{ I love kayaking. And the 4th of July }

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I'm not sure I'm actually allowed to blog about events that happened almost two weeks ago, but I thought I'd go for it anyway. Primarily becuase 4th of July this year was killer. And secondarily becuase 4th of July this year was killer.

The 2009 holiday included climbing with my cute 15-year-old niece, escaping to a friends cabin for an evening (you're amazing Charisse!), kayaking in a mountain lake, having family in town, enjoying a picnic-lunch at Bridal Veil park with said family, and watching fireworks via the side of the mountain behind my house with friends.

My favorite activity of the weekend was, hands down, kayaking. Not just because it's outdoorsy, but because it is AMAZING! Now, I love being outside, and doing fun things (obviously), but kayaking is within my top 3 favorite outside-things to do. One day I hope to have a home next to a large body of water so I can start my mornings with kayaking while it's still still outside. So peaceful sounding, huh? And freezing at certain times of the year, I'm sure, but I think that's combatable.


< Thursday >
climbing with niece Megan and friend Katy


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My niece Megan and I at the mouth of Provo canyon before we went up to climb. Megany has recently become mildly adventurous, and when she comes out here for college in two years, I plan to help her become very adventurous. Baby steps.

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Babe-of-a-niece, Megan, climbing for her first time.



< Friday >
cabining and kayaking


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Me and Charisse at the lake we kayaked across in the Oakley mountains. I don't actually know if that's what the mountains are called, but Oakley is the name of town we were in, and those are the mountains the town is in. Either way -- beautiful setting.

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Chad trying to put together a troublesome oar. Notice the awesome face.

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Nicki Schmidt in the kayak. Could you imagine starting your mornings like this!? Oh man!

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At one point in the kayaking adventure we decided to make a kayak train for two reasons: #1 -- fun. #2 -- to tow Shirene's boat so she could do some triathlon-training swimming. This was the front of the train.

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This was the back of the train (my kayak was in the middle).

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And this was cute Shirene getting into the water to start her swim.

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We soon found out, as we were hauling the boats back onto the shore after we got back to the edge of the water, that kayaking in the shade in the mountains makes you freezing. So, we thawed out in the bath when we got back to the cabin.

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I think Shirene's lips were purple-toned for at least 20 minutes after we got back.


< Saturday >
4th of July picnic with select family members in town


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Driving up the canyon with my niece Jena (left) and our adopted family member Alaina (Jena's best friend)

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Storm accompanied us on the drive. Yes, she is wearing a yellow rain coat.

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Lovely tree we picniced under once we got to Bridal Veil park. Thank you shade tree.

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Jena relaxing on the picnic blanket.

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Me wearing Alaina's glasses for funness' sake.

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And the whole family on a bridge over the Provo River after the picnic. I should have gotten more candids.

From left: Alaina, Nicki, Alda (my sister's mission companion and another adopted family member), my sister Tracey and her husband Orin.

4 comments:

Meg Ruth said...

How fun! What kind of doggie is Storm? he is presh!

I miss your face lady!

Nicki said...

megany! She's a French Bulldog -- they are my favs too :) mwah!

sNick said...

Umm... you probably don't remember me, but I'm the other Nicki that is also Erin Virginia Thornhill's friend. I was bored and randomly blog-stocking (promise, I don't usually do that). I've been looking for climbing partners ever since I moved to Provo in January, and I'm getting desperate to the point that I'm leaving random notes on strangers' (sort of ;) blogs. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that if you ever need a belayer, look me up.

54 canoe said...

It's not a Kayak unless you can roll it.

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