(no subject)

For anyone in the SF-Monterey bay area, who is able to get off to paddle
on weekdays-

On May 17, Wednesday (if Tues. or Thurs. are good for anyone I can
change) I'll be paddling Elkhorn Slough from the Harbor to the RR bridge,
then back to Kirby Park for lunch, and book rest for a while, as the
tidal current turns from inflow to outflow and then back to the harbor.
This a total of about 15 miles but is probably equal to somewhat less
than that on still water as the tidal current that I go with is something
like 2-3 mph in the right direction, both ways. The aquatic wildlife is
all over the place, otters, sometimes in rafts of up to 50 or so, sea
lions, harbor seals, and all kinds of birds. I have yet to make the trip
without somebody coming within a couple of yards of me for a look at the
clumsy human paddler. Somtimes they are quite startling when they happen
to be a diving bird who decides to fly away instead of diving, again,
when they are surprised to come up next to kayak. A sudden explosion of
wings a yard or two away is guaranteed to up your heart rate when you
aren't looking in their direction as they surface.

Kirby park is a small, no facilities park, but it does have a dock and a
ramp and a chemical toilet and is one of only two legal places to get out
of the boat away from the harbor. It's the only place you can get out a
low tide. It is convenient to get out and stretch your body while the
tide turns. I usually have a bite of lunch and sit on the dock and read a
book, if no one is there, or talk about kayaking with people who come up
to interrogate me, when there are people. So far I have never seen
another kayaker in the upper part of the slough (always on weekdays),
tho' there are usually small groups of tour or rental folk in the bottom half.

So far I've done this trip about 5 times and enjoyed it every time.
There's always some thing new in the wildlife or the countours of the
slough, due to tidal differences. I'm starting to think about doing it in
the other direction, putting in at Kirby park, so I can see different
parts of the slough at low and high tide. Later this summer after I have
my graphite paddle and am in better shape I probably won't give as much
thought to the tides. Considerations to putting in at Kirby are that I
don't yet know how to get there by the road. Putting in there means the
return trip from the harbor will have both the afternoon wind and the
tide to boost you along. The afternoon breeze is often 10 - 20 knots on
an average day; not too much work to fight it if you plan your trip to
use the tide to help.

Any PaddleWiser who is going to be in the area and is interested in doing
the Slough,  let me know, I'm retired and available most any time. I've
got a tide calenday next to my computer and can let you know good days to
make trip, both ways. I usually go on a weekday because the traffic is
less and you can park, free at Monterey Bay Kayaks at the harbor on
weekdays. Weekends parking at the harbor end is something like 3-6 bucks
depending on whether you rooftop the kayak or trailer it. 
-- 
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   Dave Flory, San Jose, CA.             daflory_at_pacbell.net     
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  Speak softly and study Aikido, then you won't need a big stick.  ©2000
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