Kings Canyon Unified School District Director of Transportation John Clements kayaks in his spare time. He’s pictured here under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco for Water World Swim’s “Bridge to Bridge” event, where he served as a kayak pilot.

Regardless of how much someone loves his or her job, taking time to devote to outside interests and hobbies is important. At the very least, it can help you return to your job with newfound focus.

This is the case for John Clements, director of transportation at Kings Canyon Unified School District in Reedley, Calif., who enjoys kayaking in his free time.  

“I typically go up to the Bay Area on a Friday and kayak with my swimmer friends on a Saturday or Sunday. I come back to work refreshed and invigorated, as if I had a little mini escape from my regular duties,” Clements told SBF.

Clements has been kayak piloting for Water World Swim for about five years for its major open water swim events.

As a kayak pilot, Clements guides and offers assistance to swimmers in the group’s various events, such as the “Bridge to Bridge” challenge. Individuals swim six miles from the Golden Gate Bridge to the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

In Water World Swim’s upcoming “Touch ‘N’ Go” event, during which Clements will provide assistance, swimmers begin on the beach of Aquatic Park in San Francisco. They swim to Alcatraz Island, touch a marker and continue back to Aquatic Park.

“I will be escorting them in my kayak along with about 11 or 12 other kayakers and others on motorized support watercrafts. We look for distressed swimmers, objects in the water and help to prevent sport watercraft vessels from interfering with the swimmers,” he explained.

Clements also kayaks in Morro Bay and Lake Tahoe for “enjoyment and a good mind-clearing outdoor experience.”

Moreover, I recently came across an interesting story in the Loudoun Times about a Virginia school bus driver who boxes in her spare time. According to the newspaper, Tori Nelson took up the sport about five years ago while at a gym and became hooked.

She has been training and competing in matches since then, and in late July she was going to travel to Trinidad to compete in the World Boxing Council’s championship match, according to the Loudoun Times.

After learning about Clements’ and Nelson’s hobbies, I’m interested to find out what you enjoy doing in your spare time. Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@schoolbusfleet.com. 

Until next time,

Kelly Roher
Managing Editor