Coolest Things I've Done (2 of 3)

On this second part of the journey down memory lane, I travel back a few years to when I went to
 SkyVenture Arizona to do an indoor skydive.  At the time I was part of a singles group and I remember the day I came across this particular activity. I remember signing up for the event and feeling the flutters in my gut as I filled out my information. My friend, Charlotte, was super excited to join me on this particular experience. Some of you may be reading this and thinking, indoor skydiving isn't that adventurous, but for me, this was a big deal. This was me just starting to learn to spread my wings and learn how wonderful it could be to have an adventure outside of my comfort zone. Besides, even though I've grown quite a bit since then, a regular skydive, still not on my list of things to do.

Charlotte and I left Phoenix early that day to head south toward the location where we would meet up with the others in our group who would also be doing the indoor skydive. She was fairly buzzing with excitement on the upcoming indoor skydive. Me? Not so much. I felt slightly sick as the butterflies in my tummy gave way to bats who decided to have a full on party in my stomach. We flew down the freeway and followed the directions to find SkyVenture Arizona. Before I knew it I pulled into a gravel parking lot. The tires of my car crunched on the dirt as I slowly pulled into a spot. As soon as the car was off Charlotte popped out of the car, ready to go. I moved a little slower than her. I was nervous. She laughed and put an arm around my shoulders assuring me that I would be fine, after all, we weren't jumping out of plane. I smiled and we set off on the hunt to find the building where we needed to meet the rest of the group.


We studied the map of the grounds and quickly determined where we needed to go and off we went. As we walked it quickly became apparent which building we were to head toward. The round  building towered high above, long narrow tube shaped structures speared up from the top of the building. Stairs and a long ramp wrapped the building that stood on pillars, raising it from the ground. As we approached I heard a distance buzzing noise and next to me Charlotte gasped. I looked at her to see her pointing up at the sky. I could see in the distance a plane, the source of the buzzing noise, crossing the sky. Just below the plane a few colorful parachutes popped open, bright points of color against the blue sky behind. I couldn't believe that those people were doing an actual skydive. I watched transfixed watching those brave souls drift toward the earth and then come to a graceful landing in the grassy area next to our path.

We eventually moved past the skydivers and headed toward the indoor skydive building. Nerves began to give way to excitement as reality hit of what I was about to do. Yes, I was nervous but this was an adventure, something new and something I was so proud I would be able to tell others I would do. We paused on the stairs of the building to take pictures before heading inside. Once inside we waited for the others to arrive and then we would start our safety class. As we waited we watched a group that was ahead of us in the air tunnel. An instructor stood in the tunnel working with an individual student, making corrections to their position. Then the instructor would grab a piece of fabric on leg and arm of the student's jumpsuit and get into position. The pair both caught the air and would float up in the air, up into the tunnel that shot up above. After a bit the instructor would guide the student out of the tunnel and back to the platform where others waited their turns. The noise was deafening, conversation was impossible but everyone was so enthralled with what was happening in front of us, no one really needed to talk.

The noise of the fans stopped and the room was engulfed in silence. The group ahead of us was done. Our instructor came out and started our lesson. We went through dive positions and then learned hand signals the instructor would use on us during the dive to correct our positions. After briefly practicing we then donned our jumpsuits, goggles, helmets, and ear plugs. Ready for our turns in the air tunnel we lined up in the waiting platform. The deafening noise of the fans started up again. Our instructor and another employee went up to the entrance. The instructor entered the tunnel and performed a few tricks, demonstrating to us all how he could easily manipulate how high or low he flew based on his body position.

Then suddenly he was standing on the wire mesh that kept those in the tunnel from falling into the powerful fans that blew from below. He signaled for the first student and off they
went. One after another had their turn in the tunnel and suddenly it was my turn. My entire body shook as I entered the tunnel. The push of the air stole my breath as I leaned into it and got into dive position. After a few moments of corrections he grabbed my leg and arm and off we flew. Up and down we went in the tunnel as we rose and fell with the wind. I couldn't believe I was doing it and all traces of nerves disappeared. I was amazed by the feeling of flying in the air. Too soon, my turn was up and I was guided back to the entrance to the tunnel.

Once we finished with our flights we took victory pictures, everyone was exhilarated from their dives. This was an experience I will never forget and easily can be considered one of the coolest adventures I've ever had. If someone were to ask me to go back to do another indoor skydive, I think I would happily agree to go on this adventure again. Who knows, maybe one day, I will get to repeat this experience.

