Paddling, to Me, is......

Paddling, to me, is more than just getting out on the water. It is more than just enjoying the nice weather. It is an escape and an adventure. Whether it is a river that you have paddled 100 times before or a lake that you have never gotten out on, each time that boat slides off the bank, it is an adventure.

While paddling, you are in a parallel world. You see things in a different light. You could pass over a bridge every day during your commute to work, but when you pass under that same bridge in your canoe, it is a completely different structure. The world slows down when you are out for a paddle. You have the time to discover, to explore, and to open yourself to the environment around you. And this peacefulness is not just found in rural creeks and lakes.

I have paddled right through towns and watched cars cruise over me as I pass under bridges. You feel like you are watching an interactive movie. You are there, but you are not a part of that world. You are paddling. What is happening along the shores, on the bridges, and in the buildings you pass, does not pertain to you. You are just floating past.

The hypnotizing rhythm of paddling calm water is euphoric. The smoothness of the water, the calmness of the air. There are no worries out on that water. There is also something about paddling tight creeks and rivers that gets the blood pumping. The concentration of planning your path. The anticipation of the next turn. Riding the water as it carries you through mother nature.

Paddling, to me, is a lifestyle and an addiction. Once you dip the paddle, you never want it to stop.