Paddling
Hey, any paddlers out there?
I got a used kayak at the beginning of the summer and it's been a hoot! I'm still a beginner, of course, and I'm talking flat water and bay kayaking vs. whitewater. Still, I'm thrilled just being out on the water in my little boat. Also, it's a nice counterpoint to cycling--mainly works the upper body, though the core muscles are a big factor and lower body comes into play for stabilizing and swinging the hull.
I've been teaching myself from a book so far--read a chapter, go out and try the techniques, read another chapter, etc. But I may take a class or two before the summer's over.
As with rock climbing, paddling can involve some effort to reach the "playground," but once you're there, it's every bit worth the trouble. On the water, "Life is but a dream."
"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself." --Walt Whitman