The Dana Point buoy was reading 9 feet when I left for Newport this morning and the wind was blowing like a banshee. I went for a paddle last Wed. and there at the Secret Beach was a small bulldozer and sure enough, today I found the sand all dredged up to the sea wall to create a beach for the summer's dreaded Sand Urchins that are the bane of every kayaker. White water was whipping windblown willy nilly down the jetties as I reached a Pirate's Cove wracked with waves. Across the channel, you could tell the Wedge was being pounded by the foam flying over the rocks. Even more impressive, as I sat and watched I saw green water in the crest of a wave working its way landward. I paddled out of the jetty to play in the windy waves. A few boat were returning to port, weary of the constant strain. The wind warbled a wretched sound across my ears--like a wailing wallaby on a walkabout. Undaunted by the seas, the Catalina Flyer headed out bobbing over the swells. Sooner than seemed possible, my 40 minutes camera card was full and I headed home. I hung out at Pirate's Cove for a bit, rolling and catching a few waves that were wrapping around the point. It was a slog back to the Secret Beach against the wind, but at least the Sand Urchins hadn't arrived! A Kayak Minute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2HEbfsQr7M Mark 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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