Woman on Water

Rainy Day Dreaming

2012-01-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

It is raining buckets on the Mendocino Coast. I have a ton of rainy day projects lined-up and have been making some progress. Progress is limited though as I love a quiet, rainy day at home listening to the rain, reading, and day dreaming.

Today it is quite windy. With the ground saturated from recent rains, it is likely that some trees will blow over and knock the power out. No problem for us. We are prepared with candles, battery powered radio, and camp stove. If my post isn't published today, it is because the power went out or because I just relaxed and enjoyed the rainy day. What I am a little fretful about is having to drive 1.5 hours to Ukiah for jury duty tomorrow.

I recently signed up for a Twitter account. You can now follow me as Woman on Water. I am not looking forward to another time consuming social media platform but am enjoying many of the informative posts on twitter as well as networking with new "friends."

This morning's noteworthy new discovery on Twitter was Badger Paddles. Please check them out. They are a small business in Ontario, Canada carving gorgeous wooden canoe paddles. I love their different shapes and of course think that their water color paddles are super cool.

I am finding that Twitter is a good platform for me to tweet and retweet noteworthy businesses, websites, videos, photos, and information without overloading the Liquid Fusion Kayaking Facebook page. Yesterday, I was tempted to tweet the surf conditions as Jeff and I scouted for surf. However, I haven't connected my cell phone to Twitter yet and am still resisting being totally connected.

Speaking of Facebook, I have started a Woman on Water Facebook Page. If you check out the page, you will see why I started it. I am not sure where I am going to go with the page. Feel free to "Like" it, share suggestions with me, and see how it evolves.

As it rains, I find myself day dreaming of whitewater kayaking and connecting with my "foul-weather friends." We call our whitewater boating friends foul-weather friends because it takes rainy weather for our whitewater runs to flow and rarely do we get to enjoy a warm, sunny day of whitewater kayaking in Mendocino County. Believe it or not, there is a contingency of us foul-weather boaters. We obsessively monitor weather forecasting websites and of course Dreamflows for the river flows.

The ocean has been very stormy with thunderous surf, frothing waves, rugged whitecaps, and channels of muddy waters streaming from flooded rivers and creeks. One can glance at local webcams like Caspar RV's beach cam or check out videos posted on YouTube. However, one of the best spots to check out the ocean is Todd's Point/Pomo Bluffs in Fort Bragg. I think it would be a great spot for a webcam; however, I would still walk or drive there to see it in person.

It is noon and time to step away from the computer. A quick peak a the webcams and radar will help me determine my afternoon plans. Perhaps a kayak surf session or maybe a cozy afternoon of reading. I hope that your options for the afternoon are equally as promising.

Dagger Alchemy S

2012-01-19T08:12:00.000-08:00

Last fall, we bought a Small and a Large Dagger Alchemy for our instructional fleet and have been using them for classes and lessons (and other fun adventures)

Of course, I had to indulge my "Goldilocks" tendencies and take the small one out for a test paddle - which actually ended up being more than one since I really enjoyed paddling it.

If I had one word to describe the Dagger Alchemy, it would be FUN!!!

Here is my review of the Dagger Alchemy - S (small).

Overview: The Dagger Alchemy is a 14 foot touring kayak designed for touring on both for flat and moving water. It is designed to be stable and maneuverable and suitable for paddlers of all skill levels. It has become a popular rock gardening boat among the Bay Area Sea Kayakers and can be seen in action in several of the Neptune's Rangers' videos.

Fit and ergonomics: The Alchemy is 14 feet long. I didn't weigh it, but it felt much lighter than most plastic sea kayaks. Its lighter weight and shorter length really made it nice to transport, store, and carry when compared to our other plastic sea kayaks which are in the 16 foot range.

The first thing that I liked about the small Alchemy is that Jeff felt it was too tight of a fit for him (5' 11" and 150 pounds). He rarely feels that way about a boat and often gravitates toward smaller sized or low volume boats. On the other hand, most small sized boats are too big for me (5' 4" and 120 pounds).

The outfitting was quite comfortable and fairly adjustable. This is important for an instructional kayak and also for me as a petite paddler with short legs. I was able to get good thigh contact with the adjustable thigh hooks and was happy that the foot braces had shorter adjustments than what I needed (meaning we could use this boat for very small paddlers and kids). As I moved the boat around and sat in it, I was starting to really like it. I liked the low deck and was starting to feel that this was a boat truly designed for a smaller paddler.

My opinion changed when I went to put the spray deck on. The Alchemy has a large cockpit (similar in size to many whitewater kayaks). Putting the spray deck on was extremely difficult. There is a lot of space between the rear of the seat and the back of the cockpit combing making it very difficult to stretch and get the back of the spray deck on the combing. I have very good shoulder flexibility and putting this spray deck on was definitely tested it. After I got the spray deck on the back, I had a very long stretch to get it over the front of the cockpit combing. My fingertips don't reach that far so I had to scrunch up in my seat to get the deck on. It was very frustrating to have to do a contortion act to get ones spray deck on. This photo shows the large cockpit.

Also when I sat in the boat, I realized that the day hatch was inaccessible due to the amount of space behind the seat and the day hatch. (I speculate that this isn't an issue for those that are taller and have longer arms.)

Performance: I paddled the Alchemy last fall on our typical Mendocino ocean kayaking adventures - rock gardening, surfing, and crabbing.

