chargelife » family adventures

Meet Jazlyn Leilani Nelson… born March 9, 2011

Heather — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:48:55 +0000

Meet the newest Nelson: Jazlyn Leilani Nelson, born just this a.m. at 5:41 PST. 7 lbs 4oz… perfect, healthy and happy in every regard!

Enjoy some pics! Countless more — with tales — to follow!

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Epic Oahu in December!

Heather — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 05:45:48 +0000

Shame on us! When we booked our tickets for Oahu for a bit of sun, sand and warmth in the middle of typical cold, wet Pacific NW winter, we just assumed it’d be 7 days of bluebird skies, 80F-temps, long, lazy paddles with Hayden spotting sea turtles and going through bottle after bottle of sunscreen.

We got a bit of that on day 1,and had settled in for a week of pure Aloha! But on Day 2 a true Pacific winter storm blew in and it’s been typhoon-like for the past 48 hours, non-stop. In a word, it’s been EPIC!

More on that in a minute, though. First, a bit about where we are…

We fell in love with the beach and waters off Lanikai on Oahu’s southeast shore the first time we stayed here, in 2006. That trip was to race the Molokai OC6 World Champs for the first time, and we’ve returned here 3 times since.

On this trip, we rented a vacation cottage about a block off the beach, with a pool and exercise area — things both we and Hayden love to have at hand.

We’re geared up with a surfski, stand-up board, a full rack of other boats like OC-1′s, Ocean Kayaks, a kids boat… pretty much anything we’d need or want, all thanks to our friends the Scales family, Mike, Karen, and their boys Stryker and Skey.

The vibe is super mellow on the golden sandy beach here in Lanikai, the antithesis of the Waikiki scene. Hayden’s had us building the sand version of every aninal in the zoo or on a farm during our 3 or 4 daily trips to the beach. The only diversion that’s worked on him so far is to announce a session of “Rocket Boy!” where he’s taken to call for bigger and bigger air the bigger — and heavier — he gets!

Water-wise, the area immediately off-shore is protected from the brunt of the Pacific swell by coral reef, so for close to a mile out it’s relatively calm unless the wind is nuking, but still no ground swell really comes through.

At the edge of the reef sits a pair of ridiculously photogenic islands known as the Mokes, or Mokuluas. The area to either side and between the Mokes is where the action begins wave-wise. On past trips we’ve paddled and surfed between them doing lap after lap, heading a couple miles beyond and linking waves back in through the center channel.

On this trip, though, the first big winter storm of the season slammed the islands and stacked up HUGE swells that exploded against the islands, and closed out across the channel between them. I did a bit of “high adventure” paddling (and swimming) out beyond them on Wednesday, but have for the most part stayed inside the reefed-in area since then.

On Thursday we took a drive along the coast south of here past Koko Head, stopping at all the surf breaks and overviews along the way. Watermen and waterwomen young and old lined the breaks and rode waves standing, laying, kneeling and quite often tumbling.

Being storm lovers, it’s truly an amazing thing to be in Hawaii — the surfing and big-water paddling epicenter of the world — during a big winter storm, and to see it in all its energetic, un-tamed glory.

Tomorrow, there just HAPPENS to be a race starting from the very beach we’re lodged next to! Heather races at 10, me at 11:30. We’ll report!!!

B, H & H

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Hayden Storms the 2010 Samish Salmon Roe!

Heather — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:31:31 +0000

This summer has marked Hayden’s entry into the world of racing, from riding shotgun on Mama’s SUP board around Lake Padden, to sharing the bow with her on the Wednesday night races on Lake Whatcom. And now he’s added his first SoundRower’s blue ribbon to his wall of fame.

Yesterday, paddling our trusty tandem Double Joy — and as Grandpa Hummer, Uncle Nick & Aunt Jessica, and cousins Annika and Zander cheered on from the shore — Hayden raced with us in the 6-mile Lake Samish Salmon Roe. This race consistently draws the biggest fleet of the year, with near 120 boats of all types lining up to throw down. The organization, awards, and post-race feast are all renowned for their high quality, too, making it just an awesome, favorite event of most racers – including Hayden!

