[Paddlewise] A Good Decision

If loading and heading out in the morning is the worst part of kayaking, 
I had no excuse to be considering skipping my paddle this morning at El 
Morro. But there I stood, with the boat on the car looking at a small, 
but forceful three footer crash on the sand. It was cold, with mist 
breaking off the waves and blowing in to shore. But the sun was bright 
and clear; it was going to be a beautiful day.

I contemplated heading out in just my T-shirt and shorts, but wanting to 
get used to all the accoutrements for GGSKS, I donned my full wetsuit 
and paddle jacket. The only question was could I get them on and in the 
boat before the onset of heat prostration! I launched through a wave I 
took in the chest and was glad I hardly felt a drop. I hugged the shore 
with little to fear from the waves, till I closed in on the rocks at the 
base of Abalone Point. All of a sudden a nasty sized wave rolled under 
me and smashed on the crotch of the rocks. Maybe I was leaving the wave 
shadow of Catalina.

The water was a bit jumbled as I headed towards Laguna. All by my 
lonesome, I resisted the urge to RG too much. It was a moral victory 
just to be on the water, so I didn't feel compelled to meet any 
distance. It wasn't too far past Crescent Bay that I turned around to 
head home. It was definitely getting warm, but a couple rolls helped.

I was way inside on the way back, but the sea was getting more riled up, 
so I headed out around the reef at Abalone Point. Farther out, what I 
thought was a pair of dolphins turned out to be the longest chain of 
dolphins I've seen in years! They were heading north toot sweet, flying 
over the water and I headed out for a closer look. Then, overhead came 
huge flock of all kinds of birds. All of them converged on a piece of 
water in what was the largest combined naval and air assault I've ever 
seen! Dolphins were everywhere and the water was churning. Birds were 
dive bombing right and left and I was glad I had my helmet on! I tried 
to get photos, but there was no sense trying to aim, as they were moving 
so fast. Dolphins would come shooting by and their wake would leave me 
spinning. I just sat there laughing and enjoying the sight and was soon 
joined by a whale watching boat--certainly a nice consolation!

Finally it was over and the birds sat on the water too fat to fly! Back 
at the beach I played a bit in the small waves, then hit the sand. Down 
the beach, a fisherman was loading up his gear. I stopped at the showers 
on the way back to the car and ran into the fisherman when he came up. 
He asked me if I enjoyed seeing the whales! I thought he must be a bit 
unclear about the difference between a dolphin and a whale! But no, he 
told me he was watching me and as I was heading out to see the dolphins, 
there were 4 whales passing right near me by the shore! Well, I couldn't 
find the heart to be disappointed. I haven't seen a gray whale in years, 
but the dolphin display was amazing.

So once again I ended the day thinking I've never finished a paddle and 
thought, gee I wish I'd stayed home!

Photos: http://www.sandmarks.net/DolphinFrenzy/FeedingFrenzy1.html
**


Mark Sanders
www.sandmarks.net


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