My initial reaction was "Gee this is FUN!!!" It is a lively boat in the swells and surf zone. It was very stable and wanted to be upright which is a good quality for beginning paddlers and those gaining confidence in moving water. This is particularly nice in the surf zone where many sea kayaks are a bit twitchy.

When surfing it, I really had to work to get it to edge and felt that I needed to weigh another 20-30 pounds get it to carve. Of course, Jeff hopped in it in the surf and got it to edge and carve (Jeff weighs more but is also a VERY skilled paddler). I worked at it and eventually carved a few nice turns.

When capsized, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the Alchemy was to roll up. I could effortlessly hand roll it. I also discovered that the Alchemy is a great kayak for kayak crabbing. I was especially pleased that I could carry two of our non-collapsing pots on it due to the flat front deck.

Hull speed is an issue that I had with the Alchemy. I expected that it would be slower than a 16 foot sea kayak, but it was a lot slower. I found myself paddling harder than usual to keep up on flat water stretches and was dismayed at my lack of speed and ineffectiveness in a towing situation.

It didn't have the speed that I was looking for when paddling out through the surf nor the speed that I needed to catch waves. I adapted and positioned myself on the waves and pour-overs like I would in my whitewater kayak.

For playing, the speed issue is something that I would adapt to. However when guiding or doing more extreme paddling when speed is necessary and others are depending upon me, this could be an issue.

Bottomline: The Dagger Alchemy is a fun kayak! I would recommend it to beginning and intermediate paddlers who are looking for a playful plastic sea kayak. It's lightweight and shorter length make it convenient for transport and storage. It is comfortable with adjustable outfitting, and its stability is confidence inspiring for surf zone and rock garden play. I also think that the Alchemy would be a good choice for beginners who are leaning toward purchasing a recreational kayak but want a boat that is seaworthy.

For me - We have one, and I will play with it as it is lightweight, easy to transport, comfortable and fun. However, it won't be my primary sea kayak for rock gardening due to its lack of speed and difficulty of the spray deck. I have to be able to put a spray deck on quickly and easily unassisted in all conditions (perhaps I should have Jeff video me contorting to put the spray deck on to demonstrate my point). If Dagger fixes the cockpit issue, I would probably revisit it as my sea kayak rock gardening boat.

If you've paddled the Alchemy or have questions or thoughts on it, feel free to comment below. If you are considering buying one, take one out for a test paddle.

CENSORED by SOPA & PIPA

2012-01-18T07:31:00.000-08:00

A black screen with information about Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA) an Protect IP Act (PIPA) are on many websites today to create awareness of the latest attempts of corporate America to control the internet. Take a look at craigslist today.

Internet piracy is a huge issue. I have had my photos and content stolen which is flattering but maddening. (why I started putting the gaudy watermarks on my photos). Internet piracy is a huge issue that goes beyond someone using my photos. It is financially detrimental to some companies, but we need to make sure that measures to control piracy don't become censorship.

At first SOPA and PIPA seem benign and good steps toward stopping piracy on the net; however, they go too far. Imagine the internet without wikipedia, craigslist, google, youtube, blogs . . . . where the government (under the influence of corporate America) takes control of the web. Many websites have gone to black screens today and will have information and easy action steps to take to protest SOPA and PIPA. Please take a few moments to become educated and to act accordingly.

Here's a video from vimeo that I found helpful. If you like it, please share it. If you have other sources of information, please share them by commenting below.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Back on the Water

2012-01-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas we packed up our bags to spend the holiday season with our families – a couple of days with Jeff’s family in San Jose and a couple of weeks with my family in Central Pennsylvania. Tom Cat was not happy about our travel plans and thought that he might try stowing away in my suitcase.

We debated shipping our drysuits to Pennsylvania to do some canoeing but figured that the weather would be too cold to even think of paddling and decided to take a 2 week break from paddling.

2 weeks is the longest time that I have not been on the water since the summer of 2008. Physically – it felt great and was a nice break. The weather in Pennsylvania was unbelievably mild. I was a little bummed not to have snow for sledding but enjoyed lots of time in the outdoors.

My family’s dairy farm is nestled in a valley of rolling hills surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains. It was nice to spend time with my family and enjoy the familiar sights, sounds, and tastes (not the smell) of home. I reminisced of my childhood and teenage years – milking cows, tending to the sheep and calves, and working in the fields.

Any trip off the farm though had me looking at the rivers and dreaming of paddling them again. One day, we hiked at Trough Creek State Park and eyed a couple of slots and wave trains on the creek as my brother told of his adventure kayaking it after Hurricane Irene. Another day we saw a bunch of boaters taking out at my favorite fishing hole on the Little Juniata River and I longed to have been with them. The only time that we had our hands on paddles was as we carved a few in my brother’s workshop.
We had hoped that California was having a normal weather year and the rivers would be flowing so that we could go whitewater kayaking when we returned. Unfortunately, there has been no rain (or snow) in California. It is scary how dry things are and how low the rivers are. We can’t control the weather and fortunately had packed the “Fun Truck” full of our favorite toys so we headed to the coast for some kayak surfing.

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” During my 2 weeks in PA, I didn’t look at the marine forecasts, swell predictions, or buoy reports. It was strange to be away from the pulse of the ocean. When I returned to California, I realized how much the ocean has become a part of my soul. As we paddled out, I relished the familiar sights and feeling of the California Coast. As the swells rolled under my kayak, I marveled at the size of the common loon that was casually rising and falling with the swells and enjoyed the bobbing and diving of the eared grebes. I soaked in the sun’s warmth as it reflected off the water as did the pelagic cormorants perched on the rocky cliffs. But the best feeling was surfing my first waves of 2012 and being back on the water.

