Movie: Pacific Horizons, Exploring the Northwest Coast by Kayak

Lee, Rho, and I rode BART over to California Canoe and Kayak to catch Bryan Smith's new movie. Lee bought a copy of the movie so we can watch it over and over.

Movie Trailer

Cycling: Recovery Ride

Recovery ride after a long paddle on Saturday. Lots of people out running. The surf at Ocean Beach was very large and messy today. Construction continues on the buffalo pen in the park so they weren't out today. Here is a 1894 New York Time clipping about the Prayer-Book Cross in Golden Gate Park. Photos

Paddle: Horseshoe Cove to Muir Beach

Dick Ryon initiated a paddle from Horseshoe Cove to Muir Beach (route map) late on Thursday. There were nine takers (an all boys club). We left Horseshoe in the fog expecting a large swell with big period. Only a few fishermen were out, seems most people were getting ready for Christmas. As we made Point Bonita the waves weren’t super huge they were certainly carrying plenty of punch. We headed north past Rodeo Beach and Tennessee Cove rather surprised at the nice conditions. We took time out in Pirate’s Cove to play on a pour over.

At Muir Beach we had to rescue one of our own who got surprised when a large set rolled into the surf zone. Anders went above and beyond wading out into the surf to recover a paddle jacket and hiding behind a rock as waves crashed over. At Muir Beach there was a crew still cleaning rocks from the oil spill in November.

The return trip got exciting at Tennessee Cove where a Coaster went over. The bow air bag failed and the bow filled with water. After dragging the partially submerged craft to safety, Roger executed a difficult ‘T’ rescue to empty the Coaster of water.
With everyone back in their boats we watched a Coast Guard cutter and helicopter practice about five miles off Point Bonita. We made the point and dug for home.
Thanks Dick for a great day!!

Check out the photos.

Paddle: Chrissy Field to McCovey Cove

Lee and I launched from Chrissy Field with the idea of intercepting a BASK pod that launch from Oakland Inner Harbor. We actually met up with the group in front of the big arrow on the Embarcadero. It was a moderately wind Saturday afternoon which made the trip down easy but provided a work out on the way home. On the way back we checked out the Wave Organ

map

Paddle: Kihei

Aluminum paddles and a sit on top kayak was a good work out.

map

Hiking: Wahee Ridge Trail

A hike up the steep slopes of a ridge in NW Maui

map

Drive: Kahakuloa

Drive along the NW coast of Maui and stop to go hiking. Another road with spectacular view but but diminishing quality the further you drive.

map

Cycling: Haleakala Volcano

Jimbo an old hippie gave us a ride to the top and rolled all the way down to the coast.

map photos

Hiking: Waianapanapa Park

Hiking along the lava flow at the edge of the Pacific.

map photos

Drive: East Maui

First tried driving around the south side until the road turned into a 4WD track. We doubled back and had burgers in Ulupalakua. After lunch we drove out to Hana on a one lane road that had spetacular views of the ocean. We stopped in Waianapanapa Park for a hike.

Map photos

Cruise

Thanksgiving Day cruise

Map & photos

Hike: Hill 88

After reading reports about the odor and oil that still is in the Bay, I decided to go hiking. Rodeo Beach was still partially closed and there was an odor of petrol. The day was foggy and cool. I climbed to the top of Hill 88 which was above the fog.

Map

Paddle: Monterey

Bob Stender initiated a paddle from Moss Landing out into Monterey Bay to find hump back whales. Neither Bob nor the whales showed up. We met at Moss Landing and decided to drive down to MBK and launch. There were 17 of us that finally made it out on the water. It was much sunnier in Monterey than Moss Landing and everyone was in good spirits. There seemed to be a few more otters than usual hanging out from the aquarium to Cabrillo Point. We had many serious things to talk and think about; illnesses of Eric and Albert and the oil spill earlier in the week in the San Francisco Bay. We paddled out and did a lap around Buoy #2 at Point Pinos. There was a south wind and high overcast to the south but the rain held off.

Map

Paddle: Chrissy Field to Seal Rock

Lee Apple, Ken Armstrong, and Mike Ransom launch from Chrissy Field at 9:00 and paddle out the Gate. We traced our way past Baker and China Beaches then along Land's End. We turned back just short of the Cliff House Restaurant. Both on the way out and back we saw many dolphins playing near China Beach. It was a beautiful fall day.

