Clark: So you recently completed the 14 mile paddle to Emerald Bay from the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Boat House at El Dorado Beach. You must have been paddling for a long time to accomplish such a long paddle, right?

Julie: I estimated the trip to take about 5 hours initially but it ended up taking longer due to the condition of the lake coming back from Emerald Bay.  The wind had kicked up and the water was very rough.  The wind was pushing hard from the north (my left side) so it ended up being a right sided paddle the whole way back.  The water was rough with waves from both sides.  I knew it was going to be a long paddle coming back.

Clark: How’d you get started standup paddling?

Julie: I heard about standup paddling last year from a few people at church.  Especially from the Brackett girls who help me in the nursery.  Then I would see articles in the paper about the Brackett family and this business they were growing.  It intrigued me enough that I went out on my first paddle ride on a Friday night for Ladies Night in late May 2012.  That was all it took!  Julianne and Janessa took me up along the shore and into Upper Truckee Creek.  I knew after that ride this was something I wanted to do  so I bought a season pass on June 1 and paddled all summer.

Clark: How’d you get the idea to do the Emerald Bay paddle?

Julie: Well, the idea actually came from you Clark after seeing your post on the STSUP Facebook page, 30 Days to Emerald Bay.  I talked to Chris about it in regards to my skills and fitness level.  He assured me that after paddling all summer and racing that I would have no problem completing the journey.  So rather than wait until the end of Sept. I decided to go on Sept. 12^th.

Clark: What was your biggest fear about 14 miles on a paddle board?

Julie: Probably not having enough energy to finish.  I was not afraid of the water or falling in, that type of thing.

Clark: When you set out the morning of your Emerald Bay paddle, how’d you feel when you first got out on the water?

Julie: I was really excited actually and a tiny bit nervous.  I had recruited Julianne Brackett to ride along with me because I wanted someone with a good deal of experience on the lake by my side.  It was a great contrast.  She is 18 and I am 53.  We talked a lot on the way out and soaked in the beauty of Lake Tahoe. A bald eagle flew right over us at one point.  Her father Chris decided to come along with us at the last minute.  I am so glad he did because he brought his iPhone and took some awesome images of us on the ride and video of us arriving back at the boathouse.

Clark: You dedicated your paddle to someone special in your life. Can you share a little about this?

Julie:  Sure.  After the initial challenge and idea from you, I realized that this was not going to be all about me, Julie.  God showed me that there had to be a deeper purpose and it was my daughter and her battle against cancer.  She has been diagnosed and treated for cancer twice in 3 years so my journey to Emerald Bay and back was a tribute to her and what she endured in surgeries followed by radiation and chemo treatments.  I simply felt that if she could endure the emotional, physical and spiritual battle against cancer then I could endure whatever God had for me on the lake on Sept. 12^th.

As a result, we established a web domain entitled “STANDUP Against Cancer”.  Lord willing we will have a local event next year in Sept. so others can paddle for someone they know who has battled cancer.

Clark: Was there a difficult moment when you felt like you couldn’t go on?

Julie: I never actually felt that I could not go on, but there were moments on the return, because the lake was such a mess and the wind was blowing so hard, that I knew it was going to be one paddle at a time.  Not only did we have to paddle on the right side the entire journey back, but you had to push the paddle out to the side as well to keep the board straight.  It was a true test of endurance physically.   Mind over body.  Changing hand positions on the paddle, just whatever I could do to take pressure off one part of my body and put it somewhere else for a while.  My right foot and ankle fell asleep as well. My right shoulder burned from fatigue.  I talked to myself a lot…and asked God for the strength to finish.

Clark: What was the highlight?

Julie: First, the bald eagle flying over us in the morning as we approached the bay, but once in the bay we stopped at Fannette Island, got off the boards and played for a while up in the tea house.  That was awesome.  Chris took some incredible photos there as well.

Clark: How’d you feel when you came to the final stretch and knew you were almost there?

