Current mood: adventurous
So today Susan had the day off because her weekend got messed up last week. I asked her what she wanted to do, and she did the typical "well what do u want to do". After going back and fouth i finally said "something active. In fact there is this park i've been wanting to check out called Johnathan Dickenson State Park". She replied okay, how do we get there, and suggested that we take a picnic lunch. Sounds great to me. So i packed a lunch for us and off we went.
We get out there and finally there is a sign in the middle of nowhere for the turnoff. We pull over, and little did we know, as soon as u pull off the road, ur practically there! What you see, is what you get! LOL it's not much of a "nature trail" as i was told, and not much "real trees" but it would do. We paid our $4 admission fee and drove in to what we called "the Crows nest". It was a 10 min walk up this huge deck type deal to what looks like a cross between a treehouse, a stargazer, and a deck. It was neat as were at the highest point in the town, a whole 86 feet! LOL oh lordy! When they say Florida is flat...they mean, FLAT!
Anyways, we looked out at this dry boring land that was so hot and dusty it felt like the desert, only the Atlantic ocean was in sight. We took some pics and ate a snack up there and then decided to go drive down to the creek area to see if there was better "nature".
We get down there and we find a concession stand/gift/rental shop. We find out that we can rent boats. Were on a budget, and all we can afford is the canoe! I've never been canoeing before, and I am not the best swimmer so i was a bit scared to be honest. I've also seen way to many movies where they tip over! I am a bit reluctant but Susan continues to say "you want me to go camping with you, then you gotta go canoeing with me!" i say fair enough. We hand over our car keys, pay the fee, and the lady gives us a map and tells us where NOT to go, and some landmarks to use as time guides. Said "be back back 5pm at the latest, life vests and oars are out back, you're on your own hauling it down to the water, launching it and bringing it back! have fun!" Susan and I both look at each other and laugh at how crazy this seems that we are just "on our own!" but were up tot he challenge and we go for it!
We got the boat in the water really well, i got in first and then Susan. Once i was in i noticed how unstable these boats really are! OMG! i was freaking out! the slightest movement, and WOAH NELLY! you're a tippin'! We luckily had the dock there to hang onto to get our bearings, but i had no idea how the hell we were not gonna tip this thing once we got away from the dock. To be honest i was scared shitless! Before we pushed off this guy hollered down to us that Susan was facing the wrong direction! LOL he ran down and gave us some pointers. He said he had a boat like this one and that they weren't very stable. Yeah no shit yo!
He pointed out that cuz i'm in back that i have to steer. That to make a sharp turn to stick the deep in the water, and to alternate sides when our arms get tired. He said most of all "YOU GOTTA REALAX!" once you sit back and relax and get the hang of it, you'll enjoy it. And...off we went!
I do have to say he was right! once i chilled the fuck out and didn't make any sudden movements, we were good. We decided after all of that, that we are offically ready for marriage! Why you ask? well in order to Canoe sucessfully, one must first and foremost exercise BALANCE! secondly, TRUST! then PATIENCE, TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, COMPENSATION, ENDURANCE, STRENGTH, OH AND HUMOR! :) We sang, laughed, screamed, got scared, excited, felt the breeze on our faces, got wet, saw jumping fish, ran into a tree! feared bubbles for fear of gators! saw birds, and other boaters. We endured the "rocking of the boat" from other motor boats, and even saw some other couples out on the water who were NOT working together as well as we were, which made us see that were actually doing pretty damn good! and we felt proud of ourselves.
All in all, it was a "feel the fear, and do it anyway" experience for me. I was most afraid of tipping the boat because there were surely gators in this creek, and there was no shore to swim to! it was all swamp! no land in sight! So that was the scary part. the big IF we tip, WHERE the fuck do we go!?!? LOL Anyways...it was so awesome! i am very proud of us in working together, and am also very proud of Susan for as she put it, "We can't be much more one with nature then this!" and she is SO NOT a nature kinda gal! :)
I had a blast. I'm glad she made us go! It totally made the park worthwhile, and even adventurous!
Here's a slideshow of our day with "nature" :)
*Peats*
PS: THERE'S THIS BAR IN THE GORGE IN TROUTDALE OREGON THAT I USE TO DRIVE BY ALL THE TIME CALLED "THE TIPPY CANOE". I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT TILL NOW! AND BOY DOES THAT TAKE ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING FOR ME! I THINK I'LL ALWAYS THINK OF THIS CAONOE TRIP EVERY TIME I SEE THAT BAR AGAIN. :)