Map

Cycling: Flat Stanely does the Marin Headlands

Flat Stanley and Michael head out from home and tour the Golden Gate Park, Presideo, Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands.

maps

Paddle: Limatour - Wildcat

Lee and I kayak from Limatour to Wildcat Beach
map photos

Paddle: Mellow Tamales Bay

Sue, Rho, Josephine and Chad rented doubles from Blue Waters and kayaked from Inverness to Hearts Desire Beach.

Map

Paddle: Russian Gulch to Mendocino

Kayak with Lee on a Sunday morning. Play around the rocks at Mendocino Point.
Map

Paddle: Van Damm to Albion

After camping Friday night at Russian Gulch we got up and 17 kayakers headed south from Van Damm SP (route map). We played in the arches, caves and pour overs and slowly made our way to Albion.

Photos

Paddle: Pillar Point

Lee Apple and I launched from Pillar Point for a day of paddling and a little rescue and roll practice. We paddled out to Buoy #1 and checked the break on the reef. It was high tide and breaking around Mushroom and the other rocks so we decided to skip surfing. The swell was a little larger than we had expected. So we paddled back in to Bouy #3 then on to buoy #1S. The wind was down and it was a nice but overcast day. We saw lots of gulls, a few pelicans, sea lions hanging out on the buoys and some seals. My old camera died on the Rogue River so I was using a new Olympus 725SW, it’s waterproof and shock resistant. Back in the harbor we practice rolls, paddle float and T-rescues. Great day!

Photos

Paddle: Pier 52 to Jeremiah O'Brien

Suppose to support Swim of the Centurians but there was no parking at Aquatic Park. Very calm day with an ebb tide. Paddled with the tide to the Jeremiah O'Brien . A number of sea lions at Pier 39 but not much other activity.

Rogue River - Day 1

Float down the Rouge River with my mom, uncles Mike and Bill, Rhodora, sister Mary, cousin Will, and his wife Karen, two girls Abby and Claire and Kristy and Rob. We stayed in lodges at night and had a grand time

Photos

Check out with the topo background turned on
Day 1 - route map
Day 2 - route map
Day 3 - route map

Angel Island from Chrissy Field

Lee Apple and I had a big adventure. We launched from Chrissy Field at 10:38 and paddled towards Angel Island. We were shoved along by a healthy flood tide that peaked at 4 knots. Once we made the island we circled it in a counter-clockwise direction. We came across Joe in a double just south of Quarry Point. We rounded Point Stewart and headed for the green buoy on the north edge of the shipping channel. We made the buoy but had used a lot of energy fighting both wind and current. We then decided to make for Horseshoe Cove which was another half hour of fighting. After we landed we called Rho from the bar and got her voice mail. We then walked from Horseshoe Cove back to Chrissy Field in kayak booties. My hat blew off whilst crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Lessons learned: bring money, cell phones, shoes.

Bonds Hits 754

Friday night, Rho and I went to see the Giants play the Marlins at AT&T park. We used the view box seats in section 307 that we got from Ann. They are nice seats above the 1st base dugout. Barry crushed homerun number 754 (one away from Hank Aarons record) into center field.

Rho had her one serving of garlic fries for the year. We had an adventure on one tram and three buses getting home.

Medford, OR to San Francisco

The last leg of the trip from Medford, OR to San Francisco. We did the last 367 miles and got home at 5:00 PM.

Lopez Island to Medford, OR

Rho and I got up early and made the 6:40 AM ferry from Lopez to Anacortes. We made good time on the 548 mile trip only stopping for A&W root beer floats. We spent the night in Medford, OR.

Hike: Lopez Island

Today we did a series of short hikes with my folks. In the morning we went down to the SE corner of the island and hiked out to Watmough Bay and Colville Point. After hamburgers at the Islander Resort, we left dad at the motel room and went for a hike at Spencer Spit Park. Then we drove over to the west side of the island and hiked out on Fishermans Bay Spit. In the evening we enjoyed a nice dinner at the Galley restaurant.

Paddle: Shaw Island

Today a gang (14+) of BASKers made a slow trip around Shaw Island. It was another beautiful, sunny day. We enjoyed an early lunch at Neck Point. After lunch, Glen, Jesse, Dean and I road the easy currents back to Odlin Park. Within minutes of landing Rho and my folks pulled up and enjoyed a picnic lunch whiled we loaded up boats. No photos today as I managed to lose my camera in the morning.

