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.

<>< :)