Creek Shennanagins

With sweltering summer coming upon us, it's time to head to the creek!

Near my parents house we have a wide creek that winds throughout our city, and feeds into the bigger river downtown. This creek is usually pretty clear, but is also very shallow. When Emily (my best friend) came up to visit me we had a major rainstorm that raised the creek a little higher for the next few days. During this time we went back and forth to the creek multiple times- wading, swimming, floating on fruit floats, photography- it didn't matter what we did, as long as we were having fun.

It was actually kind of funny to keep looking back at these photos and remembering the looks we got. Usually when people go on this creek, they kayak or float in inner tubes down to the next boat docks, almost six miles away. On this particular week, the creek was the place everyone wanted to be. So almost every parking spot in our small park was filled with kayakers loading into the creek, and those waiting to get out. People were constantly using the boat dock and trying to get around those going in and out. Cars were also constantly moving about as people made way for newcomers, which was very odd for this creek as I have never seen it this busy in the past four years. I'm sure Emily and I looked a bit silly to all the people there as we would get in at one part of the creek (with our inflated fruit floats- banana seat for Emily, watermelon seat for me), and floated until we reached the rocks, got out, and did it all over again. But we had a blast, and that is all that matters.

Since the creek was still shallow overall (we could stand waist deep or lower almost everywhere), we would sit in our floats and try to hold onto rocks with our feet, floating in the middle of the creek for a while. This was a good workout, and it allowed us to enjoy the water for longer without having to stop at the rocks and reset. We also took some time to stop and have lunch on the end of the rock outcropping into the creek. Despite the day being a boiling 93 degrees, with the temperature feeling well into 100 and higher, being right on, or by, the water kept us at a comfortable temperature. Before hopping back on our floats, we explored the sand bar and started finding some amazing shells. Alas the day had to end sometime as dinner eventually called our names. But summer has just begun, so you know we will be back.

Stay safe, much love!

Laura Mantooth