Some people find their solace in the mountains. They enjoy the feel of the earth beneath their feet, the analysis of looking for this trail or that ledge. The stability provides them physical grounding, thus allowing their thoughts to flow. They feel the hum and the beat of the earth through the rocks, the dirt, the grass and the trees.
Me, I find my peace on the water. I’m not so good with hard surfaces. Water is akin to the blood flowing through my veins. The flow of water is life to me. I don’t need to think when I’m on the water. I feel the pulse and the rhythm of life.
I think I prefer water over mountains because there’s no beginning and there’s no end. When you climb a mountain you reach the top, have a look around and then go back down. Now, you may go a different way and all of that but you have to stop once you’ve reached the top. If you want to go further, too bad, can’t be done.
With water though, you flow along until you feel the urge to turn around. The only one telling you not to go on is you. Not the path, not the water, you determine your journey.
Water is soft too. I don’t know about you but I’m not the most graceful person around. More often than not, I’m tripping over my own four–toed feet, bumping into a wall cause I’m too busy looking around or just plain getting lost between here and there. When I’m on the water I feel like I’m in my element. I no longer feel like the floundering oaf of an elephant seal, rather, I feel like the graceful selkie that I’ve come to know and appreciate. When I put on my wet suit I can be buoyant and warm and stay in that water realm for even longer. Water doesn’t hurt or sting. It flows and cools. Water is life.
Don’t get me wrong though, water has power and I’ve immense respect and feel humbled by her presence. Storms and winds come up from seemingly nowhere, and if you’re not at least a little aware, you’ll be swept out to sea and then look at the mess you’re in.
When you’re hiking in the mountains, you need to bring stuff. You need to pack and be prepared for changes. You can bring snacks. You can bring music and a camera. You can bring all sorts of fun and necessary stuff. When you’re on a paddle board let’s see, you have you and a paddle, a life jacket, if you have deck webbing you can even bring a water proof pouch to hold water and a small snack. You can bring your phone or camera if you dare, but you better make sure they’re water proof. For me, going out on the water with really nothing but yourself and your board is a very pure experience…just you, the water and your thoughts.
I actually wrote this post in my head a while back when I was out for a long trek on the New Meadow’s River. I got so lost in the beauty of the day that I ended up about 8 miles out. I had a seal with me for most of my journey. I usually see lots of curious harbor seals, eagles and herons, gulls and pipers on the rocks and seaweed beds that arise from the river as the tide withdraws to show her hidden beauty. I had it all worked out and smiled as the hand with the quill pen wrote it all on the piece of parchment in my head. Notice how I said “had” it all worked out.
As I rounded Malaga Island Preserve, I found a lovely little sand bar. I pulled up, sat down, ate a small snack and drank a bottle of water. I then realized I needed to pee. Well, I’m not ashamed to admit that if I need to go, well, I need to go. Fish do it, seals do it, snails do it, sure won’t hurt anything if I did it. Here’s the catch; I had a wetsuit on. Never having done that in a wetsuit before, I figured it would act the same as when I had my bathing suit on. So, in the sand I sat, did what I needed to do and felt most relieved. As I sat there for a few minutes it dawned on me that I was feeling warm. It then dawned on me further that what I did in my wet suit was still there. “EWWW!” was my first thought. Then I stood up. It didn’t move. So there I stood, on a sand bar, by myself; in a wet suit full of, well, you know. I then proceeded to pull and tug on the wet suit, pulled out the legs and felt the warmth slowly move down and empty out by my ankles. I couldn’t quite decide between giggling and gagging from being disgusted. “Sure hope people who do triathlons know about this” I said aloud. So into the water I went, pulling and tugging the whole time, hoping against hope it would all get out. Once I was all set, I got out of the water and walked the bar for a bit then decided it was time to trek on home.
As I started back I realized I was going against the tide. No problem thought I. Well, no problem until the north easterly breezes picked up…picked up in my face the entire journey back. This was my first time ever that I had to sit or kneel the whole trip back to shore. All. Eight. Miles. While never in any true peril, it did remind me to not be complacent when it came to water; even my seals had abandoned me. It’s times like that though, you pull yourself together, dig into your reserves and go “Well, got to get back, the car won’t float out and fetch me, it’s only me so get going”…2 ½ hours later I finally made it back to the boat launch; utterly exhausted, but a bit stronger and very clear headed.
The point of this blog? I’m not quite sure. Clearly, I love the water; it soothes my soul and clears my mind. Paddle boarding is meditation in motion for me. You may love the mountains. You may even be one who is comfortable in both elements. Wherever you go to find yourself, your inner peace, make sure you go there as often as you can. In this crazy dream of a world that we live in, now more than ever it’s important to carve out time for you and you alone. Pack for your adventure, be safe, be open to what comes and enjoy the ride….just don’t pee in your wetsuit.