Over Labor Day we headed to Flaming Gorge with some friends for a nice relaxing weekend. The weather was perfect and the kids all got along (which right there makes it nice and relaxing!!)
We camped at Green's Lake by the Red Canyon Lodge. One night Chris rented a canoe and took the girls and our friend Pace out on the lake.
I should have known what was about to happen after taking this picture. I mean look at Bear. Look at her staring that canoe down. That lake was hers and she was going to tackle it.
Now take a close look at the picture below. Do you see the head of a yellow lab named Bear sticking out from the canoe? After the canoe left shore, I walked back to the RV with Bear to prep for dinner, I thought Bear was staying in the area...NOPE!
Suddenly I hear yelling "BEAR! BEAR!" I run (well in my case a fast paced waddle) down the trail to the lake and see Bear swimming out to the canoe. It's a nice sized private lake and for my 10 year old lab to be half way out swimming towards the canoe, scared me a bit. I was afraid she'd get tired and panic and well...you can see where my thoughts were going.
However, she surprised me and made it to the canoe where Chris and Pace pulled her in. Even the spectators at the dock were cheering her on. I guess a water dog will always be a water dog and even though Chris retired her for hunting, when she see's him out on a lake in a boat with ducks around...she still wants to be part of the action!
Chris taught the girls how to catch craw-dads. Who knew raw chicken tied to a string could be so entertaining? We caught a bucket full of the little guys, but only cooked up half and ended up setting the other half free. And no, I DID NOT eat one! Bleck!
We rented a raft and floated the Green River one day. The girls LOVED it. Me? Well let's just say I overcame a fear I've had for many years.
Many, many years ago Chris and I ran the river with some friends. It was early summer so the river was fast and high. Let's just say NO ONE was paying attention and we hit a nice sized rock when we went through a rapid. The side of the boat kept hitting into the big scary rock and the boat filled with water. It was scary. I was traumatized. Not only that but it started raining and got cold quickly. Since that experience I've only ran the river one other time. I've always been too nervous and scared to do again.
The Green isn't a big scary river. I think the rapids are cat 3 at most. BUT when you have a bunch of kids in a boat and no one is leading and taking charge, things like this happened. No one fell out of the boat, but it was still a scary experience for me.
So when Chris suggested floating the river I hesitated. But then I was quickly reminded that MY fears can influence the girls from experiencing life and I do not want them growing up fearful and scared all of something just because I had a bad experience once.
So knowing there were 3 other adults in the boat, all promising to keep ME safe, I decided to float the river with everyone.
Chris did a great job and leading and making sure we were all safe and on the same page when it came to tacking any rapids. Even Abby got into the rowing action!
As we went down the river I got more and more comfortable with how slow it actually is. There were a few rapids to maneuver through, but the kids screamed with excitement and we went through them. All in all I felt pretty safe and enjoyed the beautiful canyon and river.
See? This silly selfie proves I had a good time!
And of course Chris got to fish, so you know he was happy! Chris usually runs the river once a year on his annual guys trip, but this year he was excited to take his girls down the river...and have the wife along for the ride!
Pace and Jan are the funniest couple. We've had a great summer camping and hanging with them.
Of course I had to take a pic of me and Perk after the river. Successful day! Fear tackled!
