#36 Kayaking on the Bay

I had planned to go Kayaking some time this summer, but had not gotten to it before my injury. I figured that I was healed enough to go with ADK younger members group who planned an evening out on the Irondequoit Bay.

The weather forecast was sketchy with "possible rain" , but the sun was out so the group decided that it would hold out for our paddle.

I hobbled into the Kayak and my friend and I started to paddle. At the beginning it was very peaceful and it did not seem too difficult, but soon I started to feel it in my arms. I thought, I would be able to do it easily due to being on crutches so long, but thatcrutching uses different muscles.

Kayaking uses your whole body, including your legs, which I don't have right now so I had to really use my upper body. After awhile I started to get fatigued and we still had a bunch to go. While we were heading back, the clouds started to roll in. People were paddling really strongly and I'm dying! Then we started to hear thunder and see lightening off in the distance.....paddle harder....then just when we were almost to shore the sky opened up and the rain poured down!

Next time, I think it would be better to kayak with only few friends, where I could go slower and at my own pace. It was too much pressure to be with a group where people were MUCH better than me and I had to struggle to keep up. Also, I will have to wait until I have a fully functioning body!

#35 Star Gazing

One thing I have never done before is to take the time and really "look up" to the stars. All summer, I have been waiting to do this, and it never seems to work with my schedule (or any one else's) or the sky is not clear enough.

But today, I decided rather last minute to go to the "Star Party" sponsored by the Rochester Astronomy Club , http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/ . I texted different friends to see if they could join me on this adventure, but alas many were already either tucked in for the night or were already out and about so I decided to fly solo for the night.

The "Star Party" was at Northampton Park and I got there around 10pm (which if you know me, is about bedtime!). They had a bunch of the really large telescopes available to look into and people from the club would find things to look at in the sky and tell you all about them.

They showed us many different globular clusters, Nebulae, Andromeda, Jupiter and for the first time I had the Milky Way pointed out to me (and it was visible too!). My Favorite, was the Swan Nebula (see above)....it really is shaped like a Swan!

While they were talking and people were taking turns looking in the telescopes we all kept our eyes to the sky as it was a special evening full of the Perseid Meteor Showers. Some were so bright it was almost like a firework and it left a trail in the sky.

It was a peaceful evening.......a quiet night......one where you realize how BIG the universe is, and how BIG God is........Don't worry, that did not stop me from making a wish on those falling Stars (or in this case meteors)!

#34 Sodus Point Lighthouse Concert Series

This was an impromptu addition to my list. While my Aunt was visiting from Florida my parents and she were going up to the concert series and they wondered if I would like to go.

Since a) I have never been up to the Sodus Point Lighthouse and b) it was a beautiful sunny day and c) the concert series was something I could add to the list I thought sure, why not.

Other than a few grand kids running around, I was one of the youngest as it was mostly a blue hair kind of crowd. The theme of the concert was "Nostalgic Reunion" Swing, Dance Tunes, and mellow Jazz from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’. You can sit your chair and watch the band, but who would want to when you can sit on the other side, hear the same music and look out over the lake. We found a spot under a tree overlooking the lake.

The music was good. As I looked at my Aunt tapping her toe to the music, some them were my Uncle's songs and I felt sad for her. My uncle passed this spring and hearing those songs makes me think of him and I know that she thinks of him whenever she hears the songs. But perhaps she gains comfort from them, for she knows how much he loved them (and her) and would sing them to her? He lived a good life, and he was loved by his wife, oh to have a love like that.

In addition to the concert, I went to the lighthouse and Museum and yes, I climbed up the 52 circular steps into the lens room to see Lake Ontario shoreline....all on crutches!

It was a relaxing afternoon and it was good to spend it with my mom, dad and Aunt. Time with loved ones is precious.........take advantage of it when you can.

#33 Rhinos Game

I have never been to a Rochester Rhinos Game (or even watched a soccer game---I know, I know--the World Cup was this year and I somehow did not get into it!) Anyway, I decided that before the season was over I would venture out to a game, http://www.rhinossoccer.com/.

A few of my friends and I went to the game on a Wednesday night. The weather was perfect for a game and thus I guess we should have expected it, but we were not quite prepared for the hoards of people getting their tickets the day of the game (like us). So many in fact that we were almost 45 minutes late for the game!

Honestly, I'm not sure there is a bad seat in that Stadium. Our tickets were a whole $10 and our view was good. The Rochester Rhinos took on the Portland Timbers at Marina Auto Stadium in front of 6,978 fans.

I can't say that I learned tons more about soccer, The Rhinos went on to defeat the Timbers 1-0. It was much more about the whole experience. Hanging with my friends on a beautiful evening, having a burger and fries....and yeah watching a little soccer too :).