What was your first time like? Were you frightened? Did you want to see what was at the bottom or just do backstroke all the way across so you wouldn't even have to contemplate what you would do if something swam up to you and drug you underneath the surface? Did you take a boogieboard? A surfboard? A paddleboard? Did you need that safety net to get you across? The first time I swam across a lake, I was terrified.  Not because I thought I was going to drown, but because I was afraid that something like the Loch Ness Monster would appear in my field of vision or that I would take a stroke and end up hitting body or becoming entangled in some seaweed and meet my immediate demise.  Yeah, I definitely hyperventilated a bit, but after I began moving, gained some stamina and confidence, I couldn't stop.  When I got to the other side, I turned right around and swam back.  Talk about serene.  If you have nothing but time to yourself, you can disappear into the psyche of your inner soul and dissect your mind piece by piece until you can put everything into its proper place.  It's even more soothing than yoga or classical music; listening to the lapping water, the rhythmic slapping of your palms against the current, feeling the fresh chill of  breeze with every single breath, the power in every stroke, and the peace of mind you receive when you actually have time to spend alone, within Earth's natural element and in your own natural state; it's so soothing you can't wait to go back and give it another go.  To see where I had my first lake adventure, visit http://www.bclca.org/

This weekend went from camping and hiking in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Park area to boating through Lake Washington and Lake Union to having a bonfire on the Golden Gardens Beach in Ballard.  One of the first gorgeous days we have had in Seattle all year, the temp rounded out to about 76 and the sun was shining brightly in the cloudless sky.  Our trip on the boat to Seward Park wrangled us in a cove with about 300 other boats, all enjoying the beautiful day.  Weirdest site ever? Two black ships passing each other at the same time.  Some sort of omen?