Tube Be or Not Tube Be, That Is the Question
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 10:06PM In Florida we have to watch out for gators, but in North Carolina it was Crocs. They were down on the dock, and right in the middle of the walkway!
Without a doubt the kids' favorite thing to do while in North Carolina was to be in the water. It didn't matter if they were in a boat, in a tube, or swimming around...they couldn't get enough.
One of the coveted activities was paddling the Versa Board; I know all of the kids loved this board, but Michaela really seemed to enjoy gliding all over the place on it. Her arms had to be so sore at the end of the day!
Diana's house in the mountains is on a lake and this particular part of the lake has a small cove or inlet kind of area which is perfect for the kids to zip and cruise around safely (out of the way of motor boats or jet skis).
I really mean it when I say Michaela paddled and paddled. She took herself all around, and often had passengers.
Aunt Wendy also liked the Versa Board, and carried small children to and fro. That is not too different than a normal day in her life, just switch out the board for a van.
I think she thought this was more fun, though.
The kids took turns on the Versa Board as well as the kayak, and we managed to get through the days with a minimal amount of whining over who had more turns than they should have. It was at least a small enough amount that I can't remember it any longer, or I've just blocked it out altogether.
Aside from paddling there was leaping off the boat or dock into the lake. Even Eliana had a blast doing this.
The kids were ever-creative in coming up with ways to entertain themselves. Cousin N. was determined to stick himself upside down in the water even though he had a life jacket on. Pretty tricky. He told me to take a picture of his feet.
There was plenty of digging in the sand. They found many treasures and created many life-threatening holes on the beach.
Now. I would say that they had the most fun on the board and kayak, but they also loved going out on the big boat and tubing.
Cousin J. liked that I was taking so many pictures, which was a refreshing change from the past. He is usually elusive for the photographer. He said to me,"Take a picture of my foot. Are you gonna put it on your blog?"
Then it was clear. He was just using me on his road to fame and glory.
One day when he is famous (possibly a professional athlete? Or creator of extraordinary and exquisite paper cut-out art?) he can look back and say that his rise to stardom and riches started here.
The kids went out in tubes two at a time. The speed varied depending on who was in the tubes, and who was driving the boat.
It took a few trips to figure out who ought to go with whom (both tuber and tuber, as well as tubers and driver). There were definitely the speed lovers, and those who enjoyed a less volatile ride.
Can you guess which category Cousin N. would fall into? Speaking of falling into...he spent a significant portion of his turn experimenting with what it would take to fall out of his tube and into the lake.
He was successful in his mission.
Michaela liked to go fast. Cousin C. was a bit more cautious. (Wendy, if that's not right, let me know...that was my recollection.) We probably should have sent Michaela and Evel Knievel out together, and Christian and Cousin C. Noted.
In case you wanted proof that I was actually on this trip, and not just in NC but on the boat, here is a picture of me, on a boat in the lake.
This was a very pleasant place to be. I liked riding in the boat. Somehow all of the other people on the boat contrived to get me out of the boat, however. Indeed, they managed to talk me into taking Eliana out in a tube.
Folks, I am not a water person. I am a spaz in any body of water. I freak out when I wash my face in the shower for fear of drowning. But Eliana wanted to go in the tube, so in we went. Bobby was careful and went very slowly. Even with that you can be sure I hollered. Riding in an innertube is a very bouncy endeavor. A bouncy endeavor that makes you feel like you are going to go flying any minute.
Things were going just fine, though, and I think even Eliana was having fun. Then Bobby stopped the boat. Do you know what lay between the above picture and this one?
An eternity of tipping and screaming, tipping and screaming, tipping and screaming. I may have scarred Eliana for life with my screaming. I am pretty sure that the good people at the bottom of the mountain heard my desperate, shrill screaming. The wake of the boat is what did us in. That and the fact that my rear was so far above the bottom of the tube (so that Eliana wasn't in danger of getting stuck under the ring of the tube) that it was easy to get turned over.
I was lauging in the end. But before that? There was a lot of screaming.
Poor Cousin J. He is a speed lover. So after his lame-o turn with Aunt Christina he got another go with his speed loving brother.
These children love the water. That obviously comes from Mike's genes (at least for our kids; I think Wendy and Bobby's kids get it from both sides); I really think it's great, but I probably won't be getting in a tube again for a long time. And Eliana will most likely want to go for a ride with Daddy next time.
There were more fun times that involved no water at all! Stay tuned...
(I'm sure everyone [read: 7 people] is on the edge of their seats.)
Reader Comments (8)
Oh my goodness - I am your vacation opposite. I just love the lake and am happiest on the boat. These pictures make me jealous!
Haha! This post was funny. I too am not a huge fan of water. Looks like you guys had a really fun time. We have crocs here on the west coast too. And would you believe they hang out in the middle of the kitchen floor sometimes?
What a great place! I want to live there.
I make 8!
Good job on the tubing. Lakes kind of freak me out a little too.
What? You came to NC and didn't stop in? ;)
We should definitely hang out.
This is cracking me up! Love your water pictures on the tube! I can just hear you ;)!
Looks like you and the families had so much fun. Being on the water is wonderful!
Ooh, I think paddling looks like fun. And my fun, I mean my arm muscles could really use the workout!