Such a fair weather word this has always been for me. My best adventures have always been during or in search of 70, as in degrees or miles per hour. 70. The most perfect temperature known to human kind. 70. The best speed to get somewhere in a reasonable amount of hours. Now I find myself speeding towards another 70, knowing age will define the quality and quantity of my adventures at some point.
My new normal for desert life now is immersed in cold. For those of you in California, this is a different type of cold. The kind that makes old injuries ache, while burning your skin if you are out in it too long. Add wind, and WINTERPAST surrounds me as adventures are limited to indoor activities for this old woman.
Bundled up in my toasty bed this morning, I thought back to that day in August with the word Adventure chosen to define VST and I. Each month, a chosen word helped me when I floundered. Descriptive words of VST and me. Month 4 the word Adventure was an obvious choice. VST and I were always chasing crazy fun in one way or another. The days flew by, because, we were concreting, building, painting, buying, selling, traveling, and using up every minute of every day. Never was there a day to lounge or study navels. We were on the go 24/7. As I’ve mentioned before, our true mission statement was, “We can sleep when we’re dead.”
One of us is now dead. And it isn’t me. I must say, normal life is a wee bit boring. Okay, really boring.
So on this August day, with “Adventure” looming over me, I made it my task to create one for myself. Still new to driving and not wanting to venture too far, I needed to find something that would take up the better part of a day. Quickly, I decided Lake Tahoe would be involved, being close and inviting.
“The beautiful 1966 Million Dollar Classic Yacht has been around the world and now cruises Lake Tahoe’s pristine waters. Measuring over 70 feet. Luxuriously comfortable. Two hours. $90.” The add hooked me, and within minutes I had booked this cruise for one on a Tuesday at 11. Such a deal, it fit the bill for my first solo adventure.
I had a girlfriend that was envious and wanting to join me, but, this adventure was importantly personal. For many, this wouldn’t even begin to qualify. VST had always scoffed at boating in which he wasn’t the captain. Having plenty of boating experience on his own, he wouldn’t have dreamed of this. All the better for my first solo excursion.
Tuesday came, and after the two hour drive to the marina, arriving early of course, I had time to sit by the water and just BE. I had forgotten how much I missed pine trees, and thought of our little cabin was bittersweet. I had forgotten how much I missed hearing noises in a marina, as I listened to lanyards clanking and flags whipping with the wind. Voices take on a mysterious fluid quality when they come from a few docks down. People forget to use dock voices, especially when husbands and wives are airing differences in how to best perform boating tasks. Justing BEING by the dock was worth the drive as I hid behind my mask, smiling.
The yacht was everything promised. An old girl, stately and solid. The captain and Stewardess were uniformed and friendly. Only ten of us boarded, and I went to the highest point on the boat, to a comfortable little perch. There, I stayed during our voyage, unmasked and free to breathe in the freshest air.
The colors that day were just for me. An American Flag flew proudly from the stern staff. The wake churned right beneath where I sat sipping champagne and snacking. The waters turned from turquoise, to blue, to royal blue, and at the deepest point, midnight with the sparkling wake glistening like stars. The other guests disappeared to the bow, and I was left to enjoy the entire two hours alone with my thoughts and a visual feast of pines, eagles nests, puffy white clouds, and a continuous shore line as the highest of the Sierra Peaks watched over me.
The morning filled me with a peace that had been missing for some time. I felt an independence and freedom in this mini-adventure. If I could make this happen, what other adventures would I be enjoying in the years to come? You can bet your bottom dollar, there will be more.
The captain chose to monitor, navigate, and control the yacht from his upper station where I sat and watched him. As we made our way back around the lake, he pointed out things easily missed. A private tour just for me.
With a glass of champagne and the beauty of the day brightening my mood, I decided on a selfie. I despise pictures. I rarely agree to them. I also despise the time it takes away from a moment when one needs to fumble with phone or camera, while finding just the right shot. I much prefer the memorable images stored in my brain, captured while being fully present. But, at this moment, a selfie was what I chose. Just me. Alone. On my very first solo adventure. Planned and executed on the best day in August. On a million dollar yacht. With my own captain right in front of me on Lake Tahoe.
Adventures come in all shapes and sizes. We’re the ones that determine whether the most mundane activity will be just that or qualify as a mini-adventure. Auntie TJ always says, “Boredom is just another word for lazy.” So. Find your own adventure today. They are there for the taking!