Monthly Archive for August, 2010

Full moon paddle, Tomales Bay – Aug 24, 2010

Published on August 25, 2010 in 2010 Trips. 0 Comments

Only three paddlers (Cathleen, Joe and Mike) showed up on the best night of the year on Tomales Bay. It was balmy at 7:00 as we paddled away from Marconi Cove heading north along the eastern shore against the slightest breeze. Apparently we were the only ones that thought this was a good idea since there were no other boats on the water. We eventually crossed over to Duck Cove.

Along the way we saw pelicans diving, we heard fish as they surfaced, sort of a crackling sound. We watched the setting sun and then rafted up on the mirror-water to watch the moon rise. Cathleen told a moon themed story and then recited a moon poem as we feasted on brownies she had just baked…yummie. Venus, Mars and Saturn made a triangle in the western sky.

We arrived back at Marconi just before 9:00. Then, thanks to Laurie’s tip*, we saw the International space station go over. Impressive it was.

Photos:  http://picasaweb.google.com/ptreyeshiker/MarconiFullMoonAugust242010?authkey=Gv1sRgCOLm04u0t7aMdA#slideshow/5509206760059687970

Joe

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*Laurie’s tip: If you are going out tonight for the moon or inspiration, at 9:06 p.m. this evening, southeast going east northeast, the space station will be going by…full light …four minutes of visual.  Check it out………..max altitude is 66 degrees.

Whales at Bodega – August 2010

Published on August 19, 2010 in Whale Watch. 0 Comments

Aug. 27:   I saw 8-10 whales on Tue. and Wed. right out from the parking lot at Bodega Head, some VERY close to the rocks. The whale migration docent, Larry, was out there both days. He says that the whales are going to stay there and are not migrating. He calls them the summer residents, and says there are 20 of them.  It’s come down the whale pipeline (their soundings can carry for up to 1000 miles!) that there isn’t so much food in the Bering Sea, so Larry says they are going to be here until Nov. or Dec., before traveling south. There is an abundance of krill in the Bodega area. On both days, very close in, there was one especially large (50′) & smooth whale that Larry calls Mr. Clean (probably MS. Clean), because he’s so barnacle free and doesn’t have any scratches. Quite a show out there. Look for Larry. He’s a pleasant looking older fellow, with gray hair and beard, who sits on the end-of-parking lot rocks in a folding chair. He’s full of information and loves to share it. Happy whale watching!

Debbie

Aug 25:  If you want to see the whales, today would be the day to go while the weather holds.  We launched from Doran Beach and headed out to the Seal Rock where we had seen a blow even before we launched.  We closed on the whale inshore of the rock when it got quite close to where waiting.  The whale dove and surfaced sever times close to where we were waiting, he dove, we waited then I had to back paddle because the water was starting to swirl around my kayak.  Think it was a Minke.

We then headed south for a mile or so, turned and headed for Bodega Head outside of Seal Rock where we picked up a Gray.  We tracked the whale for about 20 minutes watching it go deep to feed.  Back to the beach for food and the addition of a paddling jacket.  After the break we headed out again and as soon as we rounded the head we ran into three whales who were just poking along doing whale stuff.  Spent between one to two hours pacing the whales up and down the coast and watching the people on the cliffs.  We were close enough to hear the whales inhale as well as exhale, it’s much softer.  One of the reasons we went outside the whales was that it took us out of being down wind of them, whale breath is not good.

While crashing waves on the rocky shore can be intimidating being 100 yards or more off shore was quite safe yesterday.  There was about a 3 foot swell running with an ocasionall 7 footer coming through.  The wind ?  about 5 to 10 knots from the northwest.

VT Don

Aug 21: Today to the whales were between Seal Rock and the buoy about half way to the mouth of Tomales.   I counted 3 that were just swimming back and forth between them.   Another one was hanging out in the channel between Seal Rock and Bodega Head.  Hope you see them tomorrow.

Sig

Aug. 18: Hey gang. I’ve been camping at Bodega/Doran the last couple days. Saw a couple whales Mon. afternoon, but it was pretty choppy w/cold wind, so I didn’t stick around. Went back out yesterday around 2:00p, and saw 6-8 pretty close to shore, right off the parking lot viewpoint. Watched them hang about, for an hour or so. Long back sightings, with a bit of tail now and then. Today was so flat calm–great conditions, so checked it out again before coming home. Saw two whales down south, just off the harbor buoy, cavorting around. That was all. I’ve been out there a number of times over the last 3 weeks or so, and have always seen them. Awesome.

