#

Always Free						 Summer 2012
Inside:Sea Kayaking the Redwood Coast
Kayaking & Small Living Places
With the Sea Beside Me
SUP for Kayakers
Forward Stroke
Santa Monica
Eel River9

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Summer 2012

Summer 2012

Issue 9Contents

Editor/PublisherPeter Donohue
Production AssistanceKaren Lapinski, Laura Ramos, andSylvia Wu
Design & Layout
Laura Ramos
www.portalcm.com
Contributing Writers
Alan Feldstein, Meade Fischer, CateHawthorne, Matt Palmariello, Marna
Powell, Mark Tozer, and California Kayaker Magazine

9

Features

In Every Issue

Contributing Photographers
Haley Caruso, Marcus Demuth,
Alan Feldstein, Meade Fischer, Cate
Hathorne, Jeff Laxier, Dominick Lemarie,
Nathalie Marik, Matt Palmariello, Peter
Schodl, Mark Tozer, Jan Vestak, andCalifornia Kayaker Magazine

6 Getting Started:
Kayaking & Small
Living Places

4 Editor’s Note

Legal Support
Karen A. Lapinski, Attorney
www.LapinskiLaw.com
Find Us
P.O. Box 282004
San Francisco, CA 94128
Phone: 650-868-8653
Fax: 650-560-6526
Email: editor@calkayakermag.com
www.calkayakermag.com
www.facebook.com/CalKayakerMag
Copyright © 2012 by California Kayaker
Magazine. All rights reserved. Duplicationor copying of any portion of this magazine
in any form is strictly prohibited. Letters to
the editor should be sent to the editor at theaddress listed above. The opinions found in
California Kayaker Magazine are those of
its writers and do not necessarily reflect theopinion of management or advertisers.
California Kayaker Magazine is an independent magazine available for free at paddlingshops, sports retailers, outdoor stores, fitness
clubs, marinas, and events, available free tobe downloaded from the web, or individual
copies can be mailed for a nominal charge tocover postage and handling.
Kayaking can be a dangerous sport. Dressappropriately, always wear your PFD, andpaddle within your skill level.

			

18

9 Skills: Forward Stroke
12 SUP for Kayakers
18 Places: Eel River
Headwaters to Sea
23 Places: Santa Monica
26 Book Excerpt: With
the Sea Beside Me

23

5 News
5 Calendar of Events
16 Center Hatch Photo
Spread30 Intellectual Section:
Wet Exit
30 List of Advertisers

29 Book Review: Sea
Kayaking the Redwood Coast

Cover Photo: Rob Avery playing in
the Yellow Bluff tide rip at the 2012
Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium
Photo by Dominick Lemarie
Camera: Canon EOS 10D
California Kayaker Magazine

3

Editor’s Note
A break. That is what I am getting. For the last two anda half years, I have been going from one issue of California Kayaker Magazine to the next without a lot oftime to sit back and think about where this magazine
should be going.
But now that we are only publishing two issues in a year, and this being the second issue for2012, I am looking at a six months break before the next issue is due.
This break will be nice. Of course, I plan to paddle. A lot! But I also plan to spend some time
thinking about this magazine and how to make it better. Feel free to drop a line if you haveideas.
If you miss reading the magazine during our break, I will be putting updates from time to timeon our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CalKayakerMag. Feel free to “like” the page tokeep up to date.
And don’t forget, this magazine is advertiser supported. It wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for all theadvertisers buying ads. If you tell them you saw their ad in the magazine, they will know that
their ads are working and that they should keep advertising (and I can keep publishing).
Happy Paddling!
Peter Donohue
Editoreditor@calkayakermag.com

Eskape Sea Kayaking
From Mild... to Wild!

ACA Instructor Training
Nature Tours
Kayak Safety
Surf Skills
Sea CavesExpeditions
Rock Gardening

Custom classes and tours with Roger
Schumann, author of Sea Kayak Rescue
and Guide to Sea Kayaking Central& Northern California
4

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www.eskapekayak.com

831-476-5385

Summer 2012

wNewswEvents
Bay2Bay Paddling Regatta
San Diego, CA
July 7, 2012www.peninsula.ymca.org/specialevents/bay-2-bay-regatta.html
Big Bear Paddlefest
Big Bear Lake, CA
July 7-8, 2012www.bigbearpaddlefest.com

Feather River Festival
Chico, CA
September 21-23, 2012www.chicopaddleheads.org
Support Strokes Paddle
Oakland, CA
September 29, 2012www.calkayak.com/supportstrokes

Scheels Paddle Sport Demo
Sparks, NV
July 14, 2012www.scheels.com/events

Pacific City Surf Off
Pacific City, OR
September 29-30, 2012
aldercreek.rezgo.com/details/23398/
pacific-city-surf-off

Eppies Great Race 39
Sacramento, CA
July 21, 2012www.eppiesgreatrace.org

US Wave Ski Championships
Ventura, CA
October 12-13, 2012www.uswaveski.com

Shared Adventures Day On The BeachSanta Cruz, CA
July 21, 2012www.dayonthebeach.org

Lumpy Waters Symposium
Pacific City, OR
October 19-21, 2012www.lumpywaters.com

US Surf Ski Championships
Sausalito, CA
August 4-5, 2012www.ussurfski.com
American River Festival
Coloma, CA
Sept 7-9, 2012www.americanriverfestival.org
Kern River Eddy Hop
Bakersfield, CA
Sept 8-9, 2012www.kernriver.org/eddyhop
California Coastal Cleanup
Various locations
Sep 15, 2012www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/
ccd.html
Moke Races
Jackson, CA
Sept 15-16, 2012www.mokeraces.com

Bair Island Development dead—for now
Back in the Spring 2010 issue of California Kayaker Magazine, we alerted
you to possible development of salt
evaporating flats in Redwood City.
Cargill (the land owner) and a landdeveloper had plans to turn the flats
into a small city with 12,000+ homes.
Environmentalists would prefer thatthe area be turned back into tidal wetlands, which would help protect theregion from sea level rise and provide
additional wildlife habitat (and paddling opportunities for kayakers).
A partial victory has been announced
in May when the developers announced they had withdrawn theirplan for the development. So thatparticular project is not going forward.

