it kind of snuck up on me this year.
with the move it was the last thing i was thinking about it.
we are literally living out of boxes and should have chosen to stay home
to try to get organized, but the paddle was something we couldn't miss.
it's a tradition we started about 11 years ago.
i knew i'd regret it if we didn't go.
i had planned on paddling this year but scoutie got sick the night before,
and though we attended the event,
i stayed on shore with my little guy who ended up falling asleep on the sand.
he managed to sleep while i cheered on the hundreds of paddlers who made their
way around the ocean beach pier, one of the longest piers on the west coast - 1,971 feet long!
i especially cheered for my boys - christopher and finn!
YES, my firstborn was out there again this year.
his first paddle was at age 4 when he rode with dad and this year he did as well.
until he is old enough to paddle out on his own,
he rides on the front of big blue, what we've named daddy's longboard.
this year, they didn't quite make it around.
when they were about halfway down the pier,
finn was shaking like a leaf and begged c to go to shore.
he wasn't afraid at all, he was just freezing!!
the sun hadn't broken through the clouds yet and the ocean was cold.
the ocean water has been cold all summer - not making it past 60 degrees. *brrr*
c didn't want to ruin what is generally a really fun event for finn so he brought him in.
i should note that finn was wearing a 'farmer john' spring suit (sleeveless),
and has no extra layer on him to keep him warm. h
e was a tropper for getting out there and making it as far as he did.
we are so proud of him and promised him we'd buy him a full wetsuit soon.
some photo highlights of our cloudy morning at this year's event:
