Before I became an Adventures & Outings participant, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to witness Nature’s moments of stillness as well as her moments  of amazement. The prospect of seeing spray from a blow hole or a gigantic tail fin waving at us was so exciting.  As we boarded on a boat, the size of a professional fisherman’s, I was hoisted wheelchair and all on deck by four strong pairs of hands.   Our departure took us twelve miles off-shore to witness the whales as they migrated toward the Arctic to feed and breed.

We were three months into the six-month migration, so, I thought we’d have a pretty good chance to see a Gray Whale.  However, as we got further and further from shore, I realized that wildlife does not always fulfill the whims of Nature buffs like me.  To bear special witness to Nature you need luck and timing on your side.  Luck. . .?  Timing. . .?  Forget it.  We did see an otter laying on its back as he floated by and there was a cloud of jelly fish as they traveled the waves of the ocean, but no, no migrating Gray Whale.

Twelve miles off-shore and still no sighting meant that we were heading home.  Darn, three hours on the boat had gone by as if it were only an instant.  Oh well, this trip had only increased my perseverance to witness Nature in her purest form.

There’s always next time!

It wasn’t long before Adventures & Outings went back to test our synchronicity with one of Nature’s majestic scenes.  So, back at Half Moon Bay’s Pillar Point we boarded the same boat.  I was hoisted aboard by four very strong pairs of hands again. Then, I was put in a corner of the boat where my wheelchair would be nice and stable for the twelve-mile ride.

As the boat made its way toward potential sightings, the crew instructed us on how to alert each other about the direction of a particular sighting.  We were directed to use the sayings of a clock such as six o’clock and twelve o’clock so everyone would have a chance to see the elusive beings.

The energy and the feel of the day was different.  It was a beautiful spring day in Half Moon Bay.  The sun was so bright, I felt like flea a sitting on a reflective tanning screen in the middle of the ocean.  Although the afternoon wind had increased, it seemed to have changed our luck.  All of sudden someone shouted, “there, at two o’clock!”  I looked to my right and saw the effervescence coming from a blow-hole.  Oh boy, I thought, our perseverance has paid off.

Then, at ‘four o’clock,’ I saw a Gray Whale dive deeper into the ocean as her back broke the water’s surface and disappeared again. I could have sworn that I saw the edge of her tail fin.  Perhaps my hopes colored my perception; all I knew for sure was that it was breath taking!

The elation of the sightings made the time on the water seem so short.  We were already headed home.

Once again, not only was I in awe of Nature and her amazing moments, but I’ve also been awestruck by BORP’s Adventures & Outings Program.  These were literally “opportunities of a lifetime!”

The weather was cloudy but warm; rain wasn’t predicted until later that evening.  A large group of thirty participants met at Jack London Square to take the ferry to Pier 39 where another group of thirty people were waiting to join us.  We were people who used power wheelchairs, canine companions, and manual wheelchairs.

As we float toward Angel Island, a light drizzle began to cover the ferry windows drop by drop.  I thought, oh well a  little drizzle won’t harm us.  But when the Island was in sight, the drizzle turned into rain.  Oh darn, I hope we don’t have to go back, was my first exclamation!  Of course, taking the forecast for granted, none of us were dressed for the rain.  So, A & O Coordinator, Lori Gray asked the ferry’s crew for sixty garbage bags.  Needless to say, we all disembarked wrapped in plastic.

Lori gave us a choice that day, we could go home early or stay and have ourselves a real wet adventure.  I had already decided to stay and felt even better about the decision once the control box of my power wheelchair was also wrapped in plastic.

A group of us “die hards” went up the steep, slick hill in the warm spring rain.  We were headed toward the Immigration Station where thousands of Asian immigrants were kept during World War II.  My cold and wet state intensified my empathy for the lives of the immigrants who were subject to much worse conditions.  I suppose if one were to read about the experiences of these immigrants, one would be empathic.  But, seeing and experiencing what their lives must have been like speaks to the heart.

Although I was cold, wet, and hungry when I got home, these ‘adventures’ fill my life with passion.  Long live A & O!

One of my first trips with BORP’s Adventures & Outings was to see the Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Preserve.  In all my life, leading to the moment I rolled up the wooden walk-way cutting across the beach, I never thought I would have the opportunity to witness these gigantic creatures live, in their natural habit.

I remember, as if it had only been moments ago, as our group went further on the path, a two ton male Elephant Seal literally “stood his ground” growing to appear twice his size.  He was only twenty feet away from us and the other male was on the opposite side of our path.  The Elephant Seal’s territory was being encroached upon by another male.  As the grunts and groans from the males became louder, our docent told us that we could easily be caught between the “duel.”  So, we turned around gently and headed toward our bus leaving Nature to continue her magical ways.

It’s absolutely amazing to be somewhere that you thought was impossible to be!  Adventures & Outings defines itself.  Wherever we head out, there is always an ‘adventure’ waiting for us!