Our technique for sharing the boat amongst the three of us is for me to take my usual seat in the stern, with Hayden sitting on Mama’s lap in the bow, leaving her able to reach her arms around him and apply full power to every stroke.

Despite glassy water at the start, conditions got downright lively in the lake’s bigger basin where 20+ knot winds churned up whitecaps and created a mini down-winder surf-fest on the north end.

Hayden took some splashes right in the face and, truth be told, didn’t care for those much. J But Mama expertly got him right back in the spirit of things with a distracting game of “I-spy!” as we cranked along.

Then, with only a third of the race to go, we were right in the thick of a pack of surfskis and the race was on, swapping leads and weaving for position as turns approached!

We flew under the bridge with less than a mile to go, turned on some heat to hold off anyone creeping up behind us, and scored a pass on one final ski right before the finish line.

Hayden was stoked! We’d won our class (tandem mixed fast sea kayak) and took 12^th overall.

We weren’t the only kids on the water, either. Greg Gilda and his 5-year old daughter Lucy took the blue ribbon in the mixed regular sea kayak division, and father-and-son team Dean and Devon Bumstead won the men’s regular sea kayak division.

Kids are making more and more of a presence at the Pac NW races, and we couldn’t be more stoked about it!

See you on the water!
Brandon, Heather and Hayden

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The Wee – 4

Heather — Sun, 16 May 2010 01:41:51 +0000

I didn’t know it at the time, but, back in the early 70′s my destiny as a paddler was sealed with summers on Lake Tahoe paddling the Wee - 4. Today, Hayden was all smiles as he took his maiden voyage in the historic Christensen family canoe. Although, I am pretty sure his fate as a paddler was sealed long ago!!!

Tomorrow we are back to race pace as we head up to Deep Cove to help Team USA defend their title in Part II of the THINK International Challenge!!!

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POSTED BY: Heather

See you on the water!

Heather, Brandon and Hayden

Yukon River Quest 2024

Heather — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:54:58 +0000

It is never too early to start training for the Yukon River Quest 2024!!!

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Keep Charging!

Heather, Brandon and Hayden

Hayden’s Spring Break Toddler Adventures

Heather — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:54:19 +0000

Before I have even opened my eyes most mornings, Hayden climbs on top of me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed demanding adventure.

“I hike in the woods!”
“Woodpecker – peck peck!”
“Deer poop!” (that’s my little tracker – loves searching for deer poop!)
And, the ones that warm my heart, “I paddle Double Joy?” or “I paddle little kayak?”

This past week being spring break, most tot classes and activities were cancelled and Brandon was in Florida visiting his Dad. It was a perfect excuse to plan some high adventures at some new places and some of our favorite stomping grounds!!!

Here are a few highlights every kid would LOVE to check-out!

First off the paddling…

We floated in my surfski at Marine Park and paddled my Pygmy Arctic Tern on Lake Whatcom. Hayden sits on my lap, holding my wing paddle, mesmerized. When he is ready to move on, he dips the paddle blades, left, then right, left, then right. When he actually wants to get somewhere, he lets me paddle.

We also took Hayden’s little kayak to Lake Padden. We looked at trees and branches along shore, fish under the surface, birds flying above us, and ducks and geese floating on the water.

Lots of hiking…

At Washington Park in Anacortes we hiked the headlands taking in views of the islands while enjoying all the spring flowers scattered along the bluffs. Then we stuck around to play at Washington Park’s waterfront playground, which tops the list as Hayden’s all-time favorite playground ever.

To top off our Anacortes adventure, we visited the summit of Mt Erie! The views are spectacular… and Hayden loves the rock hopping and hiking. Keep in mind….there are very exposed drop-offs! Watch those little ones like an eagle!

