I went for a swim today.

I went kayaking early this afternoon at a pond in Greeley. The pond is along one of my favorite parts of the Poudre River Trail. Not many people are usually there during the week. A few bikers, walkers, and maybe some fishers. But, I tend to have the place to myself. THANK GOODNESS!!! I would've been insanely embarrassed if I had known that somebody saw me. And here's why.

The pond is small. It's a pond. So I usually just paddle around it a few times. I'll pick up trash in the water, watch for fish and turtles. I'll sometimes even see a heron in the cat tails. Today was no different. I picked up few bits of trash, scared a turtle, and was startled myself by some unknown creature (I actually yelped). I thought I saw a snake or other creature skirting across the water going after bugs, but when I came up closer it was a caught fish being reeled in. I thought the thing had jumped out of the water of its own accord! Needless to say, I was feeling a bit skiddish.

On my final pass round the pond, as I was pulling up to the area where I like to get out, I was on a head-on collision course with a BEHEMOTH of a dragonfly. The thing was so huge that it was carrying something. (The something looked like a small mouse.) It continued on its path towards me and I was still gliding in the water. We did the "which way are you going" dance and still, we were headed right for each other. I dodged left, I dodged right, and as I dodged left again I started to roll. I wasn't able to counteract the roll left so I pitched over. I was in the water. My kayak was upside down. The stupid dragonfly was nowhere to be seen. As I got myself together (treading water), I took inventory. The trash was still strapped to my kayak, my paddle was floating, my favorite water bottle was inside the kayak. Excellent. I was unable to roll the kayak back over so I started pulling it and my paddle towards shore. I then realized that I was missing my hat. I looked back and there it was, floating. So I continued to shore, dropped things off and swam back for my hat.

The water felt awesome. It's not very clean, but it was nice. I sat on the shore drenched, laughing. I couldn't belive this happened to me! All because of a blasted dragonfly!! I thought about bringing my camera with me today. Thank goodness I didn't! I couldn't imagine explaning this one to the insurance company. And yes, I did have a lifevest. I wasn't wearing it, but it was in the craft with me. City law requires I have one, but how am I suppossed to get a nice tan wearing it?!?

Moral of the story: Take swimming lessons, they may come in handy.

<>< :)

Cub Lake-Rocky Mountain Ntl. Park

Shawn's been crying about a new post...so here it is!

Today, I went hiking with two of my friends to Cub Lake in RMNP in Estes Park. It was a great day for it. Neither Julie or Mike had ever been there before. But, if a pregnant woman and a two year old could do the hike, I was sure these two could handle it!

Nothing exciting or out of the ordinary. We did see a yellow-bellied marmot and a blue grouse though. Elk were out, but they were way out yonder. Ducks and chipmunks were climbing our rock at the lake to eat our food. The chipmunk stole my banana peel.

Beautiful Day.