Debbie (of the bright orange rec boat)

Aug 18: Thanks for the heads up. Great excuse to have fish n chips at The Boathouse. I saw at least 4 whales surfacing frequently and not moving very far. I assume they were feeding. I didn’t think they were Gray Whales but after I got home and compared my pictures to whale guides I decided they were skinny young Gray Whales that hadn’t developed the prominent mottling of adults. A few pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/111357793106017929533/WhalesAtBodegaHead#
-Paul

Aug 18: A friend and I met at Bodega Bay for breakfast this morning and then went out to Bodega Head to check for whales. We saw one whale quite a ways out.

Joe

Aug. 17: A friend called me just before sunset tonight from Bodega Head all excited about her whale sightings. Multiple sightings of perhaps 10 or more whales close to shore. I am going up in the morning to check it out.

Joe

Drakes Estero – August 18, 2010

Published on August 19, 2010 in 2010 Trips. 0 Comments

Well I had a nice paddle at Drake’s yesterday. It was overcast and cool when I started and I decided to paddle the entire shoreline and try to find critters. I went part of the way into Creamery as it was pretty shallow and there wasn’t much to see. In Barries I saw a few Batrays scattered around. On the way from Barries to the Drake memorial I came a upon a family of 5 river otters. I spotted them up ahead and stopped paddling and drifted right up to them. They were so busy playing that they paid no attention to my kayak.

I crossed the mouth and stopped on Limintour spit for a spot of lunch. Lots of Harbor Seals and AW Pellies shared the beach with me. The sun came out making the paddle to Home Bay nice and warm. Home Bay had tons of BRs and a few sharks. I also saw BRs and sharks all the way back to the launch.

The conditions are really good in the estero these days. With the light winds the water is crystal clear and the paddling is easy. The GPS said the paddle was 13 miles.

Ray

Bioluminescence Paddle from Nick’s Cove – August 12, 2010

Published on August 13, 2010 in 2010 Trips. 0 Comments

Nine intrepid paddlers gathered at Nicks Cove for an evening of kayaking and bioluminescence. In attendance were Joe, Sue, Jeff, Brigitte, Jeff, Bonnie, Mike, Gail and Sig. The launch was leisurely, but eventually we got all the glow sticks distributed and we were on the water by 8:15 PM.

The fog was in when we started, but not too bad. There was no wind to speak of the whole trip. From Nick’s, we headed across to the North side of Hog Island. There were plenty of harbor seals there to keep us company and the usual assortment of birds making a racket and a stink.

From Hog Island, we headed straight across into White Gulch. Elk were heard calling and someone also heard a night heron. Owls were spotted on the wing close to the cliffs at the water’s edge. We paddled way back into the bay at White Gulch as the sun was setting. By the time we regrouped, the biolume could just barely be seen. After a short rest, we headed further North up the Tomales coast.

By now the sun had fully set and the plankton were really doing their thing. Every time you put a paddle in the water, it struck sparks and stars spinning in the water. We saw fish illuminated in the shallow bay, streaking past us as we startled them. The eel grass was especially spectacular. You could slap your paddle on top of it and light up a big mat, maybe three feet square. I was
shocked by how dark it was on the water. There was just a sliver of moon, but even that was hidden by the fog. This made for some great biolume viewing, but it was a challenge keeping the group together when we couldn’t see more than a couple hundred feet (at least I couldn’t). The glow sticks were perfect, thanks Joe!

The return trip took us back to White Gulch and then around the South end of HogIsland (aka Piglet). Again, the bioluminescence was spectacular. Some folks saw a diving cormorant lit up by the plankton. We followed the lights back to Nick’s Cove and were all safely ashore by 11:00 or so.

Brigitte

Bodega Bay – August 10, 2010

Published on August 11, 2010 in 2010 Trips. 0 Comments

Kris and I hit the water at Doran at about 9:45. It was calm and overcast (what else is new?) and we headed for the mouth. We practiced ranging between two channel markers in the stiff flood. We fought a 3 knt current to get out of the harbor. We poked around outside for awhile and then had a nice ride back into the harbor. We saw the usual suspects including an early arriving C.Loon still in full breeding plumage. We paddled all the way around the harbor including a tour of Spud Harbor (which seems emptier than last time). By now there was a 5knt SW wind which had a nice cooling effect. We paddled 8.5 miles by the time we got back to the launch.

We decided to go out to the headlands for lunch since Robin H had told us last weekend that four or five Greys were hanging around the area. Sure enough, no sooner did we get out sandwiches unwrapped than we started spotting them. They appear to be feeding in the area and are quite close to shore.

Ray

Drakes Estero – August 3, 2010

Published on August 5, 2010 in 2010 Trips. 0 Comments

Only two paddlers showed up on one of the best no-wind days this year at Drakes Estero. We launched with no mud from behind the store but it was not really necessary as two other paddlers launched from the usual spot and got on the water with no difficulty. A state employee walked out on top of the firm mud to get a water sample and had no problems with sinking or getting stuck.

