Skye's first boat ride- a photo essay

Last weekend was BRUTALLY hot, so Bruce decided it was high time to pull the boat out of storage, and clean it up.

And then, of course, it made sense to go on a boat ride. Bruce told Skye about it, and although our 9 mos. old Black Lab puppy had NO idea what he was talking about, she thought it was a great idea, too- As long as she could bring her favorite toy.

So, we loaded up, and took off.

Skye was a little nervous about that BIG THING that was following so close to the back of our truck. She made sure to watch it for most of the drive.

Once we got the boat in the water, we had to entice Skye to get in. She just wasn't positive this was such a good idea after all...

After a bit, she settled down

until the boat started MOVING!

 First she was in the back...

then, she was in the front...

This was taken just before...........

she leaped off the bow into the water. We dragged her back on board, and used the ski rope for a makeshift leash.

It was NOT a relaxing ride for me... (she's in the back again)

trying to keep her from getting tangled in the rope, moving from the back to the front to the back to the front...

This was right around the time she remembered her toy. The new game became dropping the dummy into the water.

She'd become FRANTIC, and try to jump in the water after it. Bruce would turn the boat around, and fish it out..

And the game would start all over.

NOT relaxing!

But we FINALLY got to the rocky beach

where Skye got to run and explore

and play her favorite game.

Frankly? we were hoping to tire her out.

Too soon, for her anyway, it was back on the boat.

She WAS a tired girl! and she needed a hug.

It was a GORGEOUS day on the water.

And once she'd settled down, she got interested in her surroundings.

Although, we almost lost her overboard again when she saw the ducks.

By the time we were bringing the boat in, she was an old pro!

This boating stuff wasn't all that bad! ;)

But she slept the entire ride home! ;)