Recently I had the pleasure of working with Peter Sawtell of Seven Rivers Paddling to manage risk and safety on the paddling sections of Untamed New England, an iconic adventure race that took place on the New Hampshire Seacoast this year.
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At the end of October, Trish & I took some time off to paddle with Sea Kayak Baja Mexico on a 6-day relaxing tour of the Loreto Islands & Coast. Ramon & Daniel guided our group of 8 from Loreto out to Danzante then down the coast a bit. If you ever get a chance to paddle the Sea of Cortez, connect with SKBM for guide services or equipment rental.
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We had 26 teenagers out on Tomales Bay this week and were treated to four days of awesome weather with sun, warm temps and favorable tides. This was a really fun trip stacked with three other incredible guides and rounded out with four adult chaperones from the school we were guiding. For three nights and four days we explored the waters and trails around Point Reyes and Tomales Bay.
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12 kids aged 12-15 for 5 days of kayaking and camping on Tomales Bay. Yes, I have some funny memories of the week. That's what you get with full teenager immersion. I got a healthy dose of what it's like to be a kid these days and enjoyed almost every minute of it. Almost.
We discussed literature - have you read the new book by Flip Dover titled The Beginners Guide to Sea Kayaking
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Last weekend I assisted an ACA Kayaking Instructor workshop in Redding, CA hosted by Headwaters Adventure Company. Joe & Terri opened Headwaters 4 years ago and have helped foster a wonderful community of paddlers in the area. Most participants in the course had really solid foundation skills to work from and were able to progress significantly in a short time.
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I measure the success of GGSKS by the amount of fun I have and I had a ton of fun this year. So I guess that makes the 2014 event very successful. At least by my standards.
GGSKS is a subset of the sea paddling community and a damn fine one. Sean Morley and I receive lots of feedback (positive and negative) and probably way too much praise. But, here's the reality. If you enjoy the event, you can't blame us.
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Sunshine and warm weather can sure help you have fun. I spent the weekend in Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon Coast for the 5th annual Lumpy Waters Symposium hosted by Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe. That crew operates as a true team and does a fantastic job delivering a fun & safe event for all.
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9 paddlers, one panga and 5 days of Sea Leader Training. While in Baja this week, I sat in on a BCU course run by Ginni Callahan and Santiago Burreuta of Sea Kayak Baja Mexico. As an observer, I had the best job - no responsibility, no stress. I helped when they asked, when they were set, I simply paddled.
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As many trips do, this one had a goal. It wasn't clear, but it clearly involved spending time on myself & resetting for a major change. I recently left my job in search of something more meaningful and more fulfilling, and a trip to Baja seemed a good starting point. So far I'm feeling way more 'in touch' with myself and am taking the time to listen to my body.
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Three weeks have passed since the 2013 Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium in the San Francisco Bay Area. The vibe was right-on this year with a healthy mix of personality, positive attitudes, a relaxed atmosphere & abundant sunshine. It was a great place to make friends and do some paddling.
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Paul Kuthe and the crew at Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe go far out of their way to make sure everyone has a good time and I'm pretty sure that was the case. For me, it was 4 solid days of paddling this, paddling that. Talking about paddling, actually paddling, reconnecting with other paddlers & meeting new ones. There was a wonderful fresh energy this year dominated by first-time attendees, some of them having only gotten into kayaking this summer.
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After a mid-morning low-tide surf at Sunset Cliffs with smooth small conditions and an uncrowded lineup, we packed up the truck, took our time enjoying a lunch and motored south of the border stopping just north of Ensenada. My companions had once before spent time at the The Motel California, a cute little place with five oceanfront rooms and a well manicured grassy yard leading down to the beach.
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Machaca, Totopos, titanium silverware and Mr. Sandman. Mulege to Loreto is an awesome route with challenging conditions, beautiful scenery, plentiful wildlife and a great representation of what Baja has to offer. I spent ten days with a group of seven others on this route. All were skilled and experienced paddlers coming onto the trip with different reasons for participating and varied expectations.
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I recently travelled to Pacific City, Oregon with Bryant Burkhardt and Sean Morley, two other California Canoe & Kayak instructors. The three of us were coaching at Lumpy Waters, a terrific sea paddling event catering to different levels of boaters. Without a doubt, anyone who is passionate about sea kayaking and training should go to this event next year. No matter what drives you there - the class offerings, the coach lineup or just the overall experience - it's worth the trip.
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