The upcoming Memorial Day holiday (May 27, 2024) in the US is the traditional start of summer, bringing throngs of people to lakes, rivers, and oceans.
“Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci
This week, the Sunday Stills photography challenge honors waterscapes of all kinds. I’m adding my annual water safety spiel at the end.
Our Awesome Oceans
“The ocean has always been a salve to my soul.” – Jimmy Buffett
Riveting Rivers
“I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.”
– John O’Donohue
The Spokane River’s journey begins in Idaho and runs through downtown Spokane, meandering toward the Columbia River.
The mighty Spokane River turns north to grace the Centennial Trail in Riverside State Park…
…only to be slowed down by the Nine Mile Falls Dam…
…metamorphosing into Lake Spokane and Long Lake…
…turning southward to be stopped momentarily by the Long Lake Dam…
… to end its final journey joined with the mighty Columbia River bordering Washington and Oregon.
Lovely Lakes and Lake Life
“The lake and the mountains have become my landscape, my real world.”
~ Georges Simenon
“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.” – Lao Tzu
My Annual Water Safety Spiel
Summer water activity traditionally begins with the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend. As the former aquatics director for a public parks and recreation organization, I was responsible for reminding people to be safe in the water.
Every May, I proudly continue to post about the importance of water safety, which coincides with National Water Safety Month.
“The only reason I started swimming was for water safety. Then, once I started falling in love with sports, I got more comfortable with it.” – Michael Phelps (28-time Olympic medalist)
As the holiday ushers in water sports and activities, the air may feel warm in the sunshine in many places, but beware of the cold and turbulent water as it rises and carries debris like telephone poles and entire trees downstream to unsuspecting visitors. Our weather temps in Eastern Washington hover around 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit, while water temperatures are in the low 40s.
Plunging into ice-cold water from a snowpack will likely take your breath away, or the hidden debris may sweep you away without warning. A teenager died recently from drowning after jumping off a bridge into the 45F waters of the Spokane River.
Even these Merganser ducks are playing it safe under Mama’s watchful eye.
Please be smart and safe. Even if you believe you are a strong swimmer, at least wear a life vest. Heed the warning signs.
The message of water safety as we enter the summer months in the northern hemisphere should never be watered down.
Inspiring Photo Challenges This Week
Each week, I find inspiration from my fellow bloggers’ photo challenges, which I enjoy incorporating into my Sunday Stills weekly themes.
- Becky B’s Squares Renewal
- Cee’s Weekend Flower of the Day
- Cee’s Which Way Challenge
- Dawn’s Spring Festival
- Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
I am excited to see your waterscapes and perhaps the water activities you and your family enjoy. I’ll take a break next Sunday during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Please join me on June 2 for the beginning of Great Outdoors Month.
June themes are available on my Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Page.
“Take a course in good water and air, and in the eternal youth of Nature, you may renew your own.” ~ John Muir
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