Walking coach Michelle has done it with her family and loves it. So I found a class about 3 weeks ago thru the LL Bean Discovery School while surfing the net. (Now I know full well that these classes are offered to get you into sports and ultimately buy the equipment from them. I'm cool with that. And hey, it worked with the snow shoes.) It was $20. Over my limit for this challenge, but all the equipment was included. Equipment rentals can get steep.
I sent out an email to the rest of the every two feet group. My friend Pam said yes. And she'd bring the family. Kathy was interested in a weekend, so I sent her my availability.
Wednesday was the night. It was held at Lake Nockamixon at 6 pm. I left work at 3 and headed over the bridge to Jersey for gas. It was $3.17 for cash. Credit is about a dime higher, but still cheaper than the it's $3.39+ in Pa. I always take cash to Jersey for gas. And got on I-78 to go home. At Rt. 33 where it merges from 4 lanes to 2, traffic stopped. On a night I had to be home on time. Thankfully whatever happened was over and the road thinned out about 3 miles down. By the exit there was no backlog at all. Still it took an extra 20 minutes.
To go to Lake Nox I usually go thru Quakertown. But it was still rush hour. It would have taken an hour. So I googled directions and they sent me down 412. What a delight.. I will never use 309 again to go there.I arrived at exactly six. I had water shoes so I didn't need to use theirs. I also was issued a life jacket and filled out the "if you die don't sue us" waiver. People were still arriving so I hit the comfort station (L-3) and realized I had no hand sanitizer in my bag. Oh well. I'll be in water soon.
Pam arrived with her husband, daughter and friend. The teens were excited about the new adventure. Pam and I were excited but questioning our abilities to do it.
We met the instructors — Phil and Heidi. Then the safety talk, the anatomy of the gear, and a demo on how to get on the board, balance and stand. They asked if we had questions or needed to give them any info. Yes, I can't swim. "That's what we're here for." They had a tow rope and have towed people bigger than anyone in the group.
(The boards, water side up, so the fins don't get damaged.)
Now I can't stand gracefully on the ground. How was I going to pull this off in water. I had practiced a few times but my leg muscles and knees don't cooperate. I have to concentrate. After learning how to pick up the board we were off.
We waded into the lake and went in about knee deep before we got on the board. I was wobbly but managed to stay afloat. I was behind everyone. Lack of confidence really puts you in the back of the pack. Phil hung back with me and I got the rhythm of the paddle down.
It didn't take long to stop wobbling. Phil said it's like riding a bike. Once you find your balance, your body learns where it is. I noticed everyone was getting up. And soon everyone was up. Phil asked if I wanted to try. I was paralyzed with fear but said yes. Ultimately he held the front of my board (training wheels) and I got the first knee up. Balancing all my weight on my wrists and my hands I got the other leg up. But now I am stuck. My back leg wouldn't come front. I willed that sucker to move and it finally did. I WAS STANDING. And Phil left go slowly, and I put my paddle in the war and tried to stroke. And wobbled. And wobbled more, and then leaned back (bad move) and did a back flip into the water. All I could think about was losing my new glasses. And my board. And for a brief moment the flashback of the last water adventure in Willy Wonkas chocolate river. But nothing happened. I didn't even lose my board or paddle. And Phil was right there.
I decided to stay on my knees and we joined the others. They were doing yoga. (The yoga class uses the waist straps like water aerobics). When I met up with Pam, her daughter was doing a back bend. The fell in. To be 17 again. Everyone fell in at least once.
Then they taught us to sit on the board, move further back so the nose was in the air, and spin. Then it was time to go back. But I had difficulty getting back to the kneeling position. But I did it. I was getting great at paddling and steering. But I headed to the wrong shore and got hung up in shallow water. I got off the board, pushed it out and got back on.
I headed to the correct shore. Phil asked if I needed help and I said yes. I'd like to stand one more time. He said yes. We went a bit further out and I tried again. It was better. Not great and the result was the same. Splash. I was the last one out of the lake.
I had jelly legs when I hit shore. My wrists, knees, ankles and shoulders all hurt. But not in the true ouch sense. I did lust for Aleve, but didn't take it.
Kayak class. That's next. All the Discovery Courses are just $20.
Yesterday I still sore. The I have used muscles that have never been used before kind of sore. By the end of the day it was just my calves and the back of my thighs. Pam and her daughter had black and blue marks where they hit the board falling in. Pam was also sore. She didn't mention if her husband or the friend had difficulties.
I'm ready to go back. Anybody want to come? Once September comes it's only weekends.
Tomorrow is Moseywoods 75th anniversary. Rock climbing? Kayak? Row Boat? What will I chose?
This challenge got off of a slow start, but now I'm cooking. Next year, I'll be spending a lot of time in the Discovery School.
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