Rewilding

Day 2, 19.5 miles

January 6, 2023

It sure doesn't take long to ease back into the flow with Mother Nature. I woke as soon as the sun rose and slipped out of the tent while Henry was still asleep. I walked to the edge of the river, keeping an eye out for gators, and admired the mist rising off the water as the sun beams shone. I slipped back into the warmth of the tent Henry's arms and we lay there for awhile together, enjoying the sound of the birds waking up and starting their day.

It was chilly as the day started but warmed quickly. It was clear we were in the middle of nowhere and I paddled topless for most of the morning and afternoon. It was a beautiful, freeing feeling and I drank up the sensation of the sun on my skin while my hands trailed in the dark waters. It felt good to have sore muscles again, like I was making use of my body again. At the same time, I was insanely grateful for my Christmas gift from Henry, an ultralight carbon paddle. I don't know if I would've been able to lift my arms at the end of the day if I'd been using my regular, heavy paddle.

Perfect sandy beach to camp on

The cypress trees were insanely beautiful, each one and it's root system more intricate than the next. Henry threw in his line every once and while when I would lay back to take a break. As evening drew near and the temperature began to drop, we rounded a bend in the river to a perfect white sand beach. I turned and looked back at Henry and we smiled knowing we had found the perfect spot. Once in the tent after supper, he fell asleep almost immediately. I lay in my quilt reading for an hour or so and fell asleep to the sounds of coyotes howling back and forth to each other on either side of the river.

Broccoli mac for dinner