KAYAKING ON THE LAGUNA MADRE

SO, ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, WE LEFT HOME AT 6:00, THE WEATHER FORECAST WAS IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS AGAIN. WE TOOK LOTS OF SUN SCREEN AND WATER!  WE GOT LOST, THANKS TO A BRIDGE BEING CLOSED! WE SAW COTTON GROWING IN THE FIELDS ALONG SIDE THE ROAD.

WE KNEW MRS. GARMIN HAD TO BE WRONG WHEN SHE DIRECTED US TO DRIVE THROUGH THIS COTTON FIELD!

WE GOT TURNED AROUND AND BACK ON THE ROAD, HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND SPOTTED A LADY OUT WALKING HER DOG. SHE GAVE US GOOD DIRECTIONS AND FINALLY MADE IT, THE LAST TO ARRIVE.

WE WATCHED A FILM ABOUT THE LAGUNA ANTASCOSA AND LEARNED THAT IT WAS SPANISH FOR "MUDDY LAGOON".  WE WERE ALL LOADED INTO A VAN FOR THE RIDE TO THE WATER, AND ON THE WAY WE LEARNED ABOUT THE REFUGE. IT IS HOME TO 12 OCELOTS.....5 FEMALES AND 7 MALES.

WE FOUND IT INTERESTING AND HAD NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE....IT IS ALSO HOME TO THE NILGAI ANTELOPE, AND  YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HUNT THEM HERE, CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR.

THEY ARE HUGE AND SUPPOSED TO BE REALLY GOOD EATING. THEY WERE IMPORTED HERE FROM INDIA BY THE KING RANCH. FINALLY WE REACHED THE WATER!!

AND WHILE THE GUIDES WERE UNLOADING THE KAYAKS, WE GOT TO EXPLORE!

AND OF COURSE......A SELFIE!!

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, NOT TOO HOT YET AND THE VIEWS WERE MAGNIFICIENT!

WE WERE GIVEN A FEW INSTRUCTIONS ON PADDLING, AND WERE CAUTIONED ABOUT NOT TEARING UP  THE SEAGRASS GROWING ON THE OCEAN FLOOR.THESE WERE TANDEM KAYAKS,  IT WAS VERY SHALLOW AND THE GUIDE TOLD US WHO WOULD SIT IN THE FRONT, AND WHO WOULD SIT IN THE BACK. THE FRONT PERSON WOULD DO THE STEERING, THE BACK PERSON WOULD SAY WHICH WAY TO GO. I WAS IN FRONT, DARRELL BACK. COMPLETELY BACKWARDS TO ME.  THE GUIDE GOT A KICK OUT OF US!!  THE ARGUMENT WAS ON FROM THE GITGO! IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL RIDE, WE PADDLED FOR TWO HOURS. MY SHOULDERS STARTED TO ACHE, AND I WAS HAPPY TO GET BACK TO SHORE, BUT I LOVE KAYAKING....JUST NOT THE PADDLING!!

THE GUIDES WERE STRICTLY VOLUNTEERS AND WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO KAYAK IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.