On a beautiful Friday morning, I got a call at 9 am from Cami Aufdermauer whom I had yet to meet. I had been connected with her to do a brief interview about her new Facebook page, Tillamook County Adventures, where she has been sharing stories and strategies for paddle boarding and kayaking in Tillamook County. Little did I know, I would be doing the interview while out on the water with her later that afternoon.
As Cami pointed out while we paddled through the Hoquarten Slough, this freedom to explore without needing too much prior planning is something she has taken advantage of during the pandemic. As the Executive Director of the Tillamook County Habitat for Humanity, this past year of remote meetings and virtual work has opened up new flexibility in her work-life balance. With the stay-at-home orders, Cami took the opportunity to explore the area by water: “You can grow up in a place, and think you know everything about your hometown, but it always shocks me that I can live here for 36 years and say ‘This is the first time I’ve seen this and it’s two miles from my house.’ It just reminds me of how grateful I am.”
So how did she get started? Cami started joining Facebook groups for people who were new to paddle boarding and kayaking, and she slowly started acquiring the gear needed to hit the water. She points out that there are a range of “luxuries” that can be added to your trips, such as waterproof bags or cases for phones, cup holder attachments for drinks, or anchors for holding in place while taking a moment to read a few pages of a book while on your kayak. But the valuable piece is the life jacket – she points out that investing in one that is comfortable and fits well means you are most likely to wear it while out on the water.
Cami recommended the Hoquarten Slough in Tillamook as a great place for new paddlers: It is slow-moving with an easy-entrance dock in the center of Tillamook at the Sue H. Elmore Park. As someone who has spent very little time on a paddleboard, I can vouch for the ease in getting comfortable on the water at the slough (and even for standing up on the paddleboard!) It was a beautiful and relaxing afternoon paddling through the winding slough, and it was wonderful to meet a few new people who were just as excited about exploring Tillamook County.
And this connection is what really sparked the Tillamook County Adventures Facebook page – as Cami pointed out, “collectively, we have been to a lot of places” and although people might be inspired by photos or videos, they may not know how to really get started. The goal of the page is to share their stories and offer opportunities for others to tag along on adventures. As Cami observed, “People are missing out on connection: we can be intentional about getting outside and getting healthy, but that human interaction is more critical than it has ever been.”
Tillamook County has so much to offer: the bay, the oceans, the hiking, the bike paths, the rivers, and more. So if you’re interested in connecting with others who are looking to explore the beautiful areas around us, check out the Tillamook County Adventures Facebook page. Many people live in areas where they have to drive hours to overcrowded spots in order to paddle board or kayak, but here it can be as easy as getting a call at 9 am and floating on the water that afternoon. As we paddled back to the dock, Cami offered a final thought: “This is a way to be free and enjoy living in the moment and that’s something I want to practice more of: being present, living in the moment, and enjoying the journey.”
AUTHOR: Ariel Slifka, AmeriCorps VISTA at Tillamook County Community Health Center
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.