The Rez

At Florida State we have an oasis off campus lovingly dubbed "The Rez". It's a big lake with glassy water that laps at grassy banks. Massive trees covered in Spanish moss sprout from deep water near the edges of the lake. You can take kayaks, paddleboards, or canoes through narrow tree-lined passages from one big lake to the next.

On shore there is a massive beach volleyball setup and a large rock wall for climbing. Sailboats line the shore, waiting for the moment someone breaks them out onto the open water.

The whole thing is set on a reserve, and if you go to the far side of the lake you find a boardwalk where museum goers are ambling through their "nature walk", and despite the spiders, alligators, and water snakes, it's quite the hotspot for college kids and Tallahasse residents.

I've managed to duck in a few times over the past couple of years, and it was a treat to go this time with a big group of good friends and new acquaintances.

We opted for one person kayaks and three person canoes. It left us in a bit of a mess - there was a great deal of yelling involved.

S thought it all a bit ridiculous.

My lovely S has weak little arms, and we attempted to drag her behind us so she could avoid the grunt work.

I'm hoping to sneak back over in a few days!