I’m as excited as a puppy to be going on a sunset (kayak) paddle this evening on the Salish Sea.
When my son and granddaughters were visiting last week (what joy!) I had planned on taking them on a sunset paddle. Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate so we had to scratch that plan. Since the weather is wonderfully clear all this week, I’ve booked myself for a sunset paddle with the lovely lady with whom I took kayak lessons back in 2013.
You won’t be seeing any meditative, calm, images of my sunset paddle, however. After taking the few photos you see here, I’m afraid as soon as I stepped into the water, I promptly fell in, camera and all! My camera is dead. Thankfully, the SD card wasn’t damaged.
It was truly a night to remember — despite the camera fatality. The water was so calm, the most movement were thick luscious rollers that easily could have rocked a person to sleep. The water crystal clear until a person gets way out into the much deeper water. One of the girls was spooked by the black water though she eventually allowed herself to relax and take in the serene evening.
There were seals, playful sea lions, and sea birds. A few other kayakers and one sailboat were encountered but otherwise it was near silence the entire two hours. The only sound was the licking of the oars as they entered and emerged from the warm sea.
While gliding through the sea, my emotions were heightened by the extreme beauty and the serenity of the evening. I must do this more often.
I couldn’t help but think of this ubiquitous quote: Sarah Frances Brown (not Mark Twain) wrote,
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
In other words, it’s so important that we seize each day and the gifts each day has to offer. We’ll never remember TV shows or what blather was on social media, but we will remember the experiences we’ve had.
Sorry about the camera, glad you were able to not let it ruin the experience.
that’s quite a day you had. i’m sorry to hear about you losing your camera. i must say it dawned on me years ago that not everything was meant to be photographed. some things are just meant to be enjoyed. i promise i’m not scolding you for taking your camera, by any stretch of the imagination, but perhaps there is a what if here?
No seas here in Southwest Virginia – but we do have rivers!
I have a friend who usually is out canoeing 2 or 3 times a week with her canoe club from March through October. They are not, this year – too many members riding together to shuffle cars from put in to take out, and back after. Plus a number of older members.
So myself, DH and Younger Son have gone with her a few times this summer, on sections of the Little River and the New River. Well – a mix of canoe and two kayaks, as I’m not experienced with either – so I’m in the front of the canoe with my friend in back, and DH & YS trail the canoe in kayaks. I’m hoping I get back out another time or two, as I’ve enjoyed the canoeing and the time out in nature (great blue heron(s), little green heron, turtles, cormorants, bald eagle, dragonflies…)…
[Older Son was exposed to the virus for several hours at work last Wednesday, we are home isolating for now, until he can get tested and get results.]