Category: outrigger

  • celebration


    this rose has a song to sing, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    I feel like I need to plan something special towards the end of this month, to celebrate the fact that this is not last year, that John is not rushing home to see me admitted into the hospital, that I don’t have any surgery looming, and that I am HEALTHY.

    Do ya’ll have any suggestions on a special way to celebrate?

    (Oh, and let me just add that last night I steered our canoe on the most amazing swells so far–each one brought our boat up high and the nose crashed down with a resounding splash. We went out a few miles into the open ocean with just the roar of the waves and the quiet calling of the paddlers. I think the gals in the front of the boat were a bit spooked by the big swells–because they were staring down into the abyss as the canoe plunged downwards. Yet from my vantage point in the back it was like riding the most amazing and unpredictable roller-coaster, but I never had a moment of fear. I just kept looking out at that big wide ocean and I felt as if it was one of the most ‘real’ experiences of my life. I continue to marvel at just how wonderful and varied the ocean is, how amazing it is to be one with it and with the sky and with the wind. That sensation is more than I could ever have dreamed of a year ago!

    PS: If you want to try your hand at paddling, our team is sponsoring event for just that and I’d love to have you join us! I’ll even steer your boat if you sign up!)

  • outrigger sunset


    outrigger sunset, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    Our view off the left side of the boat while coming back into the harbor last night after about 45 minutes of ocean paddling (the outrigger is the thing on the bottom of the pic).

    For a view of the best-ever novice outrigger canoe team, click here.

    Pic taken by a teammate

  • paddling

    In case you’ve never seen an outrigger canoe on the open ocean, here’s a peek (and can you tell why I love it???):

  • my steps


    pilgrimsteps, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    For the past few weeks/months I’ve been eking away at some projects, step by-step:

    –creating an exercise habit. I’ve been working out 6 days/week since early September. It’s not always easy to fit in and I don’t always enjoy the effort, but I love how important it’s become in my life and how good I’m feeling these days.

    –reconnecting with an old favorite activity, canoeing, as I learn how how to paddle outrigger-style. A friend’s been taking me out on the Back Bay periodically through the holidays and I’ve decided to join a team so I can train more intensely and race. I can’t believe that I’m nearly 40 and I’ve just joined up with a new team sport. It’s amazing the places this journey of my life takes me.

    –getting a spiffy new c-leg because mine’s an old out-of-warranty model. I had various fittings over the past 2 months and if all goes well I’ll have it in hand (or rather, on foot) Friday morning. This one will have a remote control. I kid you not. And no way am I telling my teenage kids where I’m hiding that little gizmo (no replay of “The Wrong Trousers” happening around here, I say)

    –working diligently on my academic projects, including the first final draft of the diphtheria chapter for my dissertation. It’s a love/hate thing: love the process of history-making, hate that my intentions are always loftier than what emerges on the page. I love/hate diphtheria, too–love learning about the disease (fascinating stuff, that), hate the sorrow and horror of lives lost to it.

    –finding novels again. For awhile I’d given them up, having grown weary of reading (not an unimaginable thing when you realize that I digest 4-10 books/week for my “work”). While in NYC I discovered books all over again. The joy! I’ve been coming home with a stack of novels from the library each week and am simply devouring them. I allow myself to read in that space of time after the daily work is done and I’m not quite yet ready for sleep. I just finished _The Blind Assassin_ and started _Arrowsmith_ last night.

    How about you, what steps have you been taking lately?