Kayaking Expedition

This summer, we decided it might be fun to take up kayaking. We had tried a tandem kayak once before on our honeymoon, but, well, let's just say that didn't turn out well. I suppose we're gluttons for punishment, but we wanted to give it another go, so one day we visited Economy Tackle in Sarasota. The salesman there was extremely helpful. He explained the differences in the kayaks - turns out there all kinds of kayaks at all kinds of prices. It also turns out that kayakers like to call tandem kayaks "D-boats" - short for "divorce boats." Based on our honeymoon experience, I would say they're not far off.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, we rented a couple kayaks (notice I said two - NOT a tandem) and took a trip around Neville Marine Preserve in Sarasota. We started in a lagoon, made our way out to the Intracoastal Waterway, circled around the preserve, and came back. All in all, we went about 3 miles and it took about 2.5 hours...AND WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

There is something so calming, so freeing about being out in open waters like that. The fish jumping all around you. The total absence of civilization. Just you and God's creation. In all the craziness of our lives, it was nice to get away from the traffic and the noise and the crowds.

Notice that the only things you can see are the trees, the sky, the water, and us. Almost total isolation. No one else around except the occasional fellow kayaker. 

It. Was. Wonderful.

Not long into our trip, we decided to take a bit of a detour into what we knew would be a dead end. But hey, that's what you do when you're on an adventure.

Meet the Dead End. All that brush-looking growth is a maze of mangroves with little tunnels weaved throughout. In other parts of the county, these tunnels are big enough that you can actually go through them, but nothing bigger than a kayak will fit. I've been told that the groves seem like they are moving because of all the wildlife in them. Yes, we will definitely be trying that next.

As I said, just us and God's creation.

Another perk of this particular trail is this little sight. Small airport? No. Abandoned office space? Guess again. This terminal-esque building is the home of none other than the author Stephen King. Rather unimpressive and non-foreboding for a mystery writer, don't you agree?

Before I go, I must leave you with this little number.

For more pictures, check out my Facebook album.

By the way, in case you were wondering, it is perfectly acceptable for you to buy kayaks for us for Christmas.

Until next time,

Cyndi

Welcome...

...to our life and our blog and everything you didn't want to know about us. I have been pondering the idea of a blog for a while, but so far my husband is the only thing in my life to which I have successfully committed. Which means, I tend to start things and then quit. But, here goes.

My vision for this blog is to capture all the things we enjoy doing and share them here, along with the occasional rant. Since we're living so far away from everything we've ever known and aren't likely to move back "home" anytime in the near future, I also hope that it will be a way to keep family and friends involved in our life.

But let's be honest, this blog might attract a whopping 2 followers, so really it's just going to be my creative outlet. And that's OK with me.

Love,
Cyndi

P.S. Stay tuned for pictures of our recent kayaking adventure.