Water – Me • Doing • Me • Things

Tide Pools

November 21 2023September 26 2022 by TheOneDoingTheThings

You see people on TV and in movies exploring these beautiful rocks crusted with sea life. I am absolutely fascinated by sea life. I have a very strong fear of it too, but, I’m in awe none-the-less. I remember falling in love with the idea of mermaids after seeing Splash! with Darryl Hannah. I wanted to BE a mermaid! I wanted to explore the depths of the ocean and make friends with whales and dolphins.

I remember as a kid, when we would go swimming I’d dive under water and kick my feet together mimicking a tail. Makes me realize I don’t think I was afraid of the water my whole life, so now I get to run down that dark alley to figure that out, LOL.

Okay! – ONWARD – to brighter things and new adventures!

Suffice to say – Me, living in the middle of the continent about as far away from ‘anything ocean’ as you can get, had no ounce of hope that she would ever see things like that except at a zoo.

I think what made this experience even better, was that I was able to see them with my sister and my husband. I am not sure either of them quite understand how much value I place on new experiences, much less the value I place on being able to share those experiences with the people I love.

New Experiences are pivotal to learning and expanding your mind. It doesn’t matter if the experience was good or bad, lived up to your expectations or didn’t. There are always small lessons learned in every new experience. By sharing these with others, it creates a new connection with them, a new memory, and many new lessons that they often won’t realize they have learned until the need arises. To me, its magical! Watching their faces as they experience the same thing I am but in their own way.

Wow! Sorry! This got deep! But – Lets share the amazing tide pools we got to experience at Beach 4 in Washington.

On this trip we also hit up Ruby Beach. Unfortunately, no tide pools here, but it was still a fantastic visit. As everything in Washington – it was beautiful.

** Please forgive the bad pictures as it was fairly dark out when we got there.
** Click an image to view full screen or comment an image.

308263213_1747690908918483_5663474197197272521_n

Videos

Ride on a Ferry

November 22 2023June 19 2022 by TheOneDoingTheThings

I had a boss quite a while ago that was fascinated with ferries. Honestly I may have been just big boat vessel things. But I specifically remember ferries.

I rode one of those with the paddle wheels a few years ago, but after moving to Washington, there are a lot more opportunities to try new things. And the Giant ferries (compared to the one I rode a while back) is different.

I’m not sure what I really expected. But it was still a new experience to be on a ship as big as the ferries that cross Puget Sound.

Every time I say ‘Puget Sound’ I giggle a little. I remember a series of books I read when I was a kid. It was based over this way and Puget Sound was mentioned quite a bit. (At least, that I recall) I remember thinking how amazing it would be to see the places they mentioned, the ocean, the costs, the forests. I also remember thinking I would never live to see them because that was just not the life I had. I couldn’t imagine ever affording to see anything ‘cool’. And here I am. Living in Washington and getting to see all kinds of new things. Its amazing. and I’m so glad I remember that feeling, the book and the entire slew of emotions it brought. It makes me more appreciative.

Well – That was a bit of a tangent! So – Not sure what I expected of the Ship, but what I got was – solid footed, super windy at the front, really fricken loud horn and it had a lot of seating, wasn’t crowded and it had a little food store.

Docking was interesting. It felt like we were going to crash into the dock. We didn’t of course, however I did learn that it can happen. Not too long ago there was an ferry that crashed into the dock in Puget Sound and cut off power to (i think) an Island.

Loading and unloading the ferry was fine. Not really much of an adventure. Much like boarding and un-boarding a plane. you kind of just get herded along the way. Just follow the flow of people lol. Coming up to the dock there was floating concrete pads the managed to have stickers all over it. Not sure why, but I found that interesting.

It was interesting to learn that the ticket that allowed us to board the ship also was the ticket that allowed us to return. I don’t know if it was a fluke or not, I still have no clue how they work but I’m sure we will be riding them again soon.

Overall – the ride was relaxing, chilly, but relaxing and it was nice. Amaia and Don were there with me and they had spotted some sea life. a couple of jelly fish. One was an ‘egg yolk’ jelly fish. Which ended up being funny because Amaia was guessing. And apparently that is there name as well.

A Natural Hot Spring

February 17 2025July 31 2017 by TheOneDoingTheThings

We went camping with friends at Childs Power Plant up by the Verde Hot Springs and Fossil Creek. There were all kinds of incredible things in this small area. Fossil Creek will have to have its own post.

