Last adventure before second grade
a post from Bea
Do you ever freak out before you start a new grade or a new year? Sunday I was feeling pretty nervous (and also excited) about the start of the school year. I was thinking I can’t believe I’m in second grade… and what will it be like in third grade? Then I had to tell myself, in my mind, “You are not in third grade! That is FAR INTO THE FUTURE! YOU ARE IN SECOND GRADE!! NOW STAY THERE!!!”
Luckily my mom took me on a kayak trip with our friends Kayla and Ali. It was my first time kayaking on the Haw, but I wasn’t nervous about that. I know how to swim, and I know the Haw pretty well because I spend a lot of time there. I knew there would be rapids, but I wasn’t too worried because I’ve been on rapids before on a raft. With kayaking you have a paddle and a seat and everything.
My mom and I were in our inflatable two-person kayak. We had Pipcorn and peaches for a snack, and water. Ali and Kayla were in sit-inside kayaks. It was Kayla’s first time on the Haw. It was probably her second or third time kayaking.
At first we were just paddling down the river. I saw some animals: a blue heron, a hawk, and my mom and Kayla saw a tiny turtle. My mom says she saw a river otter. I did not get to see the turtle or the river otter, which makes me grouchy.
Our trip was five miles. After a little while we went down some rapids, then we went on the most exciting rapid, which has this big drop and all this rushing water. I felt the kayak leave the water, and my legs in the air. I screamed, but it was a scream of delight.
There were other rapids too, and sharp turns and big rocks. But the other exciting thing that happened was that a storm kicked up. I tried to get it to clear up, but it was a stubborn storm. It kept getting darker… and darker.
We saw some mushrooms on a log on the banks of the river. They were a light orange, and wavy and large. We pulled over and got them. They were chickens of the woods—my favorite. (Here is how to identify them.) We also saw some unripe pawpaws. Then there was a big burst of thunder. Lightning flashed across the sky! Then it started raining. I got really cold, and Ali tried to teach us a game to keep our minds off the cold. It didn’t work for me.
Finally it stopped raining. We had one more big rapid. For this one you had to DUCK under tree branches and paddle hard. Then we saw the bridge!
The first day of second grade was easy compared to kayaking in a storm!
Bea’s recipe for chicken of the woods sandwiches:
1. Cut your chicken of the woods into sandwich-sized pieces, and brush off any dirt.
2. Mix one raw egg and a little milk together in a shallow bowl.
3. In another shallow bowl, mix bread crumbs or panko with flour, and add spices that you like, plus salt. Meanwhile, heat oil in a cast-iron skillet.
4. Dip your chicken of the woods first in the egg wash, then in the bread crumb mixture. When the oil is hot (a little flour will sizzle), add the mushrooms. Don’t crowd them.
5. Fry on each side until crispy, about 3-4 minutes each. Serve on a burger bun with whatever you want! I like mine with ketchup, though you could spice it up with hot sauce, and you can also add lettuce and tomato.
Question from Belle: Does spending time in the outdoors help you with nervous feelings? Where do you like to go?
Being in the woods definitely helps me with nervous feelings! I like to go hiking at Ulmstead State Park, on Sal's Branch Trail. It's my number one comforting place when I need to work through some anxiety.
kayaking and shooting the rapids on the Haw River and surviving a storm with ice cold rain! a rainbow! and a wild chicken of the forest mushroom sandwich! Bea what a great before school starts adventure!!! and you
“lived to tell the tale…”