We started out with high overcast skies and glass-like conditions on the water. Near the end of the wooden oyster racks we began to see many bat rays with their floppy wing tips just peeking out of the water and swimming slowly about in the eel-grass. Ray saw a single leopard shark just poking out above the water.

Keeping to the left, we were able to avoid the shallow spots and then made the traverse across the channel to the beach where the Sir Francis Drake marker is and where we got out for a brief stop. The opening to the estero was very flat, wide and calm. As we proceeded, we noted the mouth was split by a shallow sandbar which was occupied by dozens of seals. There was little current so we continued to the south to explore Limantour Estero stopping only when we hit shallow water. We saw a few bat rays but not so many as in the first part of Drakes Estero.

For lunch we stopped at the spit at a hillock that protected us from the onshore breeze.  Ray made a two-match fire which burned for two hours as we ate our wild salmon-sliced egg with wasabi mayo sandwiches downed with plenty of red wine in the Petaluma Paddler style.

Our paddle back was easy, again no wind. If these conditions hold, we are in for a very fine day on Sunday.

Kris

Rescue Workshop – September 11, 2010, Chicken Ranch Beach (Inverness, CA)

Published on August 5, 2010 in Upcoming Events. 0 Comments

It’s a go!

Who should attend?

Everyone! We can survey the group to get a good idea of skill and interest levels. Then break out accordingly. The Paddle Float and the T-Rescue will be our main focus. They are the most reliable rescues. Once we have everyone on board with those we can move to the what if questions and the rescues that best suit the situation (The High Heel, Cleopatra’s Needle, use of the sling, All In, towing, the scramble, the Scoop, Reentry Roll).

What should you bring?

Water (there is no drinking water at chicken ranch), food, sunscreen, nose plugs, wetsuit or dry suit, foot wear, synthetic base layers, paddle float, bilge pump, sling, of course your boat with skirt and paddle. I find that if people eat before rescues, at the hottest point of the day, they are less likely to get fatigued.

How can I prepare?

1) Stretching and/or Yoga. I once taught a class for UC Berkeley. A woman named Annie May (in her late 60′s) left four twenty somethings in the dust. When it came to rescues she was just more flexible and balanced. When asked her secret she said, “years of Yoga.”

2) Read up on the rescues so that if you have never done them you at least have a rough idea of what they are.

3) Bring a positive attitude. Let’s have fun. We will get some rescues and struggle with others. It’s ok if you don’t get them right away. No matter what your ability there are rescues out there for you. You might have to be the one to invent them, but I am sure you can do it!

Directions:
Google “Chicken Ranch Beach Inverness, CA.” Google map says that Chicken Ranch Beach is in Marshall, CA which maybe confusing because Marshall is on the eastern side of Tomales Bay (we will be on the western side). I’m pretty sure it’s Inverness. Maybe one of you locals can explain this. Parking is limited so please car pool if you can and park conservatively. There will be plenty of people to help with unloading boats.

See you there!

Sincerely,
Leo Siecienski
510-292-5068

Heart’s Desire – August 1, 2010

Published on August 3, 2010 in 2010 Trips. 0 Comments

Well 20 or so PPers showed up at HD with various agendas. The weather was cool and calm as we headed out on our various plans. The main one seemed to be to paddle up to Tomales Beach take a break and return for the BBQ. While we were breaking several of us took advantage of the new permanent solar powered toilets. The heated seats were especially nice. On the way back we picked up the stragglers and had a happy group enjoying the beautiful conditions.

Allan brought the double and stayed in the Heart’s Desire area giving his sister and niece rides. I’m not sure where P and JC went but we all arrived back at the beach at about the same time. The charcoals got lighted and the chicken and brats were soon sizzling away.

We had a great lunch, the sun was out and we were living large. Don H showed up still nursing a bad wing, he says he’ll be paddling soon. As we were winding down, Colleen showed up with her family and took over our table and still hot BBQ and Christina helped them cook their oysters.

Not sure about next Sunday yet, any bright ideas? Don F has suggested a great paddle for the 15th from China Camp to Red Rock. The tides are perfect and the weather should be fine.

Ray

After the delicious oyster BBQ (thanks, Christina!) and our afternoon paddle from Heart’s Desire we loaded the kayaks and drove over to Nick’s Cove for an evening paddle.  Our boats were back in the water by 8 pm as the fog settled over the bay.  A compass kept us on track so we found Hog Island in the mist and then continued on to explore the white cliffs while listening to elk on the ridge and waiting for darkness.  Finally, when it was dark enough that it was hard to see the other paddlers, the magical luminescence became visible.  With Hog Island blocking the lights from the shore we delighted in the sparkling eel grass, the fire balls behind each paddle stroke, the shimmering schools of small fish and the ghost-like images of rays and larger fish swimming by.  It’s definitely an excellent time for a night paddle from Nick’s.

Colleen