So a few days ago, Nick asked me if I was free on Sunday. I was, so he asked me to set it aside. Okay then. I’m starting to learn when to simply shut up and let things be, so I added “Nick Day” to my calendar, and off we go.
He accidentally let slip something about Whistler yesterday, so I was excited, but had no idea what was in the plans. I was very pleased when we arrived at the Edgewater Outdoor Experience Centre at Green Lake, where we rented a canoe for a half day to bugger around the lake.
So. Freaking. Awesome.
I haven’t been in a canoe in approximately 20 years. After a very quick lesson from the rental guy, Nick & I set off, and luckily Nick, who HAS been in a canoe sometime in the last 20 years, was able to give me a bit more advice so that I didn’t look like a total idiot. Still, I’m not convinced that my paddling helped a heck of a lot, so while my arms & shoulders are aching, I suspect it was less that “we paddled around the lake” and more “Nick paddled us around the lake“.
We paddled across 3/4 of the lake and spotted an odd structure on the shore. It had what looked to be a small grassy area we could land on, so we hauled the canoe up and looked closer: It was an old cat, rusted and covered in cobwebs, sitting on the edge of a small dropoff. Very bizarre spot for it, but who are we to judge?
After an hour of lazing about, snacking, suntanning, and peeing behind a tree (just as a cyclist came along the train tracks, gah, button damnit!) we hopped back in the canoe, went down to the other end of the lake, and then paddled back.
Totally awesome. I just loved it. I’m going to be so sore tomorrow I can barely move, but it was just an absolutely perfect day. It was sunny, not overly windy, SO MUCH FUN, and overall just an amazing day with the man I love.
Wait a minute…did you say sun *tanning*? I thought you couldn’t do that? When I started reading the post I thought, oh no! She’s a lobster again! Glad you’re not crisped.
Well, Nick tanned, I stretched out (using my lifejacket as a bed) and hid my face under my jacket. :D
I practically grew up on that particular lake, I spent a great deal of my summers there. Believe it or not, it used to be very secluded and we would barely see a soul for days, just occasional car go by on the one side of the lake. Now there’s that big chunk on the south side where the beaver dams used to be. This lake is still beautiful, but it makes me a sad panda compared to what it was.
The “cat” looks like an old skidder. Likely abandoned after the area was logged. If it was near EOL anyway, it would have cost more to extract it than replace it.
Spend enough time in the backcountry and you’ll find all kinds of interesting stuff left behind.