LIGHTNING FAST.... PATRICK!!!" I shout out to all of the surrounding homes.
Patrick glides past me in his kayak, lips pursed, "Okay, you're gonna need to stop."
"Stop?" I throw my hands up to my cheeks, "You mean we've actually been moving this whole time?" I laugh at my own joke, Patty continues down the way, unamused.
The sun was beginning to go down, creating a golden haze all around us. I snap a few pictures of Patty with sun beans coming in from behind him as we make our way to the golf course and float around in between two holes. I then start to paddle my way over to the shallow grassy part of the waters.
"What are you doing?" Patty asks.
"Fishing out a golf ball. Would you like one, angelfish?"
"Absolutely not. That's stealing, I'm not going to be a felon," he paddles away from me, "I'm going to stay over here. Completely unaffiliated with you."
"Whatever," I mumble as I pull a pink golf ball out of the muddy ground, keeping an eye out for any snakes, "I'm getting you one anyway."
After a while, I pause to take a picture of the setting sun, and a tuckered Patty again glides past me saying, "That's it, leisurely. Nice and slow. Leisurely pace. The world already moves so fast, why make it go faster?" He turns around and says to me, "You know, the turtle did win that race."
Distance 3.78 miles
Time 2:07:11
Min/Mile 33:38
Calories 467
We pull up to the same ole house and I, with Patty watching, unstrap the yaks and place them in the water. I toss him a life vest and he begins to snap it on before I ask, "You're going with your shirt? Or are you going to go rogue and take it off?"
He blushes and quietly says, "Okay."
"I was just asking!" I laugh, "Trea always takes his off, so I don't know. You can leave it on."
"No, I'll take it off," he motions for me to turn around.
"Big baby," I grumble.
"What was that?" he laughed.
I turn back around, his shirt was off and life vest was on, "Nothing," I say with a big grin, "let's go."
After what felt like hours, my RunKeeper app notified us that we were traveling 1 mile every 37 minutes. When I heard this, I couldn't help from laughing.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! COMING IN AT A WHOPPING SPEED OF 34 MINUTES PER MILE, THE LIGHTNING FAST.... PATRICK!!!" I shout out to all of the surrounding homes.
Patrick glides past me in his kayak, lips pursed, "Okay, you're gonna need to stop."
"Stop?" I throw my hands up to my cheeks, "You mean we've actually been moving this whole time?" I laugh at my own joke, Patty continues down the way, unamused.
The sun was beginning to go down, creating a golden haze all around us. I snap a few pictures of Patty with sun beans coming in from behind him as we make our way to the golf course and float around in between two holes. I then start to paddle my way over to the shallow grassy part of the waters.
"What are you doing?" Patty asks.
"Fishing out a golf ball. Would you like one, angelfish?"
"Absolutely not. That's stealing, I'm not going to be a felon," he paddles away from me, "I'm going to stay over here. Completely unaffiliated with you."
"Whatever," I mumble as I pull a pink golf ball out of the muddy ground, keeping an eye out for any snakes, "I'm getting you one anyway."
After a while, I pause to take a picture of the setting sun, and a tuckered Patty again glides past me saying, "That's it, leisurely. Nice and slow. Leisurely pace. The world already moves so fast, why make it go faster?" He turns around and says to me, "You know, the turtle did win that race."
Distance 3.78 miles
Time 2:07:11
Min/Mile 33:38
Calories 467
Monday, August 4, 2014
'No Wake'
Since this is Sarah Anne's first time kayaking, I have no choice but to take her to Mallini's, the usual, since it's an easy route and plenty of scenery.
Back at the house, it's comforting to see that nothing has changed. Despite longer grass and deeper tire tracks, everything is as it was when I left it last.
Sarah Anne parks the truck at the edge of the water and I note that the tide is low, making it easier to travel under the bridges we'll be encountering.
"This is pretty," she smiles.
"Isn't it?" I laugh.
