To Be or Not to Be...really wet.

SUMMERTIME

[Pictures located on the Coeur d'Alene Lake, ID]

Deep down inside...actually..it's not that deep...I really really like to be outside...most specifically in some sort of water, be it ocean, lake, river etc. doing nothing but relaxing and soaking up the sun. Perhaps this is because I spent so much of my life in sunshine deprived Alaska. I feel the need to make up for all those missed sunny opportunities! My folks' place out in the hills is only a couple miles from the dock you see above, and it is my favorite Sunday hangout spot when i'm home. The Coeur d'Alene lake is beautiful, and due to the fact that this "beach" is more of a boat launch with huge sharp rocks, there are rarely many people there. 

Last summer I invested in a kayak and I've had a lot of fun with that. Gets you out, gets you exercising, and you can cruise around and see some really pretty scenery. I wanted to try something new this summer though, and was super excited when my folks bought a low end paddle board so we could try it out and see if we liked it before spending a lot of money on a good one. What exactly IS paddle boarding you ask? Here's what the all knowing Wikipedia says: 

Paddle boarding is a surface water sport in which participants are propelled by a swimming motion using their arms while lying or kneeling on a paddle board or surfboard in the ocean. This article refers to traditional prone or kneeling paddle boarding. A derivative of paddle boarding is stand up paddle surfing and stand up paddle boarding. Paddle boarding is usually performed in the open ocean, with the participant paddling and surfing unbroken swells to cross between islands or journey from one coastal area to another. Champion paddlers can stroke for hours and a twenty-mile race is only a warm-up for a well-trained waterman.

Sounds intriguing right?

Here's a look at your basic beginner paddle board: 

Now doesn't that look like all kinds of fun? I've only tried it a few times so far, but let me tell you...for the uncoordinated among us...prepare to get wet your first few tries...or whenever you get distracted...or when someone inadvertently bumps you...or just...because. There are crazy in shape people out there who do awesome things like Yoga out on the water on a paddle board etc...but i'm not quite there yet. Still, it's a lot of fun and if you haven't yet, I urge you to give it a try at some point. If you don't live near a lake...well...I would say there's never a bad time to move...but that's just me. All joking aside...it's fun, and after the initial investment, it's a cost efficient way to work your core muscles, get a tan and relax and get some fresh air all at the same time. Tell me that's not a win!  

Before I go, my older brother tried it out for the first time a couple weeks ago and caught on fairly quickly. He's blessed like that, as well as really coordinated. Here's a snap shot of his first run...err...paddle. 

Now...go forth and paddle board!