Paddleboarding on Betz Creek

Ever since paddleboarding became popular, I've been curious about it. It looks fun and not as challenging as surfing, and it seems to be a fun and different activity for all the creeks around Savannah. So when Davis borrowed a friend's paddleboard Friday afternoon, we all hurried down to the dock to see what this new activity was all about.

I also took my new camera, as I am still trying to figure out all its bells and whistles. Turns out it has a lot!

So Davis put the paddleboard in the water and hopped right on, as if he's been doing it all his life...

Off he went, up and down the creek. It looked like so much fun. And he didn't even get wet! So then Stephen decided to give it a whirl...

...fully clothed and wearing his watch. He seemed pretty confident on that thing, and he made it look pretty easy too. Kelley and David watched from the dock.

We tried to get Kelley to give it a spin. She was, after all, in her bathing suit. But she said no thank you. I still think she should have tried it. Maybe next time. Taylor and MacKenzie were reluctant to attempt it also. But it looked pretty easy to me, so I handed Taylor my camera and my watch, and I strapped that leash around my ankle...

I figured if I fell in, I fell in. I could always throw my clothes in the washing machine. But there was no need. Paddleboarding takes a little getting used to, but it didn't take long to paddle up to the next dock and back. Well, once Taylor saw Aunt Nancy paddleboarding in a dress, she decided she was up to the challenge as well.

And she took to it as fast as Davis did. Up and down the creek. By that time, Lawson had arrived, and it wouldn't do until he had a turn also.

But then Davis said it was his turn again, so he hopped back on the paddleboard, and Lawson and Taylor decided to try to knock him off. "Nothing doing," Davis said, and he paddled away--all the way down to Bull River.

Once the object of their torment paddled away, Taylor and Lawson decided to jump off the dock a few times, and that gave me a chance to try out another feature of my camera. I can't remember what it's called, but it's that feature of continuous shots that make the camera go kachee, kachee, kachee, the same way professional photographers' cameras do when they take photos of sports. Here is my series of action shots of Lawson:

kachee...

kachee...

 kachee...

kachee...

Splash!

It was a fun and exciting evening!

Cadets Get Championship Rings

Avid readers may recall that during the Remlers' Quadruple Whammy Weekend last April, the BC Cadets won the SCILL (South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League) championship. What a day that was. If you'd like to take a moment to reminisce, go ahead. I'll still be here...

 

Here's Coach McAllaster tossing the championship caps to the team. Look at the size of that trophy!

Well, last night (Wednesday, June 20th, the first day of summer), the boys got their championship rings.  And true to BC form, the team celebrated the distribution of rings with food, fun, fellowship, and a video presentation. Thanks to David Silverman and Spanky's Southside, nobody starved to death, as he and Stephen Remler grilled up a mess of hamburgers and hotdogs.

That was a big grill. Hot, too. I think Stephen singed the hair off his arms.

Of course, the boys had no problem devouring their dinner in about five seconds. Several parents had to wait around for the next batch-o-burgers.

Following the recognition of all state team members and a great video presentation, designed by Rob White, Coach Dick McAllaster presented a championship ring to each boy on the team, taking the time to recognize each boy's talents or sharing special memories about him. 

Here he is talking about Davis.

And as the above photo suggests, while Dick was singing each boy's praises, said boy was busy staring at the coveted ring. Who can blame him? Look at it: 

And this ring doesn't really give you perspective. On a boy's hand, it looks like a breakfast room table sitting atop his knuckle. I can only imagine how the BC sophomore, junior, and senior team members will show off those rings when they return to school in August. I think there might be a wee bit o'braggin'. Already a graduate, though, Davis will have only a few weeks to wear that fancy, bejeweled ornament before leaving it in his silver keepsake box. I don't think they'll allow him to wear it at the SUNY Maritime College--unless he lets them use it as an anchor!

 

Flag Day on Little Tybee

A little known American holiday is Flag Day. While most Americans save all their hoopla for the first week of July, the Remlers start their patriotic celebration a few weeks early. For the past several years, we have done so by taking an excursion on the boat. Why not stick with tradition? This year we made it a two-day affair.

Day one of the Flag Day spectacular saw the arrival of Davis and Lawson's famous Aunt Sabra, who came to Savannah for a short visit. Unfortunately, Auntie Sabes could not stay for the Friday afternoon outing to Little Tybee, but we did enjoy some time on Uncle David's dock while Lawson and his good friend Mills jumped into the high tide in Betz Creek.

I think Jim Carey should consult them for a movie appearance, don't you?

 

After they tired of jumping, Sabra and I asked them to take us on a cocktail cruise, and they happily obliged us, firing up the Triton and chugging it up and down the creek while Sabra and I enjoyed a vodka smoothie. Sharing their sense of adventure, Sabra and I consented to a short trip up the creek to the Walthour Road bridge, just to see if we could fit the boat under it at such a high tide. We would have made it all the way through, had the windshield been about an inch shorter.

Sabra found the bridge adventure a little bit freaky.

This is the grin of fear. 

Once we got Sabra safe on dry land, we returned to the house to find that Stephen and Davis had cooked a tasty low country boil with a side of California rolls. We coined the meal Asian South. It was really good. But the best part was the beautiful cake Stephen served for dessert. 

He must have baked all day!

Kelley and David came over from next door to help us put a dent in that delicious pastry. Next, Stephen surprised me with a new Fuji F770EXR camera! What a great gift. Ever since my St. Patrick's Day misfortune, I've been borrowing Davis's camera. But now I have my own. 

And just in time! Because the next day I had plenty of opportunity to use it! Under blue skies and with temperatures topping out in the eighties, the Remler family boated out to Little Tybee Island for the afternoon. We picnicked on the beach and swam in Jack's cut. Bob arrived on his kayak, and he was gracious enough to let us all have a turn trying it out.

The above three photos were taken with the new Fuji F770EXR. Pretty good, huh?

Everybody wore sunscreen. Everybody ate fried chicken. Everybody had a great time. And that's really what Flag Day is all about anyway, isn't it?

P.S. A big shout out to Stephen Remler, who made the whole Flag Day celebration possible! Thanks, Stephen!