Peddling:
That means time on my bike...FINALLY! To date, I've been a whimp and have primarily done indoor spin but this weekend I am going for my first long ride...63 miles on Saturday with the Cascade group. Gotta get ready to do the Seattle-to-Portland (STP) in 1 day (double-century) in July. Yikes, that's really just three months away? Sigh...pass the chamois buttr, load up the Gu and let's get to it.
Paddling:
OK, this I'm really excited about. I joined the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club because I just can't get enough Aloha and 'Ohana spirit! I've been paddling in a 6-person canoe which is exactly what I wanted because I wanted to get into another team sport. The timing I got right away....except when I'm out on the lake and we pass several boatloads of HOT men crew rowers...then, my timing goes all to shit because I'm so distracted as my gaze wanders over instead of focusing on the paddle in front of me to make sure my timing is in sync with my teammates. Yeah, the next several months out on Lake Union and Lake Washington are going to be fun. Though, my steerman might have to put some blinders on me so I stay focused on paddling on MY boat. Also, still working on my paddling stroke and I feel so sorry for the person in front of me. Come July/Aug when it's hotter, they will be happy to be the recipient of my errant, er, efficient (thanks Coach John!), paddling stroke. In any case....too much fun!
Second, my friend also has some Aloha spirit going north of the border. Mountain Surf Adventures (formerly Tantalus Adventures) has added Standup Paddleboard lessons & trips to their offerings. So, if you're up in the Whistler area, let me know and I can set you up on a local lake. Not only is it a different experience on a body of water, but it's also an excellent overall conditioning workout - both physically and mentally. Give it a try...no waves required. These boards are excellent on flatwater. And, once you get the hang of it and you're off paddling on your own, you can almost smell the saltwater, and hear the distant song of a native hawaiian accompanied by a ukelele (no, NOT Don Ho you crazy haoles!).Finally, in early May, I've got a 6-day assistant sea kayak guide training course off the west coast of Vancouver Island with Evolution Guide School. I'm looking forward to it because one of the instructors was one of the guides who had accompanied me on my trip to the Great Bear Rainforest back in the summer of 2006. Kinda nervous about it but looking forward to seeing that part of Vancouver Island.
Puck:
Goes without saying. Don't want to get rusty over the summer so I'll continue to skate in the GSHL and another co-ed league but no women's hockey. So, could be a season of trouble with those crazy boys (woot!).
Phun:
Let me suggest for some fun, a couple of days out on Washington Coast at Kalaloch lodge. Right now, there are some awesome deals since its still the off-season but I think it's the best time. You might be lucky and see some grey whales migrating because they're closer to the coastline on this north-bound journey. The Kalaloch lodge and their sister lodge, Lake Quinalt Lodge, have amazing deals where if you sign up for a beach clean-up or trail maintenance in the Olympic National Park, then you get to stay for a much-reduced price. At Kalaloch - might I suggest the cozy little cabins along the bluff. Yummy. I haven't visited Lake Quinalt in years but I remember big adirondack chairs for afternoon happy hour after a day in a canoe on the lake or hiking in the lush rainforest.
Oh wait....I forgot PUTTING! Gonna make an effort to get my game back this summer now that I have a good list of golfing partners to hook up with.So, cheers to Spring and bring on Summer! It's time. Aloha!
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