Monthly Archive for July, 2010

Drakes Estero – July 25, 2010

Published on July 26, 2010 in 2010 Trips. 0 Comments

Eight paddlers made their way from the Drakes Bay Oyster Farm this morning to join two other guests from BASK to have lunch at the mouth of the Estero. Numerous sightings of Leopard sharks and bat rays in the morning with only a few seen in the afternoon. The shared lunch was spectacular but made getting back into our kayaks a little more difficult.  Ray wore his pointy italian shoes on the paddle in case anyone needed to urgently open a bottle of wine. A light breeze, calm seas and a great group of people made the 12-mile paddle a very enjoyable day.

Bert (New member)

Drakes Estero

Drakes Estero is an expansive estuary in Marin County on the Pacific coast of northern California in the United States, approximately 25 miles (40 km) northwest of San Francisco.

Located at 38.047°N 122.942°W, the estuary provides the main drainage for the Point Reyes peninsula. Seen from the air, Drakes Estero resembles a human hand, with Barries Bay, Creamery Bay, Schooner Bay, and Home Bay as the “fingers” and Limantour Bay as the thumb. The waters of the Estero flow into Drakes Bay between Drakes Beach and a narrow strip of land called Limantour Spit.

Drakes Estero is protected as part of the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Bioluminescence

Published on July 26, 2010 in Upcoming Events. 0 Comments

Once again we are in bioluminescence season. Dick and a few others mentioned Drakes Estero. Let’s do it this year. The light-show gets going about an hour after sundown. Foggy moonless nights with no wind are best. My calculation (it can vary a day or so) of moonless nights is as follows:

July 29th to August 11th Note that this is an excellent time to see the Perseid meteor shower, especially toward the end of this period. Ellen, Chocolate Larry and I saw them last year…..There was a light show in the water and in the sky, sensational. Aug 12th is the best night for the Perseids but there is a crescent moon setting at 9:30. Hmmm, it might be worth going that night anyway.

August 28th to September 10th

September 27th to October 9th

If you don’t have a kayak or the skills to make you comfortable on the water at night several outfitters go out:

http://www.clavey.com/product_info.php?products_id=1070

http://www.pointreyesoutdoors.com/

Other things to note: We found a small night stick on the stern (Dollar Store) helpful to keep track of everyone. A flashlight or headlight is a must. I bring a small spare just in case. Apparently, someone got lost in the fog last year. They made it back but it was a bit freaky. Bring a compass or GPS. If it’s windy at the launch wait a while. The wind oftendissipates at sunset. I don’t recommend going out if there is wind. Don’t go alone. Bring your marine radio. Make sure you have good self-rescue skills, etc.

Pt Reyes Joe

Rivertown Revival – July 24, 2010

Published on July 23, 2010 in Upcoming Events. 0 Comments

This Saturday, July 24th is Petaluma’s first annual Rivertown Revival http://rivertownrevival.com/ featuring art boat races on the Petaluma River, amazing robots from Survival Research Laboratories http://www.srl.org/ and live music, food and drink at the River Heritage Center on the McNear peninsula. Parking is limited and the public is encouraged to arrive by alternative means of transport, including kayaks!

Arrive at the Petaluma Marina by 11am and be on the water by 11:30am.

Map http://maps.google.com/maps?t=m&q=Petaluma%20River%20Petaluma%20Marina@…,-122.614819

There is no launch fee for kayaks but please unload on the fuel dock side of the ramp and keep the side by the Harbor Master’s office open for boat trailers.

Rivertown Revival to benefit Friends of the Petaluma River:
Petaluma is launching a first of its kind River Festival on July 24th, 2010.  Called Rivertown Revival, this FREE and unique event embraces Petaluma’s Rivertown history with aquatic art, costumed characters and a wide variety of displays and activities, all presented in a turn of the century carnival atmosphere.  Attendees are encouraged to join the fun by dressing in costumes reflecting the old-time “Rivertown” theme.

The Rivertown Revival will run from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm and takes place near downtown Petaluma at the Petaluma River Heritage Center in Steamer Landing Park, 6 Copeland St. (off of D St.).  This rustic park features the 100-year old Livery Stable, people often recognize as the Ghiradelli barn. The event will feature great Americana music, art boat drag races, live art, sideshows, children’s activities, food and beverage concessions, arts and craft vendors, and community non-profit displays.

