WIWLW-ish
1 day ago
Ghost River Kayaking Trip #2
Sunday, July 10, 2016
I was so excited to go back after last year's trip.
The group met at our house and we drove to LaGrange, TN, out to Bateman Road. We were met by Mark, who gave us thorough directions on how to navigate. Look for the blue markers. If there's a fork, go where the current is stronger. Pay attention to the number 3, when you see that, it's time to dock and eat lunch. Thirty minutes after that, you'll reach a fork where you'll see signs to turn left. So turn left. If you're gone more than 6 hours, call them so they know you're OK.
The Ghost River Rental crew was super nice. We waited a few more minutes and then we loaded in the van driving up river.
When we got there, the kayaks were all laid out. Again, I got the blue one. For beginners, the red Riveria one is the one you one. It's the lightest weight and easiest to maneuver. If you read this pdf, it gives you tons of valuable information about the river. And I think this is one of the best parts: "It is beautifully representative of a wild swamp river, and paddlers can observe five distinct ecosystems, or plant communities, as the river meanders through: (1) bottomland hardwoods, (2) open shrubby wetlands, 3) cypress-tupelo swamp, (4) open water swamp, and (5) grassy wetland."
We pushed ourselves off the sandy dock and we were on our way.
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The group met at our house and we drove to LaGrange, TN, out to Bateman Road. We were met by Mark, who gave us thorough directions on how to navigate. Look for the blue markers. If there's a fork, go where the current is stronger. Pay attention to the number 3, when you see that, it's time to dock and eat lunch. Thirty minutes after that, you'll reach a fork where you'll see signs to turn left. So turn left. If you're gone more than 6 hours, call them so they know you're OK.
The Ghost River Rental crew was super nice. We waited a few more minutes and then we loaded in the van driving up river.
When we got there, the kayaks were all laid out. Again, I got the blue one. For beginners, the red Riveria one is the one you one. It's the lightest weight and easiest to maneuver. If you read this pdf, it gives you tons of valuable information about the river. And I think this is one of the best parts: "It is beautifully representative of a wild swamp river, and paddlers can observe five distinct ecosystems, or plant communities, as the river meanders through: (1) bottomland hardwoods, (2) open shrubby wetlands, 3) cypress-tupelo swamp, (4) open water swamp, and (5) grassy wetland."
We pushed ourselves off the sandy dock and we were on our way.
The hardest part was the constant steering during some parts of the trip. The passage was narrow, so it took a lot of strength to be able to navigate and not get stuck in the branches or lily pads. I was also the slowest one on the team. I went at my own pace, which was difficult the first time because you either have to be OK with being left behind and navigating by yourself or you have to push yourself to the point of pure exhaustion to keep up with your peers. This time I went slow and steady and was not as exhausted as I was from last year's trip.
The funnest part? Okay, it was falling in. Mind you I only did it once at the very end. But it makes for great storytelling.
My favorite part was this view. Where it just opened up and suddenly I felt like I wasn't in Tennessee at all, but somewhere more spectacular. Who knew that there could be a view like this?
Reminders for me next time: bring the water gloves. I used them early on and it prevented me from getting blisters. Put sunblock on my shins. Play music.
By the time we got home I was exhausted, but not in pain like I was by the end of the first trip. I ate Tops for dinner and planned to watch a movie, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out. I slept from 5pm to 8am the next morning. My body is only a little sore, but not so bad. I feel it a little in my core and fingers.
All in all, I can't wait for the next trip! Lord willing, next time I go I'll finally be able to say I didn't flip!
Finding Inspiration
Friday, July 1, 2016
If you ever want to be inspired, just stop talking.
I'm serious. Just sit. And listen to the people around you.
That's exactly what I did today at our local Toastmasters. I just sat and I listened to the man giving the impromptu speech. The topic? Inspiration. He walked us through his words of wisdom, given to his children, and they were simply: aim higher, read, and follow your heart.
At face value these may seem simply cliché, but listen to the deeper messages within those tiny statements.
Aim higher as in don't just 'aim higher' now, but rather never stop aiming higher. Never stop growing. Always strive to stretch yourself, because the growth that follows is an incredible treasure. If would be boring if you were the same person you are now thirty years from now or even 10 years from now! Let yourself be challenged to grow.
