Adventure: Catalina Island

Southwest Airlines used to have the slogan "Wanna get away?" Yes was always my answer. This past weekend, I got to get away and did I ever enjoy it. There is not a much better place for a quick getaway than to take a sail over to Two Harbors, Catalina Island.

We left Friday afternoon from Marina del Rey. The weather was gorgeous out with a nice wind that seemed like it was going to be very kind to us. There were tons of birds and as we passed one of the ocean buoys we saw a bunch of seal pups basking in the sun.

However the wind wasn't quite going in the right direction and if we were going to beat the sunset, we needed to motor it a little bit. While motoring a sailboat is not always ideal, we did not want to have to moor up in the dark. We got there and moored up with just enough time to try and get to the other side of the ithsmus to see the sunset and try to see the "green flash". Unfortunately the direction of the actual sunset placed it behind the hill so we couldn't see it or attempt to see the "green flash". In the end though it was a nice little hike and we had fun.

The next day was b-e-a-utiful. The was no clouds, no wind and the sun was out shining bright. We made our way to shore and started our day.

After a long day of volleyball, soccer, some drinking, eating and flat out relaxing, we headed back to the boat for dinner. While we couldn't see the sunset into the horizon, we still definitely got some very nice colors. 

The next day it was time to say goodbye. Although since I know there is a high likelihood that we will be back, it was really more of a see you later. The first part of our trip there was not a breath of wind; so we started with the motor again. Luckily, it soon picked up so we were able to enjoy the nice silent sail back into reality.  

Every time we take a trip to Catalina, the day after we get back everyone is in a sort of depression. Really the same is true of any fun trip but this one seems to sting just that much more because Catalina Island is a little under 30 miles away (it is closer than disneyland) yet it seems a world away. 

Blink of an Eye

And just like that it turned into two weeks since a post. I swear it was a blink of any eye. There has been so much happening, where to start. How about with a math equation!

I went on a lovely sailing trip on Presidents Day weekend. I was lucky enough to get a roommate who had a sailboat so we took it out since the weather was gorgeous that weekend with a nice little wind.

I also got to a nice hike in with my new Teton Backpack. It wasn't climbing Mt. Whitney by any means but I had to take it out to make sure it was going to be comfortable to wear. I was very pleased with it. I will write up a full review in the next couple days.

For something not necessarily adventurous but still exciting, I got a promotion. This did come with a little more work (part of my brief hiatus) but it is an exciting new challenge for me none the less.

Of course with the good there is usually bad. My grandmother fell and hurt herself. She is not in critical condition or anything but any injury at 94 years old can be scary. But she is heading in the right direction with her recovery so there is good coming. I can feel it.

I apologize again for the time between posts. I've gotten everything organized once again so the writing will be back to what it was before. We also have another exciting sailing trip planned in a couple weeks as well as a hike or two and surfing. There will always be surfing. Surfing makes me happy and if I've learned anything from life thus far, it's that the most important thing is to be happy.

 

PS. For those who don't like math, the equation says that time is an inverse function of fun. If you're having fun, time goes fast. If you're not, then time will go slowly. You're math nerd fact for the day ;)

My Dream Adventures

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

- Lao-Tzu

 

If the name of my blog wasn't obvious, I love to go on adventures, both big and small. I'm always looking for the next fun thing to do. The only way to get anywhere is to start going. When Lao-Tzu said his famous quote, the only way to do that was to literally start walking. In this day and age, it takes a little more planning. The list that follows are what I hope to be my next 5 big adventures. Putting them here is my first step. Now the only way to continue is forward. 

 

5) Summit Mt Whitney

 

For those that don't know, Mt' Whitney is the highest point in the lower 48 states. I've always thought how cool been one to try and go higher than the rest. What is the best way to do that? Go to the top of the highest point! The tricky part with this lies in getting the permit. Because it is a popular destination, the only way to get a over night permit (which you need for this hike), is through a lottery. This means I could easily get it this year or I could never get it. However, if I don't try I will never get it. The applications open February 1st.

4) Earn Spartan Race Trifecta Badge

Part of adventure is pushing yourself. Finding out how far you can go. The latest craze to do this is these long mud run/ obstacle course runs. I am signed up for the January 26th race down here in Southern California. This is the first of three races that I will have to do in a calendar year to achieve the coveted (by some) Spartan Trifecta badge. To read more about the Trifecta badge, click here. If you want to see what the Spartan Race is about, click here. If you feel up to it, sign up for one. Start your own adventure. But if you do, just promise me you'll tell me about it.

 

 

3) Mountain Bike in Utah

Yes, that is what the guy was doing in the movie "127 Hours". Sure there is the chance something like that could happen to me. But if you don't risk anything then you will lead a dull life. Utah has some of the most beautiful mountain biking area in the country. I would love to just spend a weekend or a week biking about the wilderness getting lost then finding my way back. It's very rare to find someplace without technology these days but I have a feeling this would be one of those places. Plus, Arches National park is in Utah. I would love to go there and explore too. If I got really lucky I would find the place to do this. Would I do it? Absolutely! I would go just to do this. But I figured I might as well get some great mountain biking in while I'm at it.

 

2) Wingsuit Flying

If skydiving make you feel like you're floating, I imagine wingsuit flying would be like flying. A wingsuit basically turns a human into a flying squirrel. You can soar long distances to increase your free fall time. The hard part about this one is that you need to be certified to sky dive by yourself first as well as have several hundred dives. So this is definitely one I would have to work up to but it is on my list to do. 

 

 

 1) Sail Around the World

This one is a combination of adventure, exploring and surfing for me. I have always wanted to travel the world and explore different places. Throw in my passion for surfing, and you have a perfect adventure. Like the wingsuit adventure, this will have to be something I work towards. But when it happens, it will be very much worth all the work that went into it.

 

 

 

These are the adventures I'd love to go on next. They will take some time and patience obviously. But the only way they will ever happen is to start working towards them, taking my footsteps towards the 1000 mile journey.