A Series of Unexpected Events

2011-12-30T07:41:00.000-08:00

Surreal would be my best adjective for 2011. Of course phenomenal paddling is to be expected when one's regular paddling playground is the Mendocino Coast. However, 2011 seemed to be the year of the unexpected.

As I reflect on 2011, I recall regularly thinking, "Really? Someone pinch me so that I know this is really happening."

From be friending a garter snak e

to testing str ip-built sea kayaks, 2011 was a bizarre year.

Probably one of the most unexpected events of 2011 was helping Jeff salvage a sunken sit on top kayak from the bottom of Noyo Bay.

Equally unexpected was stepping my game up to run some Class IV whitewater.

My favorite adventure of 2011 was our 169 mile Paddle to the Sea on the Eel River. In 8 days, Jeff and I paddled whitewater kayaks from Lake Pillsbury to the Pacific Ocean on the Eel River.

2011 was a year of fun and adventure but also of frustration (Tales from the Surf Zone) and disappointment (Skunked). And also sadness as 2 of my beloved pets - Button and Aften passed away. It is these moments that remind us that we are human and things aren't meant to be perfect.

What will 2012 bring? More fun adventures I hope. Jeff and I will be traveling a little bit more in 2012 and sharing the fun. In January, I am meeting with Risa Shimoda to consult with her on The Ladies' Project. Later in January, we are road tripping with the toys to Bodega Bay for Crabfest 2012 sponsored by The Headwaters and Promar. In March, we will be sharing our Eel River Paddle to the Sea Adventure with several clubs including Explore North Coast.

Unexpected has been the positive response that I have gotten from readers of my blog. Initially, I was surprised that people were reading my blog. Thanks for reading and sharing the adventures. Here's a link to some of our favorite photos of 2011.

Best wishes for fun and adventure in 2012.

Interval Training - Mendo Style

2011-12-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

I vowed to get stronger, faster, and more skilled this fall/winter and have been trying to stay on track with regular training. With limited hours of daylight and lots of other projects to do, this presents a problem. Fall/winter is also our favorite time to hunt and gather. Hmmm - the need for high intensity exercise and the need for hunting and gathering?

Ah-Ha!!! Interval training!!! For years athletes and fitness enthusiasts have used interval training to boost fitness levels. The general gist of interval training is interspersing bursts of high intensity effort with periods of low intensity effort. Here is my evolving Mendo Interval Training Plan for Forage, Frolic, Feast, and Fun.

Intervals in the Woods - Mountain biking and Mushroom hunting

How it works - Riding to specific mushroom patches and stopping to pick. Mountain biking on single track trails through the forest constantly engages the core muscles as well as challenges ones balance and timing. Short steep climbs and long sustained efforts provide cardiovascular training.

Results - in 3 hours - cardio and core training, 2-3 pounds of choice edible mushrooms, fresh air, and FUN!!!

Variation - hiking and mushroom hunting. Not quite the core workout but a fun way to get a workout in while trekking to mushroom spots and sharing the adventure with friends who don't mountain bike.

Intervals at Sea - kayak surfing and crabbing

How it works - setting crab rings in a sandy area near a surf zone and then going surfing. After 20-30 minutes, return to pull the rings which are hopefully heavy with dungeness crabs. Repeat 4 times. We usually end up sprinting between the crab rings and the surf zone and of course surfing always involves rolling.

Results - in 3 hours - an intense paddling workout(sprints, rolling, and salt water sinus cleaning), fresh dungeness crabs, and FUN. Lately I've been working on surfing a sea kayak and demoing a Dagger Alchemy. The day hatch is a handy place to transport and store crabs.

Variation - Dropping crab pots and going rock gardening - see CARS.

SUPing for Crabs - (I got a SUP for birthday/Christmas this year). This week was our first time on the SUP's so we are still learning and developing this variation. The SUP is definitely a good core workout and a lot of fun.

Frolic, forage, feast, and fun is the theme of these evolving Mendo Intervals. Who knows where the adventures will lead next.

Subdued

2011-12-12T09:42:00.000-08:00

Woman on water has been a bit subdued lately as I enjoy the short days and quiet times of fall.

I've been stymied and skunked by the surf. After not much surfing over the summer, I jumped in over my head and over-stretched into some trickier breaks with bigger waves and bigger consequences. No bad carnage but badly shaken confidence has me with my tail tucked between my legs looking for some mellow surf sessions.

I just re-outfitted my surf kayak. My previous outfitting had me sitting too far back in the cockpit. I didn't have enough weight in the bow to punch through waves resulting in the wave or foam pile catching my bow and pitching me backwards - heels over head - not real fun. I took her out for a spin last week but still have more work to do to get the necessary body-boat connection.

Most of my on-water time has been work related and pretty mellow - swift water training for the local logging company fish survey crews, guiding wildlife watching tours on the Noyo River, paddling in Noyo Harbor's lighted boat parade, and testing out some new gear.

Off the water, lots of projects are underway. I am organizing our home office and slipping out to pick goodies for dinner. In addition to wild edible mushrooms, apples have been on the goody list. The dehydrator has been cranking as I envision days on the river whitewater kayaking and sharing my tasty dried apples with friends. Our first river run is going to be this Saturday. It will be a slow, low water run as we paddle and survey birds along the Russian River for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, but it will feel good to be back on the river again.

