The Connecticut Outdoors - A Wife's Guest Post

Well, it's Sunday night, and I'd really like to post, but my wife (love you Sarah) is making me pack up my "Man Closet" (the closet off of our balcony with all of my fishing/hunting/hiking/outdoorsy stuff in it) for our upcoming move.  So instead, I've asked her to post about the top three outdoorsy things she is most excited about taking part in once we get out of the city and up north to Connecticut.  Take it away Sarah ...

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Hi everyone!  Sarah here.  I'm sorry to be taking Bruce away from you for the night, but, let's face it, we move in less than a week whether Bruce's stuff is packed or not.

And fly rods are expensive to replace.

They need to safely make the trip.

As stressful as packing, moving and transitioning is, I am actually really excited about moving up north to Connecticut.  I lived there until I was 18 (at that point I moved to Pennsylvania for college) but there is so much I haven't experienced.  My family isn't as outdoorsy as Bruce's family is, so a trip to NYC to see a show was always higher up on the agenda than an all-day hike or camping trip.  I have a lot of time to make up for!

With all that said - here are the top three outdoorsy things I am most excited about jumping into when we get to Connecticut.

1. Fishing Photography

I think fly fishing is one of the most beautiful and peaceful sports there is.  Photographing someone fly fishing is like photographing a ballet - it is just graceful and mesmerizing.  The problem with living in Atlanta is that Bruce has to drive a good distance to get to a decent fishing spot.  I can't always take the time to go with him - or stay out for as long as he would like (and if we're driving far we hate taking two cars!).

I am really looking forward to tagging along on some of Bruce's closer fishing trips.  We will be living alongside the Housatonic River and I hope to get some decent shots of Bruce fishing, what he's catching and the beautiful scenery.

Wildlife and outdoor photography definitely isn't something that I'm used to.  It's much different from a newborn shot I did a few weeks ago where I jumped up and down and babbled in a baby voice to get the little one to smile.  It's much slower, much quieter and requires a lot more patience.  Any and all tips are appreciated!

2. Hiking The Appalachian Trail

Last week I told Bruce that I wanted to hike up Stone Mountain early in the morning to watch the sunrise before we left, so Saturday morning we left the apartment when it was still dark and started the very cold hike up the mountain.

I don't know if it was the 30 degree temperatures, the 30 mph blustery winds, the straight-up elevation or the fact that I had just run a half marathon two days before, but it was a HARD hike up the mountain!  I was not a happy hiker ...

... but it was totally worth it.

Last winter, Bruce and I were in Connecticut visiting my family and we did hike one part of the Appalachian Trail.  It was difficult, but fun!

I took this from the top of the mountain.  That's my mom's church!  What a cool bird's eye view.  I can't wait to see other parts of the trail.

3. Kayaking

I want a kayak.

I don't know why.  No one in my family has a kayak.  Only one of my friends owns a kayak.  I've been kayaking all of three times in my life.

The first time was in Alaska on a cruise shore excursion.  My aunt and I went "Glacier View Kayaking", which we thought meant we would be paddling quickly in and out of glaciers.  In fact, it meant we were just floating along with a nice view of a glacier 200 yards away.  At one point we got stuck in some sludge and the guide had push us out.

Anticlimactic.

The second time was in Florida with my same aunt.  We thought we saw a gator about 20 minutes in, freaked out and paddled like hell to get back to shore.

The last time was back in Florida with Bruce.

We stayed out for over an hour and the next morning I could barely move my arms.  What a good workout!  Kayaking seems fun, because it can either be extremely peaceful or a really hard exhilarating workout.

I'm not sure where I would be able to go out - I'm assuming the Housatonic River, but I'm sure there are also places across the New York State border, as well the Connecticut coast.

I don't know much about kayaks (recommendations welcome!), but I have a feeling that I will probably want to save between $300 and $500 to get a decent kayak.  I'm thinking I want a recreational kayak - perhaps this Emotion Kayaks Comet Kayak from REI?

I wonder if it comes in pink?  (Sorry Bruce - I had to throw that in there)

Well, there you have it - my top three anticipated outdoorsy activities for the next chapter of our book together!  I can't wait!

It was great to be with you all today.  Please stop by my blog, The Strength of Faith, and say hi!

Adventure On,
Sarah