“Now pick up your paddle,” Lydia said, picking up hers. “I’ve adjusted it to a length that should be good for you, but we can always change it later if you like. Use it like so, to get some distance from the dock.” Still kneeling, she and Ralph both used the paddle’s wide end, placed it on the wood platform, and slowly pushed away.
Although Maris’s paddle landed with a thunk on the wood, she managed to give it a normal push and her paddleboard simply glided away. For a moment she remained still, but found that it didn’t rock or feel like it was going to slide out from under her.
“You’re doing great,” Ralph said. It seemed like he had his paddle at the ready, but was waiting for Lydia’s next instructions.
She really ought to hire him, Maris thought, and smiled back. “Thanks.”
“And now,” Lydia said, “just a few strokes while we’re kneeling.” She nodded to Ralph.
As she and Maris watched, he carved into the water with the paddle, and pulled—once on the right, and then the left.
Maris glanced at Lydia, who said, “Give it a try.”
Imitating Ralph, she did just the same. While he’d made it look effortless, Maris found she had to pull fairly hard, but she managed to get some forward motion. She came up alongside Ralph.
Lydia quickly appeared on her other side, at a distance of a few feet. “A few more strokes,” she said, “and then we’ll stand.”
Ralph paddled forward, and Maris followed him and grinned. She was actually out on the bay.
“To stand,” Lydia said from behind her, “put the paddle across the board and keep your hands on it.” Ralph followed her directions. He bent forward, laying his paddle across the board and looking as though he was going to crawl forward. “Then, slowly put your feet where your knees are, one at a time, and stand.”
Ralph brought one foot forward, followed by the next, and stood, bringing the paddle up with him. He put the wide end in the water and turned his board to see her.
Again, Maris simply tried to do as he did, but once again she’d moved too fast. As she came upright, she started to teeter back.
“Use the paddle,” Ralph said quickly.
Maris stuck it in the water, and pulled, righting herself.
“Great,” Lydia called out from behind. “We’re paddleboarding.”
“Now the other side,” Ralph encouraged her. “Back and forth, nice and easy.”
Maris quickly obeyed and was amazed at the feeling. It had to be like a cross between poling a raft and canoeing. But the extra benefit was being able to stand. She was exhilarated and relieved, all at the same time.
“It’s like walking on water,” she called out to Lydia and laughed out loud. “Incredible!”
Lydia beamed back at her. “I knew you’d like it.”
“The bay really is the perfect place to learn,” Ralph said, easily paddling. “The water is so calm right now. So different than this morning.”
Maris nodded. “It really is. Like glass.”
As she moved forward, Maris took a moment to appreciate her surroundings. The fresh scent of the salt water filled her nostrils, while the brilliant sunlight warmed her skin. The view was incredible, a true 360 degrees, but Maris concentrated on facing forward and keeping her balance.
“These types of all purpose paddleboards are the best for first time users,” Lydia said, coming alongside. “They’re extremely stable. People bring their kids out on them, and even their pets, sitting right in front.”
Maris tried to picture Mojo perched in front of her, and had to smile. “I wonder what Mojo would think.”
“People even use them for yoga,” Ralph said. When she looked over to him, he’d set his paddle across the board and had assumed a pose that stretched his back as he reached forward. “It’s so peaceful.”
Maris had to agree with that. With the exception of their paddles dipping quietly into the water, there was no other sound. Boats tended to steer clear of the lighthouse and the shore. She followed Ralph as the three of them paralleled the sand and rocks. It was wonderful to get this close-up view of the coast, some of which she’d never seen before. Even from the lighthouse, you couldn’t see around or over the small hills that jutted out into the water. They formed mini-coves, the first one with its own little beach and a path through the tall grass that led down from the road above.
They travelled south for some time, Lydia and Ralph keeping an eye on her, but also taking in the vistas. The more Maris paddled, the more her timing and coordination improved. She even managed not to think about it for small stretches of time. But before Maris knew it, Ralph slowly turned his paddleboard around in a wide arc.
“Don’t want to venture too far on our first time out,” he said.
Maris smiled at him. No doubt he and Lydia could have been paddling circles around her this whole time, and still not tired themselves out. But she knew better than to push too hard, particularly at something so new.
“Sounds good,” she replied.
The trip back was quicker, perhaps because of the light breeze at their backs, but by the time they reached the dock, Maris found that she was tired, but also relaxed. The prospect of oil drilling on her doorstep and then Audrey’s death had been more stress than she’d realized. It’d been good to get away from it all, and simply enjoy what they’d all been fighting to preserve.
Ralph helped her back onto the dock, and Lydia took the paddleboard from the water, piling it on her own.
Maris smiled at them both. “Not only did I learn how to paddleboard, but I gained a new appreciation for this beautiful place. That doesn’t happen as often as it should.” She beamed at them both. “So thank you. I’ve enjoyed myself immensely.”
Ralph sketched an awkward bow. “Assistant Ralph, at your service.”
Lydia laughed and touched Maris’s shoulder.