Click on the map to enlarge.

4th July Parade

This morning Rho and I packed up our camp site and said our good-byes to Ingrid and Paul. I went for a bike ride, making a loop around the north end of Lopez Island. I headed to the Islander Resort to pick up mom & dad who were arriving by sea plane. There was a 4th of July parade down Fishermans Bay Road and sat on the bike frame and watched waiting for the sea plane to arrive. I was surprised to see Rho drive by in the parade with my truck, kayak and mom in the passenger seat. It seems the sea planes were not allowed to take-off from Lake Union on July 4 so mom an dad had departed from Boeing Field and landed at Lopez Airfield. Dad arrived shortly later in the Islander van.

In the evening we cooked up a bunch of sautéed vegetables. Bob and Becky had initiated a big salmon bake at the camp site. Mom and Dad had a great time meeting all the BASKers, sipping wine and enjoying the wonderful salmon.

Photos

Shower Party

After kayaking Rho picked me up at the Mackaye Harbor take-out. We founded our way back to the shower point at Lopez Village. It was a gathering point for other kayakers from other trips. Then Becky bought a six pack and it became a small party, then Bob bought a case and it became a big party.

After dinner at Bucky's with Becky and Bob, Rho and I hiked out to Cattle Pass to see if the current had picked up. It was still pretty mellow.
Photos

Paddle: Lopez Island West

Five of us (Rich, Vicky, Diana, Jesse and me) launched early from Spencer spit and paddled north around the north end of Lopez and then down the west side. We delayed taking on Cattle Pass until slack tide. Jesses and I made a long hike from Rock Point down to Cattle Pass to check conditions and kill time. Once we cleared Cattle Pass it was an easy paddle to Mackaye Harbor. This trip completed our circumnavigation of Lopez Island.
Photos

Paddle: Lopez Island East

Today we launched from Hunter's Bay and paddled clockwise around the SE corner of Lopez Island. It was a beautiful, warm day with high clouds. There were 7 of us Rich, Vicky, Jesse, Diana, Dan, Karen and me. Payette had spray skirt problems and did launch with us. It was a pretty mellow paddle with lots of photo ops (see the link below). We ate lunch at McArdle Bay. There were lots of seals, birds, and kelp along the south side of the island.

Photos

Paddle: Decatur Island

A gang of us launched from Spencer Spit at 10:00 and headed for lunch at James Island. The ferry chased us through Thatcher Pass. We went out into Rosario Straights and wrapped around the outside of James Island. We had a quick lunch on the west side of James Island and headed out for Lopez Pass before the water got too big. Lopez Pass was pretty tame when we went through and then headed north back to the Spit.

Photo Album

Vancouver to Edmonds

We were awoken by Rho's mom - Perla. She wanted us to eat a breakfast of Eggo's and bananas before power walking at the mall. After breakfast we drove over to the Westfield Vancouver for 20 laps. We were joined by one of Rudy's friends named Phil who is 80 years old. It seemed everyone was indoors as the it was raining off and on all morning.

After the hike we piled back into the Xterra and headed north to Tacoma to see my great-uncle Father Bill. It rained most of the way and I was beginning to worry about vacationing in Washington State. Father Bill was happy to see us. He lives in a house bordering Point Defiance Park. On Friday, they were getting the Taste of Tacoma into swing.

After our visit with Father Bill, we continued north to Edmonds to hook up with my sister Shannon. We were treated to a magic show by Nora and Daniel. My aunt Shelia showed with angle food cake and strawberrys (my favorite).

San Francisco to Vancouver

We left San Francisco and drove 674 miles north in 10:45 to Rho's folks in Vancouver, WA. The drive was mostly uneventful with some traffic delays near Mount Shasta for road work. We listened to The Kite Runner a novel by Khaled Hosseini. It is an excellent book if you get a chance.

