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Newport, RI Getaway

My family and I had a great short vacation in Newport, RI this August. We try to go every year, it’s a nice getaway without extensive traveling.  We are beach people so if there is a beach, a pool we are good to go. We stayed at the Atlantic Beach Hotel which is in Middletown RI, it’s a great location, the beach is right across the street, a few restaurants, some surf shops and it’s all within walking distance.  Newport, RI is about a mile from where we stayed and that’s always fun to go into town and check out the stores and scenery.  The night life during the summer is full of action and so many great places to eat, so after a nice dinner it’s fun to walk around and take in the scenery.  The seaports are really beautiful at night, and some of the yacht’s that come and dock are insane.

My wife and kids on the Cliff Walk to the Mansions.

On our last day there I got up at 7:00am to sneak out for a barefoot beach run, then hit the Cliff Walk and run that for a bit.  I slipped out the door with everyone still asleep, and it was a beautiful morning, clear sky’s and about 75 degrees at 7Am.   I first hit the beach and barely anyone out there.  Something about the ocean that is so spiritual and cleansing, if I had the money my dream home would be right on the beach somewhere, to wake  up every morning and having the ocean greet you would be absolutely amazing.

I never bring my phone when running but for this one I did, I wanted to capture some moments.

7:00 AM the start of my run, it was me and two other people out here.  Wide open and peaceful.

Here’s a quick video when I hit the beach.

Some photo’s I took from the cliff walk, it was a perfect morning.

One of the many mansions along the walk.

Bad Luck?!  Luckily it was smooth sailing.

Most of the Cliff Walk is paved except for one section, I thought it would be fun to record this part running the rocky section. I had to concentrate on foot placement and while recording could be a bad combination, so took it nice and easy.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, or enjoy the beginning of your summer wherever you are!

Peace,

BG

Skimboarding – Through the years.

My parents bought me my first and only skimboard about 34 years ago and I still have and use the same one which is pictured below.

The technology and design obviously have improved over the years they are much lighter and you can even surf waves. My board is really heavy and sinks like a rock when the water gets too deep. it’s my old reliable but looking to upgrade at some point.

I don’t have the time or the opportunities do much skimboarding during the summer, but I make sure it does happen each summer, even it’s just once.  It’s just like riding a bike for me, I may be rusty but after a few runs I find my groove.  I feel blessed that at 45 I still have the ability to skimboard and my body the next morning certainly reminds me of that. It’s a great workout and hits various muscles i normally don’t use everyday, most of all it’s fun!

It requires a quick and short sprint to catch up to the board when you skim it across the water then gently land on the board for the ride. It’s all about feel and technique. I think about my transition to barefoot running and how easy it was for me, my years of skimboarding, running on beaches barefoot, and being barefoot a lot during the summer could of been some contributing factors to my success of barefoot running.

I’m about 11 years old here when I first got my skimboard.  (1981)

20 years old at South Carolina. (1991)

Middletown, RI (2013)

Misquamicut State Beach, RI (2016)

Middletown, RI Beach 1 (August 2016)

Peace,

BG