Double the Fun

It's strange, but in adulthood, it's a rare year when my twin and I can celebrate our birthday together. This year, thanks to a Sunday birthday, the stars aligned and we could have some fun together!

We decided to meet halfway between us – her going 2 hours south and me going 2 hours north – for some kayaking fun. We were born under a "water sign" after all! I'd taken her once but it was a brief, windy, wavy effort that didn't leave the greatest impression. Today we rectified that. I basically picked a random boat landing and we took it from there.

We were on the north side of Menomonie, just south of Cedar Falls on Tainter Lake, where it flows into Lake Menomin.

 Had to laugh that both of us showed up driving our hubbies' pickup trucks. See "Redneck Twins" at 10 tonight on the RFD TV channel!

Red Twizzlers are our power food. They're a staple of any Hedberg sister road trip ... even trips on the water!

With temps in the high 80s, it was a great day for sunning... for all creatures. Mostly saw the hard-shell variety today.

Technically this is not only our birthday week, but July 4th week, too!

Raylene's got the hang of this paddling business!!

Got to sneak up on a blue heron. That was pretty cool.

No skeeters, but we did have some winged visitors. I had a dragonfly on my kayak.

Raylene was some sort of moth whisperer. This guy just sat on her hand a bit.

We found out where old sisters go to live – Hen Island. Endless hen parties!

Love Lene's hat!

We ended up grabbing lunch at Applebee's afterward because it was close by and the dining room was open and – duh, they give free ice cream treats for birthday girls! Happy, happy birthday...

Got home by 6 p.m. and Jim took me down to Sand Valley Golf Resort for yummy tacos and an ice cream treat at Craig's Porch there.

Wasn't a fancy sunset but the food was good, view was great, and the company was unbeatable.

Felt pretty special and spectacular for having an ordinary 50+ birthday. Thanks, everyone!