Limatour

BASK paddle at Pt. Reyes. Josephine and I drove up Limatour and met with dozens of other paddlers. We launched into the estero which I had never done before. We paddled west exploring one of the bays and checking out cows. We ate lunch at the mouth of the estero will watching whales frolic just beyond the surf.

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Farallon Islands

For a long time I had wanted to get out to the Farallon Islands, a small group of islands off the coast of San Francisco. Today was the day, we loaded up on the Kit Kat, a whale watching / commercial fishing boat out of Fort Mason. We set out at 8:00 and headed into rather dense fog. The boat was loaded with other BASK members and was organized by Maryly who wasn’t able to go because of sickness. After passing under the Golden Gate Bridge we turned north around Point Bonita and cruised up to Tennessee Valley where we changed course and headed due west to the Farallon Islands. The visibility was only a couple of hundred feet and it was hard to tell where the horizon was. The Kit Kat labored into the oncoming swell. About four miles from the Farallons, there was a large bang from the port engine. Opening the hatch, black smoke belched from the compartment. While there was no fire we did loose the engine for the remainder of the trip.

Suddenly out of the fog we could make out two ships that were science vessels studying the great white sharks. We hung out for awhile trying to repair the engine. Cruising around the island we found another boat trying to scare up sharks using a dummy sea lion.

No sharks, no whales, and down an engine we decided to head home. The sun finally punched through and with everyone warm and sandwiches in our stomachs it was time to nap. Suddenly, someone yelled “whale ho!” and everyone ran to one side of the boat. Sure enough a couple of hump back whales were playing at the surface. We later found another group of whales playing nearby. I had seen whales close up several times kayaking but this was the first time I actually saw one breach.

On the way back to harbor the Bay was a hub of activity with the Maltese Falcon racing to and fro, container ships coming and kite surfers chasing everyone.

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Paddle: Mare Island

1492 hydro-glide paddle initiated by Kim. We launched from the Vellejo Boat Launch and paddled north past the circus to check out the Nina. We then crossed the river to Mare Island and paddled past the Nakha and down to the south end of the island.

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Paddle: Devil's Slide

I initiated a kayak trip for Saturday 30-Aug but weather conditions were epic so I postponed until Monday. A number of people dropped out but Bill Vonnegut and I met in Linda Mar. We launch through the surf and hundreds of surfers. From San Pedro to Montara was really sloppy with big swell but mild wind. A Coast Guard 47-ft cruised by us heading north followed by a Coast Guard helicopter. Radio chatter was that they were searching for an overturned blue kayak. Just north of the Montara lighthouse we met Heather and Steve.

Continuing south we ran into Anne Chang and her friend off the radio tower. We all headed south and after 11 miles and just shy of 3 hours landed at CCK.

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Hike: Muddy Hollow

Rhodora, Sue and I drive up to Point Reyes after 8:00 Mass for a Peru training hike. We did 7.0 miles in 2:30 with 800-ft of climbing which was pretty easy. Just after leaving Coast Camp we spot a whale jumping in the white camps pretty close to shore. Not a gray whale but smaller with a dark blue or black body. We parked the car at the north end of the Laguna Trail and hiked south to Coast Camp. From there we went west on the Coast Trail and jump down to the Beach to get to Limatour. We found the trail blocked on Muddy Hollow but jumped the Forest Service breast works and headed back north to the car on an abandoned trail.

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Paddle: Muir Beach

Lee Apple and I joined up for a paddle on the coast. We drove up to Muir Beach and paddled north to Stinson Beach. The fog cover remained low all day but conditions were very nice for a coastal paddle, not much wind and a little swell to push us home.

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Cycle: Marin Headlands

Solo bike trip from home across the Golden Gate Bridge

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Hike: Upper Newport Bay

During halftime intermission of Tony's wedding, Rho, mom, and I went for a hike along the west side of the Upper Newport Bay (map link http://www.newportbay.org/maphigh.htm). It was hotter than us northerners are use to. The scenery was beautiful and we had a nice chat.

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Hike: Sunol Loop

Rho and I got a good workout in the East Bay Hills on Sunday. We parked at the end of Geary Road in the Sunol Valley Regional Park. We did a counterclockwise loop heading east on the Canyon View Trail then north on Cerro Este Road and finally looping back to the southeast on Indian Joe Creek Trail. The first 2/3 was all up hill gaining about 1600-ft in elevation. Fortunately, I had a new hydro pack to provide water without pulling out a water bottle. Rho was a real trooper ground away on the uphills.

