Messing about in boats

It's not just sailing. No, we're not purists by any stretch. We'll happily jump aboard and mess about on just about any vessel. Thankfully we live in a town and hang out in a community where there are no shortage of opportunities to have some fun afloat.

This was a new one for all of us. Stand up paddle boarding is common out in Hawaii. Zach and I would see folks in Hilo Harbor paddling along, dog on their bow, looking as relaxed and royal all at once. But it was always from a distance. Until now.

Jane is my husband's boss and a native Hawaiian. She may be here on the mainland, but she's not giving up on the island fun. She brought her paddle board over and invited Zach out for a little lesson.

Hesistantly at first, he just went along for the ride.

And by the time they came back, he was standing there paddling like a little ali'i. So now in addition to the catamaran, our dinghy, and the kayak... Zach would like to add a stand up paddle board to the armada.

I think we tend to channel Kenneth Grahame on this philosphy: (oh yes, I am getting all quotey this week, look out!)

"Is it so nice as all that?" asked the mole, shyly...

"Nice? It's the only thing," said the Water Rat Solemnly, as he leaned forward for his stroke. "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

"Simply messing...about in boats -- or with boats... In or out of 'em it doesn't matter. Nothing seems to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not."