Priceless!

Time spent staring at other people Kayaking/Boating - A couple of Years

Research on buying Kayak - 2 weeks

Inflatable Kayak from Costco- $200

Life jackets from BJ's - $80

Filling up Gas - $40

Experience of Tandem Kayaking - Priceless (Click for more pictures)

After years of staring at other people having fun in summer we finally took the leap and got ourselves an inflatable kayak. The credit goes to Nihar for the passion with which he has done the research in getting us a good deal.

The Kayak - Sea eagle 330 arrived on July 15th and we set up this 11 feet sleek white and blue beauty in our living room. It took us less than 30 minutes to get the whole thing ready and then the fear settled in. The kayak looks very sturdy on the living room floor but thinking about it on water gave us the shivers. Anyway we put it back in and decided to set out on our first kayaking adventure on early Saturday morning.

Saturday morning arrived and the first thing we did was get a decent breakfast and pack lots of water and trail mix and set out on our mission. We were yet to buy the life jackets but we were confident that we could pick those in the nearby Walmart. We also had my friend Nikki visiting us this weekend and without her our trip would not have been documented.

We reached Walmart and as luck would have it they did not have it in stock. It was very depressing and not wanting to give up we then started looking for any other boating stores that might stock life jackets. After about two hours of searching we finally got them from BJ's and we set out again to complete our mission.

We finally reached Round Valley State Park at 2 in the afternoon. This is a man-made reservoir, the second largest in NJ and about 180 feet deep. It took us about 30 minutes to set up the kayak and we then hauled our little boat into the water.

The first ride will be my most memorable ride ever, the excitement of a new adventure can overcome a number of difficulties with ease. The first challenge was to get on the kayak without it floating away. The next was to actually get off the shore area and into some deep waters. The next was to get the tandem motion right so that we are actually moving forward in a straight line and not hitting each other. The last one is to maintain your stamina for 30+ minutes and finally to get back safely to the shore.

When you watch videos and read blogs, people talk about smooth even motion. But no one mentions water current, wind and other factors that can be inflicted upon you. The first day was a truly exciting but with major disasters. We were driving the kayak in the wrong direction. Since the hull and the stern are of the same shape we had no idea that skegs provided at the bottom actually go in the rear and help in keeping a direction. The first ride was mostly taken in circles and not far from the shore as we were not able to control the kayak very well.We were lucky that Nikki documented our progress and was there cheering us and pushing for us to go on. She promised to call 911 if she thought there was even a small bit of trouble. After our first ride, Nikki tried it too and she had a marvelous time. We finally stopped at 5 as it got too windy. Tired and every limb hurting but truly satisfied with our adventure.

We went back on Sunday with a new confidence. We had learnt from our mistakes and this time we did kayaking like the experts. We reached the center of the lake and back in about an hour.

The experience is wonderful and I am glad I am sharing it with Nihar. The speed,the water and the thrill are not definable. I can't move a single muscle today and Nihar and me have become two burnt bricks but its absolutely worth every penny and effort!

Now I need to update my activities in orkut - Kayaking!

The Bikers

Every once in a while you get really lucky and get the snap which you feel is one of your best. I have tried numerous other times to get bikers in motion. There is something about them, the style, the machine, the speed. It appeals to my crazy side. I wish for a few minutes to be on a bike in that sexy gear just feeling and seeing the world fly by. I was in the car when I saw these guys at the end of the road. I ran out and by time I managed to get the camera started and focused the first guy was ready to exit my scene. I call this pure luck.

Boundaries

Have you ever realized, how we build so many boundaries around ourselves? Have you ever imagined a world without any boundaries? so free and so simple.

The Boathouse

Nothing much to say! This is again a part of the Shelley Lake in Raleigh. My favorite part in this picture is the reflection of the sky on the water. Again a very meditation inducing place.

Makkad - Man

Well this brave little fellow has made his new home right below the lamp outside my door. He is handsome but the poor thing can't stand noise pollution. The moment I bang the door he goes scurrying along his home to the farthest corner which to him might be his closet where he hides from ghosts. This picture brings so many thoughts rushing to my mind:
1) The first of course being the hilarious animation titled Makkad -man. Such an awesome animation especially the song. It keeps playing in my head as I write this blog.
2) The second thing of course is that I don't think this is all that great a picture, I tried really hard but was not able to get the web into focus but never mind my dear spidey is clear as daylight.
3) I had once started poetry sometime during my undergraduate years and the first thing I wrote on was a spider. It went something like this "Creepy and Crawly, Near they Come"... well that's it. To inspire myself I even drew an awesome sketch but I never got beyond that line, Ever! Ha ha and I am sure you are not surprised why I did not pursue this half motivated talent of mine.
4) I remember watching this movie Arachnophobia and after that whenever I saw a spider I would imagine that it wants my blood and use my body to build its huge nests to create more copies of itself and bham I would kill it. Thankfully I have grown over that fear. When we say something is menacing creature, what is our point of reference? I think "Man" is the most menacing creature when provoked so why blame a poor spider whose feels violated by our touch. Such movies should not be shown to children, it induces fear and kills their natural curiosity. They should be taugh to respect every other living creature on this planet. Atleast that's what my kid will learn, poor it!

Charcoal

I thought of this picture when I was reading about the San Diego wild-fire. Man destroys nature and nature destroys man. A vicious battle of sorts going around in circles and we know who will loose finally.

Sit with me

I sat here for a full ten minutes just staring at the view in front of me. This is an attempt to make you feel the peace I felt, the connection I made with myself as I just sat here and stared.

Exploring Raleigh: Shelley Lake and Park

I doubt if there is anything to explain. The beauty of nature can make you feel so insignificant. I just loved this place. It is definitely my retreat.

Exploring Raleigh

I have been living in Raleigh now for six months and its greenery just amazes me. I myself do not have a car but the chance occurrence of going for a drive with a friends is always so eye soothing. Serpentine roads, think wooded areas on both sides of the street and lush green. For once I am happy with the grass on my side of the fence.

For those who love rain, I am not sure if you feel the same as me, but it has a cleansing touch. After rain everything looks new-born, untouched and beautiful.

This Friday was no different we had sudden afternoon showers and as I watched from my office window my heart leaped with joy. I wanted to be out in this weather. As I was working a sudden inspiration came to me, I had to do some serious photography today. With the onset of fall colors and the sparkle of rain there were a million things sitting out there posing for me.

So that's my story of the beginning of exploring Raleigh.... hopefully the end won't be too soon:)