Julie: Relieved!!  The 6 plus miles paddling back from the mouth of the bay to the boathouse was very long in terms of distance and time so when I finally got to a point where I could see the pier and people standing and waiting, I started to cry.  It was quite a relief to be back and see many familiar faces waiting to greet me.

Clark: What did you take away from your 14 miler?

Julie: Go the distance, whatever it is.  Don’t be afraid.  You would be surprised what you can do when you put your heart, mind, and body the test.

Thanks, Julie, for sharing your story!  And congratulations on a great accomplishment!

By the way, I did follow Julie two weeks later and completed the 14 mile Emerald Bay paddle.  It was awesome and you can read my take on the experience here.

Tahoe SUP friends, you also need to make sure you’ve downloaded the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Smart Phone App.  Here are 5 reasons it’s a must on your phone!  But add to that list the fact that we’ll be introducing some great Christmas specials available only to those who’ve downloaded our app!

South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for iPhone.

South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for Android.

I did it.

14.4 miles on paddle board.  The round trip from El Dorado Beach to Emerald Bay and back.  An epic end to an epic summer.  I did it.

After being a standup slacker all summer, I set a goal to take the 30 days of September to train and eventually paddle the 14.4 mile Emerald Bay.  This epic SUP experience was on my radar screen all the way at the beginning of the summer, yet throughout the summer, reaching my goal felt allusive.  I had plenty of beach time with my 2 kids, but just could not get much time out on the water.

In September, as our epic Tahoe summer continued, I finally got the time on the water I craved.  I began my 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge by paddling from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay and back.  Throughout the entire month I had amazing SUP experiences, from days just lazily paddling around Cave Rock with the family to a beautiful morning paddle at Echo Lake.  Still, the Emerald Bay 14 miler was really intimidating to me.  Earlier in September I’d gone on a 72 mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe.  I was way more intimidated by 14 miles on a paddleboard than I was the 72 miles on a bike.

The day prior to my big paddle I had a few butterflies in my tummy.  As night fell and I set my alarm to get up early, I suddenly began to develop a peace.  I would be okay.  I could do this.

My alarm went off at 5:30 on September 30 and it was dark.  I made myself a high energy breakfast, got my Lakeshore Paddleboard Company River Rover on my car, and headed to El Dorado Beach.

It was a beautiful morning.  The sunrise on September 30 was scheduled for 6:52 and I was setting off at 6:45.  The water was smooth as glass and I would begin my paddle looking to a big, beautiful moon hanging over the mountains.  I paddled toward the moon for about the first 45 minutes of my paddle and it was just glorious.  There was a blueish-gray color to the morning.  I paddled past Regan Beach and past the Keys.  I was on my way.

A few different times the wind started to pick up and I thought my fortunes were about to change.  Then the air would be still again and the glassy water would return.  I neared the entrance to Emerald Bay and my anticipation grew.  When I paddled into Emerald Bay from El Dorado Beach on the first day of the month I had come in very close to the shoreline so I wanted to come into Emerald Bay on this day from as far as reasonable out on the lake.

When Emerald Bay first opened up to me — I would describe that moment as one of the highlights of the trip.  Fannette Island came into view and my goal was within reach.

When I came ashore Fannette Island I got my phone out.  It had taken me exactly 2 hours to reach that point.  I called home and talked with my wife and kids, took photos, had a snack and drank some water, and just relaxed.  I spent about 90 minutes on the island before setting back out on the water.

I was feeling good.  I always felt like if I could just get there, I could get back.  Now, every stroke brought me closer, not further, from home.

As I paddled around the backside of Fannette Island, though, I saw a dad with his son in a little boat.  He asked me where I’d paddled from and I told him “El Dorado Beach.”

“Nice,” was his reply.

What happened next put a wind in my sail.  It would give me all the encouragement I needed to make it home.

“Wait, are you that guy?”

To which I reply, “…um, I’m Clark…. um… yeah…”

“Today’s the day!  You’re doing it!  Good for you!  You’re half way there!”

