So it may not be a summer filled with lots of water here in California, but that doesn't mean you can't still get out and have a good time. Living here has taught me the importance of being able to enjoy lots of different sports, so when the weather is not good for one (say creek boating), you always have a backup activity to get outside and enjoy.
A couple weekends ago I did just that by spending my time climbing rocks, riding bikes and getting in a playboat for the first time in a long time. And I was especially excited to get out and use some gear I had recently acquired; A new climbing rope, playboat and mountain bike!
I am still very much a beginner climber, but I have learned to appreciate the skills and strength involved in this anti-gravity sport. Each move is a problem to be solved, and the more efficiently you do so, the more energy you'll have for the next move. That morning we headed up to Donner Summit and enjoyed some beautiful California granite just 15 min. outside of Truckee. I was excited to utilize my new 9.9mm Pulse rope, thanks to Blue Water Ropes, which turned out to be every bit as awesome as I expected. The bright color helped make sure it was seen by all!
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From Donner Summit I drove down the hill to Coloma, CA with my brand new Dagger Jitsu in the back of my truck. I have never been, and will never be, known as a playboater in the kayaking world. It's just not something I have ever spent a lot of time doing, but I will say that every time I hop on a wave, no matter how small it is, I always end up having a great time. I seem to find myself laughing and smiling a lot while playboating, which usually is because of my ridiculous ability to get window shaded, but its still fun anyways! The Jitsu lived up to all my expectations. I hadn't been in a newer playboat in years, and now I see what I've been missing. Excited to work out the kinks with some more days at barking dog of the SF American.
The next morning I woke up ready to get my butt kicked on a mountain bike ride on the Forest Hill Loop in Auburn, CA. Working abroad all summer as a tour guide, I get very little time to exercise, so it's always rough jumping on the bike for the first time in a while. I had only been on my new Specialized Stump Jumper a handful of times before, and I was excited to take it out again. It was a great morning and a great ride, definitely a butt kicker as expected, but thats always great motivation to get back into riding shape. I finished up the day by heading back down to barking dog for an afternoon surf session in the California sun.
If you've never experienced a good "surf and turf" weekend before, I highly recommend trying it out and learning a new sport if thats what it takes. In my opinion, diversity is the key to staying happy and healthy outside!
