A Modern Sacajawea-NOT!

Today I took my new, little kayak out for its maiden voyage. On a quest for exercise that doesn’t seem like exercise, I decided a few weeks ago that I would become a kayaker or paddler or whatever it is you call yourself when you go kayaking. With visions of beautiful, taut arms earned while enjoying the quiet beauty of nature, I started my mission. Never having even been in a kayak I rented one while on a recent camping trip. With only 2 person kayaks available for rental I quickly learned that my older son and I are completely unable to work as a team, but it also seemed that this would be a fun way to burn some calories. Home again; I continued to ponder acquiring a kayak. After some research, I decided on a small kayak I thought would be a great investment for my health and wellbeing. Just step into it, and ta da, your exercising! What could be better?

  So this morning, a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, I took the kayak out for its first run in our small inland lake. Imagining my self a modern day Sacajawea, if Sacajawea were a chubby, blonde suburban mom, I took my paddle in hand and set forth. Everything was still and serene, the lake was smooth as glass, perfect. I was really enjoying the experience, the lovely trees, the graceful swans and the turtles sunning themselves as I quietly paddled past.  I was really enjoying this, for about 15 minutes. The next 15 minutes, I was still having fun, sort of, but my arms (currently neither taut nor beautiful) were starting to feel the strain. What to do now? Despite my lack of experience I had managed to paddle pretty far from home. I stopped in a small cove to ponder my plight, thinking again of Sacajawea. What would she do, that brave Indian guide? Would she grab her trusty cell phone and call Louis or Clark to come haul her back home? Would they even come if she did? Deciding that it wasn’t worth the endless amount of teasing it would bring down on my head, I chose not to call. With increasing wobbly arms I paddled home. I did not enjoy the return journey. Sadly, taut arms can not be earned without noticing the effort. Not being a chubby, blonde suburban mom, I bet Sacajawea had lovely arms!