One sunny afternoon, Leanne and I decided to load up our kayaks and head to Upper Newport Bay Nature Reserve – a place where the water shimmers, the breeze carries a hint of salt, and the sky feels impossibly wide.
The moment we pushed off from the shore, the noise of daily life melted away, replaced by the quiet splash of our paddles and the occasional call of a seabird.
It was pure freedom.
Somewhere between the rhythm of paddling and soaking in the view, I had a realization: my trusty inflatable kayak from REI was no longer so trusty. The air was slowly escaping, and as much as I love an adventure, feeling your boat get softer beneath you is not exactly the kind of thrill you want when you’re out on the water. That’s when I knew – it was time for a return.
Still, the afternoon was easy and peaceful, the kind of outing that reminds me why I love the water so much. Whether I’m fishing off the coast of Mexico as the sun sinks into the horizon, or gliding across Newport Bay in a kayak, any day spent surrounded by water and bathed in golden light is – for me – the definition of perfect.
Upper Newport Bay Nature Reserve
2301 University DriveNewport Beach, California 92660
