A VERY good day...

Yesterday a friend and I went to a kayak clinic in Ithaca, NY. It was her first time out and my first time on this kind of water. We took the Cayuga Canal (think swampy) into Cass Park which is actually larger water at lake level. There were 7 of us, including the guide. It was cloudy and about 72 degrees. The water was high and murky from all the recent rain but it was fun anyway! Shortly after we started, my friend noticed a blue heron sitting high in the canopy...I pulled out my trusty waterproof Kodak camera and clicked away..LOL...I love those litte cameras! Anyway...we heard it's call too, I'd never heard it before and thought it would be deeper but it actually was pretty chirpy. We paddled past a huge lilypad community, around some downed trees, under a few bridges (one was REALLY low....had to duck to get under it), by a few restaurants with dock space for hungry boaters, by a boat slip and past the Cornell Rowing Team Building. Groups of mallard ducks were around every bend. Our guide chatted away with anyone who was nearby, sharing information about the birds, plants and the kayaks. We paddled at a leisurely pace, sometimes racing with the boy (WOOO HOOOOOOOO!) in the group and had a grand time! In all, we paddled just a few short miles and would have been happy to do more. When we got back to shore, we had the added bonus our husbands waiting for us with great big smiles and a hand at pulling the boat up onto shore before we got out (I think getting out is the trickiest part and the water at that point was really murky and mucky)...that was a nice surprise and very much appreciated!
We left with tired, exhilerated bodies (if that makes any sense) and big giant smiles. I can't wait to do it again!!!!!

Michelle