SUP-ing!

It has been a while... I know, I know.... but life has been just an amazing whirl wind of awesome! So, finally, now that I have a bit of time to myself (Chad is out taking Milli for a walk) - I thought I would start the series of updates. The following couple of posts will be in some order.... probably not chronological, no... probably more in the order of what I though was most awesome, to what I thought was just cool. But, this comes with a promise - a promise to write more often (I have a bunch of new recipes to share too!).

As I wrote in a previous post, Chad and I went to a benefit auction a while back - and since, come to find out, my husband is an auction fiend! we actually won a couple of items! A "Paddle Package" was one of them.

I realize "Paddle Package" is a somewhat ambiguous name, it was to us too, but that's what it was called - and WOW! it ended up being a bunch of different gift certificates to local rental places - and a lesson (with boards) for 3 people to learn how to Stand-Up Paddle Board! Which, is also reffed to as SUP (stand-up paddling). It ended up being the coolest thing ever.

Chad and I and my friend Ashley - who had always dreamed of SUP - went out to Dyes Inlet one happy, sunny, Sunday morning. Its just our local bay which happens to have a small beach. Anyways - once we got out there, we met up with one of the coolest couples I've ever met - a husband/wife team who just love the water - and even better, love to donate their time and skills to benefit auctions. They brought the boards and the know-how - and were so helpful and patient with us! The husband even took pictures of us the whole time with his water-proof camera!

The actual stand-up part of paddle boarding ended up being pretty easy - you strap onto a big, foam surf board, get onto your knees, then just stand up. The hard part was negotiating the long paddle, and moving forward. There was a technique.. which I never quite mastered... though Chad and Ashley had no problems... I think I crashed into everyone at least once... but despite this, I never fell in the water. Which I can't say for Chad and Ash! Hhhaha! They decided they needed to switch boards and one point - to see how the length and floaty-ness differed - and mid switch SPLASH!! It may have been Chad's fault - but he'd never admit it!

My fun really started when the lady guide wanted to switch my paddle board for her canoe thing! Oh my goodness! It was the MOST AMAZING THING EVER! I just glided though the water, faster than everyone, more maneuverable. Luckily for me, no one else wanted to try it.

So as it stands - I want a canoe/kayak and Chad wants a paddle board... we'll see what happens. In any case, I suggest that everyone try this sport! Its a great way to be outside - on the water - without much of an investment required. Its really popular in Hawaii - but its becoming available everywhere (we even saw a rental place up at Lake Tahoe). To rent a board and paddle for a couple hours is only $20 or so - and beaches aren't restricted yet!