Sailing, Sailing

I absolutely love the water. Especially the ocean. I enjoy boating of any kind, buy my absolute favorite is sailing.

I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks one year and four weeks another sailing all around the Bahama Islands on a 37 foot catamaran. After outfitting and stocking our boat, we would set off from Titusville, Florida and sail down the intracostal waterway to Ft. Lauderdale. We would always spend the night in South Florida to check weather conditions and re-stock anything we might have forgotten, before heading for West End, Grand Bahama.

Watching all this hurricane stuff made me remember how quickly the temperament of the ocean can change. It can in a matter of minutes go from glassy smooth ripples, to raging 7 and 8 foot waves or more. It is always mysterious, always surprising and thrilling and at times frightening.

I remember on summer in particular. I kept a journal that year and called it "The Year of the Squall." That was because every day was an adventure of waiting for what the severity of weather would be that evening. The mornings were always calm and beautiful and we would awake to incredible sunrises. But, by late afternoon every day, and I do mean every day, we would get storms.

One particularly peaceful afternoon as we were sailing along from Fox Town to Marsh Harbor, I was leaned back against the cabin reading a book. My companion was at the tiller steering our course. When I looked up from my book, I was suddenly speechless! There was a positively HUGE waterspout heading right for us! I squealed and pointed as my friend looked to see what I was so excited about. We had to decide rather quickly the course of action we would take.

Running it over together we both remembered having been told to move at a right angle to the direction of the spout. We made a quick course adjustment, and watched in disbelief as the waterspout passed right between us and another sailor about 200 yards behind us!

After our relief at having escaped the spout, we found ourselves in another dilemma. The area in which we had turned was known as Crishes Swash. I have no idea what that means, but it was shallows! Really shallow shallows. I took my position on the front of the boat, to point the way toward the deeper parts of the water as we began to pick our way back to our planned course.

As we inched our way along between outcroppings of coral and sand bars, we saw some of the most beautiful fish and wildlife I have ever seen. It was beautiful and pristine there. If it had not been for the water spout we would never have known about or seen this beautiful place. Eventually we were able to find our way back out to deeper water and proceed to our next mooring.

Sailing is a beautiful, adventurous, exhilarating if somewhat dangerous sport.
Like any other sport, you need to study before you attempt it. Charts, weather, radios, depth finders can all help. But your absolute best friend is your own common sense. Use your head, plan ahead, and have fun. Believe me, the adventures my companion and I shared while sailing will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I will share more about them in a later blog. Have a Blessed Day!

Working It! Water Aerobics

Okay, enough of lolly gagging around...I've got to Move It, Move It! Especially if I want to shed the next 27 pounds. My goal is still to be at goal weight by Thanksgiving. That is going to take some serious movement.

So, first thing this morning I headed for The Cantrell Center, in Warner Robins, Georgia. They have a great heated (really doesn't need that heat right now!) pool, and Donna is a fantastic instructor for Water Aerobics.

Now if you are laughing and thinking that water aerobics can't be all that difficult, then you need to come with me some time. Of course you can just kinda lay back and watch and waddle, but if you really DO IT for one hour, you can burn a bunch of calories and firm up some of that flab at the same time.

Today is the first day of my three day a week exercise program to get the rest of this weight off for good! Water aerobics is great because it doesn't stress the joints like running or jogging. You don't sweat! LOL, and somehow it is just more relaxing than the boring treadmill or machines. The music is upbeat and makes you want to keep moving to the beat. Check out a Wellness Center in your town. I think you will find this is an inexpensive and healthy way to get that body back into shape.

I am going to give you a recipe today that you can either make the fattening way, or the "slimmed down" way. Either way, believe me it is absolutely delicious (and no one can tell the difference which is which).

SUMMER STRAWBERRY TRIFLE

THIS PICTURE actually depicts three of my favorite trifles, and I will share those other recipes at another time.

1 Large Box Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix (you can use fat free/sugar free)
16 ounces Cool Whip (again, can use fat free/sugar free)
2 pound cakes (can use angel food instead) cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 Pound container strawberries, cut up (save a few for garnish)
1 cup sugar (or Splenda or Truvia)
1 can Whipped Cream

Cut up and macerate strawberries overnight in refrigerator in sugar or artificial sweetener.

1. Mix Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix with Cool whip and set aside.
2. Cover bottom of clear bowl with cubes of cake
3. Spoon 1/3 of Strawberries over cake
4. Spoon and spread pudding mixture over the strawberries (you will not that
the mixture has obtained a kind of cheesecake texture)
5. Repeat layers until bowl is full.
6. Top with whipped cream and a few strawberries you have set aside for garnish

This trifle will serve 15 hungry people....and you will get rave reviews! Not only is is pretty to look at, but it is delicious to eat, and simple to make!