It is only a partial victory, as the lands
are for now staying as salt evaporating flats. Environmentalists still hopethat they can buy the land and permanently protect it from development.
Sea Trek Regatta & ETC Paddleathon But until that happens, there is always
Sausalito, CA
the possibility a developer will again
October 20, 2012
bring about a proposal to turn it into awww.etctrips.org/special-events/regatta city. And as this issue went to press,
there were signs that Cargill was conDavenport Paddle Surfing Classic tinuing towards developing the lands.
Davenport, CA
Out of Sight Out of Mind Trashpedition
November 10-11, 2012
In May, a group called Out of Sight
www.davenportpaddlesurf.com
Out of Mind (OSOM) paddled sea
Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium kayaks from Portland to the ocean
Sausalito, CA
with canoes in tow to serve as “garJanuary 25-27, 2013bage barges” to collect all the trashwww.ggsks.com
found. Their goal was to document
the path of plastic pollution from purWavechaser Paddle Serieschase and consumption at a downVarious NorCal locations
town convenience store to the storm
Various dates
drain, into the river, all the way to thewww.wavechaser.com
ocean and its eventual convergencewith the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
To submit news or an event for
By documenting their efforts to stop
consideration to California Kayakerplastic litter from making its way to
Magazine, please send basic
the sea, they hope to inspire others to
information to
do the same.
editor@calkayakermag.com.
Continued on Page 22

California Kayaker Magazine

5Getting Started

Kayaking & Small Living Spaces

Kayaking is a great sport,
but the gear required cantake up a bit of space.
PFDs, wet suits, paddles,and such can be bulky, but are
generally manageable. The boat
is your largest piece of gear andunless you paddle a short whitewater boat or surf kayak, often
requires a dedicated place tostore it.

But how does one deal with thisspace requirement if they live in anapartment and/or in a big city without
any large storage space? There area few options that will let you keep
kayaking:
In the Closet
One option is to go in the closet (orwhatever storage space you have).
Because there is a lot of hollow
space in the standard kayak, somestyles of boats can be broken or
shrunk down to manageable sizes.
The three main options for staying in
the closet are inflatable kayaks, folding kayaks, and sectional kayaks.
Inflatable kayaks are ones where theshell of the boat is made up of chambers which you fill with air to create
the shape of the boat. They generally
pack down to the size of a duffel bag.
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In general, these boats are not as
fast as a standard (hard shell) kayak.
Prices range from $100 for glorified
pool toys to a little over $1000 for topof the line inflatable boats. If you do
go for an inflatable, we recommend
looking at one with some framing in
it, as this helps improve the boat’s
speed. California Kayaker Magazine
had a review of the Advanced Elements AirFusion inflatable kayak in
the Spring 2011 issue.

Setting up three Advanced Elements
inflatable kayaks on a dock
Photo by Jan Vestak
Both inflatable kayaks and folding
kayaks actually have some set up
and tear down time (more for folding than inflatable). And both reallyshould be cleaned and dried before

If you add enough frame and takeaway the inflatable chambers, youhave a skin on frame kayak. If you
then take the frame and make it so
it can be easily disassembled, youhave a folding kayak. Folding kayaks,
in general, are close to the speed ofstandard kayaks. A downside is thatthey are pricey with prices startingat well over $1000 to $3-4000 for
the ones used for expeditions. Floatbags or a sea sock are strongly recommended for safety, and there aresome added steps you should learn
to self-rescue in these boats.
Trak makes folding kayaks that havethe added ability to let you adjust theboat’s rocker on the fly.
Photo courtesy of Peter Schodl &Nathalie Marik of sea2summit.at
Zanzibar Expedition 2010
Summer 2012

Valley Nordkapp sectional kayak
being carried in a Smart car.
Photo by Marcus Demuth
packing away (and if storing a boat is
an issue, then that same issue may
prevent you from having a place tolay out the inflatable/folder to dry),which isn’t really required of standard
kayaks.
So what if you cut a shard shell
kayak into manageable pieces?
Make a standard kayak with double
wall bulkheads, cut the hull between
the bulkheads, add an attachment
method, and you have a boat thatsplits into pieces. These are called
sectional kayaks. Since they started
life as a hard shell kayak, they perform just as well. Most of these sectional kayaks are made of composites, and need to be custom orderedfrom the factory. The exception being
Point65, a company out of Sweden,
which has developed a set of sit-ontop and recreational boats that canbe split into 2 or 3 pieces (rumor has
it that they may have a touring modelsoon). These boats assemble anddisassemble in minutes, and take up
more storage space than an inflatable or folder, but are much easier
to store than a standard kayak. The
Point65 boats are around $1000, andcustom composite sea kayaks would
start at $3000 or so and go up.
Added benefit to inflatable, folding,or sectional kayaks is that they areeasier to transport, not requiring special kayak racks or trailers.
Storage Outside Your Home
With a little thinking outside a box,
it may be possible to store regularboats in areas you already have. For
example, the ceiling space above
your car in a car port or garage may
not be fully used, so it might be possible to hang a boat from there.

already sold their car, so won’t havea way to carry your boat once hesteals it). If you do go for the car-top
storage method, it is still recommended that you lock your boat, andcompanies like Lasso and KanuLock
make locks specifically for this.
Shorter boats, like whitewater kayaks
or surf kayaks, can actually be stored
inside some cars.
You can also make the boat lesspalatable by removing accessories(hatch covers, etc.), so a thief would
have to spend some cash to makethe boat usable again. This method,of course, exposes your boat to thesun more, which will reduce its life
some. And you are putting the boat
at some theft risk, so it is less advisable for an expensive boat.

Paying for Storage
Renting a storage area from a publicstorage place is also an option. And
you can also store all the junk (Imean treasures) that you have taking up the space in your garage andpreventing you from parking your car
inside. Costs vary greatly by locationand size of storage area. California
Kayaker Magazine got lucky andfound a spot that is 5’ wide by 18’
long, allowing us to store all except
the longest of kayaks.
In many areas, you can rent at-water
storage slots for your boat from local
marinas, kayak retailers, etc. Basically, you keep your boat on a rackat a launch location. When you want
to go paddle, you go to the spot andtoss your boat in the water and go.

Another outside the box form of storage is on the roof of your car. Turns
out that kayaks are not as easy tosteal as bicycles, so are not targeted
as often (the average thief looking tosteal something to quickly turn overfor their next drug fix is likely to have
California Kayaker Magazine

7

The packed California Kayaker Magazine storage area,
before it was cleaned up and organized.
Photo by California KayakerNo need to transport your boat or store it. Many of theselocations have added facilities that you can access, suchas showers. Costs generally range from $25 to $100 per
month. To find a location near you, I recommend contacting local clubs or retailers/rental locations.
The last option is to not actually pay to store a boat (oreven to own a boat), but instead do extended rental
deals. Your local kayak outfitter may have 10-hour rental
cards, 3 month “all you can paddle” options, or similar.
You pay less than the standard hourly rate to paddle aboat whenever you want. And you are not usually tied toany one model boat, but can try a variety of boats. Sometimes these deals allow you to take boats away to paddle
different locations, but not always. Check with the local
outfitter for specifics.
Storing boats at on-water locations or doing extended
rental deals from outfitters have an added benefit of not
requiring you to have a way to transport boats (kayak
racks, trailers, etc.), which saves a lot of costs and hassles. v
Words by California Kayaker Magazine

Protect Your Favorite Place.
Protect Your Favorite Pastime.
DRAIN

DRY

photo: peterspain.com

CLEAN

Become a Tahoe Keeper and learn how
to self-inspect for invasive species.
TahoeKeepers.org • 888-824-6267
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TAHOE KEEPERS

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Summer 2012

Skills

Efficient Forward Paddlingby Mark Tozer

Forward paddling efficiency is as important for recreational paddlers as it is for surf ski racers.
Photo by California KayakerW

hen out kayaking on a river, lake, or theocean, an efficient forward paddlingstroke should be a whole-body exercisethat involves the paddler’s torso, legs,shoulders and arms with the torso and the legs at
the core of the stroke. They are the key to good posture control, power transfer and paddling stamina.
Your arms and shoulders are primarily for guiding
the paddle, and only after that to help change gears.

