A pandemic circling the globe gets you thinking on all kinds of levels – serious, introspective, and downright silly.
We here on Orcas Island have the incredible luxury of not yet being very affected by it physically, and we also have gobs of space and natural beauty to wallow in as we “distance.”
On a beach walk the other day, I was trying to get at the root of why I’m not the skilled water person I’d like to be here. This is it: even though I spent high school time wave-hopping, college time kayak guiding and surfing (small waves!), and post-college time river guiding and outrigging, I’m fearful. And it’s especially hard for me to go out in water alone.
Anyone who knows me knows that there are times I’ve been crying in the back of a raft while guiding a group down Class IV rapids, that I’m stiff as a board snorkeling through coral reefs with stonefish, or that I teach people to be bomber kayak rollers in ways I can’t say that I am.
I don’t know why I have more fear than others. Maybe it’s from sinking down to the bottom of a hot tub when I was a baby, and no one realizing it until they finally saw me there. Maybe not. My mom recently told me that I learned how to swim at a special place for kids who were scared of the water. Really??? I have no recollection of any fear as a kid, but I guess it was there then too.
Moving here and hearing stories of quickly-changing weather, crazy currents, and horror stories kept me from getting busy with watercraft. There aren’t that many people out here in the water, at least compared to what I’m used to in California, so it would have to be a very solo endeavor if I chose to go for it.
Nevertheless, I absolutely love being in and around water. I’ve decided that I need to step into what I want to do, just slowly and wisely, at my own pace even if it’s tortoise-speed.
I’ve always wanted to get into stand-up paddleboarding, so I’ve dipped my toe in the retail and used-board water to figure out what’s available.
I just spent some breathtaking time on the glassy ocean with the sun dazzling warmly in the sky, demo-ing an inflatable Hydrus board that Angela Douglas, owner of Orcas Athletics & CrossFit, allowed me to try. She’s a rep for Hydrus, and I talked with the owner of the company today about various SUP details. What a nice, knowledgeable, upbeat guy! (Hi Jason!) She asked if I’d take a photo while out there and send it over to her. Why, surely, it’s only one of my favorite things to do!
I’m still trying to figure out what kind of boards are out there, but in the meantime, here’s a little gallery of the beauty we get to experience while “staying at home” here on Orcas Island.
I encourage you to embrace your mediocrity right now too. If you have some distance from the virus, take this time to step into the things you can still do. Set aside looks, likes, and limitations that hold you back. Live out the things that are authentically you regardless of anything in society that says they aren’t.
What have you always wanted to do?