The Coolest Things I've Done (1 of 3)

Over the years I've gone on a variety of adventures and many of them had some great memories, some not great experiences, and some unique moments. The great memories are treasured and often revisited with a touch of nostalgia. The not great experiences left me with some wonderful and funny stories to share.  In all of the great places I've visited and activities I participated in, there are three specific experiences that will always stand out for me.

I hope you'll indulge me over the next couple weeks as I do something a little different. Rather than load up a single blog with three amazing experiences I want to to focus on I thought I might do a three part blog.

Sunset on the observation deck

For my first amazing experience I want to take you back to an evening back in 1992. I was in junior high, my brother was in high school. At that time he was enrolled in the high school Jr. Naval ROTC program. During the summer break my family and I were spending a week in Flagstaff and my brother and I had both been angling to visit the Lowell Observatory. Mom or dad had seen that near Lowell there was another observatory, a Naval Observatory. My dad encouraged my brother to contact the observatory (which didn't take too much convincing). So they looked up the phone number and explained that he was in the Junior ROTC program at his high school and wondered if he could see their observatory. Before we knew it, we had an official invite to visit the Naval Observatory, not just my brother and a parent but me, my parents, my brother, Brad, and his good friend, Scott, who was spending the week with us.

Me "helping" put in settings

Early in the evening we all piled into the car and headed out to the observatory. Before long we were headed off onto a quiet secluded road and it felt like we were miles from the city. Dad drove the car along a meandering road and after a little while the building came into view. In my young mind I still expected to see the crowds of people that I was familiar with on previous visits to Lowell Observatory, but there wasn't anyone there. A couple cars in the lot and near the base of the building that housed the telescope.

Control panel

We approached the building and immediately we were greeted by a man who was on duty that night and would be our host for the evening. He started with a brief tour of the building sticking mainly to the space that held the telescope. Then we headed out onto the observation deck to watch the sunset and wait until the sky was dark enough to be able to see the night sky. It was quiet and peaceful but I was eager to see the telescope and look through it. When the sun was down the temperature dropped quickly so we moved inside. The man who hosted us, Harry, guided us along the platform and showed us parts of the telescope and explained how it worked. We eventually went down to the floor where the computers were setup and where we would be able to look into the lens to see the moon.

Looking at the moon at one zoom level, no filter needed.

Brad, Scott, and I were called forward and Harry explained to us how he could control the computers to tell them how to move the telescope to point at specific parts of the night sky. In this case he was going to point toward the moon and also at one of the planets ( I can't remember if it was Mars, Venus, or Jupiter though). He pointed at one of the screens and told Brad to tap the screen. When he did the telescope started to move. It was a touch screen computer!! Back then I never even knew that type of technology existed. We had barely even gotten a basic computer back then. Let alone anything high tech like that. If you'd told me back then of how we would, one day, basically walk around with touchscreen computers stuff into the back pocket of our pants I would have called you crazy. This right there, the high tech was amazing. Each of us in turn, Scott, Brad and I were able to put in settings that Harry told us to do to control the telescope and the dome. Mom and dad hovered closed with the camera and shot pictures of our experience.

Brad looking at the moon through the yellow filtered lens.

We stood back and waited as Harry then took control and consulted a manual then started inputting information for specific settings on the telescope and the dome ceiling opened. Beyond the telescope we could see the moon as that was our first focus of the evening. After Harry got the telescope focused he looked through the first lens which we would all look through to see the moon to start. It was so neat. I'd seen something similar at Lowell Observatory but it was wonderful being able to take my turn with only four other people instead of a long line of others waiting for their turn. The moon, as always, was a beautiful sight.

The moon, so closely zoomed it needed a yellow filter to dim.

Then Harry turned his attention to another section of the telescope. This part had a larger viewing window to look at the moon. One he confirmed the settings were correct he stopped us from looking until he could put a yellow filter over the lens. He explained that the glare of the moon would be too bright for any of us to look at it since the zoom was so close. After he finished the set up and added the filter he then allowed each of us to take our turn at the lens. Brad was first to go on this round. We each took our turn at the lens, us three kids each returned to look more than once. It was a view that I will never forget. Seeing the moon this way, I could understand how scientists of NASA would know more accurately what the moon might look like and how they would have been able to gage where to send their astronauts when on a trek to the moon.

I think back now to that experience from back in 1992 and I have to wonder, now in today's world, post 9/11 would we have ever been able to experience the same type of night. It was a once in a lifetime event for me and one I'll never be able to repeat, one I will forever be grateful to have had. We were lucky, and I know my brother and I will both cherish that experience as one of the coolest things we have ever done.