By far the most important feature of efficient forward paddling is to have a range of gears that enable you to copewith the dynamic nature of your chosen kayaking environment. Technique, stroke rate, and length will all varydepending on the circumstances. There are those sunnydays when you can relax and cruise along, but you may
need to go up level when punching through a surf break,crossing an eddy line, or paddling against the wind. Being
able to accelerate out of a challenging situation is also
vital for personal welfare and group safety.
Watch experienced paddlers and notice how they vary
the use of the gears available to them. Most seasoned
kayakers will paddle slow and steady, making as muchuse of their body as possible on daylong trip. A good
forward stroke should appear smooth and balanced overany given distance. Establishing a good rhythm will also
help maintain that efficiency for long periods. Here isa tip: if your arms hurt at the end of the day, you were
probably using them too much, instead of your upper andlower body for that essential power transfer.

paddling stamina are important elements but so is paddle
choice. Different paddle lengths, construction types,
degrees of blade stiffness, blade width and angle will all
impact your personal paddling style. The more you understand this aspect of kayaking, the easier it will be foryou to choose a paddle and paddling style that suits what
you want to do, and the better your forward paddling will
become.
Try a different type of paddle from the one you usuallyuse. Borrow a wing for a while, or a Greenland paddle, ora general touring paddle, whichever is the least familiar
to you. If you tend towards a “high angle” paddle style,experiment with a paddle designed for a “low angle” ofpresentation. Compare the effectiveness of your usual
stroke with the effectiveness of a varied angle stroke.
An important consideration is choice of paddle length,
which is affected by many things including your torso
height, arm length, kayak width and foredeck volume,
height of your seat, and other factors including your posture control and technique. Without a favourable paddle
length you are likely to compensate by using a modified
technique and your posture may be negatively affected. A
Paddle selection talk during a class

Another dimension that will influence forward stroke efficiency is your paddle choice. As kayakers, our paddle
is the tool that allows us to create proper resistance inthe water, and in the case of forward paddling, drive the
kayak past the point of grip for maximum propulsion.
Paddle Choice
To really appreciate the principles of efficient forward
paddling you will need to experiment with a lot of different variables. Good posture, effective power transfer andCalifornia Kayaker Magazine

9The Catch—stab the
paddle in cleanly as far
forward as you cangood coach will be able to determine
if your paddle length looks good aswell as if your posture and technique
are sound.
You can also learn more about theeffect of “swing weight” by attachinga load to each of your paddle blades.
Here is a tip: use strong elastic
bands to hold a small zip-lock bagof water to each blade. You should
notice a big difference when theweights are moved toward the midpoint of the shaft. The idea is thatyou can figure out your own personal
preference for how the weight of apaddle should be distributed. Another experiment is to try a length ofbamboo and use that as a paddle.
How does this affect your acceleration and your top speed? When doyou experience the greatest amountof flutter, when you’re accelerating or
when you’re cruising? The outcomeof this exercise should highlight the key
phases of performing a forward paddle
stroke and effective power transfer.

Power Transfer
Power transfer for efficient forward
paddling comes from upper body rotation so you should aim to keep the
paddle at arms’ length at all times. By
extending your arms you free the upper body and achieve greater powertransfer from all strokes. Rememberthat your bottom hand controls theworking paddle blade so keep the
top hand relaxed to minimise interference with the accuracy of the paddle
strokes. And finally, always immerse
the paddle blade fully, especially onwindy days. A blade partially immersed only results in wasted
energy.
It is generally agreed that there arethree phases to forward paddling—
the catch, the pull, and the exit—andan appreciation of each one can help
maximise the process of power transfer and forward momentum.
The Catch - It is important to plant
the paddle as far forward as possible
The Exit—slice thepaddle out before you
start lifting water10

www.calkayakermag.com

with a clean stabbing entry. Sometimes referred to as the “spearing thesalmon” technique. This sets up the
paddle for the most important phaseof the stroke. When you plant thepaddle, do so fully. Here is a tip: wrapa piece of bright tape around theshaft where it meets the blade. You
should bury the paddle to this tapemark, and no more, no less. Strive tokeep the blade at this depth throughout your stroke.
You can help keep the paddle at aconstant depth by allowing the paddle to flare naturally away from thehull during the stroke, while maintaining good posture. This is only
possible with sound body mechanics
and correct paddle length. Too longa paddle makes it easier to get theblade in the water for the catch, but
the paddle may go too deep at theexit. A paddle that is too short is justthe opposite. As for good posture, sit
upright and avoid excessive forward
lean.
The Pull - With a kayak of 14 feet or
more its ability to go in a straight line
(often referred to as its directional
stability) is going to be relatively high.
You therefore need to convert all youreffort into driving the boat forward. To
achieve this, imagine you are pullingyourself up to and past the paddle
as the blade is placed in the water.
Use your feet to transfer the energy
created by your trunk muscles into
the kayak.
The Exit - As the kayak moves past
the paddle the angle of the paddlechanges until it is lifting water andtends to push the boat downwards.
At this point it is giving very little assistance to moving the kayak forward
and using lots of energy. Slice thepaddle out of the water before thishappens or allow the movement of
the boat to pull it out of the water(this is less efficient). Do not wasteenergy pulling on it. Before the next
catch check that your body is wound
up and that the paddle will catch thewater as far forward as possible. Feel
your trunk muscles ready to pull theboat past the paddle.
Summer 2012

Coaching Tips
Here are some coaching points to think about when practising your forward paddling:•

In general, a paddle should be held in such a waythat there is equal distance between the outside ofyour hands and the blades. By marking this distance withtape, you can check to see how much your grip moves.

•

Look where you want to go and not at the paddle.
Keep your head still.

•

Trunk rotation, or to be more precise un-rotation, isessential to efficient forward paddling. Try to rotate,
or wind up, your upper body by reaching forwardwith the paddle blade out of the water. Then plant
the blade and un-wind to pull the paddle through thewater using a more powerful muscle group.

•

Most power should be generated in the first foot or soof the stroke.

•

Imagine that your arm is a piece of string connecting
your shoulder to your hand while in the pull phaseof the stroke. This will help you avoid using the smallerarm muscle and concentrate effort in the trunk muscles.

•

Relax, and even extend, the fingers of your top hand.
This will promote reach and help reduce forearm
injuries and cramp.

•

Keep your top hand by your shoulder and pull the
kayak past the paddle for an efficient high gear cruising stroke. Drive forwards with your top hand when
you need a lower gear such as when accelerating or
paddling in to a head wind.

•

Avoid air paddling. This is the wasteful act of winding
up your body and then unwinding before putting thepaddle in the water. Do not engage your torso until
you have caught the water.

