One of my favorite places to be is out on open water. I love the way it feels when your paddle slices through the current, gliding you along.
It feels like a dance.
We try to fit in kayaking anytime we're on a new adventure near water.
In 2006 we took an 8 day trip to Puerto Vallarta. We hiked in the Sierra Madre mountains, visited small fishing villages, and kayaked along the shore of the Pacific Ocean.
The water was still and warm, and it was one of the most beautiful places we had kayaked.
In May when we visited Florida, I wanted to kayak in the Atlantic. Cousin James advised us that the current wasn't safe, so we reserved our days to surf, instead. But I got antsy to dance in the water, so we took a little road trip to Wekiwa Springs, to get on a kayak and paddle along.
It wasn't like any place we had ever kayaked before. I felt like we were in a sticky jungle, taking guesses at the wild noises we heard coming from the trees. We didn't know if they were monkeys, birds, or the lockness monster.
The water was completely clear, and fifteen feet straight down, it looked like another world, upsidedown. We saw creatures there that we had never seen before. Eels, mysterious fish bigger than anything I'd ever seen, and turtles at least 3 feet long.
And there were alligators. Lots, and lots of alligators. I've never been that close to them in their natural habitat. They just stared at us and disappeared under the water if we got too close.
Mama alligator huffed and puffed when we got too close to her babies on the log.
Did I mention the beautiful water?
I loved it there. And the hours we spent on that adventure, exploring the springs and all the creatures in it.
This was a sweet Summer. We have so many memories that we made in these sticky, hot months.
.....
I'm sorry I've been quiet. Lately it seems that I have put everything aside to just live. I haven't even taken pictures in weeks, which is incredibly abnormal for me.
I won't be gone forever, I just need a few weeks to still breathe in the moments of these memories. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
35 comments:
Thanks for sharing this beautiful and scary (alligators!) adventure! Your trips always inspire me to make plans - I wish I could fulfil them sooner though! Still waiting for my one day... :) Looks like so much fun!! Hope you are enjoying your time out. :)
Looks so adventurous and peaceful! Enjoy your weekend, and live life:-)
Thanks for sharing!
These pictures are absolutely beautiful! I love kayaking and most any outdoor sports. My husband and I have been talking about buying our own so hopefully we will be able to soon!
Love,
Leah B.
It's good to be quiet sometimes. But I'll admit I was happy to see a new post from you! The alligator picture made my stomach drop.
omg! you're a brave lil lady. There is no way in hell I'd get into the water with an alligator!
I would love to go kayaking, but the water scares me or actually that if the kayak will turn upside down and i will panic (I have really bad memories with surfing and being smashed to rocks with massive waves..)
Your photos are beautiful as always! It looks like amazon to me, wow. I'm dreaming that I could visit next year outside of europe, to see this kind of places.
I hope you will have great weekend too, and it's great idea to take a break sometimes.
As always, beautiful photos!
No need for apologies, Aura. We all need time to decompress every now and then...Life first! You have to create experiences before you can have the memories, right? Enjoy your quiet-time. :)
welcome back, aura, even if it is temporary. i, too, have taken time away to take in life. however, whenever i do return, i always check to see if you've posted. you're an absolute joy. :)
Aura Greetings!
Without many words ... spectacular images! The landing of the bird and thou air "retro" are my favorite! ;)
Kiss of Light * * *
I just looked up Wekiwa Springs, and it turns out to be only a couple hours north of where I live. Maybe we'll we'll make a day trip there sometime- my husband and I love to kayak.
It it good to be quiet sometimes. I have been feeling like I need a hiatus from the internet lately.
Enjoy breathing in the moments of your memories!
We'll be here when you get back,
Layla :-)
I'm so glad to see a post from you! Your words and pictures are always so inspiring. I've never been kayaking but after reading your post, I will be adding this to my list of things to do! :)
Valerie
Thank you, every one! I am always so appreciative of you guys, and how you stick around and leave me such sweet comments, even though I'm a lazy, inconsistent blogger :)
For those of you that have never tried kayaking, I'd really suggest it. If you find a sit on top kayak, they are more stable. I've never been in one that has tipped, or even come close.
The first time I got in and just felt it glide over the water, I was in heaven. Michael and I have been searching for a good used, 2 person kayak for almost 4 years, but unfortunately Oklahomans are not that active and don't use up and they resell their kayaks very often :)
Hannah- Go! Go! We didn't realize it, but about an hour past where we'd kayaked, you could see manatees! Isn't that crazy? We were so upset that we turned back early, not knowing what was up ahead.
