Charlene D’Avanzo: I love lots of sports – swimming, hiking, jogging, skiing, biking, and more – but for me nothing beats the delight of sliding into my sea kayak, pushing off, and floating away from shore. I literally leave all terrestrial troubles behind and for an aquatic few hours revel in the watery world below and all around me.

There’s so much to see! Schools of fish startled by my boat’s shadow dart off to safety, seaweed sways back and forth with the current, a startled family of ducklings quacks away, an eagle high in a tree on shore tips its head and checks me out.

Too soon I must turn around and return to shore – the tide has changed and my earthly duties are calling. But I’ll be back – maybe not tomorrow but soon, very soon.