Soak Up the Sun

Now, three weeks later, I'm going to write about Part II of my birthday, which was when I went kayaking. I know, I'm so freaking behind when it comes to blogging. Anyway, on the Sunday of my birthday weekend, I started with brunch at Bake 'n Broil with Isaac and Kristin (who had to cut her month of backpacking through Europe short because she fractured her ankle in Rome). We had a nice meal and caught up on some chit chat. Kristin couldn't come along because she was still dependent on crutches and her dad raised a ruckus about her being out on the water, so we bid her goodbye and dashed over to the beach at 2nd St.

Isaac the Jellyfish Slayer

Of course, we were the last to arrive, although I do admit everyone tried to be a good sport about it since it was my birthday, haha. I was hoping that since Isaac is a bodybuilder in the making, he would do most--if not all--of the work. I imagined sprawling out with my hands stretched behind my head, idly pointing out the picturesque properties of Naples Island, laughing carelessly with friends, while the muscular Jewish laborer behind me did all the propelling and sweating. Nope! That jackass turned all personal trainer mode on me, and pushed me to move my paddle faster than a Jedi knight wielding his lightsaber during the Battle of Yavin. To top it off, he killed a jellyfish! We went to the jellyfish cove, and he proceeded to lift one out of the water and place it on his knee. By the time he dropped it back into the water, it was the saddest blob ever.


But the weather was gorgeous, the area was beautiful, and the company was great. Phil, Matt, Jade and Sabrina drove up from San Diego to join us! And Trang, Sekina and Chris were really nice about being the only prompt ones and having to wait again for everyone else to arrive. By the time we started rowing back towards shore, the sun was beginning to set and it started getting a bit cold. We spent a little under two hours out in the water, and it cost each couple $25. It was a damn fine way to spend an afternoon, and the hiking/kayaking combo was a damn great way to turn 25 years old!