Amy Lilley Designs: The Red Ride...

I thought for sure I would be paralyzed after kayaking for most of the day on Friday, the 28th. As it turns out, I was not. It seems that all the swimming, all the many many laps I have clocked in this summer have paid off. Friday marked the 3rd year of Mom's passing. I have done allot of work this year to 'be okay', to deal w/ the grief of losing her and proceed forward. Friday was a gorgeous day. I thought the best way to honor her, and that would be every single day for the rest of my life, is to live. So, I did something I have wanted to do since I laid eyes on the Cherry Creek Lake/Reservoir, almost a year ago. I rented a kayak for the day, and off I went. The lake measures 850 acres!! I mastered my rowing skills @ camp, and grateful I was, because you need to have a clue on how to navigate the waters. It was choppy, not like a sheet of glass, as the jet-skiers, motor boats and a few sail boats were making their fair share of wake waves, and it was windy enough to effect the water. (There is plenty of room for everyone, but the ripple effect travels far and wide). I stayed on the perimeter for the first couple of hours, just wanting to catch a glimpse of the park from the waterside. I took my time, I wanted to take my time. I only pulled onto the beach once for a short rest-bit. I knew exactly where I was from the many many times we have walked on the trails by the water. I saw the dense, swampy foliage as I navigated my way around the lake. There were some huge fallen trees w/ the root side facing me. I tried to get some pics, but the kayak kept on moving, the sun was too bright, etc. Their complicated weave of roots made for amazing sculptures, none of which I would have ever seen had I not been on the water. I kept going and at some point I was hoping to find a spot where I could just stay w/out drifting, like putting down an anchor. Well, I have to thank the pelicans for leading me to just the right spot. I was sort of, kind of following a group of pelicans. If I could just get close enough, the sun was behind me, and they were still enough, this could be a good pic, I thought. Well, sure enough, they 'allowed' me to do all that; get close enough, and take a few pics. Once they were done w/ me, one by one by one, they made a line and swam in the other direction. It was quite a sight! And then, lo and behold, I paddled out just far enough and I stopped moving. There was no drifting, I didn't use the paddle to keep the kayak steady. I just sat, and took it all in. Again, time was not an issue, and I savored every moment in that great red ride I had for the day. As it turns out, I was the very last one into the Marina, so whew!!! For any Rhoda Girls reading this, you know in my head I could hear Dede hollering, 'All Rhoda boats in!' Mom would have been really really happy for me for having such a great day...

#grateful #veryverygrateful