We tried something neither of us had done before: Driving ATVs. At Oceano Dunes, there is a large area set aside for camping and recreational vehicle use, with a five-mile stretch of beach and about 1500 acres of sand dunes. It is a beautiful, well-maintained area.
After renting our vehicles and receiving instructions, we were free to enjoy ourselves. It was a Monday in the off-season, so the area was not at all crowded, making it easy to get around without having to worry about traffic or possible collisions.
It took us about half an hour to get comfortable with the vehicles, and then we had a blast. It was a blue-sky sunny day with a perfect ocean breeze. The sea birds are habituated to visitors, so we were able to view a wide variety of them going about their business at the water's edge.
Our ATVs did not have speedometers, so it was too easy to exceed the posted speed limit on the beach, where the sand is firm and smooth. Yes, I received a friendly warning from a ranger who noticed that we were going a tad too fast! (There is, however, no speed limit in the dunes.) Slowing down made bird watching even better.
Although I started out feeling a bit nervous about trying this, it turned out to be great fun, something we would definitely do again. The process of mastering a new skill is a pleasure that builds self confidence. Hubby was pleasantly surprised that I was willing to start exploring the dunes, where the terrain can be tricky. Although we didn't try any extreme maneuvers (after all, we are beginners), we enjoyed stretching the boundaries just a bit.
Sharing a new adventure with your partner heightens positive feelings and strengthens the emotional bond. This experience left us with big smiles and plenty to talk about. We still smile when we remember what a great time we had, and how much we look forward to coming back.
I think I'd be scared to try that, but it looks like fun.
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