After a busy summer, it is nice to have some quiet time to get projects done and rest and rejuvenate. However, stay tuned for more lively woman on water adventures as they are definitely on their way.

CARS -Crabs, Abs, and Rocks

2011-11-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

A storm out of the Aleutian Islands is heading our way. The marine forecast for the next couple of days are for gale force winds, combined seas in the 15-20 foot range and rain. As the storm brewed and winds started to pick up, we figured that we better get out and stock up on food and play. Our whitewater paddling buddy Nick joined us for the adventure.

A 10 knot southerly breeze had started with some gusting in the 15-20 knot range. The texture on the water was definitely showing the effect of southern winds with occasional whitecaps on the outer waters. Our plan was to paddle our sea kayaks out of the Noyo Bay, drop our crab pots, play in some rock gardens, abalone dive, and then pull our pots and head for home.

Of course, we could have dropped our crab pots in the protected areas of Noyo Bay, but instead had to charge out to where things get interesting. I think that Jeff wants to simulate the drama of Deadliest Catch on our crabbing missions. We are definitely getting a lot of towing practice on our sea kayak crabbing adventures.

We dropped our pots and off we went in search of adventure and abalone. First we paddled into a favorite spot and had to stop and admire the US Coast Guard plane doing maneuvers out at sea. This is not an everyday occurrence on the Mendocino Coast, and it was fun to watch.

The area where we were going to play and dive was really gusty with the southerly winds so we modified plans and tucked into a more protected area. Despite the small swell, Nick and I had some fun rides while Jeff took photos and prepared to dive for abalone.

Both Nick and I regretted that we didn't bring our dive gear. Jeff plucked his abs easily but lingered in the water for a bit marveling at the beauty of the vibrant underwater colors of sea life.

Eventually the fish got out of the water and we strategized how to pull our crab pots in the windy conditions. I was going to pull the pots as Jeff used a tow to keep me from drifting into the kelp and onto a reef. Nick was going to stabilize my boat and help with strapping the pots onto my boat.

I was excited to get to pull the pots and be the first to see our catch of the day. I was a little apprehensive though as the last time we pulled a pot in this area there was a giant octopus on it (feeling crabby). The first pot that I pulled didn't feel heavy so I knew that there wasn't a giant octopus on it. It also didn't feel heavy with crabs. There were 3 crabs in it though. One was a nice sized dungeness crab. Into the cockpit of my boat he went.

When we pulled the next pot, I was excited to see 2 crabs. One didn't look right though. He was a beautiful dark red color and had latched his claws onto the bars of the trap. It was a rock crab. It took some finagling to get him to let go and out of the trap. After I got him to let go of the cage, he latched on to my finger. OUCH!!! Fortunately I was wearing my gloves and he didn't break the skin. I got him off and happily sent him on his way back into the drink.

Back to shore we paddled - happy that we had 3 abalone, a crab, and a fun day on the water.

Feeling Crabby?

2011-11-16T08:36:00.000-08:00

We are working on planning our 2012 calendar and updating the Liquid Fusion Kayaking website. Lots of time on the computer has me feeling a bit crabby so I figured a good cure for crabbiness might be a little kayak crabbing .

We decided to put our new Dagger Alchemy sea kayaks to the task. Mostly because they are very stable. We also wanted to get a feel for their outfitting and performance (review of the Dagger Alchemy will be in a future post).

Saturday before our Mushroom Paddle, we paddled out into Noyo Bay and dropped our crab pots. It was a gorgeous morning with calm seas and the full moon setting to the west.

Quickly we dropped our pots and headed to the woods to gather mushroom specimens for my mushroom identification and ecology lesson.

After the mushroom paddle, we paddled out to pick up our pots. Wind and seas had picked up considerably. Also, quite a few more pots were dropped in the vicinity of ours. I was glad that I had my towline. As Jeff pulled up our pots, the wind and currents were blowing him into the lines of the other crab traps so I had to use an anchor tow to keep him from drifting into harms way.

Jeff was stoked as we pulled up the first pot because it was quite heavy. We both envisioned a pot full of tasty Dungeness crabs. As the pot neared the surface, we were dismayed to see a Giant Pacific Octopus wrapped around the top. The tentacles on this guy must have been 5 feet long. It took some coaxing and prodding to get him back into the sea.

Obviously, the octopus was as interested in the contents of the trap as we were. Inside the trap were 8 Dungeness crabs. Four of the crabs ended up being too small so we put them back. Jeff stuffed the 4 keepers inside the cockpit of his boat - No, they didn't pinch him.

Off to the next pot we went. This pot was heavy too but we were cautiously optimistic about its contents. By darned if there were no crabs in it but 2 large slobs. Slobs is a term that crab fisherman use for Sunflower Starfish which are notorious for getting into pots and devouring crabs.

We stowed our pots and happily surfed the swells back to the beach. We would be having fresh crab and Chanterelle pizza for dinner.

Special thanks to Jimmy Callian for tagging along with us and taking photos (and keeping us laughing).

Save Daylight?

2011-11-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

I like the end of daylight savings time in the fall. Of course one of the best features is getting that hour back that we gave up in the spring. Yes, it is dark earlier in the evening but it is also light earlier. Growing up on a farm, my body and mind are programed to maximize the day and are most productive in the morning.

Colder weather always seems to come to the Mendocino Coast with the time change. We haven't had a good frost yet but it seems to be impending. We look forward to seeing the salmon travel up the river to spawn and the arrival of our winter migratory birds. Buffleheads are one of our favorites.

