I've never been an "outdoorsy" kind of girl. I didn't enjoy playing sports. Camping was never my cup of tea. I didn't get into hunting and fishing like some girls do. Growing up down south, it was just too hot in the summer and there were things outdoors that slithered and flew and hopped and some of them would bite you or sting you and when that happened, sometimes you died. No. It was not my cup of tea at all. While I spent a lot of my childhood outdoors running around and playing outside, I was just as comfortable and often preferred to be inside where things were nice and clean and much cooler than it was outside. No creepy, crawly, slithering anything to scare me inside the nice safe house.
My how times have changed....
Now that I live in New England where summer is so amazing and there are very few things that slither and crawl around, I find myself drawn to the outdoors more and more. I'm still a little cautious when walking through the forest (old habits die hard); but the knowledge that the creepy crawlies are not so prevalent up here has released me to enjoy the outdoors just a bit more. I'm quite sure that being cooped up all winter, also, helps encourage me to enjoy the warm summer days, as well, since I know they are limited.
This past summer I was able to try kayaking for the first time. My in-laws have kayaks and they took us out to Grafton Pond one Sunday for an afternoon of kayaking and a picnic on one of the islands.
One time in the kayak was all that it took for the two of us to get "kayak fever". I can honestly say that this was the most fun that I've had since moving up here. Grafton Pond is so peaceful and beautiful and kayaking allows you to experience it up close and personal.
When you work full time as David and I do, we only have the weekends to get out and experience life. If you look at a calendar, there are only so many weekends in a summer to do everything that you want to do. With kayaking, the weather has to cooperate because you don't want to get caught out on the lake or pond in the middle of a thunderstorm.
We definitely did not get out as many times as we would have liked last summer; but, kayaking is definitely something that we can't wait to experience again. The count down to summer has begun.
Candace,
ReplyDeleteI never was in a kayak until my 60th birthday! We both got them for my birthday and we had more fun. We are on a lake so we had easy access. My hip started to act up and I had replacement surgery so no more kayaking as getting in and out is just too uncomfortable. But my husband goes often and this past summer saw a nesting loon.
Enjoy!
Carol
I'm still not really an outdoorsy girl but I've gotten better about it! And I've been kayaking a few times and love it! So much fun!
ReplyDeleteThat does look like so much fun! And I love seeing these pictures in the dead of winter. Helps remind us that there really is a summer. lol
ReplyDeletebella bella I have been off the grid for months!!! while there is no way to catch up, I'm jumping in with both feet, and I must say it feels good, to not only read my favorite bloggers posts, but to write again (still freelancing articles for calvary once a month, but hadn't blogged since september!!) - in any case, I wanted to tell you that in 2 1/2 years of blogging, I have only posted 74 posts....yep, still haven't reached my 100th yet. I intended to blog once a week, but, life happens, doesn't it? so do not fret, you will write as you feel moved to - I loved this post and thinking of how much fun you had kayaking. What a release it must have been. My husband and I love to white water raft but have never been kayaking, I think I shall like to try it some time!!! happy new year!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not an outdoorsy gal either but when I'm in NH there is something so magical about it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun! I wish I could get my husband to do something like this...but you're right...summer's are hot and HUMID down South, with wayyyy too many crawly, bite-y, buzzing things!
ReplyDeleteI love going camping in the mountains, but my husband definitely does not. I'm still trying to convince him to take a camping trip with me. Although part of that may be due to the fact I grew up in California, which has much milder summers (even more so in the mountains), compared to him who grew up in Louisiana.
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