•

Think about what is going on below deck. Paddlers
should push with their feet on the same side as they
are pulling the paddle with their lower hand. Try putting your knees together to encourage a cycling action with your legs as well as loosening up your hips
to spread the load across your entire body.

•

And finally… find a compatible paddling partner andyou’ll make great progress with these skills—watch
each other, give each other feedback and the learning curve will be much steeper. If you hit a plateau,that’s the time to go get some more coaching! v

Relaxing the fingers on
the top handMark Tozer, PhD, is a BCU Level 5 Coach and BCU Coach
Educator / Assessor. Mark and his wife, Helen Wilson, provide
presentations, instruction, rolling demonstrations and BCU certification programs worldwide through their business, Greenland
or Bust. Mark is currently an ambassador for Kokatat Watersports Wear, Joe O’ Paddles and Tahe Marine. To learn more
about Helen and Mark, visit www.greenlandorbust.org.
Photos by Mark Tozer
California Kayaker Magazine

11

Expanding Your Horizons

SUP for Kayakers

Why You Should Try StandUp Paddling Today
By Matt PalmarielloThe author paddling down to the take-out. 4-day
SUP camping trip on the Colorado River, Nevada.
Photo by Haley Caruso

Think back to the very first time you tried
kayaking and see if you can remember
the details of your experience. Was it positive? Did you have fun? Did you capsize?
Did you make it to where you were going? Did you
make it back? For me, that very first experience wason a sit-on-top kayak during a tropical vacation. Itchanged my entire life. From that humble beginning,kayaking became my biggest pursuit, took overmuch of my life, changed my career outlook, anddominated my leisure time.

Lake Tahoe lunch break.
Photo by Matt Palmariello

These days, however, standup paddling is doing thesame exact things for me. It has given me a new perspective, a new challenge, and exciting new experienceson the water that I won’t soon forget.
The first time you try standup paddling you’ll notice rightaway how similar it can be to kayaking. All of the paddle
stroke skills you use in your kayak will work on a standupboard. Forward and reverse strokes, turning strokes,
steering strokes, draw strokes and braces are all extremely effective. Some will work even better on a board
than in a kayak. Coming to standup paddling with existing
paddle stroke skills, you don’t need to relearn these, so
can focus on balance.
But don’t let the balancing part scare you because, justlike kayaks, boards come in all shapes and sizes for arange of uses and ability levels. With the right equipment
you probably won’t fall in at all, and your balance will
improve very quickly. If you do fall in, no worries, it takes
just seconds to remount the board. On most flat-water
12

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Summer 2012

standup paddles I do these days I’m completely dry afterwards (well, from the ankles up).
As an added bonus to all the fun you’ll have on a standupboard, you’ll hone balance skills and increase corestrength. You’re not going to have six-pack abs in a week,
but if you use proper technique while standup paddlingregularly, it will make your core stronger. Your better balance will be useful in other sports and in everyday life.
Anytime you paddle with proper technique, whether in akayak, on a standup board, or in a canoe, your overall
paddling skills will improve. Standup paddling is a great
way to cross train for other paddle sports and it will makeyou a better kayaker.

Paddling out in Ensenada, Mexico. Not being locked
into a cockpit and seat, like you would be in a kayak,
you can paddle kneeling or even prone, when theconditions call for it.
Photo by Haley Caruso

Standup paddling is a hybrid sport, the “standup” partbeing similar to other board sports and the “paddling” part
resembling any other paddle sport, most closely canoeing since you use a single bladed paddle. Typically you
will stand on the board in either a parallel stance or a surf
stance. A parallel stance is when your feet are both facing
forward like in skiing and a surf stance is when you standwith one foot further back than the other, like surfing.
When you’re in a surf stance you have a toe-side edge
and a heel-side edge. You can stand regular foot (left footforward) or goofy foot (right foot forward). A surf stancelets you easily adjust your trim without moving your feet
and also allows you more rotation to your toe-side. Just
like in kayaking, body rotation is important for efficientand safe paddling.
On a standup board you aren’t stuck in a cockpit and canmove around the board freely. Move forwards, backwards, turn around, lie down, kneel, sit, do yoga, or anything else for that matter. By moving forwards or backwards you’re distributing your weight to different areas of
the board (changing its trim) thus changing the way theboard paddles. Trimming a board will affect its speed,
California Kayaker Magazine

13

Small waves are better than nowaves. Ensenada, Mexico.
Photo by Haley Caruso
stability, maneuverability and tracking
and will open a whole new aspect of
paddling that you don’t experience ina kayak. Step back, raise the noseand you’ll be able to pivot turn, justlike a stern squirt in a whitewaterboat. That freedom to move aroundthe board and adjust trim is one of
the biggest benefits of performancestandup paddling.
Because you use a single bladed
paddle, you’ll use cross strokes much
more than in kayaking, and you’lllearn to more effectively steer fromthe bow, or nose as it’s referred to on
a board. The board has one or more
fins in the back to help it go straight,
so steering from the stern, or tail, isless effective. You’ll learn that cadence and momentum are importantand that edge control is useful. As a
M

o re

Good

other surfers. With my surfing friends
in San Diego I’ve become the official
wave spotter of the group.

Most people that have tried standup
paddling will tell you that one of thebiggest differences between kayaking and standup paddling is theability to look down into the waterand see the world beneath you. Depending on where you paddle, you’ll
see rocks, kelp, fish, sea creatures,shipwrecks, and anything else you
may miss when kayaking. But looking down isn’t the only advantage ofstanding up. You’ll be more visible toother boaters and you’ll be able tosee further ahead. On the river (yes,standup paddling can be done onrivers) your height will help you read
the water better. In the surf, you’ll
spot the oncoming sets before theLike kayaking, standup paddling canbe done anywhere. Fresh water orsalt water, flat water or moving water,
whitewater, coastal conditions, surf–it
handles it all with ease. It can beanything you want it to be from a relaxing escape to an adrenaline rush
to a full-body workout. But, before
you head to your favorite class III
whitewater run or paddle out into thelineup at Santa Cruz, make sure you
get some experience on flat water
first. Dial in the fundamentals before
venturing to more challenging waters.

!!!

Mo r esi
F unkayaker, you’ll quickly relate to the“paddling” portion of standup paddling and it will feel natural.

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14

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Globally, standup paddling competitions are taking place on flat water,rough water, whitewater, in the surfand downwind. People are doing expeditions on boards and traveling toremote destinations. On the business
front, an entire new market has beencreated opening up the doors formany new manufacturers, outfitters,
events, and media. Existing businesses from the paddling and surfing
markets have capitalized on the sports
success and adopted standup into
their programs and product offerings.
Standup paddling is great with kids,
it’s affordable, the equipment is
simple and easy to transport, and it’sfun.
Summer 2012

Matt Palmariello works full-time at California Canoe & Kayakin Oakland and is the event manager for the Golden Gate Sea
Kayak Symposium. He’s an avid sea kayaker, canoeist andstandup paddler and has been guiding and coaching paddle
sports for over 10 years. He maintains ACA & BCU coachingcertifications as well as consistent personal training on the sea
and in the surf.