Shorter days and colder mornings have us spending more time indoors. We have started our winter training regime of cardio, strength and flexibility training. This year, I have realized the need to put more time in on the flexibility end. No, I am not admitting to getting older but realizing the toll that paddling takes on my body. So its time to pump up the pilates ball and throw down the yoga mats for winter cross training.

Mountain biking is good for cardio and agility and is down right fun, but targeted agility and strength training. We recently watched this YouTube video of Laird Hamilton's workouts. WOW - I have no illusion of being like Laird but find his workout regime to be inspiring.

Shorter days, chilly mornings, also resonate that it is a time to rest and recover. Tom Cat happily helps us with this aspect of winter training.

Amanitas, Boletes, Chantrelles . . . Oh MY!!!

2011-11-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

Mushroom season on the Mendocino Coast is in full swing. We've been enjoying the treasures of the forest and sharing them with others.
The Mendocino Wine and Mushroom Festival is a fun way to learn about the mushrooms and enjoy culinary delights with our local wild mushrooms. We host Mushroom Paddles to share our love and knowledge of the fruits of the forest with others. The day begins with Jeff and I collecting specimens in the forest. I then present a lesson on mushroom identification and ecology followed by a paddle on the Noyo River enjoying the fall scenery, wildlife and looking for wild mushrooms.
So what have we been finding in the forest?
Amanitas are just starting to pop-out. Many are familiar with Amanita muscaria aka fly agaric or Alice and Wonderland mushroom. These beauties add color and beauty to our forest but not to our dinner table. Many species of amanitas are toxic and some are even deadly.

This year we have had a bumper crop of boletes - Kings, Queens, Admirals, and Manzanita. The boletes are my favorite to find in the forest as they are quite stout and they are also my favorite for the table. I feel like a trophy buck hunter when I bag a big-un.

I like to dry saute them and eat them as a side dish. On a bountiful year, I will dry them and put them in burgers/soups/stews. This year I have been finding lots of admiral boletes - these ones have lemony flavor and are great with chicken.
Chantrelles are a favorite choice edible that grows well in our forests.
I like to collect them and eat them in just about everything from omelets to pasta and rice dishes and my personal favorite homemade chantrelle pizza. Piacis in Fort Bragg makes a great pie and usually has wild mushroom specials that are scrumptious.

PS Candy Caps are just starting to pop out as well. Mushroom ice cream any one? Sounds totally gross even to a mushroom head like me, but it is delicious and my favorite flavor. It is made from the Candy Cap mushroom which is a rare form of milky cap that grows prolifically in the forests of the Mendocino Coast. Cowlicks in Fort Bragg makes a delicious ice cream. I use them in pancakes and muffins, but my favorite baked good has been a special recipe that I have developed for Candy Cap Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies.

Tales from the Surf Zone

2011-10-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

Would you/Could you launch here?

This was the decision that I had to make. We had just finished 3 days of coaching and instructing at the Lumpy Waters Symposium and today was coaches' play day. We critically looked at this surf zone. As we scouted from the parking lot, a lull hit. We deemed it doable. 20-30 minutes later we were dressed and on the beach and this is what it looked like.

(I'm not sure if this photo does it justice. Many armchair QB's will say that this was nothing.)

There were some rips and areas with lots of whitewater and poorly formed waves, but it was the large dumping closeout waves on the outside that were intimidating. It was interesting to hear each paddler's read on the water and the best line and strategy for getting out.

About 100 yards out there was a dumping monster wave that intimidated me. I felt confident that I could work my way through the frothing whitewater of the broken waves just to the north but was not certain that I could time it correctly to avoid being there when the monster reared. Much of this intrepidation came from an incident 3 days prior in which I was sucked out of my boat and had a long swim in to shore (more about this later). My heart said go for it but my gut said that I might be a liability to the group. I went with my gut and decided not to launch.

The first wave of paddlers hovered for a while just in front of the dumpers waiting for a lull and then tried to punch through. They ended up coming back in to regroup. It was validating to see Sean find the seam in the foam piles that I had selected as my line. I was supposed to launch in the 3rd group with Jeff and Bryant. They took Sean's route and just made it over the top of the outside dumper as the monster reared up and crashed. I knew that I didn't have their speed and power and very likely would have been caught in the monster's big teeth.

As the guys disappeared from sight, I knew that I made the right decision but was pissed that I wasn't out there. I contemplated taking a nap in the sun or going for a walk on the beach, but decided that this could be a learning experience so I sat and studied the surf zone and honed my water reading skills. I practiced picking routes and timing sets. Could I have made it out if I had sat and watched it longer? After having watched it for an hour, I had a sense of the lines and timing and was confident that I could launch but had made my decision to stay on the beach.

Some of my decision came from an experience that I had on Friday . . .

On Friday, we went out for a morning surf session in short boats. Prior to getting our boats, we walked along the beach and saw others launching from the north end. It was a relatively straight forward surf zone. We opted though not to drive up there but launch from the beach right in front of the house where we were staying. There was a significant rip there and a mid surf zone dumping closeout wave, but some nice peaks and shoulders on the outside that were quite alluring.

I looked at it for a moment and looked at Jeff and off we went. I found a rip that created a seam through the inside and was on my way out to those peaking waves on the outside. I saw the mid zone dumpers and felt certain that my line and speed would carry me between them. Just then one reared up in front of me. I guess I drifted slightly to the south and right into the impact zone. Rather than take the impact on my head and risk imploding my spraydeck, I attempted to duck dive under it by capsizing my boat. The plan was to sneak under it and roll up on the other side. My timing was a little late and I went cartwheeling over the falls upside down and backwards. I rolled up only to face the next thumper about to crash on my head. I purposely capsized again and expected the same maytagging but instead felt suspended in the wave and then sucked out of my boat. I was dismayed and grabbed for the cockpit combing to hold myself in but the wave had other plans and ripped me out.