As I paddled off he got my attention one more time and said, “Hey, you are one amazing piece of inspiration.”

I took it easy leaving Emerald Bay and explored a few spots I wanted to get a closer look at.  When I entered back into the open waters of Lake Tahoe I felt like it was on my way.

Just. Keep. Paddling.

By the time I was nearing the Keys, I was ready to be done.  The wind started to pick up a bit, pushing me toward the shore.  I found myself taking about 20 paddles on my right for every 1 on my left.  By the time I was done, my right shoulder was pretty sore.

For a long time on the way back I could not quite pick out my terminal point.  I finally spotted a sandy spot I thought must be it.  I paddled a little longer and realized that spot I was looking at was actually the marina at Ski Run Blvd, not El Dorado Beach.  I could now see El Dorado Beach, which was even closer.  And that was great.

When I hit Regan Beach I dug in to quickly cover some distance.  Then, as I approached El Dorado Beach, I slowed down to take it all in.

4 hours and 10 minutes of paddle time after I’d started, I was done.

My feet touched the sand and I was done.  I did it.

I was greeted by the same person who sent me off, Julie Zeid, who I am very grateful to for taking so many great photos of my start and finish, and who had done this exact same paddle 2 weeks earlier.

I sat on the beach happy.  Happy because I had done something big enough that the first thought of it intimidated me.  Happy because I had set a goal and achieved it.  Happy because I live in Lake Tahoe and that by being on a paddleboard I was taking advantage of some of the best that Lake Tahoe has to offer.

Happy.

I’m no longer a standup slacker.  I’m on Team South Tahoe Standup Paddle.

– Clark Vandeventer

Day 30 — the day I make the 14.4 mile journey from El Dorado Beach to Emerald Bay and back via paddle board — is quickly approaching.

It’s been a great month of training.  Not only have I spent more time on the water over the past 25 days than probably any other 25 day period in my life, I also went on a 72 mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe and I’ve been splitting wood to heat my home this winter.

The idea of a 30 Days to Emerald Bay quest was in the back of my mind all summer.  While my wife was busy launching a new business, I ended up with a lot of beach time this summer with my kids.  Just 2 and 4 years old, they’re not out paddling with me yet (other than a fun little trip down the shoreline).  I’m the kind of guy who needs a goal before I really get into something.  I wasn’t much of a cyclist at the beginning of the summer but liked the idea of riding around the lake.  The El Dorado Beach / Emerald Bay Round Trip was the kind of thing that could actually get me out on the water.

Whenever I thought about actually training to paddle to Emerald Bay I always thought I’d want to paddle Fallen Leaf Lake.  I’d paddle boarded on Fallen Leaf Lake before, but just short little paddles near the marina and the Fallen Leaf Lake store.  I wanted to do the whole thing.  The lake is 3 miles long, so a round trip would be 6 miles.  My plan was to paddle around the oval of the lake, which I estimated would be about 8 miles.

8 miles around Fallen Leaf Lake would be Day 24 in my 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge.

I got a later start than I wanted.  I stayed up too late on Sunday night and turned off my alarm as soon as it went off on the morning of my paddle.  Instead of getting my feet wet at around 7:15 like I had hoped, I was not on the water until about 8:15.  The wind had also gotten an early start to the day, making the journey toward Fallen Leaf Campground more choppy than I’d expected.

Still, it was a great paddle!  It was a beautiful morning and the less than favorable conditions I chalked up as just a part of my training.

I took a 10 minute break at the Fallen Leaf Campground side of the lake and then prepared to set off.  The wind was really whipping over the lake by this point.  I paddled and paddled and paddled.  About 20 minutes later I looked back and I had hardly gone anywhere.  I was like a big sail and the wind was blowing me in the wrong direction.  I did not have a watch, but I new I’d been out for a while.  If I had any hope of getting home so my wife and I could each tend to other responsibilities, I needed to get moving.  I was kicking myself for getting a late start.  And I paddled on.

