A late-summer kayaking excursion

Last Saturday, we met up with our good friends Dan and Steph for a little adventure.  We started off at nearby Quiet Waters Park, where we rented kayaks for the afternoon.

Here I am, trying to look suave in my life jacket and shades. 

We decided to each rent our own individual kayak.  I was a tad nervous about this because I've only ever kayaked in two-seaters, with someone else doing the steering.  But I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to steer once you get the hang of it.  

It was Steph's first time in a kayak.  She was a quick learner!

Jason, Steph, and I, possibly observing one of the many jellyfish that were hanging out in the water.  

(Dan was the designated photographer.)

In addition to jellyfish, we saw numerous great blue herons, an osprey, all kinds of fish, oyster farms, and one very wet golden retriever!

Between kayaking and the 3-mile run Jason and I did that morning, we'd worked up a nice little appetite.  Clearly, some sushi was in order!  

After sushi, we walked around Annapolis' historic downtown area and posed for some photos in front of the dock.

Dan finally makes an appearance!  Aren't they a cute couple?  

Dan and I used to work together, and over the past several years, Jason and I have become good friends with both Dan and his fiancée, Steph.  (They are getting married in May of 2011!)

Steph and I, with our 50-foot yacht in the background.  I can dream, right?

  

I've you've never tried kayaking, I definitely recommend giving it a whirl.  It's a really great way to spend some time on the water, appreciate your natural surroundings, and get a little upper-body workout.  Check out local parks for boat rental options.  Many of them will rent kayaks (plus canoes, paddle boats, etc.) by the hour.  

Now that I've tried whitewater rafting, I'm adding whitewater kayaking to the Mondo Beyondo list!  

How are you taking advantage of these last few weeks of summer?  I'd love to hear about your adventures!

Hot hot heat

These past couple days in the DC area have been downright toasty.  With highs near 90 degrees, it feels like we skipped right past spring and dove headfirst into summer!  I'm loving the opportunity to break out my warm weather clothes (I pretty much live in dresses during the summer), and to take part in all kinds of warm weather fun.  Eating dinner on our deck, long walks, happy hours outside, Frisbee in the park...I love it all.

Warm weather always reminds me of some of my favorite childhood experiences. I have so many memories of playing outdoors with neighborhood kids during the summer months.  We loved walking along the creek that ran through our neighborhood, jumping rope, and taking part in crazy water gun battles that inevitably ended with all of us soaking wet.  We also loved setting up lemonade stands.  About once a month during the summer, my younger sister and I would beg our mom to make a pitcher of lemonade, which we sold in Dixie cups to passers-by (for a whopping 25 cents).  I remember getting ridiculously excited when one of our neighbors handed us a $1 and told us to "keep the change."  These days, whenever I see little kids with a lemonade stand, I always stop and buy a cup.

I'd love to hear your favorite warm weather memories!  Please do share.  And if you're in the DC area, I hope you're enjoying the heat spell!

xo,


Image found here (original credit unknown).