Jeff was just 10 yards to the north of me and avoided this whole experience. Another paddling buddy was 10 yards to the north of him ended up out of his boat too. Due to the rip currents and trying to swim out of a rip with a boat full of water, it was a long swim in to shore. When I made it to shore, I was glad to be out of the grips of the sucking currents but felt invigorated. It has been awhile since I had a good swim in the ocean. There's nothing like a little cold water immersion to make one feel alive.

Chalk these 2 up to experience. Paddling is about skill but it is also about experience - applying ones paddling skills in situations/conditions and applying the knowledge gained through experiences to good decision making. I hated the decision that I made not to launch but I still think that it was the right one. Of course those that know me, know where much of my time and efforts will be spend this fall/winter training season.

PS Fall/winter training has already begun.

There's No Place Like Home

2011-10-24T06:59:00.001-07:00

Jeff and I just returned from a fantastic week on the Oregon Coast. We really enjoy Oregon and want to explore more of the state, but we had to head home to the Mendocino Coast to celebrate Jeff's birthday weekend.

We returned to all sorts of funness including good friends coming to play, my Mendocino Fat Tire Festival article on the front page of the newspaper, a weather forecast for sunshine and calm ocean conditions, and other special treats including lots of ripe tomatoes in the garden.

King Boletes in the forest (my favorite choice edible mushroom).

Here's link to a photo album of Jeff's Birthday Fest Weekend. Check back soon for tales of our adventures in Oregon including teaching at the Lumpy Waters Symposium and adventures and misadventures with Brian Shultz of Cape Falcon Kayak.

Play Time

2011-10-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

All work and no play is no good at all - so sometimes, one has to step away and play.

Sometimes it is in the woods and results in a tasty dinner -

Sometimes it is in a kayak-
Sometimes it is on a bike -

Sometimes it is with a special friend-
Sometimes it is in your backyard-

Sometimes it is on a Lost Coast-

Sometimes you send the boys off to play on their own-

Sometimes it is spontaneous - 1 - 2 - 3 JUMP!!!

Sometimes it is into the sunset-
Life is good - Get out and PLAY!!!

Washed Ashore

2011-09-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Here's Jeff checking out Henry -
Henry was washed ashore in the form of millions of pieces of plastic

After a busy summer, Jeff and I meandered off the Mendocino Coast to check out The Washed Ashore exhibit at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.

It is AMAZING - 15 creations made from trash that washed up onto Oregon beaches. The creations are clever and the displays are educational and thought-provoking (like this one)

Many know that sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jelly fish, but they are only one of many species that are significantly impacted. I was astounded by this whale of a tale -

It is disturbing when you think about how much plastics have become a necessity in our lives. Jeff and I were trying to think how we could live without plastics. It doesn't seem possible, but we can "Rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle, reinvent, and refuse" to minimize our use and impact.

We also can become involved in activities like California Coastal Cleanup Day and support groups that are working to create awareness like The Surfrider Foundation. Seeing their photo of the internal contents of a bird's stomach has made me obsessive that every little shred of plastic that comes from a wrapper gets into the trash. Be sure to check out their Rise Above Plastics program.

I also have become increasing aware of my impact as a kayaker. Seal launches and landings with plastic kayaks often leaves bits of plastic on the rocks.

While seal launches and landings are fun, we use them only when necessary in favor of lower impact on the environment. Jumping off of rocks into the ocean and swimming to your kayak is good fun too.

Be sure to check out the facebook page - Out of Sight, Out of Mind . Here's a group of 3 paddlers working to create awareness of the trash issues in our waterways and what we can do to help. For many of us, every day is Coastal Cleanup Day as we pick up trash on our streets, in the forest, and on the water.

If you get a chance, definitely check out the Washed Ashore Exhibit and share it with others. Every Action Counts . . .

Crash Test Dummies

2011-08-23T07:23:00.001-07:00

A couple of strip-built sea kayaks were dropped off for us to demo. "The Mattang" was designed to be a rugged, nimble surfing and rock gardening sea kayak. It was specifically built for the surf and rock gardens of the Mendocino Coast. "The Sundance" was a gorgeous, 18.5' long, pointy sea kayak with Greenland and British design influences.

We slipped out for an evening paddle. I paddled the elegant 18.5' Sundance and Jeff paddled the rugged Mattang. A couple of minutes after we launched from the beach, the bulkhead on my boat came loose and shifted forward of my feet, and the right thigh brace came unglued. I didn’t come unglued over these outfitting details (story of my life) and enjoyed the smooth, effortless feel of her gliding through the water. She was surprisingly nimble and turned well with a little edge. She was fast, sleek and efficient and very different from my 16 foot plastic Valley Avocet.

It was a mellow evening, and we enjoyed a couple of rides on a rock garden feature called "The Toilet Bowl."

We meandered over to Chicken Point which was breaking on some of the larger sets. I was content to sit on the edge of the break and admire and photograph Jeff and the Mattang in action. Jeff was tearing it up with her!!! He made that boat dance on the water.

My friend Amy and her family were spectating from the bluffs. Of course they goaded me into catching a wave at Chicken Point. I thought, "Sure, great idea - surfing a rock-strewn break in an elegantly crafted 18.5’ wooden sea kayak with a hull design that had never been tested in the surf."