These photos are beautiful!
And so are you :)
I loved looking at the pictures, so incredible! I can't believe you got that close to alligators, I would flip!
I went kayaking for the first time a few weeks ago. My husband LOVES kayaking! I didn't really want to but my husband wanted me to experience it, so I said okay. I kept floating further & further away, so far he couldn't swim out to get me (he was freaking out lol), finally I made my way back to the shore . . . then I flipped! haha On the flip side, (no pun intended haha) it definitely made me feel alive!! =) The experience was pretty radical! lol Also, later that day we randomly went on a mini canoe trip & I loooooved it!! haha But, from looking at your pictures, I think I would like kayaking as long as it isn't in the ocean with big waves!
Have a nice relaxing Sunday! =)
so vivid and lovely.
Awesome! My husband and I love the open water and the outdoors. He has been kayaking a lot lately and since we have three children I am on shore with two of them as he takes one out at a time...so needless to say we are getting into canoeing. :) We went while we were at a resort on vacation and we all fit just fine and had a great time.
What wonderful memories and pictures you have! Have a blessed Sunday!
Kjirsten
http://simplyloverly.blogspot.com
Okay so I am not sure if I typed my blog address correctly...
here it is again if I didn't
http://simplyloverly.blogspot.com
sometimes my keys get stuck. :S
I love your photos! You are such a good photographer! :)
-m-
http://lifeimpressionss.blogspot.com
Very Beautiful!
goodness, I love this post!!
great photos.
so happy to have stumbled upon your blog.
I will freak out with that alligator. But I will definitely try it. That was how I felt with diving. I don't know how to swim (up to now) but I love the water. I've been a diver for almost 4 years now. And there is no other thrill when you see sharks, and rays, and all the cutesy, wutsey underwater creatures. I love nature.
Beautiful photos! What a great adventure it must've been.
Oh wonderful day to you Aura! The Hubs and I went for a short weekend to Lake Murray after seeing your post(s) of your time there. Thank you so much for blogging about it. It is by far the nicest lake we have been to. I don't like to swim in the lakes up here (we are between Ft. Gibson, Tenkiller, and Eufaula lakes) as they are murky and fishy smelling. But Murray was warm, clear, and smelled like heaven! The Hubs really enjoyed Tucker Tower. We didn't get to go to Elephant Rock etc., because I forgot to bring cash. Maybe next time!
Keep posting these great Oklahoma trips. We have seen so much more of our state because of inspiration from you and M. I feel as if I have never explored the place I grew up in. But that is changing now.
-with thought and love-
Leah
these are so stunning, makes me wish I was there!
Aura, oh how I have missed your blog, so glad you are back, see I missed when you came back, and will catch up on those posts, but stunning as always
Beautiful pictures. I wouldn't have gotten out of the boat like you did - too afraid an alligator would come up and grab me. They do that, don't they?
Great photos!! :)
my bf and I love kayaking!!
http://ladulcivida.blogspot.com/
this makes me truly miss my florida. i now am aching to go. i have to wait until January though. :( don't be mistaken, i'm not from florida, my mom is though, i swear it is this thing in my blood or something. that beautiful water. i want to get in canoe.
We went to Wekiwa springs in November and it is so gorgeous!
Hahaha wow, what a trip. It's like seeing my photos from another point of view. I hope you made the left turn up Rock Springs Run shortly after your put-in. That run is my favorite nearby kayak spot, and I'm anxiously waiting for school to get back in session so I can enjoy it again..
P.S. As for the manatees, they'd most likely be gone by May, so you didn't really miss them. And you'd have had to paddle way more than an hour.
Now its' my turn to be jealous!!! These trips look amazing. I will admit I'd be a bit freaked out by the alligators.
We went out on Sunday to the creek and witness over 50 Canadian Geese, an adult deer and a fawn on the side of the bank as well as a hawk. It was a quiet still day and the 4 of us were the only souls on the creek.
I always love those days but secretly worry that there may be some strange reason we were the only ones, like we weren't supposed to be there.
I figured you have been gone because you are enjoying your last dances with summer. I know you only blog when you feel inspired so I figured you were out searching for inspiration.
We'll be here waiting for you - come back when you're ready! ox
Love your blog--I tagged you for a blog tag/award thingee. :)
http://lifeimpressionss.blogspot.com
-m-
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