She unhitches the latch of the truck and lowers the gate so we can just slide the yaks right out into the water. I attach my new paddle to my new paddle leash and clip it onto the storage unit in the back of my kayak. Sarah Anne hops in her yak and I give her a little push out into the water before doing the same.
Now, Sarah Anne is one of my dearest friends, she's absolutely brilliant and I love her to death, but when I look back and see her rocking around in her yak, turning in one direction and then the other all in a single stroke, I can't help but laugh.
I watch her continue to struggle before asking, "You got it?" even though it was clear that she indeed did not get it.
But she smiles and responds, "Yeah, you go on, I'm right behind you."
I laughed but paddled on anyway, taking it slow. I didn't want her to get lost or get eaten by an alligator or something like that.
We yak down my usual route, whistling at the birds, answering the neighbors when they call out to us, "Lovely day for that!"
After a while I hear Sarah Anne say, "How do you go so straight?! You make it look so easy!" she says as she continues her perfect chevron pattern through the water.
Eventually, she does get the hang of it..sort of. I slow down as she gets faster and we meet in the middle.
"So does this kayak have a name?" she asks.
"Mhmm, Ohana."
"Oh that's so cute! Because it's blue! Like Stitch!"
I laugh aloud, "Yeah, it's pretty precious."
"What about yours?"
Taken aback, I say, "No, I've never thought about it. What would be a good name for it?"
She looks at my bright orangeish-yellowish kayak, thinks for a moment, and then smiles, "Sunburst, very hippie, very tribal, perfect for you."
"That is perfect. Perfect name for a kayak. I'll have it painted on in no time," I smile.
We continue down the way, and before long, we're in the bay. I stop paddling and Sarah Anne looks confused.
"This is when we take a break."
She nods and puts down her paddle, soaking in the view.
We take pictures and chat, bobbing up and down over the waves.
Sarah Anne points at one of the many signs posted all over that reads 'No Wake' and asks, "What does that mean?"
I explain that a wake is the waves caused by a boat or technically anything moving through the water and she responds, "Ohh! I was wondering. Those signs are all over the place and I was like "What an odd thing to put on a sign, you can't have a wake here?" but your definition makes more sense."
I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach, throwing my head back, "Oh Sae, you kill me!"
On the way back, I decide to take us through Alligator Alley. The chances of us actually running into a gator were slim, but it's worth it. She didn't want to see one, but I had my fingers crossed. I lead the way, pointing out all of the tiny crabs that line the banks of the water. There were thousands of them, the size of my thumb nail, crawling up and down the tree roots and grass near the water's edge. We travel under the first bridge, and I was shocked that Sarah Anne made it through without hitting something or getting her paddle stuck somewhere.
"Here gator gator gator," I whistle with a grin.
"Cut it out," I hear Sarah Anne say from behind me.
I laugh and continue on under the second and final bridge. She makes her way out and I push her in the shoulder, "Look at you! Made it through the wilderness, and no gators!"
She smirks and passes by me.
Just around the corner is the house, I paddle up and Sarah Anne says, "That's it!"
"That's it!" I laugh.
"But that was so great!"
I paddle up the boat launch and come to a halt, "We'll be back, don't fret, hun."
Distance 3.17 miles
Time 1:15:13
Min/Mile 24:29
Calories 298
Back at the house, it's comforting to see that nothing has changed. Despite longer grass and deeper tire tracks, everything is as it was when I left it last.
Sarah Anne parks the truck at the edge of the water and I note that the tide is low, making it easier to travel under the bridges we'll be encountering.
"This is pretty," she smiles.
"Isn't it?" I laugh.
She unhitches the latch of the truck and lowers the gate so we can just slide the yaks right out into the water. I attach my new paddle to my new paddle leash and clip it onto the storage unit in the back of my kayak. Sarah Anne hops in her yak and I give her a little push out into the water before doing the same.
Now, Sarah Anne is one of my dearest friends, she's absolutely brilliant and I love her to death, but when I look back and see her rocking around in her yak, turning in one direction and then the other all in a single stroke, I can't help but laugh.