I contemplated . . . worst case scenario . . . I would not be able to control the boat and end up broach surfed into the rocks . . . at least my friends would witness some spectacular carnage.

As my friend Amy says, “I nutted-up” and got into position. The boat accelerated with ease onto the wave. As I dropped in, I felt totally in control. The bow and stern both rode high in the water allowing me to control the boat's direction. I edged her slightly and surfed her across the face of the wave.

Huh? An 18.5 foot sea kayak that drops into a wave and edges and carves. The builder was ecstatic. He had no idea what she would do on a wave. Jeff and my friends were hooting and hollering . . . . I was grinning from ear to ear and paddling back for another wave. And caught another, and another, and another. On one wave, I actually dropped in and cut right toward the rocks and then cut back left. It was amazing and so much fun.

So much for being crash test dummies . . . this time.

Here's a video of our session using the rapid fire photos that Amy took from above on the bluffs.

Hairy and the Herons

2011-08-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Ahhh - summer days manning Liquid Fusion Kayaking's headquarters on the Noyo River. In the summer, one of us is there daily taking reservations and renting kayaks. Lately, I have been manning the shop as Jeff has been out at sea.

I have been a little behind on my blogging because we don't have internet at our shop on the Noyo River. Maybe some day, we will get our technology online or maybe not.

If my office was a climate controlled cubical, I would probably go stir crazy without an online connection to the world (actually in a cubicle, I would go crazy with or with out internet). However, my office consists of a little gear shed and a picnic table on a deck over the Noyo River.

Of course with a daily field trip via kayak onto the river . . .

It seems to be a blessing not to be online when I am there as I get to be plugged into nature. I get to know what creatures are around and their daily habits. I know when the baby birds have left their nest and who is still under their parents' watchful care and who is being told to go away and find their own territory.

Hairy is a gartersnake that lives under a planter box on our deck. He has become one of the creatures that I monitor throughout the day. He monitors whats going on as well. One of his favorite habits is to lie in a crack in our deck and peer about like a little periscope.

He also likes to nestle in the nasturtium. His stripes are good camouflage, and I have to protect him from people stepping on him.

This week, I have been particularly enamored with 5 newly fledged green herons. They left the nest Tuesday afternoon, and I have been spying on them through my spotting scope. They still have downy feathers on their heads and are quite comical to watch as the climb and explore the alder trees above the Noyo River.

Green herons are a special bird to me as they were "THE" bird that intrigued me to become interested in birds and birding.

Well, time to get off line and back on the river.

The Lost Coast

2011-08-03T19:59:00.001-07:00

At the conclusion of our Eel River Paddle to the Sea Trip, we enjoyed burgers and beers at the Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, CA and dreamed of our next adventure - the Lost Coast.

Tentatively we have some dates set aside for us to paddle and explore during the fall of 2011. We are especially inspired to do this trip after reading Sean Morley's account of their recent trip. Check out their photos and story on the CCK blog.

Our trip plans of course include kayaking and surfing but also some mountain biking, hiking, and exploring. This week, I begged a day off and got to explore a section of the Lost Coast by mountain bike with a group of the Mendocino Coast Cyclists. We rode the Paradise Royale Trail. This is a sweet 14 mile bicycle trail designed for mountain bikes. It was SWEET!!! Can't wait to get back and ride it again and share it with Jeff - if I can get him off of the jumps and features of the terrain park.

I am having camera issues again. Here's a photo that Roo took of Cindy and I climbing on the trail.

Stay tuned.

PS For those that want a guided sea kayak trip in the Lost Coast - Hawk Martin of Humboats is running one Labor Day weekend. Hawk has paddled and fished in that area extensively and does a great job of all the logistics of multi-day trips. We wish that we could go on his Labor Day Trip but have other adventures booked on the Mendocino Coast.

The Ladies' Project

2011-07-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, you’ve heard Goldilocks’ tale - “This kayak is too wide, this kayak is too deep, this kayak is too heavy, this kayak is too slow, this kayak is uncomfortable, I can’t reach the foot pedals, I can’t stretch a spray deck over the long cockpit, my butt doesn’t fit in the seat . . .” Gosh, the same thing happens when I try to shop for clothing in the men’s department. DUH!!! There are significant anatomical differences between men and women.

Of course, I am not the only Goldilocks. Many women paddlers face these same issues. There is no ladies’ department for kayaks so we end up shopping in the men’s department and making due with what we can find that fits best. In doing so, we compromise comfort and performance.

The learning curve for a beginner in whitewater kayaking is steep especially when trying to paddle boats that don't fit properly. I remember my first lesson when the instructor was teaching edging and said to apply pressure with my right thigh in the brace. My thigh was no where near the thigh brace. Many women give up on paddling or are limited to flat water paddling because they don’t get the body-boat connection necessary for developing confidence and skills.

Kayak manufacturers have started offering more size options to accommodate a wider range of paddlers, but no one has really scientifically looked at how the anatomical differences of men and women (lower center of gravity, shorter arms and torso, lower muscle to weight ratio, different pelvic structure, and narrower shoulders) effect a kayak’s performance.

The Ladies’ Project is a step in this direction. Risa Shimoda is a whitewater paddler and advocate for rivers and whitewater accessibility. She has enlisted Carnegie Mellon University’s engineering and design department to take on the challenge of developing a kayak design for women. This fall, students will be posed with this challenge (provided the materials and lab fees can be raised).