Hiking Lynx Lake

Sometimes my trips don't exactly involve packing a bag, catching a flight, or packing my car for the road. Sometimes my trips stay close to home, some might not consider it to be a trip to go somewhere for just a couple hours, but for me, it is the experience of the journey. For me, taking a hike to Lynx Lake yesterday was a mini trip, one that I was able travel, not only along the trail, but in my imagination as well. 

I set out early one Saturday morning for my hike around Lynx Lake with a little bit of a troubled mind. Dreams from the night before had left me haunted and I was finding them hard to shake. I took off and at the first sight of blue water my soul already began to lift. I paused as I passed in front of the spillway just off the North Shore parking lot and watched some fishermen in a boat. They floated nearby, lines dropped into the water as they stared at their rods, hoping for a bite. On the shoreline a family gathered together; some standing, some in chairs, all holding fishing rods hoping for a little luck in catching a fish. I continued on past the fishermen in the boat and waved good morning to them. I passed the family on the shore and nodded my hello as I moved into the shade of the tall trees that surrounded the lakeside trail. This was going to be a good hike, I could already tell. 

I made my way around the lake and my mind began to wander as I took in the sights and sounds of the lake and all the people who were visiting. I smiled at hikers who were coming in the opposite direction. I listened to the birds in the trees and ducks in the lake. I relaxed to the gentle sound of the lake quietly lapping against the shore as my boots crunched on the dirt path beneath my feet. Not far down the trail a couple with a black lab passed by me. They greeted me as they zipped on past and I had to smile at the dog. The lab trotted alongside his owner with a bright green tennis ball in his mouth. 

I continued on my hike and had a moment of sadness as the dreams from the night before tried to creep in again. As I rounded the bend toward a little inlet I saw the couple with the black lab nearing the shore of the inlet. The lab was off his leash and racing toward the water. He paused at the shore long enough to drop his ball and raced on in. The owner tossed his ball into the water and SPLASH! the lab was in the water and after the ball. I watched the dog zip along the shore before plowing into the lake again and again as I hiked past and a burble of a laugh bubbled up from inside me. A small moment of pure joy that this dog was experiencing was seeping into me and pushing away the last dredges of sadness. 

Lighter than before I continued on my trek, before I knew it I had made it to the South Shore. I paused for a breather at a shady picnic table and had a brief chat with a runner who had also stopped at the same table. The weather had turned warm and was quite humid from the previous day's monsoon storm but there was promise of more. I continued my hike knowing I was halfway around and entered the part of the trail that I knew would be a bit more challenging. Not from the trail difficulty, no, it was the portion of the trail that was now in full sun. Pressing on I left the parking lot of South Shore and kept going. At this point, I moved quickly along the trail drinking my water a little more frequently than I was before. I thankfully hiked over the little bridges that hovered over dry inlets and continued on my way. I thought about times I'd been out at the lake for short walks with friends or family, noting spots that we'd stopped in the past as I kept going. I happily noted the rental dock, knowing that I was nearing the end of the hike.

When I finally reached the final portion of the trail I began the uphill trek of the cement walkway toward the parking lot. I paused about halfway up the walkway to catch a breath. The sun now was intense and burning hot. I looked back down the trail to the lake below and wondered if taking a stroll into the water would be frowned upon. I bet the water would have felt wonderful at that point. Turning away from the water I finished my walk up the sidewalk and pushed myself up the handful of steps that led to the parking lot. At the top, I stopped. My mood had elevated, I felt so much lighter and better than I had when I had stood at the top of those same steps just a couple hours earlier. Sure I was sweaty and grimy, more than ready for a good air conditioner and a large glass of ice cold water, but none of that mattered. My trek around the lake truly was a journey for me, one that moved me emotionally from sadness to accomplished and joy. Hiking Lynx Lake is a beautiful hike to enjoy. You have beautiful views, lovely sounds, and many smiling faces. One just has to go and take in the pleasantness of the surroundings at embrace all the beauty Lynx Lake has to offer.

Whale Excursion at Moss Landing, California

Photo by Peg Spencer

Watery spray from the whale blasted up right next to the boat with a sound that was from the books, from the movies, and one I'd been dreaming of hearing in person for as long as I could remember. We off the coast of Moss Landing which is just north of Monterrey on a whale excursion.

Early this morning we arrived at the Moss Landing Marina, a light layer of clouds covered the sun giving the morning a gloomy appearance. Despite the low light, my mood was light, nervous, and anxious excitement. I was going on a whale watching trip with my mom and we were filled with curiosity of exactly what the day would bring.

