Free day! The weather was typical Colorado "wait five minutes and it will change". Crazy red-eye wake up call (5 am) thunder! Rub out those sore new kayaking muscles with an amazing massage, yoga on the lawn at dawn, yummy breakfast. Wanting to practice my roll today, but yoga tweaked my back so no volleyball or horseback riding for me; must feel better for the next two days of kayaking the Colorado River! The ultimate goal is to do a kayak roll by Friday. Instead of practicing my roll I shot footage of others getting kayak instruction on the sparkling pond located down a grassy path from the lodge.
Today we met Brad Ludden (professional kayaker and founder of First Descents). I took the opportunity to tell him in person what I thought when I had first heard about him. He, no doubt, has heard this many times...but it will never get old. I thanked him for creating a program so amazing and incredible and explained how it has renewed my sense that there are people out there who are going through the same things and that support and adventure combined can help facilitate and maintain the healing. He is a very humble and beautiful person inside and out. Soon after I met Brad he asked, "Does everyone know Timmy?" and in walks Timmy O'Neill whom I had met in 2002. They were up on the ranch shooting a pilot for a series profiling amazing people in mountain and other small towns. It was a fun visit especially when it started to rain a little and the sun was still shining, suddenly everyone started yelling and piling up on the covered deck, "Double rainbow! What does it mean!". After dinner we had awards inside because of the rain. Lots of laughter and more memorable pictures. Timmy (after an inspirational speech) instigated a group hug consisting of about 50 people in the lodge's living room. Another unforgettable day. Kayaking tomorrow!
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