10 minutes later I hadn’t made much progress.

That’s when I turned my board around and paddled back to the Fallen Leaf Lake Campground.

It took me no time, the wind and the current quickly carrying me to shore.

Now I had a decision to make.  I needed to get home but first I needed to get to my car, which was now about 5 miles away.  And I was barefoot.

I made the decision to leave my board on the beach, hike to the road, and try to hitchhike back to my car.

Before I could get to the road, I had to hike my way through a section of forest where loggers were working.  I’m serious.  As I hiked through the forest and then through Fallen Leaf Campground, several times I questioned my decision.  I should have kept paddling…. or… at the very least I should have brought my board and hidden it in a more convenient place to get to by car…. But at this point I was already committed.  I just had to keep walking.  And remember, just a few minutes later I was paddle-boarding.  So at this point I was barefoot.

Back on the road, several cars passed with the drivers intently looking straight ahead at the road and pretending not to see me.  Finally, a nice couple from North Carolina stopped and gave me a ride the rest of the way.  Got to my car, went back to collect my board, and went home.

Some takeaways:

• I didn’t paddle nearly as far as I had planned.  I planned 8 miles.  I paddled less than 4.
• Wind is a real issue.  Turning around like I did on Fallen Leaf Lake will not be an option when I’m on my Emerald Bay Paddle.  Because winds typically pick up as the day goes on, I need to start as early as possible.  Sunrise on September 30 — the day I plan to make my trek — is at 6:56 a.m.  I want to be on the water by 6:45.
• I need to actually go to bed at a decent hour the night before journey to Emerald Bay.
• I need to track the weather and be ready to shift the day of my paddle to either September 29 or October 1 if the weather, particularly the winds, look to be favorable on either of those days.

Time is running out.  Back on the water tomorrow.

Is anyone planning on doing this paddle with me?  Or am I going it alone?

– Clark Vandeventer

Download the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Smart Phone App.  Here are 5 reasons it’s a must on your phone!

South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for iPhone.

South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for Android.

Photo credit: lil’bear

I feel like I have come into a bit of a groove in my training for the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge.  A week ago right now I had just wrapped up the Tour de Tahoe.  72 miles on a bike followed by consecutive days copped up in an airplane had my body feeling pretty darn miserable.  My body needed some time to recover and recover it has.

Paddle and firewood, paddle and firewood.  That’s been my mantra over Days 13-18 of the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge.

Day 13: Took it easy.  My body was still in recovery mode.  I tried to just get moving a bit and get my body loosened up.

Day 14: I’m not a morning person, but I set my alarm to get up and out early so I could have Echo Lake all to myself.  It was absolutely glorious!  This was one of my all-time favorite paddle-boarding experiences yet.  It took me a little less than 2 hours with a break to paddle from Echo Chalet to the other end of Upper Echo Lake and back.  When I first set out on the water the lake was complete glass and in the entire time I was on the water I only saw 2 or 3 little boats cruise by.  A great experience.

Day 15:  Just keep stacking.  After doing a lot of wood splitting the week before my ride in the Tour de Tahoe, it was time to start stacking all that wood.  Just. Keep. Stacking.  I went at it all day and slept well that night!

Day 16:  What a great paddle!  I took off from the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Boat House at El Dorado Beach and paddled along the shoreline to Baldwin Beach and then back to The Beacon Restaurant where my wife and kids picked me up.  Just a little over 2 hours on the water and because I paddled along the shoreline I think it was close to half of the distance of the 14 miles I’ll be paddling from El Dorado Beach to Emerald Bay and back on September 30.  It also crossed my mind that I was now just 2 weeks away from making the 14 mile journey to Emerald Bay.

Day 17: It was time to make the final push to get all my wood split for winter.  And it was quite a push.  I began at 8:30 in the morning and worked almost continuously until 7:30 in the evening.  Now it’s time to stack again.

