When I headed out yesterday for my paddle, it was your typical August summer day, albeit in March. Little wind, a lotta heat and the beaches crowded with people. I ran into Duane on my way out and we discussed the sad event about Len and then I headed out to sea. Today my paddle out of the harbor resembled last month's storm paddle as I battled a strong headwind channeling through the jetties. The waves inside the harbor weren't too big, but it was a rare sight to see waves crashing over the south jetty from the outside. On the ocean the swells were small, but the wind was kicking up the chop. The grayish sky was a marked contrast to yesterday's brightness. As I looked south, I could see the small swells were rather deceptive as when the hit, they were crashing over Little Arch Rock. Big Arch Rock was getting a badly needed guano wash as well, so hopefully I can look forward to a fresher smelling hangout. Down the coast, the shore was covered in mist as the wind blew off the tops of the crashing waves. I had tons-o-fun yesterday playing in the waves and the paper said the waves today were a foot bigger and of better shape. I had hope of a repeat performance, but I was to be disappointed. With the low tide, the 50 yards or so of beach I consider my play area was flanked by large exposed rocks on the shore. Although the waves making their way to the beach didn't look as big as the ones yesterday, you had to be pretty impressed with the change in water level as the swells passed underneath. The shore was transformed into a mass of green and white foam by the small but powerful waves until the backwash sucked it away as fast as it appeared. I still hoped to sneak in to get at least one video to fulfill my paddling goals for the day. I hung out in a safe area trying to gauge the waves and saw the area I would have to be setting up for undergo some rather nasty hydraulics in the ebb in front of the incoming waves. I decided today there'd be no wave play. On the way home, I settled for replaying in my mind the fun from the day before. As I turned into the harbor, the wind became my friend and I considered putting it in charge of the way home, but I couldn't resist paddling in front of some of the large surge coming in to surf my way to Pirates Cove. Once there, I leaned back in my kayak with my paddle against my chest to catch the wind. I usually dread the paddle home through the harbor, but taking it easy I enjoyed the sights and sounds of the harbor. There were the sounds of the flags and the awning on the houses and the snap of sail of a boat tacking in front of me. I leaned back and watched the clouds sail by with total disregard of the harbor speed limit. As I watched, the wispy clouds turned into a full blown fog and when I reached the Coast Guard beach Balboa Island was just a foggy recollection. It was a nice way to get home. From Pirates Cove till my bow hit the sand on my landing beach, my paddle blades never hit the water. Mark Sanders www.sandmarks.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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