Day 9

Today I ate a peach.  Which has nothing to do with my challenge for today, but I just wanted to share that I think it is my first this summer.  This is a sad fact because I love peaches.

I also love water!  I love to drink water. I love to swim in the water.  I love to play near the water.  I love to float in the water.  I love to watch the water.  I love to drive my cousins jet ski over the water.  I love to drop little dogs in the water.  I would love to on the water one day. I could go on, but I think you get the point.

I don’t think I have shared this with my friend Ruth. Which is why her challenge for me today made me smile? 

Hi Amanda,

Hopefully this won't be too bad.  I thought that you should try stand-up paddle boarding.  It seems to be all the rave, however, I tried it and it was kind of weird.  I know there are a couple of places downtown that have them.  Texas Rowing Center

http://www.texasrowingcenter.com/kayak_prices.htm The rowing dock http://www.rowingdock.com/rental_boats.html Anyway,  i hope that this isn't too bad.

Ruth

Ruth also didn’t know that I have wanted to do for a while.  There use to be this boy at office who carried a surf board on the top of this jeep to the office.  Intrigued by the thought of this boy being an actually surfer dude like the ones I went to high school, I asked him about it.  And since that day the world of STAND UP PADDLE-BOARDING came alive to me.  I notice SUPers every time I go over the Town Lake and have even done research on this hot new trend.

So today after a mad-dash to get the work errands run, I headed to the Rowing Dock to try this for the very first time.  Within minutes of my arrival I was on a board, rope attached to my ankle, and shoving off.   I was somewhat nervous about actually getting from the kneeling position to the standing and also afraid I would lose my balance and fall in. But soon I was up and feeling very proud of myself.  Along the ride an expert suggested I lock my knees and shared a better way to paddle.   He also suggested that I jump me to get that fear of falling over with.  It took a few minutes to actually jump, and to be honest I am not sure why I was so worried; after all I love the water.  After getting wet and the other minor adjustments I booked it all over the lake.  Soon my time was up and I paddled back to the dock where the shot below was taken. 

This was definitely a fun activity and a good workout.  Will I go out and buy a board?  No, but this will not be the last time I go SUP.  Can you imagine doing yoga poses on a surf board in the water?  This is something I might have to try after I am a little more comfortable on the board.

Ruth thanks for the fun challenge.  It was perfect.

XOXO-Amanda May