I watch her continue to struggle before asking, "You got it?" even though it was clear that she indeed did not get it.
But she smiles and responds, "Yeah, you go on, I'm right behind you."
I laughed but paddled on anyway, taking it slow. I didn't want her to get lost or get eaten by an alligator or something like that.
We yak down my usual route, whistling at the birds, answering the neighbors when they call out to us, "Lovely day for that!"
After a while I hear Sarah Anne say, "How do you go so straight?! You make it look so easy!" she says as she continues her perfect chevron pattern through the water.
Eventually, she does get the hang of it..sort of. I slow down as she gets faster and we meet in the middle.
"So does this kayak have a name?" she asks.
"Mhmm, Ohana."
"Oh that's so cute! Because it's blue! Like Stitch!"
I laugh aloud, "Yeah, it's pretty precious."
"What about yours?"
Taken aback, I say, "No, I've never thought about it. What would be a good name for it?"
She looks at my bright orangeish-yellowish kayak, thinks for a moment, and then smiles, "Sunburst, very hippie, very tribal, perfect for you."
"That is perfect. Perfect name for a kayak. I'll have it painted on in no time," I smile.
We continue down the way, and before long, we're in the bay. I stop paddling and Sarah Anne looks confused.
"This is when we take a break."
She nods and puts down her paddle, soaking in the view.
We take pictures and chat, bobbing up and down over the waves.
Sarah Anne points at one of the many signs posted all over that reads 'No Wake' and asks, "What does that mean?"
I explain that a wake is the waves caused by a boat or technically anything moving through the water and she responds, "Ohh! I was wondering. Those signs are all over the place and I was like "What an odd thing to put on a sign, you can't have a wake here?" but your definition makes more sense."
I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach, throwing my head back, "Oh Sae, you kill me!"
On the way back, I decide to take us through Alligator Alley. The chances of us actually running into a gator were slim, but it's worth it. She didn't want to see one, but I had my fingers crossed. I lead the way, pointing out all of the tiny crabs that line the banks of the water. There were thousands of them, the size of my thumb nail, crawling up and down the tree roots and grass near the water's edge. We travel under the first bridge, and I was shocked that Sarah Anne made it through without hitting something or getting her paddle stuck somewhere.
"Here gator gator gator," I whistle with a grin.
"Cut it out," I hear Sarah Anne say from behind me.
I laugh and continue on under the second and final bridge. She makes her way out and I push her in the shoulder, "Look at you! Made it through the wilderness, and no gators!"
She smirks and passes by me.
Just around the corner is the house, I paddle up and Sarah Anne says, "That's it!"
"That's it!" I laugh.
"But that was so great!"
I paddle up the boat launch and come to a halt, "We'll be back, don't fret, hun."
Distance 3.17 miles
Time 1:15:13
Min/Mile 24:29
Calories 298
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Cousin Time
I walk out of my room at 7 a.m. and smile at Graham who was sound asleep on the living room floor.
"Graham," I call out to him. He moans and rolls over.
"Hun, wake up, we've got to go," I say.
He rubs his eyes and whispers, "Okay, I'm up."
I proceed over to the kitchen and find Mom and Lois chatting about something or another. Lois's face lights up when I walk in and asks, "Is he up? Are you two going?"
I laugh, "Psh, of course we're going."
On the ride over, Graham offers me some Wheat Thins as he looks out the window. We pull up to the house and he asks, "Do you know these people?" I smile, "Nope, I just wave and smile when they ask if I need help."
We put the yaks in the water and I hand Graham the better paddle and I take the.. less better one. He sits in his blue yak and I push him out into the water. Quickly getting in mine, I push out and paddle in front of him, taking the lead.
He follows closely behind before eventually getting the hang of it and surpassing me. He asks me questions about my previous kayak adventures as we paddle onward. I try to pick up the pace so we can make it out to the Bay and back all in our one hour time frame. I point out "Alligator Alley" when we pass it and tell him that if he didn't have a plane to catch, I'd take him down there. He laughs and says, "Next time then."