Day 18: I have other responsibilities in life than paddle boarding and splitting wood, and those things have to be my focus today.  I am planning a short time on the water.  I’ll be tracking the weather as my hope is to be on the water in as choppy conditions as possible.  All just part of my training!

Beautiful Echo Lake

If you want to join me but don’t have your own board, South Tahoe Standup Paddle is offering an amazing deal to get you on the water.  For only $69 you can get a FALL SUP PASS.  Paddle as much as you want now through the end of October.  Head on it and get all the details.

A FALL SUP PASS for $69?  That’s a crazy good deal.

You’re running out of excuses NOT to join me!

You also need to make sure you’ve downloaded the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Smart Phone App.  Here are 5 reasons it’s a must on your phone!

South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for iPhone.

South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for Android.

See you on the water!

– Clark Vandeventer

Photo Credit: BrewBooks

The first 11 days in my 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge have had far less time on the water than you would expect for someone who is preparing to go on a 14 mile paddle.  After opening the month of September with 2 days on the water, I’ve gone more than a week on dry land.

Rather than paddling, I was biking, including a mammoth bike ride from Minden to South Lake Tahoe by way of Woodfords and Luther Pass.  It was a 40 mile ride with 3,500 in elevation gain that left me not only exhausted, but also dehydrated having not brought enough water along for my ride.

All that bike time had a purpose.  While I have my eyes set on Emerald Bay on September 30, I’d been training all summer to ride in the 72 mile Tour de Tahoe — a twice annual bike ride that circumvents beautiful Lake Tahoe.

With the ride taking place this past Sunday, after 11 hours of splitting wood on Friday I decided to take it easy on Saturday.  My only objectives for the day were to eat and rest.  I did both.

On Sunday — Day 9 of my 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge — I joined close to 2,000 riders on a bike ride around Big Blue.

While the ride was 30 miles longer than anything I’d previously done, the ride was less intense than what I had done the previous week.  Plus I had tons of support.  Ride organizers had rest areas set up at the top of Emerald Bay, Homewood Mountain, Kings Beach, along the climb up Spooner, and finally at the top of Spooner.  Each stop gave me plenty of opportunity not only to rehydrate, but also to eat.  And eat I did.  I wanted to have all the fuel I needed to just enjoy the ride.

6 and a half hours after I started, I had the Horizon Casino in my sites and peddled the final miles.  I felt like I could keep going but was glad I did not have to.  I crossed the finish line and was greeted by my family who were waiting on me,  It was a great feeling.

At the Tour de Tahoe finish line.

After finishing the ride I headed to Reno, where I had to catch a flight to Florida on a business trip.  Yes, I’m serious.  Finishing that ride then spending all that time cooped up in airplanes while getting very little sleep 3 consecutive nights  left my body feeling thrashed.  It’s not been until this morning that my body has started to feel right again.

So I hope you’ll forgive me if I’ve spent less time on the water thus far in my 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge.  But with the Tour de Tahoe and my business trip behind me, that’s about to change.

Later today I’ll be out on the water on a brand new Lakeshore Paddleboard Co. River Rover.  Now I begin the push.

If you want to join me but don’t have your own board, South Tahoe Standup Paddle is offering an amazing deal to help you get out on the water.  For only $69 you can get a Fall SUP Pass.  Paddle as much as you want now through the end of October.  Head on in and get all the details.

A Fall SUP Pass for $69?  You’re running out of excuses to NOT join me!

Hope to see you on the water.

– Clark Vandeventer

Often, achieving a goal isn’t about doing big things.  It’s about doing little things, everyday.

My goal is to paddle the 14 miles from the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Boat House at El Dorado Beach to Emerald Bay and back.  Just saying that is a little intimidating to me.  But by September 30 — Day 30 in my 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge — it shouldn’t be.  It’s all about doing little things every day to get ready.

