I love San Francisco: Reason 79

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I've been in San Francisco for 18 years...I think. About that. Andrea would remember exactly. And it still surprises me whenever I discover or experience something new. Which happens more often than I'd expect, but still.

(picture from Top-o-Towner on Flikr)

Last night I was on an outrigger canoe with 5 other women heading under the Golden Gate Bridge and just past to where the waters got a little more rough, watching an incredible sunset of pinks and oranges swirling over the Marin headlands to the north and behind us, with the city in the background and darkening clouds overhead, a rainbow. A rainbow?! It was an incredible night - calm waters, warmish, the rainbow with no rain, the lack of fog after 4 fog-filled nights, the colors in the sky, paddling out to the bridge with 5 strong-paddling wahinis. It was just an all around amazing San Francisco experience. Does it get said enough? I love this city.

About the outrigger stuff, Jessica and I took Hep up on his repeated suggestions to come try paddling one night and we've been hooked ever since. Being out on the water at night as the sky starts to turn dark, using your back and your core to power through the water in sync with the other paddlers, listening to the rhythmic "hut" called out for paddle changes - it's a great workout, great camaraderie, and great to try something new and be out on the bay. It can be cold and wet and freezing and windy but it leaves you invigorated. It's awesome.

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