Other favorites of mine include a Mocha Crunch Trifle, and a Caramel Apple one.

Kayaking 101

Last month, while visiting Okaloosa Island, Florida, my daughter decided we should take the girls and go kayaking. I encouraged them to rent a Kayak and go to Crab Island, a huge sand bar between Ft. Walton Beach and Destin. They had a fabulous time paddling over to the sand bar and catching hermit crabs and playing in the fabulously clear shallow water. It is an amazing place.

They were so excited about the fun they were having that they came back to get me and insisted that I join them in kayaking over to the island.

I was really hesitant to get in a kayak because of an experience I had several years ago while vacationing in Savannah. My husband and I visited a water sports store one afternoon, and there was a flyer posted about a "free rental" of a kayak to try it out and see how you liked it. We decided to give it a try and made an appointment to meet the people in Brunswick for a trial run.

It was a lovely, sunny April morning when we arrived at the docks in Brunswick for our introduction to kayaking. It was a little cool, and I had dressed warmly in jeans, two shirts, socks and sneakers. We were outfitted immediately in large "May West" type life jackets. Then we were shown assorted kayaks that were displayed along the entire length of the dock. My hubby went off to try one on, and I picked one that looked appealing to me. I am a tall (5'10") woman, and I was a little worried about fitting into the kayak. I stood in the small, narrow craft and lowered my body down into the hole for seating. I was surprised at how roomy the boat actually was.

My pleasure was short-lived however when I tried to get up out of the kayak. I tried to bend my knees up and stand, but my legs were so long that I could not bend them to get out of the hole. No matter how I tried, I couldn't seem to extricate myself from the boat. I finally had to turn the thing over on its side and wriggle out like a worm. And that was just the beginning of a humiliating day.

I had someone tell me after getting out of the kayak that you needed to "measure" the opening and choose a kayak according to the length of your legs. Would have been nice to know that before I got into one. But, after a little reassurance, I climbed down the dock ladder and entered a kayak which was more suited to my size.
I paddled around for about 15 minutes in the backwater at Brunswick, before heading back to the dock to meet my husband. We wanted to try a ride on top kayak for two.

I exited my kayak and climbed up onto the dock while my husband and the employees picked out a kayak for us to use. Kevin got into the kayak at the end of the dock before I did, and held out his hand to assist me into the front of the boat. I don't know if you have ever seen one of those things, but they really don't have "sides" to hold onto or anything. The tide had gone out and the top of the dock was several feet from the water. As I stepped down off the dock and put one foot into the kayak, my husband said, "Just reach back and grab the side and sit down." That was a lot easier said than done. As I went to reach for the side, I lost my balance and went headlong into the bay!

As I said previously, I was dressed for the cool air, but the water was even colder. I had on a hat, sunglasses and all as I tumbled into the drink. Funny thing is, the hat and glasses stayed on as I bobbed around in the May West. I am a good swimmer, and besides I had on a vest, so drowning was the least of my worries. I was worried about just how I was going to get back up onto the dock in all my clothes with no ladder to assist. Just as I was feeling most embarrassed a handsome young man came paddling over and offered to assist me....aauuuggghhh. I politely declined his offer and swam over to the dock.

I knew if I was ever going to be able to get out of the water I needed to shed my heavy shoes and the hat and glasses. I pulled them all off and threw them up on the dock where a 100 pound girl employee was running up and down saying, "Just grab my hand and I'll help you out." I could just see me grabbing her hand and pulling her into the water with me. "No thanks," I declined politely. "I'll figure it out."
I managed to lean to one side and throw one leg around one of the dock supports. I then pulled my self up with some difficulty, looking like a drowned rat. I lay on the dock for a few minutes to regain my composure before lifting my dripping body and heading for the building to shed my vest.

That was one humiliating day for sure. I was a shivering mess and ready to head home. I hadn't gotten into a kayak since then.

So, you can understand why I might not want to get into another kayak when the girls were pleading for me to join them. I finally relented, however, and we actually had a wonderful time paddling over the the island. We got lunch at the little floating restaurant before paddling back to return the kayaks. I am glad my daughter talked me into getting back into the boat, as we had a wonderful time, and created some great memories.

So, a few things to remember if you are going kayaking:
1. They are very tippy
2. Wear a life jacket
3. Make sure if it is not a ride on top, you measure to make sure your legs
will not make you a prisoner!
4. Have fun!