I started out the month of September and my 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge on the water.  On Day 1 I had a challenging paddle to Emerald Bay from Baldwin Beach.  On Day 2 I spent a relaxing day paddling around Cave Rock with my family.  But I’ve not been on the water since then.  Somehow the starts have aligned against me.  But I’ve been training.  I’ve spent a lot of time riding my bike — including an epic bike ride for Day 5 of my training.  The past 2 days I’ve been splitting wood.

Anyone who thinks it’s depressing to watch your work go up in smoke has never heated their home in winter with wood they’ve gathered, split, and stacked themselves.

On Day 6 I was splitting wood by hand — swinging that maul again, and again, and again.  I spent just about 90 minutes splitting wood and it was a great workout.  On Day 7 I rented a splitter, and wanting to maximize every minute possible that I had the splitter I went at it for 11 hours.  Although I was sitting a lot of the time, my back and arms are sore this morning.  One goal that I’m setting over the next week for my non-water workouts is to specifically do things that will strengthen my back and abs — something that will make my life a little easier when I’m paddling those 14 miles on September 30.

I love having a goal!  It focuses the mind and body!

What about you?  Am I going to see you out there on the water with me?

– Clark Vandeventer

Oh, maybe you’ll enjoy this video I posted on YouTube last fall after I finished preparing all my firewood for winter:

If you’re participating in the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge, comment below on what you’ve been doing to train for the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge.  And make sure you like South Tahoe Standup Paddle on Facebook and follow South Tahoe Standup Paddle on Twitter so you can share what you’re doing!

Make sure you like South Tahoe Standup Paddle on Facebook and follow South Tahoe Standup Paddle on Twitter.

Every day during the month of September I am doing something to train to make the 14 mile roundtrip journey from the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Boat House at El Dorado Beach to Emerald Bay.  After being a standup slacker all summer, I’m going hard core.  After some great time on the water on Day 1 and Day 2, I’ve now gone three days in a row without standup paddling.  But that does not mean I’ve not been training.

I typically post each night about what I did that day to train for the Emerald Bay Challenge.  I didn’t post last night because I was just so stinkin’ exhausted.

For Day 5 in my training for the Emerald Bay Challenge, I went on a bike ride.

40 miles.  3,500 feet in elevation gain.

When I’m not being a professional man of leisure, I’m a merchant services rep.  My company processes credit card transactions and makes smart phone apps for small businesses.  (Have you downloaded the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Smart Phone App?).  Yesterday, I was in Minden, working with one of my newest clients, Alpen Sierra Coffee.  Because it was raining in South Lake Tahoe, my wife came out with me and brought the kids.  They went to lunch while I met with my client.  Afterwards, they went to Lampe Park in Gardnerville and I got on my bike.

It was a long, intense ride.  Minden, Nevada is at an elevation of 4,721 feet.  It was a beautiful ride along Highway 88 — but I kept looking at the mountains and knowing that I had to get over them at some point.  I rode from Minden to Woodfords and eventually to Luther Pass at an elevation of 7,740 feet.  From my low elevation in Minden to Luther Pass was more than 3,000 feet in elevation gain in itself.  With up and down along the way, I easily surpassed more than 3,500 feet in elevation gain.

The ride took me longer than I expected.  I got home just as it was getting dark — and I was exhausted.  I drank 3 glasses of water and then had a beer.  My wife had made a great dinner.  I scarfed my down and then literally (I kid you not…) I laid my head down on the table.

Today I am planning on taking it much, much easier.

And I think it’s time to get back out on the water.

Hope to see you out there.

– Clark Vandeventer

Photo credit: Satosphere.

If you’re participating in the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge, comment below on what you’ve been doing to train for the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge.  And make sure you like South Tahoe Standup Paddle on Facebook and follow South Tahoe Standup Paddle on Twitter so you can share what you’re doing!

I’ve now gone 2 consecutive days without any time on the water.  After being a standup slacker all summer, I’m taking the month of September to become a serious standup paddler.  I’m taking 30 days to paddle from the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Boat House at El Dorado Beach to Emerald Bay and back.  That’s 14 miles.