The Rivertown Revival is a fundraising event to benefit Friends of the Petaluma River and the Petaluma Arts Council. It is presented by Clementine Eco Events and sponsored by Lagunitas Brewing Company, Clover Organics, Outwest Garage, Heritage Salvage, and other local businesses and individuals who want to help celebrate and conserve the Petaluma River.  Vendors include: Lagunita’s Brewing, Preferred Sonoma Caterers, Pizza Politana, the BBQ Brothers, The Fabulous Frickle Brothers, Petaluma Coffee and Tea Company, the Petaluma School of Ballet and many others.

This event has been planned by an all -volunteer group of community members who envisioned a new kind of festival focusing on the River. For more information, including directions to the River Heritage Center, or to volunteer to help with this event, please visit:  www.rivertownrevival.com or join our Facebook Page: Rivertown Revival or email: kelin@…. Download information and applications for boat entries and vendors on the Rivertown Revival website.

Birthright

Published on July 20, 2010 in Inspirational. 0 Comments

This was in Canoe / Kayak last month. It is worth watching……

http://canoekayak.com/av/flash/birthright-by-sean-mullens/

Petition to Save Cabo Pulmo, Baja

Published on July 13, 2010 in Environmental Protection. 0 Comments

Howdy Folks,

Here in Baja California Sur, Mexico we are facing the possible destruction of one of only 4 full reef systems in North America, the Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park and World Heritage Bio Reserve (UNESCO/United Nations program) and one which is vital for sustaining the balance of marine and other life forms in the Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez, the most bio diverse body of water on the face of the earth and which affects the entire Pacific Basins marine habitat.

It is urgent that we get this petition out to the maximum number of people worldwide as possible and that they sign and send it to the President of Mexico and related Federal officials. This is easily facilitated via the Petition Website and simply needs to be filled out and hit the send button.

Please post this to your Social Networks, forward to friends on your mailing list(s) and publish/post wherever possible. It would also help if any recipients of this with news media contacts make them aware of this effort and the imperative of its success. From past history we know that it takes about 100,000 such signatures sent to the Mexican Federal Government in order for them to take action in such events.

Sign Petition here

Walk in Peace

Rainbow Hawk

P.S. If you don’t read Spanish here is an English translation of the petition. (We would appreciate translations in all languages should you be willing to volunteer for that and send them to: rainbow_gathering@):

If you cannot read the box for submitting the form:

Nombre(s) = First

Name(s); Appellido(s) = Last Name(s); Cuidad = City; Estado = State; and Correo

Electronico = Email:

Petition translation in English:

We, the undersigned, respectfully request the immediate revocation of permits for the construction of the resort property “Cabo Cortes” consisting of 3,655 hotel rooms and more than 7,800 residences (a total of 30,000 rooms), 2 golf courses with 27 holes and a marina adjacent Cabo Pulmo National (Marine) Park, Municipality of Los Cabos.

Our reasons are as follows:

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed by the company contains false claims and the authorizations issued by SEMARNAT do not respect existing environmental legislation.

The project presents a serious threat to Cabo Pulmo National Park, which houses the richest ecosystem and with greatest abundance in the Gulf of California and, furthermore, represents one of the clearest successes of restoration of a marine area in the country.

The Cabo Cortes project is inconsistent with the provisions of existing ecological regulations in the region, such as the Ecological Management Plan of the Municipality of Los Cabos and Management Program for Cabo Pulmo National Park.

The project also violates international commitments made by Mexico, endangering an ecosystem designated as a priority site for conservation of wetlands (RAMSAR Convention) and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The main impacts this project presents include reef sedimentation caused by construction of a marina for 490 boats, disruption to marine life caused by from the desalinization plant and other debris, alterations to the coastline by sand dune modification and loss of important beaches for sea turtle nesting.

In Baja California Sur water is scarce. That is why the Los Cabos Ecological Management Plan provides that each new development must ensure its own supply of water. The water concession by the CAN [National Commission of Water to Cabo Cortes represents an amount equivalent to what 82,000 people consume in a single day.

We are convinced that the only development that is sustainable is that which occurs without compromising our natural resources and the social wellbeing of our citizens. A project on the scale of Cabo Cortes (the largest that has been planned in Baja California Sur), so close to one of the best preserved marine ecosystems in the country, is contrary to any definition of sustainability.

The community of Cabo Pulmo, federal , state and municipal governments, academics, civic organizations, and thousands of people around the world have for 15 years invested human and material resources in the conservation of Cabo Pulmo. Today we have tangible results that make this a unique place in the world. Do not put what we have achieved at risk.

There is still time to correct this error. Do not let non-sustainable developments affect Cabo Pulmo National Park. The first step is to revoke authorizations for the construction of the Resort property “Cabo Cortes.”

Sign Petition

Many thanks – Cabo Pulmo Alive!