SUP camping with sea kayakers. Colorado River, AZ.
Photo by Matt PalmarielloOutback Adventures
Bay Area Paddlesports Retailer & Outfitter Kayak Sales
 Paddleboards
 Instruction
 Tours
 Rentals

KAYAK

I still kayak quite regularly, but now with more comfort,
control, and confidence due to the increased strength andbalance I’ve gotten from standup paddling. Every kayakershould give it a try at least once, if for no other reason
than to get a fresh perspective of your surroundings. If
you haven’t tried it yet and you have the slightest interest in experiencing it, don’t wait. Grab a friend, go to yourlocal paddle shop and rent a board or take a class. The
sport is young and quickly growing with unlimited possibilities. There’s really no telling where it will take you. v

LarkspurOn-site rentals available
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California Kayaker Magazine

15

Center

Kayakers paddle past a dock full of California Sea Lions at Monterey’s Moss Landing
Camera: Pentax Optio WG-1
Photo by California Kayaker

Have a photo that shows the beauty of kayaking or otherwise makes people think?
We’d love to see it. Send submissions to editor@calkayakermag.com.
Include the background story and what camera was used.
16

www.calkayakermag.com

Summer 2012

HatchLucy O’Brien paddling toward the light at theend of the tunnel on the Big Sur Coastline
Camera: Pentax Optio W80
Photo by California Kayaker

California Kayaker Magazine

17Places

Eel River - Source to Sea

by Cate HawthorneSomewhere the idea was born—let’s paddle the Eel River to the sea. It was a notion
based on our love of the Eel River, our curiosity to explore it more, and our desire to
do an overnight wilderness trip by kayak. In the Fallof 2010, Jeff and I tossed the idea about and talked
it over at the Bay Area Sea Kayakers’ Mendo weekend with Jerry Albright who knows the Eel River
well. It turned out that he and a friend had done thetrip that we were contemplating. The idea was topaddle 169 miles of the Eel River from below Lake
Pillsbury in Lake County to where it empties into theocean in Humboldt County.

In the fall when we set our calendar for the year, we set
aside 2 weeks in late April for our trip. We figured it would
be good to go in the spring when the days were lengthening and evening temperatures were not below freezing.
There was the best chance that we would have the rightflow of water in the river (where in the winter we could
have too much or too little).
The beginning of April came. We had the dates on thecalendar and a notion that we wanted to do the trip but
a million excuses not to. We hadn’t announced that wewere doing the trip because we were going to be selective about who we wanted to spend 7-14 days in thewilderness with and were uncertain as to how all thelogistics were going to work out. We knew that any companions on this trip would have to be able to literally gowith the flow. Flow was probably the biggest concern—it
could be too much or not enough. As our departure dateapproached, the water level was low. It looked like we would
be bumping and scraping along in the upper sections.
18

www.calkayakermag.com

The author paddling through Ramsey’s Rapid
Photo by Jeff Laxier
Despite the low water flow, we made up our minds to go
and set about preparations. Jeff’s tasks were assemblingsafety equipment, programming the GPS, compiling thecamping gear, setting up the SPOT tracker, and shuttle
logistics. My primary task was food preparation. No big
deal! The trip is just down river and 10 days worth of foodand supplies isn’t that much to plan and pack, right?
The challenge is packing all the necessities for 2 people
to live in the wilderness for 10 days into 2 whitewater kayaks that are only 69 and 77 gallons in volume and don’t
have dry storage compartments. I got out the dehydrator
and vacuum sealer and went to work planning one pot
meals that would be condensed, nutritious, hopefully delicious, and require minimal fuel to prepare.
Jeff’s planning involved mapping potential campsites,
rapids that we might have to scout, potential side hikes,
and points of interest (we would be paddling throughsome beautiful country including Avenue of the Giants.)
Jeff assembled our tent, water filter, stove, cooking utensils and arranged our logistics team. A couple of goodfriends that could not join us on the trip helped us withlogistical support including our shuttle to the put-in andtake-out.
Finally, it was “go” day. Cell phones were turned off andstowed. We were now on river time. Probably the best
part about any trip in the wilderness is the simplicity oflife—eat, sleep, paddle, and enjoy the water, the wilderness, and wildlife.
Our first day had some of the toughest whitewater of
our trip and was one of the longest paddling days. Jerry
joined us for day one as we paddled 25 miles from
Summer 2012

Pillsbury to Hearst. A little bit of rain
triggered snow melt. The flow of theriver increased from a slow and shallow 350 cfs (cubic feet per second)
to a fast and technical 1500 cfs. At
this flow some of the rapids were in
the Class IV range. As a progressing
whitewater kayaker, this run was themost technical that I had yet to paddle and a good test of my developing
skills.
The rapids were fast and furious withpowerful hydraulics to avoid while
maneuvering through tight boulder
strewn channels. A rapid called
Double Drop was one of the mostsignificant rapids of the day. It wasa bend in the river with an elevation
drop where the water was funneledbetween gigantic boulders. At lower
flows the rapid presents 2 distinct
consecutive drops. As we scouted it,
the 2 drops were not distinct but appeared to have merged into a hugefrothing channel of chaotic whitewater with diagonal, lateral and reversal
currents.

The line through appeared to bestraight forward; however, there wasa lot of water bouncing off rocks
that could capsize or knock a paddler off line. As we scouted fromshore, I saw the line and calculated
the worst case scenario. The rightside appeared to have rocks lurking
beneath the surface and the left side
had hydraulics that were powerful but
flushing. Worst case scenario would
be to end up off line and upside down
bouncing over rocks on the right or
upside down on the left in a hydraulicwaiting for it to flush me out. Thesethoughts were not appealing so I
banished them from my mind andenvisioned a clean line as I climbed
back to my boat at the top of therapid.
Back in my boat at the top of therapid, I felt surprisingly calm. However, as I committed to dropping into
the frothing madness of the rapid,
my heart was in my throat. Time wassuspended for a moment and themantra “Lean forward and paddle”
came to mind. I dug my paddle blade

Riverside camping
Photo by Jeff Laxier

California Kayaker Magazine

19ing my balance and bracing skills.
At the top of the most difficult rapidof the day, a wave capsized me. As
my kayak flipped upside down andmy head dunked in the cold frothingwater, I was nervous for a moment
about rolling the loaded boat upright.
Swimming down the rapid with aloaded kayak was the last thing that
I wanted to have to do so it was a
must-make roll. With hundreds ofrolls under my skirt, I went on autopilot and rolled my kayak upright.
A solid combat roll is definitely anecessity when paddling wilderness
whitewater with your food and shelter
loaded in your boat.