Believing I’d never be able to pull off paddling every day, I planned going in that some days I’d have to do training off the water.  Yesterday I went on a 20 mile bike ride.  But I do know the best way to get ready to do this is to be on the water.

But now I’ve gone two straight days without being on the water.  And today I didn’t even go on a bike ride.  I just sat on the beach and read a book — while occasionally getting in the water with my kids and throwing them around.

Then tonight someone asked me about how my training was going.  And I realized today I’d again been a standup slacker.

So I just finished doing 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups.

It’s not time on the water.  But it’s better than nothing.

What about you?  Are you in for the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge?

Full disclosure…. That’s not me in the pic.  Photo credit to DVIDSHUB.

Have you downloaded the South Tahoe Standup Paddle App?  Here’s the South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for iPhone and here’s the South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for Android.

– Clark Vandeventer

Today marked Day 3 of my training for the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge.  On Day 1 I went on an intense paddle from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay.  On Day 2 I spent a leisurely afternoon paddling around with my family at Cave Rock Beach.  On Day 3 I did not even get on a paddle board.  Instead, I went on a bike ride.

After a farewell brunch at the Red Hut, my wife’s family got in the car to make the drive back to Santa Barbara, my wife tried to distract the kids from the fact that grandma was gone by taking them to Lego Brickation at Heavenly Village, and I got on my bike.  I rode from the Red Hut at SKi Run Boulevard and into Bi-State Park under the Heavenly Gondola, then back through South Lake Tahoe all along Lake Tahoe Boulevard to North Upper Truckee Road, then back on Highway 50 and to my house just off of Elks Club Drive.  All tolled, it was about a 20 mile ride.

When I rode by the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Boat House at El Dorado Beach, I almost headed down to take a quick paddle.  A big part of getting ready for the 14 mile roundtrip paddle to Emerald Bay just has to do with the endurance.  But nothing replaces time on the board.  I got none of that today, so I need to make sure I get back on the water as soon as possible.

Who wants to join me this week?  Labor Day may be behind us, but the weather forecast looks great for this week in Tahoe!

C’mon!  Get out there on the water with me!

– Clark Vandeventer

(Photo credit: Richard North)

After being a standup slacker all summer, I’m taking the 30 days of September to do something truly epic on a standup paddle board.  Over the 30 days of September I am training to paddle the 14-mile roundtrip from the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Boat House at El Dorado Beach to Emerald Bay.

I got off to an intense start, and I have to admit that I was pretty sore when I went to bed last night.  The hour and forty-five minutes it took me to paddle from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay and back about equaled the longest amount of time I’ve ever spent paddling, but the conditions were much more intense.  I had a big dinner last night and laid in bed with a wonderful feeling of exhaustion in my legs.

On Day 2 I took it a bit more easy.  We have family in town and we took the paddleboards to Cave Rock Beach for the day.  My wife and I went on about a leisurely 45-minute paddle.  Then after watching my 2-year-old daughter work on balancing herself on a board, she and I went out and paddled along the shoreline for about another 20 minutes.

Even though it was not nearly as intense a day of training as Day 1, I’m really excited to have been on the water a second consecutive day just to get my body used to the the feeling of being on the board.

What about you?  Are you going to join me on September 30 to paddle from El Dorado Beach to Emerald Bay?  What’d you do today to prepare for the 14-miler?

Want to find out more about my 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge?  Check out the Day 1 post.

If you’re thinking about participating or already have decided you’re going to go for it, make sure you download the South Tahoe Standup Paddle smart phone app.  Here’s the South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for iPhone and here’s the South Tahoe Standup Paddle App for Android.

If you’re in, comment below on what you did today to train for the 30 Days to Emerald Bay Challenge.  And make sure you like South Tahoe Standup Paddle on Facebook and follow South Tahoe Standup Paddle on Twitter so you can share what you’re doing!

See you on the water!

– Clark Vandeventer