Turbulence on Tube 49 - Journey to 50

A few weeks back my dear sister friend LaTrice (Trice) invited me to join her and 2 other friends at the ICHETUCKNEE SPRINGS STATE PARK (ISSP) and I happily accepted. I have said I wanted to do different things, things out of my norm, on my #Journeyto50. THIS here lined right up with that want. You see, Trice and I talk pretty regularly and she knows in this last year of my 40's I have a few things I want to accomplish before turning 50. Do not be deceived, I had several questions prior to truly committing to this adventure. You see, everyone who knows me knows that I am not a 'nature' person so I was slightly traumatized before I even got in the car! Why?

I can not swim, (singing) NEVER LEARNED TO SWIM, CAN'T CATCH THE RHYTHM OF THE STROKE so I had to know if a life jacket would be needed. Oh and let's not forget water shoes. Needless to say, I put on my big girl panties and took on this adventure with no life jacket or water shoes but I now KNOW, the shoes are a must IF I were to do this again. The feeling of that slimy moss under my bare feet and slipping on those rocks was not the way. And the life jacket? I am still on the fence with that one. So we arrive to the area where you had to grab tubes, yes tubes. We were going to be tubing, floating down the spring. I don't even float in a pool y'all! Yes, I am one of those people who fit in that "black people don't swim" category but in my case it's swim NOR float! Let me paint the picture for you real quick.

Yep, that's my type of pool party!! So, now that you overstand where my anxiety was coming from lets move on. Initially, this was supposed to be a 3 hour float but I, to this day, believe the Most High was looking out for your girl. I do NOT think, NO, I KNOW I would not have made it that entire time and nor would Trice. As her tube partner I was THE WORST and I own that! We ended up doing a 45 minute float and that was just enough because, listen, I did not even think about wildlife. Y'all, when we arrived to the spring entry with our tubes I saw a sign that mentioned alligators.

This is not the exact sign as I left my phone in the car so NO pictures were taken by me but this is similar to what it said. I did a 180, you hear me? I have no idea why I did not think about this, like why wouldn't they be there? IT IS NATURE AFTER ALL!! (face palm) Trice quickly turned me right back around and we marched to the spring entrance. Lord have mercy, if only we had video of the "tube loading"! I already felt like I was drowning and the water was only to my waistline. I was a WATER DRAMA QUEEN! All kinds of yelling and foolishness going on. I have to apologize and say thank you to these three ladies because pushing off was a mess but Trice was victimized with my shenanigans the most.

She did provide great pep talks as she laughed at my pain. You would have to see the videos on our IG (Fairgame_podcast) and FB (Fair Game with Chanel & LaTrice) pages. Make sure you follow us as well. We are on a strategical planning hiatus BUT we will be back, bigger and better with a bit of fitness in tow. These are the faces of the FairGame Queens, Chanel and LaTrice.

Now lets get to the meat and potatoes of this adventure. Did I mention our tubes were initially tied together? We 4 were going to float down this spring as a unit but it did NOT work out that way. When we finally started nothing seemed to go right. The spring had us floating backwards, we all kicked and rowed which produced no real results so not even 10 minutes in we had to cut the cord. This, my friends, is where the real shenanigans begin. I swear I owe Trice all kinds of apologies because I was the WORST tube partner for real.

I was looking for all kinds of water predators, sitting in indian style, one arm rowing and feet kicking for dear life to get away from the approaching banks and tree limbs sticking out all over the place. They were going to puncture our tubes, I was going to sink and drown or be eaten by alligators ... these were my thoughts. Trice says "just let it flow with the current friend" but that current was sending us to danger ... DANGER (in Mystikal voice)!!! Oh my word, we were only about 20 minutes in if that and life was just OVER in my mind. Why was everyone else floating straight down the river, no problems. They were just laughing and smiling, even when we floated right into them. We had several tube collisions but for the most part the other tubers were friendly. Want to see how I was through most of the tubing? Here ya go ...

Arms folded, head on a swivel for alligators, snapping turtles and snakes, yes them too! What if a water moccasin came slithering by and struck me? Or, or, or (yes the dramatic stutter) a snapping turtle nipped at my feet. HELP ME NOW! I am traumatizing myself again as I type. I COULD HAVE DIED Y'ALL! Whew child ... anywho ... this was me but to see it in action you must go to our IG page (Fairgame_podcast). I look at the video and immediately get embarrassed. My daughter said "mommy I felt so bad for you, you were struggling so much" YET she laughed at me! I tell you. If anyone had asked me earlier that day what I was doing THIS would not have been my answer had I thought this through. None of you BETTER not ask me that question either? Which one? Oh y'all know ...

I will tell you this, in my mind I DIED! I died SEVERAL times too! Now, moving forward ... this is basically how the entire 45 minute float down the spring went. Guess what? Near the end the sky changed and a storm started brewing. Oh the Most High was getting all kinds of conversation from my side of the tube. I was not prepared to be drowned from above and below. All I heard at that moment was Jada Pinkett Smith saying "LORD TAKE ME NOW!"

Y'all do NOT overstand my struggle. I CAN NOT SWIM!! Whew child, I have to get my mind right all over again. When we get to the end it starts to sprinkle. I am so thankful for nice people. There was a lady standing on the steps where we were to dismount our tubes, she saw my struggle, she heard my cry and she answered. Trice was too busy laughing at me. This is us at the end of our float. The smile on my face is like a victory lap! I MADE IT! I MADE IT Y'ALL!! IT WAS OVER!! (quick praise break)

Now you may ask, will I do it again? (deep heavy sigh) YES, YES I WILL but I will be more prepared! Scar meant what he said when he said it! Proper preparation prevents a poor performance and my performance will not be the same the next time. I am 10 months away from 50 and I have zip lining and parasailing to tackle. Why do I want to play in water and I can't swim. I swear I question myself so much y'all but you only die once and have but this life to live SO LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST!! Stay tuned for the next adventure on my Journey to 50.