This past weekend included the pleasure of kayaking Tomales Bay with a youth group. It’s fun to be out with tween-agers. Their energy seems boundless. Their enjoyment rising from the moment. Their wonderment a reminder of life approached with curiosity and fully explored.
Will creatures in the seagrass bite? No. Are you sure? Yes. OK, we’ll go in the water together as a dance train, holding onto one another, to feel safer.
The kayaking trip was set up as a paddling adventure down the Russian River, but river volume was too high and flows too swift.
Pivoting to Sonoma Lake did not work because docks and boat storage were affected by high water and unavailable to rent.
Pivoting again to Tomales Bay was successful. Our kayaks pushed off from Heart’s Desire Beach. There was a wedding taking place there on Saturday afternoon, appropriate for Heart’s Desire Beach.
We kayaked on the leeward side of Tomales Bay State Park, nearly wind free to Pebble and Indian beaches. The weather was perfect: not too hot, not too cold, sunny all day, with surrounding hills velvety green. Oh, darn! Had to settle for third place in the kayaking adventure sequence.
As days warm up, it’s hard to squeeze in all the outdoor activities and places available to explore in Sonoma County and environs. It looks like good weather will continue, so here are a couple more outdoor activities to consider:
On Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30, from 11am to 4pm, T Barney Gallery and Sculpture Garden celebrates International Sculpture Day with eight other guest sculptors exhibiting. The theme is “Stellar Space.” This exhibit is one of 500 taking place around the world to celebrate sculptures. Admission is free.
On Monday, May 1, and every Monday at 5:30pm, Shelley Gilbert and Sherry Harkins of 32 Winds winery host a charitable yoga and wine gathering. Bring a yoga mat and participate in an hour of yoga led by Gilbert, with perfectly curated playlists themed for each week’s session, appropriate for any yoga level. Afterwards, perhaps have a complimentary glass of wine.
The event is donation based, with 100% of proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Gilbert was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and she courageously leads this “bubble of love yoga.” Feel free to check it out.
