Boating

I want to get back in touch with the ocean. I love the ocean, but I’m afraid of it. It wasn’t always like this. As a child, I loved the ocean. I’m really not sure why my feelings have changed over the years. I guess, like many other things in my life, maturity has caused me to become much more cautious—too cautious, I think.

I’ve been kayaking a few times, and I’m planning to take the “Learn to Kayak” class in Orange Beach this summer. There’s something both empowering and therapeutic about being alone in a kayak, paddling across the water. But I haven’t done this in the ocean yet—only lakes and rivers. So the plan is to take the class, learn some safety rules and get comfortable with my kayaking skills, then take on the Gulf. I mean, there’s really no reason to be afraid of the water off of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. We just need to be re-aquainted.

Information about the kayak class can be found at www.thebeachiscalling.org. Just search the calendar of events.

I never thought that I would be the kind of person who goes to a powerboat race. But now I am hooked. The boat races have been going on in Orange Beach for several years now, but I never went. Last year a friend talked me into going and I loved it.

I'm a pale face so I had to load up on the sunscreen to stand being on the beach all day. But when those boats went roaring by, geez the energy was crazy.

I am definitely going back this year, sunscreen in hand.