The water is still and the sun remains tolerable. Mullets hurl themselves out of the water around us and I tell Graham about the time a much bigger fish almost jumped right into Trea's kayak.
We make it out into the bay and we say good morning to the fishermen who are slowly beginning to know me as a regular. I tell Graham not to go past a certain lone pier post, saying that past that point is where the water gets choppy. We stop paddling and just sit and watch the sun reflect over the water as if thousands of tiny crystals were falling from the sun, dancing on the waves. No boats are out yet and everything is as quiet as can be.
Over on the rocks a few yards away, a white bird catches my eye. He was creeping up and down the rocks looking for something to catch in the water. Its legs made up 70% of its body and his head was crouched down to the ground. I slowly make my way over to him, trying to get as close as I can without scaring him off. Graham follows and the bird stops. He stares directly at Graham and crouches even lower to the ground than before. Graham makes a face at the bird, I snap a pic, and then the bird takes off, flying directly over Graham, making his way over to the other set of rocks where there won't be any goofy teenagers bothering him.
I ask Graham if he likes it and he responds, "Yeah, this is pretty sweet," in one of the most sincerest ways I have ever heard anything been said.
I look at my watch and tell him we've gone about 1.5 miles. He seems impressed and looks out at the open water one last time before we head back to the house.
Distance 2.61 miles
Time 57:32
Min/Mile 22:02
Calories 228
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Down By The Bay
We drive down the dusty little trail and come to a stop as we reach the edge of the launch. Trea and I sit in the car, watching the temperature go from 90 degrees to 91 degrees. After a few moments of silence, I turn to him and say with a grin, "It's not too late to turn around and go home." He laughs but responds, "It's not a hobby if you don't enjoy it." So we unload the kayaks, attach our paddles, buckle our life vests, say good morning to the adorable family who allows us to use their boat launch at our disposal, and then head out. We each press play on our individual Pandora stations and I hit start in my RunKeeper app to begin the workout.
I take the front, leading us around the bend. The sun shining brightly down on me, the sound of my kayak's teeny tiny wake following me. We travel around the island, whistling at the family of egrets sitting on an abandoned wooden bench. The tide pulls us out with it, making it much easier to paddle through the swampy waters. A few boats motor past us, the children smiling and pointing, before we reach a small harbor. To our surprise, there was actually a boat all the way from New Jersey. We paddle under a small bridge, pausing for a moment to take refuge in its cool shade. After a few more turns, we see the bay. A shallow part approaches so we stay to the right in order not to get stuck in the murky sand. The waves become greater as we drift out farther into the bay. Trea catches up to me and grabs ahold of the side of my kayak. We sit and chat and then all of a sudden we wash up on the sandy and rocky coast. Trea's kayak crashing into mine, causing water to flood over, soaking my shorts. Thankfully my kayak was self-bailing; Trea didn't have such luck. He sees something floating a few feet away from him and asks what it is. I say, "Either a Styrofoam cup or maybe it's the Kraken." He laughs and goes to investigate. Turns out it's the head of a dead fish. He picks it up out of the water and holds it up so I can see. I cringe and he pulls it back as if he's about to throw it at me. I shriek as he hurls it in my direction, he laughs as it just misses me and lands on the sand. "You're such a girl," he smiles. I laugh, "I'm sorry I don't like fish carcasses being thrown at me." I get out and pull my kayak onto the shore, taking a gulp from my water bottle. Trea wrestles with the waves and heads back out in the water. I stay on the beach, laughing at him, before eventually pushing mine back into the bay and not-so-gracefully getting into the yak. We paddle back into calmer waters and then take a breath. Trea turns to me and asks, "Ready to head back?"
Distance 3.24 miles
Time 1:22:27
Min/Mi 25:29
Calories 321
Distance 3.24 miles
Time 1:22:27
Min/Mi 25:29
Calories 321
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