Drakes Estero – August 3, 2010

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

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