The dilapidated Eel River Railroad
could often be seen from the river.
Photo by Cate Hawthorne

into the water and launched into themayhem of whitewater. Plunging
into the rapid, my boat buried but
resurfaced. I powered forward timing
my paddle strokes with the waves tostay upright. I dropped cleanly down
the line and eddied-out in the calm
water below the rapid. Feelings ofelation and relief were overwhelmingas I looked up at the walls of foaming
whitewater that I had just descended.
We enjoyed fun whitewater on theriver for 5 of the 8 days. The rapids ranged from class II through IV.
The majority of the rapids were in20

www.calkayakermag.com

the class II and III range with lots of
big waves, squirrelly eddy lines andboils. Sections of significant elevation
loss and constriction were very fastwith gigantic wave train rollercoasterlike rides. Paddling a whitewater
kayak loaded with provisions for 10
days was a new experience for me.
As we launched on our second day,I realized that I had not packed myboat evenly and my boat was stern
heavy. It felt like I was riding a wheelie down the river. Waves and boils
seemed to be constantly grabbing
my unbalanced boat and challeng-

Sow with piglets
Photo by Cate Hawthorne

It rained for most of our trip giving
us a speedy downriver flow. When
we hit the confluence of the mainand middle fork on day 3, the river
was moving fast—around 10,000
cfs. Rainy days gave us motivation
to keep moving. When we woke up
to rain, we put on our dry suits as we
emerged from our tent. We weren‘t
inclined to lounge about camp in therain when the river was awaiting us.
Rainy days became long paddlingdays and sunny days were hiking
and enjoying camp days. We completed the trip of 169 miles in 8 days.
It rained 6 of the 8 days.
Our trip down the Eel River wasgorgeous. Snow was on the ridges,
wildflowers were blooming, and birds
were singing. Scattered among themountains and hillsides of conifers
and oaks, redbuds exploded withbursts of pink foliage. Purple/blue
lupines, red Indian paintbrushes, yellow wallflowers, and green mosses
brightened the river canyon walls.
As we traveled down the river, we
continually gaped as we drank innature’s beauty. We wondered at theabsurdity of man’s impact and intervention. On the upper part of the Eel,there are two dams. On the lower
sections, evidence of the dilapidated
Eel River Railroad is ever present.
The railroad through the Eel River
Canyon was opened in 1914 totransport logging and mining materials and passengers between the Bay
Area and Eureka. Since opening, theSummer 2012

unstable soils and floods of the Eel River have wreaked
havoc on the railroad infrastructure. A continuous battleensued between man and nature to keep the 95 miles oftracks and 30 tunnels clear until 1997 when the railroad was abandoned. As we paddled the river, we were
fascinated by sights of rails suspended in the air, tunnels
blocked by landslides, and abandoned railcars in theriver. Part of the wonder is the way that nature is working
to reclaim the terrain.
Most of our trip was in the wilderness. The old railroad
tracks paralleled the river, but there are very few roads
into or out of many stretches of the Eel River. Occasionally we would see homes in the mountains, but many
appeared to be unoccupied. We pretty much had the river
and wilderness to ourselves—well not exactly.
One day when we were scouting a riverside campsite forthe evening, we landed our boats on a sandy beach andwalked 100 yards down river to check out a creek for water and camping. When we returned to our boats, there
were bear tracks in the sand right by our boats. It gave
us pause for a moment. Fortunately these wild California
black bears don’t associate humans with food. Regardless, we didn’t store food in our camp.
Throughout our trip, we enjoyed watching wildlife fromthe water. Most did not appear to be alarmed by our
passing through. An exception was two sows who weremothering a brood of a dozen piglets—guess they wereconcerned that we might add bacon to the menu. Wildlife
highlights of our trip included sightings of Tule elk, bobcats, bears, deer, river otters, turtles, green herons, bald
eagles, wood ducks, western meadowlarks, and pileatedwoodpeckers. We were also treated to choruses of treefrogs, songs of western meadowlarks, trickling creeks,cascades of waterfalls, and the roar of the river.
On day seven, we were paddling along the 101 corridor
and knew that we had left the wilderness. We stopped
for a quick resupply of beverages at a market in Scotia.
On the last night of the trip, we enjoyed beverages by
the campfire and were wistful that our trip had gone soquickly and that we would arrive at the ocean the next day.
The last stretch of the river was flat but moving alongquickly. When harbor seals started popping up in thewater and barnacles started appearing on the driftwood,
we knew that we were almost there. Our melancholy over
the trip coming to an end was exchanged for elation as
we realized that we had reached our goal of paddling to
the sea. v
Cate Hawthorne is a teacher who has moved out of the classroom and onto the water. Cate and her partner Jeff Laxier teachand guide sea, river, and surf kayaking on the Mendocino Coastthrough their business Liquid Fusion Kayaking (www.liquidfusionkayak.com).

Jeff Laxier running Double Falls
Photo by Cate Hawthorne

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21

News - continued from page 5

They paddled 100 miles from Portland to the ocean in 5 days. The
trash canoes were filled 4 times withan estimated 1500-2000 lbs of trash,mostly foam from docks and single
use plastic bottles. They found a lotof crazy stuff too, like a Rocky DVD,a USA Aid grain bag with Arabic
writing, plastic chairs, and balls forevery sport known to man.
OSOM has an ongoing contest to
help get all of us paddlers to remove
trash we see when we paddle (garbage barges not required). Remove
trash from any waterway using
any human powered craft and post
pictures of the removal & disposal to
the OSOM Facebook page (www.facebook.com/gulfkayak/info), and you
can enter to win cool gear provided
by sponsors.
NorCal Kayak Anglers Growing
Heroes on Water program
Heroes on the Water (HOW) serves
wounded warriors by taking themkayak fishing in the outdoors as away for them to relax, rehabilitate,
and reintegrate into society. Thismission is carried out by volunteers
who operate local HOW chapters
across the United States. NorCal
Kayak Anglers (NCKA) is a local
chapter of HOW, and sponsoredan event on June 2 at Kelsey Bass
Ranch. Kelsey Bass Ranch is a
125 acre lake in the Sierra Foothills
near Merced. They had thirty vets

and about fifty volunteers (including both NCKA members and somenon-members who just wanted tosupport the cause).
Don Anglin, NCKA HOW coordinator
reported “One lady vet stuck out forme. I set her up on a tandem witha volunteer paddling her around.
She told me she would only be ‘outfor 5 minutes.’ She hooked up rightin front of the launch area and thescreams of joy were heard everywhere. Did not see her again tilllunch. The vets all came in, had awonderful smoked pulled pork sandwich lunch and then the VA therapists wanted to pack it up and headback home. The vets all wanted toget back on the water, so we relaunched.”
NCKA has been a HOW chapter
since 2009 and has run 10 events
so far. The group does not have a
dedicated fleet of boats for use, so
draws on its members’ boats andboats borrowed from local retailers(The Headwaters of Lodi provided
some for the Kelsey Ranch event).
NCKA HOW is looking for wounded
warriors, family members, andfriends of wounded vets to contact
them. Along with the large events
they do directly with the VA, theywant to have smaller, more intimate
events reaching people who aren’t
as actively connected with the VA.
They are also always looking for
support, both in additional volun-

