Cinco de Paddle

Step aside margaritas and nachos, when it's 71 and sunny on Cinco de Mayo, it becomes Cinco de Paddle!

Water was quite chilly so lucky we only had to touch it to get in our kayaks! There was a threat of rain later in the afternoon but we escaped it all, paddling in that sweet spot of time!

Ladies first! We managed to get a selfie without flipping our rides so that was a success for my first time out.

We dropped in at the Biron boat landing on the Wisconsin River and headed southwest around Big Island. Current was helping us with the first half.

Guys didn't even need to paddle much!

Seems like we got to the end of the island – near the dam and paper mill – in record time. I always have to laugh because you know you're from Wisconsin Rapids if this is part of your "pretty view" while paddling the river!

We were very short on wildlife sightings today, though. This is pretty much it.

Gross, lizards in a half-shell. Absolutely not one single eagle. Anywhere. Dang.

The calm before the storm...

Or I should say, the calm before we rounded the end of the island and headed back. We had to work against some wind and some riptide-type currents. They literally moved our 'yaks and we had all we could do to make forward progress. Like you're stuck and not moving forward no matter how hard you paddle. Needless to say, my shoulders were burning by the end. Not the sun – just too much muscle work. We'll all be feeling it tomorrow!

The only other wildlife was this pair of honkers. Here they are saying "What is she looking at?"

"Do you think she'll try to get at our nest? Maybe we should scare her."

Big "honk, honk" scary flyover. I yelled at them, "Don't worry, I'm leaving. Your babies are safe!" (Yes, I speak goose. Didn't you know?)

I did manage to sneak one photo of hubby and me. He was unaware, but that's how I get cooperation!

Started sprinkling right when we were getting back to the boat landing. Sun still out so we weren't sure which cloud was the culprit. Thankfully we didn't get to wet because, you know, first time out and none of us thought to bring towels! We gotta keep this momentum going.

When we can move our arms again. #WorthIt