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Paddle: Tall Ships

Eight of us (Kim, Lee, LaRhee, Dean, Richard, Ging, Larry, and Michael) met at the Bayshore Yacht Club (Pier 52) on a beautiful Saturday morning to check out the tall ships that were making a San Francisco visit. Our first stop was at the South Bay Harbor to check out the Japanese Kaisei and Canadian HMCS Oriole. Paddling on towards the Bay Bridge, we found the HMS Bounty and USCG Eagle berthed together. Many of the tourists were snapping photos of us.

We continued north past the Cupid’s Span on the Embarcadero and dodged the ferries coming and going. The next tall ship we found were the Lynx and the Californian, who later in the day, staged a mock battle. The Nehemiah was also tied up nearby. A few piers down we found the Robert C. Seamans. We passed one of the Princess Cruise ships and rounded Pier 39 with a little lumpy water. Again dodging ferries we made for the submarine USS Pampanito, not a tall ship but definitely cool. The Jeremiah O’Brien was tied nearby sporting a red, white and blue bunting on the bow. Ducking inside the breakwater we found the Nina Replica tied amongst the fishing boats.

We looped around the permanent ships in the San Francisco Maritime Museum and enjoyed lunch at the Aquatic Park. We watched the CCK crew give quick tours to noivices around the park.

On the return we watch the Californian and Lynx cast off and raise sails for their battle. Thanks so much to Kim for initiating the paddle and a wonderful day on the Bay.

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Paddle: Palo Alto

LaRhee initiated a paddle leaving from Palo Alto and checking out two railroad bridges. I was interested because it would be the most southern paddle in the Bay for me. 23 of us met on Sunday morning and launched from a nice dock in Palo Alto (check the map). We traced along the shore north to Cooley Point and then the Hetch Hetchy water pipe line. We followed the pipe line (there are a few leaks) to the Dumbarton RR swing bridge. From there we went up the Newark slough to another railroad swing bridge. There we disembarked and enjoyed chocolate chip cookies. We rode a nice wind with a little surfable chop back to the Palo Alto dock.

Later we enjoyed a great BBQ at LaRhee's.

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Ferry Lopez to Anacortes

Ferry is the most popular method of travel between the San Juan Islands.

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Paddle: Fisherman's Bay to Otis Perkins

Rhonda, Steve, Matthew and I launch in doubles from Fisherman's Bay and paddle south. We ride the current until it changes and land for a few minutes at Otis Perkins day park.

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Paddle: Fisherman's Bay to Odlin Pk

Steve and I rent kayaks from Lopez Kayak and head north from Fisherman's Bay. We round Flat Point and land at Odlin Park. After a few minutes rest we turn and head back against the wind and current.

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Hiking: Mountain Lake, Orcas Island, WA

Matthew, Rhodora, Rhoda, Noel, JP, Rudy, and I hike around Mountain Lake while Perla and Noah guard the cars. It was a little rainy but we were under trees for most of hike. Fish were jumping and squirrels were out but the only bears were in the stories.

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Paddle: Limantour - Millers Point

Fred initiates a great paddle that includes David, John, Rich, Rich, Michael, Ray, Paula, and Gordon. It took me 1:25 to drive the 48 miles up from San Francisco to Limantour. I stopped at the Lagunitas Grocery and Deli to get a turkey sandwich on the way out. We launched at 11:00 with thoughts of Almere Falls. The sun never quite made a show. We stopped at Millers Point for lunch afterwards we headed back north. On the return trip we stopped by Fred's Sink Hole.

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Cycle: Paradise Loop

Amy came over and we had a good workout riding clockwise around Paradise Loop. Fortunately, the heat wave has broken and conditions were comfortable.

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Ferry Pt - Angel Island

Jesse initiated a paddle leaving from Ferry Point and circumnavigating Angel Island. 15 BASKers showed and launched. We passed many fishing boats on the way to Angel Island, the Halibut has been very popular as there are no salmon. We decided to go around clockwise and we caught some wind and waves rounding Pt Blunt. We shared lunch at Fort Reynolds and met up with a class from Sea Trek. The return crossing was uneventful. We headed for Pyramid for a beer to cool off on a hot day.

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Paddle: Hearts Desire

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Athens

We loaded up the bus and departed Poros for Athens. Another rest stop at the Corinthian Cut and we arrive around 11:00. We tour Athens by bus checking out the “old” Olympic Stadium and Plaka District. We enjoyed lunch at Tabepna Vizantino in the Plaka. After lunch we check into the Athens Plaza hotel.

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