The Paddleboarding Phenomenon Part II

Back in April, we posted about the paddleboarding phenomenon. The phenomenon seems to be something different to everyone who does it. Some people see it as a workout. Some find inspiration in the serenity of being off-shore looking back. Some treat it as a sport, with competition, racing, etc.

Well, after this weekend, I think we can add an element of adventure, excitement and even danger. Saturday, off the coast of San Luis Obispo (just a short paddle away from our hotel), a humpback whale was caught on camera in a close encounter with paddleboarders and boaters.

Thank you to Bill Bouton for the photos.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/34529/boaters+paddlers+enjoy+amazingly+close+humpback+whale+encounter/

Red, White, Blue, and Gold

There were a lot of disappointed viewers after the closing ceremonies of the Olympics.

They missed important aspects of British heritage…the Prime Minister enjoying a little Spice Girls… NBC cut out performances to air a new comedy…

With all of the complaining (which could just the manifestation of our disappointment that the Olympics are over), some very interesting traditions we looked into.

Did you know every Olympics closing ceremony has 5 traditions?

Check them out…

1.     Parade of Flags

2.     Parade of Athletes

3.     Final Medal Ceremony

4.     Handover to the Next Host Country

5.     Declaration of Closing and Olympic Flame Extinguishment

Putting aside the upsets over the performances, we're happy to take a moment to step back, appreciate the traditions, and congratulate our country for such great success!

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/top-5-olympic-closing-ceremony-traditions-163000748--oly.html

Red, White, and Blues

With the Olympics underway, we spectators are glued to our television sets, computers, phones, etc. keeping up on the latest results in the Olympics. We watch with bated breath to see how our team and our favorites fair. At this time of year, emotions and pride run hand-in-hand, chanting red, white and blue. The highs and lows catch many of us in the back of the throat, getting us choked up without warning.  

There is just so much excitement and surprise. From Aly Raisman’s shock in making the gymnastics finals to Vollmer seizing gold in world-record fashion after missing the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

But with that shock and excitement, it is to be expected that there will be some tears of sadness, as well. From Jordyn Wieber not qualifying for Team All-Arounds…to parents being unable to watch their children compete due to a problem with the tickets…to the biting judo loss for Greece.

With the highs and lows of intense competition, we’re doing our best to take it in stride…watching the Olympics from the comfort of our oceanfront cabanas. When things get too tense, washing the blues away with the ocean waves is the perfect remedy. Go USA!

Friday the 13th

While some people see Friday the 13th as a threat of bad luck, others find themselves fixated on a positive side.
Some people watch for trouble lurking behind each corner...maybe the phones and internet are down for half the day (yes, that happened to us today). While others take a different view. I have heard it told that because everyone believes that Friday the 13th is bad luck, it is a great chance to go around scooping up all the good luck that people have tossed aside for the day.
What are your thoughts on the urban legends associated with the day?

http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/friday_the_13th.htm

Tidepooling

We just started offering a tidepooling tour to our guests. If you're not from a tidepool area, this word probably doesn't mean a whole lot, so we thought we should give our friends a little more information on tidepooling.

Tidepooling is an outdoor activity which involves visiting the rocky intertidal zone along the coastline. The intertidal zone is the area between the mean high tide and mean low water line. It is the home to a vast number of species that create a balanced and very diverse marine ecosystem that can be closely observed and enjoyed by humans. When people go tidepooling, they explore the area, looking at the organisms they find and often photographing them.
Rocky coastlines create the conditions for tidepooling, with depressions in the rock forming pools which hold seawater after the ocean recedes, allowing animals to survive until the rising tide floods the area again. Each of these pools can form a microcosm of life, hosting incredibly diverse creatures and seaweed. A number of interesting creatures can be found, including limpets, mussels, young crustaceans like crabs, sea anemones, starfish, barnacles, urchins, sea cucumbers, and chitons can be found in tidepools.

Here are some of our local tidepool areas:
Crescent Bay
Shaw's Cove
Picnic Beach (Heisler Park Reserve)
RockPile (Heisler Park Reserve)
Bird Rock (Heisler Park Reserve)
Moss Point
Treasure Island

If you are interested in setting up a tidepool tour, our Activities Coordinator would love to assist you!
Jill Morgan, jmorgan@jdvhotels.com; 949.281.5705.

Tidepools are fragile ecosystems that take many years to recover. Please do not take any living or non-living items from the tidepools. Be cautious of where and what you step on while on the rocks. Tidepoolers should never try to pry organisms off the rocks, as this can hurt or kill them, and they should watch their step to avoid crushing the animals which call the intertidal zone home.

Pampering Mom in May

We wanted to know what the top Mother's Day gifts were this year, so we took a spin around. According to her, of course all she wants is time with her kids (or maybe away from them!), but what's a good gift?
Does she want to go out to brunch?
Dinner?
Flowers?
From what we found, we are spot on with the massage, manicure, and pedicure packages. Mom just wants to relax. She wants to be pampered! So let's give it to her. Does it have to be Mother's Day? Absolutely not! All of May is Mother's Day. Celebrate Mom whenever she's available (and you can get that massage booked).

Cheers to Mom! 

The Paddleboarding Phenomenon

On the heels of our fabulous Snack, Sip, and Surf event, I thought I'd look into the phenomena that is paddleboarding. Paddleboarding is a water sport in which the participants propel themselves through the water while standing, kneeling, or laying on a board (similar to a surfboard, with one end rounded and the other tapered). Is this a workout? Is this a sport? Is this a fun, recreational activity? YES! 
Our event competitors made it look so easy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBxtDsHQOic), but for those of us who weren't born on a board, what does it take? Well, it takes a little more than a board and a paddle. It takes balance, coordination, and a thirst for fun (and a little salt water). Once my instructor got me up-to-speed on the verbal training, we hit the water. The "swells" were small, but enough to make this newbie lose her balance a few times. Once we got past the break, it was (semi-) smooth sailing. There may not be a more beautiful view than looking at the shore from out on a board. Am I a pro now? Not by any means. Will I do that again? Absolutely! Wonderful workout, fabulous fun, and invaluable instruction from our hotel partners.