By: Shelly Jackson
Some activities do not need to cease because of a pandemic. Although there are regulations and personal safety issues that limit what a person can do, there are still ways to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and social distance at the same time.
As an avid paddleboarder, I know that this activity is a good one for these times. Why? Because you can’t get close to anyone or you will find yourself swimming in the water instead of upright on the board. Hence a small group decided to meet at the AP Marina and give this activity a try. We had experienced paddlers as well as folks who had never tried paddleboarding before. The group started their adventure between the C and D docks on a bright morning in late July. We enjoyed paddling past the many boats docked there and even had a few well-wishers wave and cheer us on.
It was a gorgeous day to be out on the water. We saw several water birds and turtles—and the fish were jumping. As luck would have it, we spotted a dolphin in the distance, which is always a joy to see. We took our time and leisurely paddled across the water to Yeopim Creek. One paddler found out quickly you can’t turn around on the paddle-board to laugh at your wife: he ended up losing his balance and being the only one to fall in the water. But he quickly got back on the paddleboard, and we continued our trip. It was delightful to be on the water, with dappled sunshine adding sparkle and nature providing some special sightings. As a bonus, the activity provides a great core workout.
As planned, we ended the trip on one of the AP resident’s dock where there was cold water set out for the thirsty paddlers. All agreed it was a fun adventure and a good workout with friendly folks in a fantastic setting.