From where we were camping we had a short hike to get to the hot springs. We had to walk across the Verde River which was 100% not Verde (green for those that don’t speak spanish)

It was more a cloudy brown. Knowing I had to walk through very opaque water and not knowing the depth, whats in the water and so on I get those wonderful thoughts of ‘What is going to grab me, eat me, spit my bones out, drag me down the river. ‘

I survived! Surprise! Right? I mean – You are here reading this and I know you were waiting with baited breath to find out if I made it across – right? Of course you were!

My thoughts of becoming dinner or getting pulled down the river by the current or a floating body never happened.

We walked up to the area where the hot springs were and greeted with tons of graffiti. I loved it. It was all so very unique! Not just the steps and posts but the walls around the hot springs as well.

No – I did not get in. My feet got wet with the shallow parts – you could see the concrete floor inside the building portion of it. It was absolutely warm. Warmer than warm, but not hot.

These crazy people got in the big pool part of it (if you can call it big, or a pool, but it was deep!)

The Tallest guy in this group is 6’9 and he could not touch the bottom. My first thought is – What else is down there!

This was a REALLY neat experience and I highly recommend it to everyone. Its beautiful!

Stand Under a Waterfall

February 17 2025July 29 2017 by TheOneDoingTheThings

This probably comes from watching several movies where people hide behind or dive through a waterfall. Regardless, this was pretty awesome for me. I’m not sure what I had expected, but I can tell you I was terrified and excited at the same time!

I’ve recently accepted that I have a fear of the unknown in water. But, before accepting this, I’d freak myself out while swimming. In order to get to the waterfall I had to jump into the water, swim from the very very shallow area across the deep part (where you could not see the bottom) over to the waterfall, where you can’t see in the water due to the aeration from the waterfall, to behind the waterfall, which – you can’t see either. I say this like it was a long distance to jump and go over the deep part……. It was not far… at all.

The whole time I’m swimming over thinking I have a calm exterior, panic is setting in. I ignore the monsters that are in the shadows watching me. Pass the deep part and get to the waterfall, reach out to climb up behind it hoping my hands only touch rock and nothing moves under my grip.

(Have I mentioned how exhausting being afraid of things in the water and things I can’t see and……. and… is? – Its really friggen exhausting. I WANT to see these things! If I could shut that off in my head – and just go for it, fully enjoy the moment! I would opt for this? Wheres the hypnotist? Sign me up!)

What is going to: reach up and eat me? Drag me under? Brush my leg? Get my legs tangled in it? Bite me? Sting me? Grab Me? Cut me? or – What dead thing am I going to step on and get stuck between my toes?

YES! I have a very vivid imagination and YES those REALLY do go through my head, anytime I’m in water. I don’t care how clear that water is. Unless its a very clean swimming pool – these are the thoughts I have constantly. I can reason myself endlessly, – but the fear is always there.

I MADE IT! I sat there and made sure I didn’t touch anything else and that my feet weren’t dangling off the edge for something to get them. I conquered my fear enough to do something on my bucket list and to experience the great things that are behind a waterfall.

Don’t get me wrong – I’d do this 100 more times as I know that depending on where the waterfall is and the depths behind it – its all going to be a new experience – every time.

These are all from the same place – Fossil Creek – in Arizona. Click the link to see some amazing pictures of the place.

After checking out this area, we walked down the path that had a rope swing. My crazy but had to try it. I say Crazy, but I do love the experience, I just hate that those things are in the back of my head. Its like those little devil/angel on each of my shoulder.

I USED THE ROPE SWING AND FELL IN!!! I was in the water, loved it, the water felt great, never seen anything living in the water, which helped, but I was happy to be where I was and I really enjoyed it.

I hope to get out of my head someday.

This outstanding experience was a few years before accepting my fear. So, queue the quick swimming and dodging anything that might touch me, or stepping on anything I can’t see clearly, or grabbing anything that I cant tell what it is or what is on it.

It was great – My apprehensions is definitely clear in my rope swing lol. I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed reminiscing about it!

Go check out Fossil Creek in Arizona – its absolutely stunning. Maybe you will find Don’s wedding ring! He lost it here. LOL!

View Slideshow

The original 1st was 7/29/17 but I did have another chance to duck under another waterfall.

In Arizona, you can actually find all kinds of waterfalls, especially around and shortly after monsoon season. You do want to be careful as things can flash flood quickly. But the opportunity couldn’t be skipped to take a few more shots! Below are a couple pictures from a spot in Madera Canyon. Just off one of the nature paths. Decent traffic but plenty of water to enjoy for all. Nothing super deep though.

View Slideshow