Our Summer Lake

We’ve found a country summer lake only a 15 minute drive away – thanks to Google Earth + Jeff’s spunky ways.

Sunday was warm, sunny + beautiful in Southern Alberta!  Jeff suggested we take a drive around the surrounding area.  He mentioned that he had been  looking on Google Earth + found a relatively large body of water in close proximity to our condo.  “Maybe we can do some paddling on it?” he added.  As we headed down the empty country road I zoomed in on a couple folks enjoying a horseback ride up in the hills.

We approached the lake + noticed that it was mostly fenced off.  “Well, looks like it’s on private property.  Too bad.” I deduced.  It’s logical to assume that one would think: tough luck, time to turn around the car, right?  Nooooo, Jeff said, “Let’s go start knocking on doors!”.

Ummmmmm, okay???  Sometimes it’s beneficial to be married to someone who has a blurry sense of social propriety because they get hair brained ideas like this + then you’re like, “Okay bro, have at it!”.  And then you sit back + let it happen.

The first farm we drove up to kind of made me think that we might get murdered.  It just had that feeling!  It was pretty desolate + sparse.  No one was home, so I took the opportunity to take a picture of the cool barn.

Luckily the second property that we trespassed upon had the sweetest couple who gave us permission to enjoy the lake!  They gave us a tip to where the open break in the fence was.  We thanked them profusely + got back in the car.  “Okay, let’s go get the boards!” Jeff said feverishly.  Grrrrrrrr!  I didn’t think we’d be paddling already!  I was in THE WORST MOOD EVER + had a headache!!!  Jeff wisely ignored me + pulled off the road to go survey the lake with his keen surveyor’s eyes.

Approved!  Immediately upon returning to the condo, Jeff spazzily got everything together + put the fins back on our boards on the floor of our tiny living room.

I didn’t help Jeff one bit because I’m an angry little brat + Jeff was smart enough not to ask for my help because he knew he might have gotten an ear savagely bitten off if he did.

Back at the lake, Jeff hauling the boards to the shore.  Me watching.

It’s really marshy + smooshy at the edge of the lake.

Thank god I had my neoprene booties + leggings on, because when I was easing my board into the water, I was sinking in EXTREMELY muddy, gooey muck!  The entire time I kept saying out loud, “Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew.  Gross gross gross gross gross gross gross.”.  After that brief unpleasantness, + getting past the reeds, we cruised into the open lake.

It was a mellow day, so Jeff brought a beer in a coozie, of course.

Mellow, but I still managed to fall in!  I always fall in – without fail.  Guaranteed.  What a perfect day it was to be out on the water!

I like a man that can rock a fanny pack – in a SERIOUS way, not ironically.

The water is murky – I wouldn’t call it a swimming lake.  And I couldn’t stop thinking about the Loch Ness Monster.

We lazily paddled around the outside edges of the lake. Here is the farm with the red barn from the previous picture.

The lake is bigger than I thought it would be.  There were a lot of Canadian geese, mallards + other ducks at the lake.  And they were NOT HAVING IT that we were in their territory!  There was a lot of squawking + ruckus going on!

Although I was in a horribly bad mood earlier, I never vocally protested taking a paddle out because I knew once I was in the water, it would all go away.

After cruising around the circumference of the lake, we mucked our way back to dry land.  After Jeff put the boards back on the car roof, we sat in the car for a little while + I enjoyed listening to the croaking frogs, the call of the red-winged blackbirds + watching the sun shimmering off the lake.  I can’t describe how amazing + peaceful it was!

Before heading home, we returned back to the kindly couples’ house + Jeff knocked on the door + gave them a bottle of wine as thanks.  “Next time, get on your boards straight off of our dock!” they said.  Country hospitality…..there’s nothing else like it!!!