Peaceful Paddling

My wife and I had a “staycation” of sorts this weekend…and it was everything we’d hoped it would be.

We’ve been on go, go, go mode for so long, it seems. This was an opportunity to recharge our batteries and just enjoy a few days together. As we sit here in continued relaxation mode afterward, both of us would tell you it definitely was worth it.

My parents are out of town for the week and so we went to their place for the weekend. They have a pool, the lake is nearby – why not? It was fabulous.

Granted, we were aided by essentially perfect weather. 70-something and sunny the past two days, with a nice little breeze in there at times. Amazing.

We did some poolside sitting (and napping), played a little golf,  sat and talked a lot, saw some friends for dinner one night. Simple pleasures.

What we did the most, though, was canoe. We spent probably seven or eight hours out on the water the past two days. Time well spent.

Sure, we threw our lures into the water in hopes of reeling in the big one while we were out there. But, fishing wasn’t the main attraction. Exploring a body of water I’d never really been able to before and getting to do that with my wife was a winning combination.

I’ve included a short video from one of the areas we were able to experience this morning. Hope you enjoy it at least somewhat as much as we did.

Peaceful paddling. Wonderful weekend. Batteries recharged. No complaints. 🙂

Getting Away from it All

Life gets pretty busy sometimes (or most of the time, depending on what you have going on.) I don’t know about you, but I like to get away from it all, every now and then. A little respite from being busy and, unfortunately in today’s world, a break from all the bad news and tragic events.

For me these days, that place of escape is being on the water in a canoe.

No cares, no worries…and lots of beautiful scenery to look at. That “scenery” normally includes my wife 🙂 But, last night I took a solo journey out on the water. The photo above doesn’t do justice to the magnificent sunset, but gives you a glimpse at what I got to see out there.

It was very relaxing. There’s something about the feeling of just floating on top of the water, drifting along. Ah. Wonderful. Sunsets are a bonus out there, and they often have been quite spectacular for us in our various outings.

We try to get out to different places, and we go as often as it’s practical to do so. When it comes to these evening excursions, it seems that instantly whatever cares you have from the day just drift away as you set off on the adventure into nature. Great stress relief, and always time well spent.

What about you? What do you do to relax or get away from it all? Would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment, below!

Have a great day.

Canoe

As one of our wedding presents, my wife and I recently acquired a beautiful new canoe that looks exactly like the one in the picture, below. I could not be happier about this.

I mean, just look at it. Ah.

Water has always fascinated me, and boats of course being the transportation mode of choice for getting around on water, have also caught my interest. “Vessels of freedom” as Kenny Chesney describes in one of his songs.

Built to get you out on the water and get away from the daily grind…and hey, engines are optional. A few paddles are all I need to get around. 🙂

We’ve taken ours out one time so far. Other than struggling to get it properly tied onto the vehicle (oops) it was a perfect ending to a long, busy week. So peaceful. Can’t wait to get it back in the water this summer and unwind out on the water.

I’m thankful for this blessing. Sure, it’s just a 15 foot long piece of fiberglass – but it’s a way to enjoy life and spend time with the people I love. I feel fortunate to have it.

Have a great day.