Hike: Windy Hill Loop

On a windy but sunny Sunday we went for a hike with Marcy. We did hike #79 Windy Hill Loop from the 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area. We left from the parking lot on Skyline and decended down Hamms Gulch trail to Alpine Road. We followed a small stream that we could see fingerling fish swimming about. There was a 10-degree temperature difference from the top of the ridge to Alpine Road. We were happy for the shade of the trail. We climbed 1520 feet back up Razor Back Trail. Afterwards we had big hamburgers at the Mountain House Inn. The trip was 8.3 miles and took 2:52. (Click on the map for a larger image.)

Photo Album

Cycling: Strawberry Point

Beautiful summer morning ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Strawberry Point. 37 miles, 2:56, 2094 feet of climbing. I stopped by the beach at Sea Trek they were in full swing with classes and tours. The Avon breast cancer walk was going.

Last Chance at Nicks Cove

Penny initiated a paddle from Nick's Cove to Marconi on Sunday. After sorting out the car shuttle - Sue and I left cars at Marconi we finally go under way. The first order of business was to paddle across Tamalas Bay to Hog Island and search for the baby whale. The weather was beautiful, sunny and warm with a little wind out of the west. There were 13 paddles but no whales today. After giving up the search for whales we headed south. We landed briefly on Pelikan Point until Hal remembered that no kayaks are allow there so we made a hasty exit. Next we stopped at Tamalas Beach for lunch. Hal made a big chocolate cake to share with everyone. After lunch it was a straight shot back to Marconi pushed by wind and tide. We passed one huge sea lion headed in the opposite direction. (Click on the map for a larger view). Thanks Penny.

Photos

Paddle: Pt Bonita

David Kashetad and I launched from Chrissy Field at 7:50 with plans to rendezvous with 15 elite swimmers of Point Bonita. The swimmers were planning to ride the swift flood tide back to Aquatic Park. The morning was pretty sketch with a nasty 25 kt wind blowing from the west and occassional gust to 40. He paddled towards the center of the bridge riding the last of the ebb tide and keeping an eye on an a home bound ocean barge. Off Lime Point the barge still hadn't made its turn and I was worried we couldn't beat it to the north so we doubled back towards the south tower. Of course as soon as we turned so did the barge and we had a wild 5-minute pull to get out of the way. We countinued on towards Point Diablo with conditions getting progressively worse. The last couple of miles were brutal with high winds in our face and heavy seas. When we finally made Point Bonita and a motor boat came out to let us know the swim was cancelled because of the crappy weather. We took a break on the beach and then caught the flood tide back in the gate. It was one of the wildest rides I ever had in a kayak. We were racing along and a ocean bound frieghter had to be avoided. As we approached the south tower of the Golden Gate we were racing along pushed by the wind and tide. We tried to cut between the south tower and Fort Point. We didn't have the angle and ended up going north of the south tower. At one point I finally gave up trying to steer a course and simply fought to keep the kayak upright. Somehow we survived and landed by the warming shack at Chrissy Field. Pedro had a small group of swimmers gathered there and we pilot for them back to the wind surfing beach. What a day 10.3 miles in about 3 hours

Candlestick to Oyster Point

Wickedly wind day averaging around 38 mph with gusts to 45 mph. I launched by myself which always gives one pause for concern from Candlestick Point. The tide was high and beginning to ebb. It was a bit of an effort to wrangle the boat south with a stiff breeze from the west. The return trip north was an absolute knife fight. Sometimes I could only make progress between gusts of the wind. More than once I thought of getting out and dragging my kayak to shore. When I finally landed back at Candlestick I still had a huge effort to get my kayak from the beach. It would literaly blow away if I didn't sit on it while hauling it from the shore to my Xterra. I had to ask for help loading my boat on the car. The kayak would quite simply have blown off the top of the car before I could strap it down.

Escape from Alcatraz

I worked on kayak support Sunday morning as about 80 kayakers shepard 2000 swimmers safely from Alcatraz Island to Chrissy Field.

Chronicle Article

Ano Nuevo

Driving up the coast from Monterey to San Francisco, Rho and I stopped at Ano Nuevo. I was quite suprised to see how close they would let you get to the Sea Lions. These seal lions are females that are molting (very stinky).

Photos

Roger Schumann Open Coast Class

Sunday I got up early and met Roger and three other students at Montesary Beach for an open coast class. We ended up doing 9 miles exploring caves and playing in the pour overs. We paddled around Point Lobos and had lunch on a rocky beach just south of the park. I took the plastic Chatham which was a good thing as I made contact with a few rocks.

Photos