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22

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teers to run the events and in donations of money, gear, or food. Moreinformation on the HOW program
can be found at www.heroesonthewater.org and at www.norcalkayakanglers.com.
There are also HOW chapters basedin San Diego and in Oregon. For
contact information on all the local
chapters, go to www.heroesonthewater.org/chapters/find-a-chapter.
California Approves Marine Protected Area for North Coast
The California Fish and Game
Commission has adopted regulations for the north coast Marine
Protected Areas (MPAs), completingthe network of MPAs in California’s
open coastal waters. The northcoast region covers approximately
1,027 square miles of state watersfrom the California/Oregon stateline south to Alder Creek near Point
Arena in Mendocino County. The
plan includes 19 MPAs, a recreational management area, and sevenspecial closures. All together, thesecover approximately 137 square
miles, or about 13 percent of theregion. These regulations will go into
effect some time in 2013.
The majority of the impacts fromthese MPAs is on limiting commercial fishing, but some of the areas
also limit sport fishing. And the special closures are areas that are closed
to all boating, including kayaks.
The MPAs are the first state-wide
network of underwater parks in
the United States. Their goal is toprovide an area where the wildlife isfree from human pressures, so canthrive and help restock the nonprotected areas.
The four regions cover the entire
California coast and comprise of
124 protected areas that cover 848
square miles, or about 16 percentof the approximately 5,285 square
miles of open coast state waters.
More information can be found atwww.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa.
Summer 2012

Places

Speaking with Sea Lions in Santa Monica
By Alan FeldsteinWhile I study Swahili for my African Safari
Company, I practice speaking sea lion
most Sundays when I meet them in the
Santa Monica Bay. Sunday morning isthe day for most people to sleep in and read the
Sunday paper over a late breakfast. But for severalof us who are instructors at the UCLA Aquatic Center, Sunday is the day to get up early and get in our
kayaks at about 8 a.m. to go for our weekly paddle.

We are a fun group of paddlers who enjoy each other’scompany. Many in our group do it to get away from thestress in their lives. We have lawyers, doctors, a nurse, aparalegal, and a retired engineer, a good mix of both men
and women. Many of us have traveled together to paddle
in Mexico, North Vietnam, and Africa, as well as more local spots such as Anacapa Island and Elkhorn Slough.
I love teaching new students and exposing them to thewonders of kayaking. It certainly isn’t for the few dollars an hour but rather the love of introducing people toa whole new world. The best part of the class is at theend. After they learn the basic strokes and rescues, I givethem their first exposure of paddling outside of the sheltered waters of the marina. I take my students out past
the break wall to a sailing marker a couple of hundred
yards away. When we get to the marker I have them raftup. Exhilarated with the thought of paddling themselves
out on the ocean, everyone has infectious smiles (or fora few, tight lips of fear). I ask them to consider that here
we are less than a mile from a major urban center, but
in beautiful waters with dolphins, sea lions, pelicans,cormorants and assorted other wildlife. I encourage themto continue to come out paddling and enjoy what South-

Happy paddlers off of Santa Monica
ern California has to offer. I hope it is the inspiration theyneed to keep coming back.
I follow my own advice almost every week. Paddling inSouthern California is wonderful. We have great weather(most of the time), calm waters and abundant sea life tojoin us on our journeys. We paddle with dolphins feastingon the local fish, curious sea lions who wonder who weare and assorted bird life. My favorites are the pelicans
who glide gracefully just inches above the water and thenclimb to soaring heights to dive bomb into the water andcome up with a delicious fish snack.
Each time of the year is different. Although it may be hard
to believe, the best time of the year to paddle can be thewinter. Winter in Southern California means clear crisp
weather, clear skies and beautiful views. It is quite amazing to paddle up the coast and look out on snow-covered
mountains! In the summer the weather is beautiful (except for the proverbial “June gloom” when it is overcast).
It is also a great time for practicing our rolls and rescues
as the water is not as cold and can be very refreshing.
Despite what people say the water is quite clean out
in the bay. The only time it is not is after some heavy
rainstorms. I wish everyone could see where things end
up that they drop in storm drains. Hopefully it would makethem think twice about littering.
Even though the water is beautiful, one still has to remember we are out in the ocean. One day while we were
following dolphins and hundreds of birds in a fish feeding
frenzy the fog rolled in. It was so thick we could not see
more than a few feet. Using my compass we headed
back to the shore but the fog did not clear until we were
almost right on top of surfers in the surf.
California Kayaker Magazine

23

Some of the wildlife seen on these paddles“The most stable kayak I haveever been in”
Bob Bramblet,
Kayak Fishing Classics
Series Champion 2011

Sea lions resting
after a long talkwith the author

Small Boats Big Fish!
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Summer 2012

Paddle africa!
Happy Birthday!
Our typical paddle starts out paddling up the main channel of the Marina. At low tides we can sometimes see
small rays and starfish in the water on the rocks along
the way.
A mile up we are at the break wall. Hopefully the wind isbehind us because all that bird life can make for a strong
odor in the morning! Watching out for boat traffic, wehead out of the north entrance of the channel.
Then we continue up towards the bell buoy off Santa
Monica pier that is usually packed high with sea lions
sunning themselves. I give them my traditional sea lion
bark which by now they give me that “you again” look.
(Yes, as I tell my students, I speak fluent sea lion).
We have a great time out there and the camaraderie isgreat. We have even celebrated birthdays out there withhats and party favors. A full size birthday cake fits in a
hatch. It takes a little talent to devour it with a knife andfork while you are drifting in the ocean. We are all goodfriends with no shame any more as we help each otherget back in our boats when nature calls.

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After about 15 minutes of water, food, and really badjokes we begin the paddle back. This time we paddle
around the break wall and come in the south entrance
on the side of the UCLA Aquatic center. After washing
our boats and ourselves we are off to do all the things
that one normally has to do on a Sunday, but with thepleasure of knowing we have seen a side of Los Angelesthat few experience, let alone by kayak. Oh yeah—anddiscussed the state of the union with a sea lion. v
Alan Feldstein is the owner of Infinite Safari Adventures (www.
infinitesafariadventures.com), Infinite Safari Adventures is an
African wildlife safari and adventure company that offers a variety of adventures including being the only company to pair wildlife
safaris with ocean kayaking off the Tanzania
coast. Alan is also a UCLA kayak instructor, SoCal Chapter Chair of the Explorers
Club and a member of the Adventurers Clubof Los Angeles. An accomplished wildlife
California Kayaker Magazine:
photographer, his work has appeared in the
LA Times, Wavelength Magazine, and the• provides the best way to reach kayakers in California
Paddling.net calendar.

If you are reading this...
So are your customers!

Photos by Alan Feldstein.