Padilla Bay…

I have been to Padilla Bay several times but had not yet brought Hayden. We started our day with a visit to the Interpretive Center. Then hiked the trails and checked out the view of the bay from the overlook. After refueling with a picnic at the waterfront park, we spent the next few hours looking under rocks along the beach.

A New Beach…

The GEM of the week, no doubt about it, was Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve. A ¾ mile hike through the forest leads to a beautiful rock and driftwood beach. It is like we had popped out of the forest and landed on the Olympic Peninsula. Hayden and his buddy Hans climbed driftwood logs for hours.

Two-wheeled Adventure…

A week wouldn’t be complete without at least one bike adventure. A minute from home there is a wonderful, flat gravel loop around Lake Louise in Sudden Valley. Although no adult bikes are allowed, it is perfect for tot scoot bikes and hiking and exploring.

Flowers, flowers everywhere…

Then, for something different, the Skagit County Tulip Festival is happening all month. We visited Schuh Farm, who had triplet baby lambs you could pet, chickens to feed and a playground amidst a pasture of cows and a friendly goat grazing by the slide. We also pet an alpaca at Country Time Alpaca Farm.

There are dozens of things to do at the Tulip Festival … I just chose a few I thought Hayden would like.

Our own back yard…

We have been ending most days with an after dinner walk in the woods. We go to Stimpson Family Nature Preserve, because we can walk from the house. But there are countless other parks to choose from in the area! Once we have the climbing, jumping, and running out of our system, we walk quietly, listening for deer and woodpeckers, feel the moss on the trees, pick-up pinecones, and look at little bugs.

Yesterday we spotted an owl perched high in a tree. The day before we followed the loud pecking of a pileated woodpecker until we found him busy at work on a tree less than 10 feet from where we were standing.

There is a world of adventure out there for toddlers! Have fun and keep charging life!

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Heather, Brandon and Hayden

Happy Spring: Toddlers, Kayaks, and Sun!!!

Heather — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:44:00 +0000

Today, under a big blue sky, warm sun and cool breeze we celebrated the coming of the first day of spring with a family paddle and picnic on Lake Padden in Bellingham.

Hayden did most of the paddling, while I coached him on his wing paddle technique.

A picture of Brandon, our motor in the stern!

Happy Spring and Happy Adventuring!

Brandon, Heather and Hayden

Bellingham's Runnin' O' The Green Footrace

Heather — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:54:00 +0000

In Bellingham, if you find yourself wearing a goofy, green costume while running elbow-to-elbow in a half-mile-long river of cheering runners, or jumping into arctic-cold Lake Padden in nothing but your swimsuit in mid-winter while surrounded by 100′s of other ridiculously enthusiastic people doing the exact same thing — chances are, City of Bellingham Parks and Rec and their kilt-wearing, afro-bearing, prince-of-the-piercing-wit, Energizer-Bunny race director, Lance Romo is behind it.
This morning we did just that! Mixing running attire with St. Patty’s-on-the-go green-wear, we grooved out at the 5-mile Runnin’ O’ the Green Footrace and Celtic Music Extravaganza along with 320 other green-clad runners and walkers.
To celebrate the occassion, Hayden wore his green frog costume handed down to him by fellow adventure-toddler Kai Arthur. The outfit — sure to become one of Hayden’s daily get-ups — did double duty with its velvety fleece insulating layers! It was a brisk morning on the race course, but Hayden stayed warm was the cutest racer out there!!!

Showing off our race gear

My boys…

Hayden with a big pre-race high-five

Lance, heading up the pre-race meeting

Racers Ready

Me and Hayden

More racers in their high-tech race gear

Future surfskier, and perhaps multi-sporter, Devon Bumstead and mom, running the 2-mile.

Hayden, loaded up and carb loading for the race

Once the crowd thinned, it felt good to open up our stride and run!

Brandon and Hayden coming across one of the bridges in Whatcom Falls Park

Duck pond, about 1/2 mile before the finish

After the race, we couldn’t keep our little frog out of the lake.

Frog with dinosaur boots

I brought my ski so I could paddle the 5.5 miles back to Sudden Valley.

