Experiencing Freedom

Freedom. What does that mean? It means a lot of different things to many people. To us it means experiencing life when there are no distractions and we can just exist. Kayaking and paddle boarding are two things we do as often as we can to experience this. When we go I shut my phone off so we don't have the distraction of work. We drive to wherever the road and our Xterra takes us. Usually it is a mountain lake or river. Sometimes it is the drive that is most enjoyable. The weather can be beautiful here one minute and turn to rain or snow within an hour any time of year. So we have learned to enjoy every part of our trips. Even with the kids and the dog in our car we can find freedom and forget the world.

We take our paddle boards and pump them up when we get to somewhere that looks like it would be fun to take them out on. Sometimes we take them out when we probably shouldn't but it does make good memories. When I was working my last job I worked 90 hours a week and when I had a day off we did what ever we could to enjoy the time we had. One time we were up in the snowy range and the wind was blowing hard for Wyoming. My wife said I shouldn't take my kayak out but I hadn't had a day off in over a month was going to enjoy it. The paddle across the lake was nice the wind at my back the waves helping push me across this high mountain glacier fed lake. When I reached the other side and turned around it was not as pleasant. The waves were coming over my kayak soaking me. The wind in my face with the water spraying it. It seemed to take for ever to get back. When I did I was soaked and almost frozen. It was enjoyable and I will never forget it. I will probably not do it on a day like that again but it was worth it to be out and away from everything and just be part of the water.

The first time we took our kayaks out was in early October before they closed the road over the mountain. They came in and the next day we strapped them to the top of our Xterra and headed up. When we got there it was snowing. We had plenty of clothes on and took them out on the lake. Our daughter was 4 and went with (we all had lifejackets, it is a must here with the glacier fed lakes) and enjoyed paddling in the snow. It was the only time we took them out that year but it was late and most people we told thought we were nuts. Maybe we are but we try to enjoy ourselves and make memories that we can talk about.

With our paddle boards the wind affects them a little more than the kayaks. We have tried to be more selective on where we go. The thunder storms have been extreme this year and many times we have  gone we only got to enjoy the ride and getting a coffee in the little mountain town that is on the way. We had always talked about getting paddle boards and finally saved up enough to do so. We have them loaded in our car whenever we go anywhere and if we see a spot that looks good we get them out. With the job I have currently I get to enjoy my family a lot more and do things more often with them.

Getting out into nature and doing things that we enjoy is what freedom is for us. We still have bills and have to work but we escape as often as we can and enjoy our slice of freedom.