sauna

I went to sleep ridiculously early yesterday (9 pm) so was up pretty early this morning, when the mist was still heavy on the lake, slowly burning off as the sun rose. I went for a short paddle by myself, just to see if I could remember how to do the J-stroke (I could); it was a wonderfully peaceful morning paddle, with the last of the mist swirling around the canoe as I paddled around Peary's Island. Think I'll go for a sauna and swim now.

I never used to like the sauna.

Maybe it's because I never considered sitting in the sauna by myself, and had always associated it with having to crowd into a sweltering closet-sized room with a lot of hot, sweaty people.

This past spring and summer, however, I'm discovering how much I like the sauna. For one thing, sitting in the sauna for a while helps work up my courage to jump into a colder-than-normal lake. There's also something enormously relaxing about sitting in the sauna by oneself, leaning against the hot wood and letting tensions and worries ease away, then jumping in the lake.





Unless it's just me, or me and Jeff, I generally wear a swimsuit in the sauna. I know traditional saunas are sans clothes, but I save those for unisex spas and health club saunas. The only time I ignore my self-imposed prudishness is on canoe or hiking trips with certain friends, when the desire to jump in a cool lake after a particularly gruelling paddle or hike without having to bother with changing into a swimsuit, overcomes my squeamishness about romping au naturel.

Speaking of skinnydipping: if you haven't ever done it, I highly advise trying it, even just once. Handy tip: Don't do too soon after ice-out.





Jean and I spent an hour playing through classical flute duets yesterday afternoon. I always look forward to sightreading through music with Jean; she and I are pretty equally matched in terms of sightreading and skill levels, and we both have the same easygoing attitude. It's a lot of fun, and half the time we'll end up in hysterics in the middle of a piece if we're doing particularly badly.

Today is Jeff's and my 11th wedding anniversary! We're postponing celebrating it because of the 30th anniversary Canoe Lake Sailing Regatta this weekend; Jeff will be participating in the races. I'll probably spend most of the day writing, but go over to the Gibsons' to catch the end of the races, and to the Powell's cottagers' party tonight.

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Thermometer inside the sauna.
	Sauna. There are two benches inside, with room for approximately three people on the top bench, three on the lower bench. Higher capacity if the occupants are close friends.
	Interesting cloud patterns yesterday afternoon.