For today's Throwback Thursday, I take you back to June 22, 2012. That's when I first met Neil on my kayaking Day Trip with Sea Kayaking Skopelos. You can read all about it in my Trip Advisor review: Absolutely Awesome! The photo above, however, is from my Sunset Trip yesterday, and though I've yet to write a new review, it will be another 5 star one!
When I first spotted the blue kayak on the end, I was hoping that I would be able to select that one for my tour, since my favorite color is blue! But, when I saw how many people were going on the tour, I kicked that idea out of my head, and thought, a green or red one would be fine. I was just thrilled to be kayaking on such a beautiful evening and getting to watch the sunset from a unique vantage point (you know I adore sunsets--check out my Spiritual Sundays).
Guess what color kayak I finally ended up with?!
Guess what color kayak I finally ended up with?!
It was meant to be! I patiently let all of the other kayakers choose their kayaks, and since this blue one was at the far end, it was mine!
The kayak, paddle, life jacket and water are all included in the price of the Sunset Trip. We met at 5:45 p.m. at Elios beach on Skopelos. There were 20 kayaks in all, including 3 guides, one of whom was Neil.
With a gentle pace, we kayaked along the coast and went through some narrow openings between rocky outcrops. Neil took pictures of us throughout the Trip, and is going to email them to us soon, but I took this one of another kayaker reaching the end of the passage that I had just maneuvered through!
The kayak, paddle, life jacket and water are all included in the price of the Sunset Trip. We met at 5:45 p.m. at Elios beach on Skopelos. There were 20 kayaks in all, including 3 guides, one of whom was Neil.
With a gentle pace, we kayaked along the coast and went through some narrow openings between rocky outcrops. Neil took pictures of us throughout the Trip, and is going to email them to us soon, but I took this one of another kayaker reaching the end of the passage that I had just maneuvered through!
We continued along the coast for about an hour, and then stopped at a little cove near Kastani beach. We took our kayaks up onto the pebbles, and then swam or snorkeled (masks and snorkels were provided on the trip as well) in the 'krystal klear' water (OK, crystal clear, but today is K in my Alphabet Challenge, and the letter C does make the K sound)! Melon, oranges, cookies and cake were tasty treats before setting off for group photos and then the highly anticipated sunset.
And oh, what a sunset it was! Neil had estimated the time until sunset using a clever trick he learned as a scout! I won't reveal it here, you'll have to ask Neil when you kayak with him as part of your holiday to gorgeous Skopelos island.
The water was so calm, and it was extremely quiet, as all 22 of us sat still in our kayaks and gazed in awe at the departing sun. I could have stayed in the kayak for another few hours, but it was time to head back to where we started.
Neil and Yvonne knocked it out of the park with the Sunset Trip! (That's a baseball expression, for those of you who aren't familiar with the phrase, and it means a stellar job!) By the way, I purchased a baseball cap as a souvenir of my trip. Note, it's my favorite color!
This is my work area today, and I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't introduce you to at least one more K word as part of my Alphabet Challenge and Throwback Thursday.
Very close to where I lived in the Netherlands, is the castle...
Very close to where I lived in the Netherlands, is the castle...
Kasteel de Haar
Wait, that's not the castle!
This was my first visit to Kasteel de Haar in November 2013. I had sprained my right ankle very badly the night before, and due to increasing pain while hobbling, couldn't make it to the castle. We did manage to get this photo above at the beautiful entrance.
This was my first visit to Kasteel de Haar in November 2013. I had sprained my right ankle very badly the night before, and due to increasing pain while hobbling, couldn't make it to the castle. We did manage to get this photo above at the beautiful entrance.
Here's my daughter at the castle. Another great photo by my hubby, Nick. Our daughter was visiting him in March 2014. He had already moved to the Netherlands, but I had remained back in the US to finish the school year with my students, and complete the final courses of my Master's degree.
I finally reached the castle in November 2014, just a year after my first unsuccessful visit. Along with a group of women from the IWCU (International Women's Contact Utrecht), a club I had just joined, I took a wonderful tour inside the castle, which included a visit to the kitchen!
I think the moat would be a great place for kayaking, don't you?!
What words, that begin with the letter K, do you think I should include for teachers?
Let me know in a comment below!
I think the moat would be a great place for kayaking, don't you?!
What words, that begin with the letter K, do you think I should include for teachers?
Let me know in a comment below!