It was just before 5:00 am on a chilly July, Saturday morning in Markleeville, CA. I clicked into my bicycle pedals and asked a volunteer to point me to the starting area. “There’s no startling line,” he said, his headlamp shining in my eyes. “Just start riding.”
For fun in the sun, there’s no need to escape cities. Instead, wander beyond the crowded concrete sidewalks and tall buildings of America’s urban jungles to their deep blue harbors and sparkly waterways.
There, you’ll find kayaking, whale-watching, jet ski jaunts and many more aquatic adventures. Speedboats get the adrenaline pumping, while stand-up paddleboarding presents time for serenity.
This winter, I spent several days paddling my SUP on the frosty Hudson River, NYC.
In January, I was in Altea, Spain spending a few fun days at Team Novo Nordisk's cycling training camp and exploring local winery & culinary specialties.
As the late morning autumn sun warmed my shoulders, I plunged the long paddle into the translucent turquoise Adriatic Sea, gliding along the craggy limestone coastline. There where scantly clad sun-worshippers nesting in nooks and crannies of the porous manila “Karst” rock. A pod of colorful kayaks emerged from a nearby cove surrounding one of Croatia’s 718 islands and islets. I slowed my SUP, from Adriatic Kayak Tours, to admire the serene, sparkly water surrounding Dubrovnik’s imposing City Wall (1.2-miles), which encircles the bustling Old Town.
My jacket fluttered in the cool March breeze as I swooshed down and around the tight hairpin turn. Then feathered my bicycle brakes to slow speed, leaning into the next twisty curve. I snuck a glimpse at the rippling turquoise sea below, wedged between jagged limestone mountains sprouting from sparkly water. It was eye candy for the soul and one of the many gems hidden in Mallorca, Spain.