“Mama, wait!”

“You forgot your paddle!”

Another awesome day in Bellingham!

Heather, Brandon and Hayden

Stimpson Family Nature Preserve: A Great Toddler Adventure

Heather — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:21:00 +0000

A year and a half ago, when we were shopping for our current Sudden Valley home, we visited house after house. Then, we found ‘THE ONE’. The first time I sat on the perfectly staged couch in the living and looked out into the 100′s of acres of protected forest across the street that backs up to Stimpson Family Nature Preserve and it’s hiking trails, I was sold!

I didn’t have to twist Brandon’s arm.

A year later “I hike in the woods” has become a favorite past time of Hayden’s. And Stimpson, by far, his favorite playground.

With just over four miles of groomed trails and rolling hills surrounded by thick green forest, two ponds and lots of lush wetlands: Stimpson is a toddler’s pinecone-collecting, stick-throwing, stump- hopping, wildlife-viewing, hill-sprinting, hide-and-go-seek playing wonderland.

Hayden’s favorite route is to start from the main parking lot and head out to the Geneva Pond Loop. This is about a 2.2-mile round-trip, if you don’t include the toddler ‘wander walking’ and hill repeats. Hayden likes to run down steep little hills again and again and again yelling, “FAST!” as he sprints down.

Hayden first hiked the entire loop last summer with Mama and Papa.

Hayden, Mama and Papa at Geneva Pond…

“FAAAST!”

Nature’s Balance Beam

Hop!

Looking for Beaver at Geneva Pond

Enjoying the view

Hayden and his best adventure buddy, Sean, tackled the 2+ mile loop last week. The two spent 3.5 hours exploring and playing in the woods.

Hayden and Sean discussing their shoe choice for the hike. Sean went with his running shoes for speed and traction. Hayden chose his dinosaur boots for maximum puddle stompin’.

Never leave home without your airplanes!

Snack time at Geneva Pond. This granite bench is not only the halfway point of the hike, but, the sunniest place too!

Buddies!

To find out more about the Stimpson Family Nature Preserve, go to:

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/parks/trails/stimpson.jsp

Happy Adventuring!

Heather, Brandon and Hayden

Family Adventures: Shi Shi Beach

Heather — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:43:00 +0000

According to our great friends, the Burnett’s, we have GOT to take Hayden to Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park. Camping right on a long sandy beach in the middle of one of the world’s most beautiful natural playgrounds sounded good to me! So, I did a little reading.
The Burnett girls on a backpacking adventure this summer.

Two-mile long Shi Shi is the northernmost beach of the Olympic National Park’s coastal strip. Tide-pooling, beach-combing, bird-watching, lazing, building sandcastles, or telling stories around the campfire, Shi Shi has something for everyone. And the distance of two miles one-way is something Hayden can do on his own, although the final descent to the beach can be steep and muddy from what I’ve read.

Once on the beach, you can camp right on the wide open sand, or for a more private setting or protection from a storm, you can choose a forested site. There are two creeks, Petroleum Creek and Willoughby Creek, either of which you can filter water from, so you don’t need to carry water. There are also pit toilets.

The most talked-about, most photographed feature of the beach, hands down, is the magnificent Point of Arches, a mile-long natural anomaly of sea stacks, arches, and jagged rocks you can explore and tide-pool at low tide.

A note that deserves extra attention… Shi Shi is as rugged and wild as it is beautiful, so BE CAREFUL! Bring tide tables! An incoming tide can trap you if you plan to explore the headlands. And be respectful of the surf and rips!

Also, camping permits and bear canisters are required. You can get both at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles.

Before or after your camping trip at Shi Shi Beach, it sounds worth a side-trip to Cape Flattery. The trail head is only a few miles up the road from the Shi Shi parking area. A short 1/2 –mile trail leads to a platform overlooking the western-most point of the contiguous United States.

All photos courtesy of the Danielle Burnett.

Happy and Safe Adventuring!

Heather, Brandon and Hayden