We went canoeing with about 50 people from our church family on Saturday. Everyone anxiously looks forward to this fabulously fun day where you get to trek 7 or so miles of the Cuyahoga River and then get back to base camp and eat the ready and waiting feast! Good times are always had by all! However, this year, rather than gorgeous sunny weather that we were expecting, we were graced with rain... and then more rain, and then a deluge of pouring rain about a mile out all the way to the end.
You couldn't have gotten more drenched if you fell in. Teagan and Ireson were in the boat with James and I. Ireson is such the pleasant little passenger. Granted he snacked on banana bread and pretzels and other such delights for the 1st 3/4 of the ride but barely a peep emerged from his frigid and at one point blue little lips....
And then there was Teagan...
Two years ago when we went canoeing, she was 1 week shy of turning 3. She had a grand old time. The weather was quite accommodating that year, but she still tempered the rocking boat and buggy terrain rather well! She had a swell time!
This year- not so much.
Mile 1: "MOM! Don't put the paddle down, get rowing!" - She wanted it to end before we even started.
Mile 2: "Why are you stopping Mom? Don't just sit there- get rowing!" - Last year we'd just sit and enjoy the scenery and chat amongst our fellow boaters. This year you kind of wanted to bypass the chit chat because of the rain and cold. Yet, even if I wanted to get a drink of water- I'd get scorned.
Mile 3: "The wind is making me cold, the rain is making me cold, and YOU are making me cold MOM!" It was pretty stinking cold for at least the last 4 miles or so. The kids were so soaked from just sitting there.
Mile 4: "Come on Mom, let's get there already- row!"
Every time we'd bump someone or rock the boat to adjust your numbing behind, she'd start crying and panicking. I am not raising a wimp! Not even the snacks, bug net, umbrella or hat could appease her!
Mile 5,6,7: At the start, Lil' James went in a boat with my cousin Jen and a friend from Ann Arbor. He was quite the little paddling trouper. There was one point where Jen, the wonderful selfless person that she is, sacrificed herself and fell/tripped/jumped/flipped into the water to save the boat and other passengers from tipping. Lil' James got kind of freaked out there for a minute, as did I watching my son almost get dumped into the water, but he soon recovered with nothing more than a banged up shin and a hard reality check. His butt remained on the floor of the boat for the remaining mile. This of course did not help Teagan's mentality regarding the joys of canoeing. She witnessed the mild nightmare and exclaimed under tears and duress "My brother, my brother!!!" So we hung out ahead after we caught there paddle down stream to make sure all was well and assure Teagan that her dear brother was much more the man than she and that he was fine.
Dockage: We finally docked and went to the car to change our sopping clothes and then headed to the picnic area where we ate like kings.
Teagan informed me later, after hanging out around the camp fire and enjoying the assortment of chocolate desserts, that she "loves this place!...but not the boat part so much" and that she was "glad to have a Mom like me even though you [I] get mad sometimes."
After about the 3rd tirade of demands in the boat, I told Teagan that I was thrilled that she was in the boat because all I could do was laugh at her sweet pathetic-ness.
Her father and I shared many a chuckle that day at the poor, cold, wet, tired, and pathetic child. Though we usually don't tolerate whining and complaining- we made an allowance this time around.
She indeed made this adventure more memorable because of it!
Check back for pics in a week or so. I'm waiting for my cousin to upload them to FB.