Photo by Peg Spencer

As the time to gather neared, we left the car and wandered over the the assigned meeting location for the journey. The sun began to peak out as the clouds began to roll away. I new this was a good sign as clear days, make it easier to spot whale spouts when they came up for air. As the captain and first mate explained the safety rules, my stomach jumped a little, nervous at the concept of being on a smaller boat than I was accustomed from previous whale/dolphin excursions, nervous at the possibility of sea-sickness. The what-if's kept rolling through my head.

Photo by Peg Spencer

After the rundown of safety rules our tour group headed down the docks to the boat. After spying the boat, mom paused and said "That's it? That's awfully small." I smiled, put on my brave face and told her it would be great, but I too was a little anxious about the size of the craft. We boarded, the crew gave final safety instructions and a little tour of the boat as the captain and other crew pushed off from the dock and we motored out of the marina toward the open ocean. We stayed near the read of the boat to start our journey, watching the water, bouncing over the waves, and listening to the roar of the engines. The sun was bright and sky clear. It wasn't long before a spout was seen and off we went in the direction of the whales.

Photo by Peg Spencer

Over the next few hours we spent much time near a drop-off in the water where Humpback Whales, Seals, and various other sea life came to feed. We watched in amazement as the sides, backs, tails, and heads of the whales would breach the surface and sink back down. When a blowhole appeared, a spray of water would come up as the whale took a breath before sinking back into the water. Fascinated by the sight I hung over the edge of the boat with many others, all jockeying for position along the rail to watch the whales. A few more daring souls hung off the front (highest and bounciest point) of the boat. The cautious ones hung back, utilizing the benches, staying in the shade and watching the whales from a little farther away. No matter the position in the boat, all stared in awe at the views.

Time was finally up, many growing hungry as the day progressed along, ready for a good lunch. Some exhausted from the early morning start and a day in the sun. We eagerly turned our attention back to shore, ready to depart from the boat and head on our ways, memories of whales and seals all swirling in our heads. Finally as we docked and departed I felt a mix of happiness to be off the boat and moving about again and sadness as I was once again leaving the water. It was a day to remember, and a day with amazing sights, smells, and sounds.

Walking the Courthouse Square

Before I moved here, visiting Prescott was a favorite destination spot of mine. It was a short drive away and I was able to escape the insanity of the bigger cities for a few hours or a few days. Sometimes I was able to rent a small place close to the downtown area or stay in a local hotel just walking distance from the square. Other times I stayed in places just a bit further down the road from the square.

No matter what though, I loved making a point of heading downtown to explore the wonderful shops, visit some great locations for coffee or food, and sometimes just to wander downtown and take in the views and people watch.
I’ve walked through the Courthouse Square when it was loaded up with people during the summer months. Vendor booths and arts and crafts were proudly displayed in hopes that a passerby might stop and purchase some of the wares they had to offer.  I’ve taken in the beauty of the fall weather as the leaves began to fall during a quieter day where most people at the square are doing much the same as I was. Wandering the shops and taking in the sights. I’ve wandered after dark in the cold chill of winter, snow on the ground and lights strung in the trees in a breathtaking Christmas display. I’ve marveled at the beauty of spring as life returned and the chill of winter slowly gave way to warmer temps and a promise of upcoming summer fun.

I’ve had the pleasure of watching countless parades circle the Courthouse Square. It has been wonderful seeing the Rodeo Days Parade, the Veterans Day Parade, the Lights Parade to kick off the Christmas season. One of my favorite times to visit the square before and after moving here is Acker night. This night the entire downtown area is filled with people from one end to the other but it never feels overwhelming. If the crowds in one area get to be too much, one can easily move to another spot and find some room to breath. No matter how busy though, I’ve seen amazing talent from brass bands and  ukulele groups to wonderful bluegrass bands and violin performances. Hands down, Acker night is a favorite time to explore the square.
From all my visits to Prescott Courthouse Square, I’ve had a unique experience each time. It is something I definitely look forward to doing each time I head down to the square, even now that I live here.

Walking the Streets of Solvang

I've wanted to write about Solvang. I've wanted to write about the experiences I had while walking along the brick sidewalks. I've wanted to describe the cute Dutch inspired town filled with tourists and residents all rushing along the walks, weaving through one-another trying to get to their intended destinations. This location is one I've wanted to write about for weeks but alas the words continue to elude me. Try as I might I can't find the magic I enjoy bringing to my stories. I couldn't figure the best way to capture the feeling of the moments with words. I stared at the pictures and recalled memories, but those emotions and experiences remained locked inside me, refusing to slide down from my brain and pour out through my fingertips.