• distributes over 10,000 copies through over 200 locations• has competitive pricing
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California Kayaker Magazine

25

Excerpt

With the Sea Beside Me:
An Intimate Guide to California’sCentral and North CoastM

eade Fischer, a regular contributor to
California Kayaker Magazine, has justpublished a book called “With the Sea
Beside Me: An Intimate Guide to California’s Central and North Coast”. This book reads
like a guided tour of the coast from Santa Barbara
to the Oregon border, and the intent is to make thereader feel he or she is riding with the author on
an extended road trip. This mile-by-mile guide andtravel literature is meant to be read for enjoyment
before departing and then to be referred to along
the way.

The following is an excerpt from the chapter on Marin:
When you take the road out of Dillon Beach, there’s
a junction. The right takes you back to Tomales, andthe left to Valley Ford, which is on Highway One, justover the line in Sonoma County. However, just a mile
before reaching Valley Ford, there’s a little known, but
outstanding paddling experience, Estero Americano.
The Valley Ford Franklin School Road crosses theEstero at Marsh Road, and just off the road there is asmall parking area, just feet from the water. When you
launch, go left.
One thing that makes the Estero special is that on hot
summer days everyone flocks to the coast to escapethe city and the heat. Unfortunately, you’ll find mostof the city is there, crowding the beaches and the26

www.calkayakermag.com

parking. Imagine relaxing on a totally deserted beachat the mouth of Estero Americano, halfway between
Dillon Beach and Bodega Bay.
There’s a catch, however. You can’t drive to it, andyou probably can’t even walk to it, unless perhaps at avery low tide. The only way in is to paddle for an hour
and a half to two hours. Yet getting there is often atleast as wondrous as being there.
That’s the case with Estero Americano. The six mile
paddle down the Estero transports you to a California
gone for 200 years, a sparsely populated rolling landof green and gold, cattle grazing on the hills.
Just after passing under the bridge there is a stretchof water populated with thousands of pale blue dragonflies. They dance in the air like fairies or like heatshimmers on a desert highway. With a little imagination they become a welcoming committee to a land ofsolitude.
Soon the Estero widens, birds pick for food along themarsh grasses, cows graze lazily on the hills and theoccasional ranch house can be seen atop a distanthill.
After about an hour there is a channel going off to theleft at a 90 degree angle. It flows to a bluff, turns andappears to intersect the main channel a quarter mile
down stream. This is the one deceiving place on thetrip. The left fork is the main channel, as I discovered
Summer 2012

Kayak Fishing
Deck Plates & Hatches

Footbraces & Rudders

when I had to walk my kayak
through the mud and climb over abarbed wire fence.
This left channel takes the paddler
by Whale-Tail Rock, a very distinctive formation. From this rockto the next formation, the wateris very shallow, so one must takecare not to go aground.
The Estero enters a steep-sided
valley populated with egrets,

herons, pelicans and gulls. As
the canyon walls drop away,
the beach appears a short way
ahead.

Your Paddlesports Hardware & Repair Solution

Hardware & Repair

In summer the Estero doesn’t flow
to the sea. In winter, when it does,
it would be wise to take a tidetable along, as low tide can be a
muddy problem.
A ranch house way up on the hillreminds the paddler that he isn’t

sealectdesigns.com
California Kayaker Magazine

27

totally alone, as the beach gives
the impression of being visited forthe very first time. Approaching thebeautiful rock formations on thesouth end of the beach causes thenesting birds to take up an angry cry
against the invading aliens.
These rock formations, surrounding
crystal clear tide pools, give way toanother, smaller beach, more sea
rocks, and on and on, perhaps all
the way to Dillon Beach. I walked
through a sea arch and into thewater to see yet another beach andpoint. It looked possible to walk to
Dillon Beach on a minus tide, but
I’ve yet to try it.

tion with the couple, I discoveredthat they were among a small groupof regular paddlers on this slough. A
half hour later I passed a couple in a
canoe, desperately maneuvering tokeep from going aground.
Returning through a blue haze ofdragonflies to my car, it seemed odd
to find the tiny parking area filledwith three vehicles. I had been out
of touch for five glorious hours, andit took a few minutes to readjust to
civilization.

I wandered those beaches alone foran hour or more. This was on a hot,sunny Saturday in mid June. I didn’t
see other people until halfway backto the car.

The book includes off the beaten track
beaches, great hikes, campgrounds,
some motels and restaurants, brew
pubs, surf spots, kayaking spots,
interesting people to meet along theway and selected stories from the roadaccumulated in a quarter century of exploration and includes over 200 photos
and maps.

Approaching the shallows at WhaleTail Rock, I watched two kayaks
growing closer. In a brief conversa-

If you enjoy the coast and get the occasional travel bug, you can buy this bookon Amazon.com. v

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28

www.calkayakermag.com

Summer 2012

Book Review

Sea Kayaking the Redwood CoastT

he north coast of California offers excellent
paddling opportunities forkayakers of all abilities–
from advanced rock gardening
to mellow paddles on protectedlagoons. But if you wanted tovisit there, how would you findout about where to paddle? Local knowledge is the key. Sea
Kayaking the Redwood Coast is
a collection of local knowledge
provided by members of the local kayaking club, Explore North
Coast, that you can pick up andread in advance of your trip.

The book only briefly touches onareas that may be good for fishing, but doesn’t provide the details
that kayak fishermen would need. It
does not cover information neededby whitewater kayakers. Neitherof these should be a surprise, fora book whose title starts with “SeaKayaking”.

Sea Kayaking the Redwood Coastcan be purchased online from theclub’s web site at www.explorenorthcoast.net/book.html or at most sports
and kayak retailers on the North
Coast. $19.95, 104 pages v

This guide book covers the areafrom just south of Eureka and all theway north to the California-Oregonborder. It is separated into chapters that each covers a geographic
section. Basic information about thearea, cautions, directions, facilities
available, and suggested paddle
routes are all included. Each section
also contains a map and a myriad ofsupporting color photos. Running aprint publication, California Kayaker
Magazine is well aware of the costsof printing in full color, so it is impressive to see this book having so manycolor photographs and maps.
Interspersed with the information on
the various launch points and routes
are interesting side notes for thatarea, such as historical points or
natural/ecological information. These
are nice additions, adding background information that will improveon your paddling and whole trip
experience.
This book would be good for sea
kayakers and recreational flat-water
kayakers who want to paddle in theregion. The information covered tells
you what you need to know to paddle
in this area and what skill level the
paddle would be suggested for. The
descriptions of anticipated conditions
are also very helpful for keeping you
safe.
California Kayaker Magazine

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Advanced Elements ..................32
Aquan Sports...............................2
Clavey River Equipment............22
Covewater Paddle Surf..............13
Delta Kayaks..............................31
Eskape Sea Kayaking .................4Greenland Or Bust..................... 11
Infinite Safari Adventures...........25
Kayak Zak..................................14
Liquid Fusion Kayaking..............19
Outback Adventures...................15
SEA-LECT Designs...................27

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Advertisers Index

Smokey......................................28
Sunrise Mountain Sports............28
Tahoe Keepers.............................8
Valley Sea Kayaks.....................31
WaterTreks EcoTours...................7
Wheeleez ..................................21
Summer 2012

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California Kayaker Magazine

31

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