We drove up to Banks today, passing cars and trucks loaded with kayaks, rafts, and stand up paddle boards along the way. We saw many a river rat friend on the drive or gearing up in the lot at Banks. We even had John's kayak tucked next to the rocket box on top of our car. Only today we weren't there to kayak, raft, or canoe the Main Payette or the North Fork or Staircase. As much as we'd love to put Cate and Lela in a boat, even John doesn't think they're ready. Maybe next week.
Today our goal was to shimmy down the hill from the road on river right to the small unpopulated beach (and large eddy) just below the put in. And shimmy we did. With two girls, one dog, a kayak, and a $10 Rite-Aid beach umbrella. A lovely time was had by all.
Cate and Lela spent the afternoon taste testing everything within their reach. They seemed to enjoy toys, croakies, peas, and sand equally. But they only reached for the sippy cup after the sand.
Lela checked the water temperature for us. Too cold, she said.
Kai romped and splashed more than she has in all the days of the last year combined... and got good and tuckered out.
And John and I took the kayak for a spin around the eddy. John practiced cartwheels and other tricks; my trick was paddling to the top of the eddy, peeling out into the slow current, and racing back into the eddy without flipping. I was feeling very brave.
Just another day at the beach. Idaho style.
