[Paddlewise] California Trip Summary

Here is a Northern California trip summary - 

Western Sea Kayakers had their traditional New Year's Day club paddle in Monterey Bay.  I decided not to go, and instead went out on my own.  I had not paddled the pleasant waters of Elkhorn Slough for a couple of months at least, so I headed south to Kirby Park and launched at about 11 AM in the last half of the ebb tide.  The air temperature and the water were both in the low 50's as I launched.  A passerby helped me launch - not necessary but always a good portent for the day.  I put on the full wetsuit due to the cool temps but after paddling upstream 20 minutes I was much too warm.  I stopped back at the ramp and took off the wetsuit top and paddled in the Farmer John only -- much more comfortable.  Oystercathers lined the banks in the upper portion of the Slough.  I reached the Packard property kayak dock and found that it is closed. Too many kayakers have misunderstood the rules and dragged their boats onto the bank instead of lining them off the dock.  Thank goodness I didn't need to use the john.

On the way out to the mouth of the Slough, otters and seals were plentiful as always.  One otter surfaced suddenly only about 8 feet in front of my boat -- too close to maneuver around or stop -- and he dived again as fast as I've ever seen.  I really try not to harrass the wildlife but they have no rules about harrassing me.  My last trip here a couple of bozos were duck hunting in the preserve and the Fish and Game wardens appeared as if by magic to give them the $600 Elmer Fudd award, but there wasn't any shooting this time either from hunters or from a nearby pistol range.  The oystercatchers gave way to huge numbers of pelicans, I think including some endangered California Brown pelicans today.  I saw four distinct types of gulls, of the eight that frequent this area.  Sorry I can't name them.  This area is great for birdwatching, and all the better if you actually know what some of them are.  Mostly I don't.  There was only one heron out today, and just a few snowy egrets and lesser egrets.

As I approached the highway overpass I saw that the ocean waves were coming straight into the area unabated.  This is due to "improvements" in the Slough's mouth area about 70 years ago -- the boating community wanted a quick all-tide exit which resulted in much larger waves and faster currents through here.  Here's an open secret -- I don't really care a lot for big waves.  There was one nervous moment as the current pulled me toward the bridge pilings, and I had to keep the nose of the boat toward the 2-1/2 foot waves with short intervals, while trying to edge to the side, and then zowie!  I was in flat water at the side of the channel.  I maneuvered around and under the burned and ruined docks here (not all of California has million dollar seaside properties) and cut across to my lunch spot, a sandy State Beach area.  

It became much colder during lunch and for the first time ever (including a trip to Seattle in November) I felt the need to put on my paddling jacket.  After lunch, the trip back through the narrow stretch under the bridge was quite calm, its usual condition.  Despite a slight drizzle that developed, along with a mild breeze, I explored a couple of side areas that I usually pass by.  A large family was fishing from one of the railroad bridges (and they say kayaking is dangerous!)  I said hello again to all of the kayakers and one canoeist I had seen earlier in the day.  There were exactly 8 other paddlers out on the entire 7 mile long expanse, not including a single rower who was leaving as I arrived.  I offered to help some of the other paddlers pull their boats in but they didn't need me. 

All in all, a nice way to spend New Year's Day.  We've talked about moving elsewhere and I know that in about 45 states this day would have been impossible.  Even here kayaking in January is not always possible.  Happy New Year.

jerry.
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