Read—now not just reading to check a book off a list. For me, within the last few months, leaders, teachers, and people I admire have said reading is important. It's not just retention of the words in the book, but taking those words and applying them, molding them with your thoughts and perspectives, letting them move you or change you or educate you. The more you know, the more you can speak into people's lives and have meaningful opinions about things that matter.
Follow your heart. "The days are long, but the years are short," he quoted. Everybody in the audience nodded their heads in agreement. Why spend your energy and waste what time you have doing things that don't make you happy? Family, traveling, reading—whatever it may be, be intentional and do more of it. The time is now!
I have three short phrases of my own to add to his. Be a sponge. Take opportunities. See beyond the now. I've prayed to God to make me wiser. How does one become wiser? By soaking up everything. Learn from anyone, anything, everywhere. Treat every day like it's a learning experience.
The second one is a little more challenging for me. There are a lot of things in this world that I want to do. And there are a lot of times that friends can't make it to whatever it is, and in the past that's meant that I just don't go. So I've vowed to take opportunities of things I want to do regardless of if anybody else wants to do them with me. Classes, webinars, events, trips, activities—you name it. I'm challenging myself to do the things I've wanted to do, but haven't because someone else didn't partner with me on the experience
See beyond the now. This last one can really tie into the first two. It is okay to live in the present. I think you should. But if there's a learning opportunity that comes your way now that isn't necessarily applicable, think about its value in the future. Will it be useful? Yes? Maybe? Then take it. Look beyond what is currently in front of you to better yourself.
Together, those six phrases have one underlying concept. Never stop learning. I like the quote below because I think it's easy to get comfortable where we're at, but ultimately we're cheating ourselves out of life if we don't grow or be challenged. We know less about who we are when we don't push ourselves.
I'm serious. Just sit. And listen to the people around you.
That's exactly what I did today at our local Toastmasters. I just sat and I listened to the man giving the impromptu speech. The topic? Inspiration. He walked us through his words of wisdom, given to his children, and they were simply: aim higher, read, and follow your heart.
At face value these may seem simply cliché, but listen to the deeper messages within those tiny statements.
Aim higher as in don't just 'aim higher' now, but rather never stop aiming higher. Never stop growing. Always strive to stretch yourself, because the growth that follows is an incredible treasure. If would be boring if you were the same person you are now thirty years from now or even 10 years from now! Let yourself be challenged to grow.
Read—now not just reading to check a book off a list. For me, within the last few months, leaders, teachers, and people I admire have said reading is important. It's not just retention of the words in the book, but taking those words and applying them, molding them with your thoughts and perspectives, letting them move you or change you or educate you. The more you know, the more you can speak into people's lives and have meaningful opinions about things that matter.
Follow your heart. "The days are long, but the years are short," he quoted. Everybody in the audience nodded their heads in agreement. Why spend your energy and waste what time you have doing things that don't make you happy? Family, traveling, reading—whatever it may be, be intentional and do more of it. The time is now!
I have three short phrases of my own to add to his. Be a sponge. Take opportunities. See beyond the now. I've prayed to God to make me wiser. How does one become wiser? By soaking up everything. Learn from anyone, anything, everywhere. Treat every day like it's a learning experience.
The second one is a little more challenging for me. There are a lot of things in this world that I want to do. And there are a lot of times that friends can't make it to whatever it is, and in the past that's meant that I just don't go. So I've vowed to take opportunities of things I want to do regardless of if anybody else wants to do them with me. Classes, webinars, events, trips, activities—you name it. I'm challenging myself to do the things I've wanted to do, but haven't because someone else didn't partner with me on the experience
See beyond the now. This last one can really tie into the first two. It is okay to live in the present. I think you should. But if there's a learning opportunity that comes your way now that isn't necessarily applicable, think about its value in the future. Will it be useful? Yes? Maybe? Then take it. Look beyond what is currently in front of you to better yourself.
Together, those six phrases have one underlying concept. Never stop learning. I like the quote below because I think it's easy to get comfortable where we're at, but ultimately we're cheating ourselves out of life if we don't grow or be challenged. We know less about who we are when we don't push ourselves.
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