I struggled with determining how to share the moment that I stood along a busy street of Solvang with many other tourists when a large group of bikers came rolling down the streets. The walls of the shops reverberated with the noise of the motors of these large bikes. I want to share how humorous it was for me to see so many people staring in awe at the pack of bikers as they slowly rolled down the street. Where I live seeing a group of bikers is not an uncommon occurrence, so I took this in stride. So many others either whipped out their cameras to take pictures, others simply stared taking in the thunderous noise. 

I want to share the moment that I stood, totally charmed by the windmills that were dotted through town. How much I enjoyed the lunch I had while seated inside the base of one of those windmills.  I cannot figure out how to tell others about the streets of Solvang at night, when the heat of the day gives way to the gentle coolness of night. Where the bright light of the sun fades to give the fairy lights all strung on trees and on buildings giving the town an extra charming quality.  There is so much to this town, so much to see but I struggled with finding the words. I finally give in and walk away, quickly finding another topic to write about for that week. Solvang continued to remain ever elusive to me. Much like Brigadoon, what I wished to share with everyone vanished every time I tried to find it. The harder I tried to grasp it all, the more it slipped through my fingers. So here I am giving up, sharing my frustration...and wouldn't you know it. I think I've finally captured what I wanted to say.

West Thumb, Yellowstone

Early in the morning I found myself on the road. I'd left the small town of West Yellowstone, MT and was now in Yellowstone National Park. I'd been on the road for about 30 minutes and had already zipped past the Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful and the lesser known beauty of Kepler Cascades. I continued my drive with a mission, visiting West Thumb Geyser Basin. Long before I'd made my trip to Yellowstone, this was a site I'd had my eye on. It looked like it would be a fascinating place to visit in Yellowstone Park. After crossing the Continental Divide twice, and a forty-five minute drive I finally pulled into the parking lot. That October morning was cold but it was quiet enough that there were few people at the site. I wrapped up in my scarf and warm winter coat and got out of the car to head to boardwalk. At the top of the site I looked down from the parking lot over West Thumb. Its beauty was staggering. In the distance snow covered mountains loomed over Yellowstone Lake. The small thumb of this cool freshwater lake butts right up against geothermic features for which Yellowstone Park is well-known.

I made my way down the boardwalk, stopping at bubbling mud pots, several steam vents, and many pools of steaming and boiling water. One area of the boardwalk was so filled with the sulfur-laden air that I paused to warm up in the hot steam. Thankfully, that particular area the sulfur smell was less intense than others so was less overwhelming that in other spots around Yellowstone Park. When warm enough I walked down toward the lake and was entranced. To my right a vent spewed steam, just a little ways away from that was a stream of water that had frozen over the top during the night. This one area of Yellowstone held so many opposites. Geothermic heated features bubbled right next to frozen water. Boiling cones rested along the freshwater shores of Yellowstone Lake.

At one point I stood in awe at the view. On one side was the lake, to the other side was a steaming pool pouring water over ground turned rust, green and brown from bacteria that thrive in the high temps. The water pouring over the ground streamed under the boardwalk to end up in the lake. I kept walking enjoying the views that West Thumb had to offer. I paused at one point when I came across the Fishing Cone.

The Fishing Cone has a fascinating history and tie to Yellowstone Lake. Originally The Fishing Cone was hot enough to be classified as a geyser. Today with the lake level being higher it is now considered a hot spring instead. The waters of this geyser were so hot that men who fished in Yellowstone Lake would take their catch right from the water and drop it into the geyser to cook. Of course, that practice is dangerous and now it is illegal to do. I just found it fascinating to think back to a time when wild mountain men or those native to the lands would use the cone to cook their catch right from the lake without ever moving from their fishing spot.

I continued my trek around West Thumb, taking in the beauty of the Black Pool hot spring and more bubbling mud. I don't think I'll get over the views of West Thumb. This little portion of Yellowstone National Park is a small world of so many opposites. Life of all forms thrive in the area, from the bacterial mats of the heated water to the elk. In the distance as I headed to my car I could hear an elk bugle, shortly followed by a responding call from another elk. I loved seeing the green trees butted up against the gray ground of the geyser basin and seeing the vast lake surrounding what was once a streaming geyser. When I go back to Yellowstone National Park, I'll be sure to keep West Thumb on my list of places to visit. It was an awesome place to visit. One definitely to keep on the list for anyone who is planning a trip.