Water Summer

From the cool, quiet streams of the Smoky Mountains to the salty Gulf Coast, water has been ever-present in my life this season. And this summer is so much more enjoyable than last summer, where I spent weeks breathing the nasty smell of crude oil and walking in hiking boots on the beaches to avoid oiled shoreline. This year I have even fully submerged into Week’s Bay, Magnolia River, Perdido Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, bodies of water that I refused to touch last year much less put my body into.

In June I stayed with my friends Hans and Renee in Pensacola and paddled a few times–Perdido Bay, Johnson Beach, Fort Pickens. It felt weird to be on the water again, embracing the salty liquid of the Gulf, but it was time. I needed to connect with the Gulf Coast in a positive way so I could continue to heal the sadness and grief that originated with the devastation to the environment and communities along the coast. But I still wondered how much oil was really left in the water and what it was doing to the marine life and humans who interacted with it.

Even with doubts, I completely submerged myself in fun and celebration of this place of beauty. I saw flounder, rays, all kinds of fish and more jellyfish than I remember ever seeing (which made me especially careful to not fall off my board). I also paddled Mobile Bay, Week’s Bay and Magnolia River. And each one brought a sense of relief and gratitude to my weary spirit.

But the Gulf Coast isn’t the only place where I have submerged into water. I visited Lake Michigan, specifically Charlevoix and Mackinac Island. The cool, crystal-clear water of northern Lake Michigan was so delightful, so beautiful, so absolutely amazing that I vowed if the winter’s were not so extreme, I’d move there. Alas, I am a tropical gal and find Asheville winters pushing me to the brink of moving to a warm coast with salt water.

The water immersion this summer has been centered around paddle boarding. It has enriched my life and calmed my mind, as well as toned my body. And even though all this may sound corny, it really has positively changed my life. Did I really miss water that much? Has being land-locked for 16 years attributed to a sort of atrophy of my gills?

And another wonderful result of paddle boarding? I got to introduce it to my daughter and her boyfriend on Lake Charlevoix. What could be better than family, friends, wildlife, clean water and the sunshine smiling on you? I am grateful to have something that’s so simple, make such a huge impact on my life. What is impacting you in a positive ways these days?

To read about my adventures and learn about the Gulf Oil Spill visit my web site, Turtle Island Adventures.com, and check out my books. If you’ve read one (or more) I invite you to comment here.