On Monday my friend Hannah and I checked off an item that has been sitting patiently on my wish list for years. (It was my birthday gift from Hannah — more on birthday later.)

Go kayaking at Lake Jocassee.

At first we had to wait out a storm on the lake.

(We passed the time nicely with good conversation, salt and vinegar chips and dried mango. Nope – I’d never tried dried mango before either.)

The storm cost us some floating time, but it was a solid and satisfying experience despite the delay.

And Lake Jocassee is just fantastic. Unbelievably clear lake water. Mountain view all around. Coves to drift in. Trees and solitude in every direction.