Let‘s rally to help and be a part of this movement to further kayak design for women. Donations are being sought to cover the $7000 material and lab fees. $25 is the suggested donation amount but any amount will help fund this ground breaking project.

Even if a solution is not found - we are furthering awareness and knowledge. You can help make kayaking more accessible to women by spreading the word and making a donation by 7/31.

To donate to The Ladies‘ Project, click here.

Sunken Kayak

2011-06-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

While 2 red flags flew above the US Coast Guard Station in Noyo Harbor, a green sit on top kayak bounced and bobbed beneath the surface of the water.

Around 2:30 a phone call came in about a sunken kayak in Noyo Bay. It was an office day for me. I was in a stupor of paperwork and bookkeeping and didn't know how to respond so I gave them Jeff's cell phone number.

An hour later, Jeff walks into our home office and starts assembling his dive gear and kayak rescue kit. I couldn't let him have all the fun so I wrapped up my office work, grabbed my kayak and gear and headed out to catch up with him in the Noyo Bay.

As I drove down the hill past the US Coast Guard Station, I noticed 2 red flags flying indicating a small craft advisory and rough sea conditions. A glance out at the ocean, it showed steep seas pitching the buoys sideways. The tide was high and waves were breaking over many of our favorite rock garden play spots.

When we arrived, Scott (the guy who had sunk his kayak) had an entourage of family and friends waiting to see what we would do. He had quite an adventure already - sinking his kayak and being rescued by the Coast Guard. They had called the local diver who does subsurface repair and salvage work, but he wasn't going out due to the conditions. They expected us to come out on a boat to recover the kayak and exclaimed their surprise when we started suiting up and unloading our kayaks.

Scott borrowed his dive buddy's kayak and came to assist us with the retrieval mission. We launched and paddled out to the spot where the kayak sunk. When the kayak sank, the guys cleverly tied a float tube (used for abalone diving) and anchor to the kayak to mark its position on the bottom of the bay.

When we got to the spot, Jeff suited up with his dive gear (fins, snorkel, and weight belt).

The kayak had sunk when the paddler had the front hatch open to store his weight belt and lost balance and capsized the kayak. If the weight belt had fallen out, the kayak would have been flooded but would have been neutrally buoyant. However, the weight belt slid into the bow taking her nose down into Davey Jone's Locker.

Jeff dove down and assessed the situation. The bow of the boat was bouncing on top of a submerged rock about 15 feet below the rolling surface. Getting the weight belt out of the bow was going to be key in recovering the boat. Not only did Jeff get the 25 pound weight belt out of the boat, but he swam with it up to the surface. We stowed it in Scott's borrowed kayak and I braced his boat.

Jeff had tied a line to the sunken kayak to one of the carrying handles. I stabilized Scott's boat as he attempted to pull her up, but the handle broke. Jeff dived down and retied the line, and we successfully pulled her up.

Without the weight belt, the kayak was neutrally buoyant and floated just below the surface of the water. We thought that we could bilge her out and tow her back to the beach, but her drain plug was missing and she continued to take on water. Plan B - tow the waterlogged, submerged kayak back to shore.

We got her back to shore with lots of cheers.

After getting the water-out, she didn't look too much worse for wear with the exception of her bow.

After bouncing and bobbing on the rock for 3-4 hours, the bow was considerably banged- up but still intact.

Just another day at the office.

River Nazi

2011-06-24T08:07:00.001-07:00

Noyo River Nazi??? I hate yelling and generally only raise my voice in dire circumstances. This week the circumstances weren't necessarily dire but here's my tale.

We've been having phenomenally warm and sunny weather on the Mendocino Coast. Kayaking on Fort Bragg's Noyo River has been GORGEOUS! Everything is green and blooming, and lots of different babies are starting to appear on and along the river (baby otters, merganser ducklings, fawns, kingfishers, downy woodpeckers).

I enjoy watching the babies as they learn about the new world. Even the Canada Geese's goslings are intriguing. (We have mixed feelings about Canada Geese. They are beautiful but non-native breeders in our area that are starting to overpopulate and really make a mess).

One of the joys of kayaking is being on the water and seeing wildlife. I emphasize to all of our renters the joys of watching wildlife from a kayak but also our responsibility to be respectful of it.
This week, I was doing some equipment repairs on our deck while a few of our customers were paddling on the river. I saw a few kayaks coming down river but didn't pay much attention to them as they were not part of the LFK fleet. A few moments later, I heard tons of splashing and honking from the geese. A boy in one of the kayaks was chasing some goslings and their parents. At first, I thought he had just paddled too close trying to get a good look, but it became apparent that he was chasing them. The goslings are fairly good swimmers but can't fly and were panicked and swimming in circles while the parents honked and tried to protect them.

So the River Nazi stepped up to the edge of the deck and yelled across the river, "STOP Chasing the Geese!" The boy stopped and his mom and sibling looked at me dumbfounded. They continued on down the river toward where a group of ducks were sleeping. I called them over and proceeded to try to explain the need to respect wildlife especially the babies.

From their expression, they either didn't get it or didn't care. I hate having to yell but felt it necessary to protect the creatures who make the Noyo River their home. I can only hope that they understood and didn't harass any more birds, harbor seals, and other creatures as they kayaked on the river.

The Fog Bug

2011-06-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

Ever wake up in the morning feeling kind of foggy? Maybe too little sleep or too much to drink - we all know that feeling.

This week, I had serious fog issues with my camera. Several paddlers on our June Tour de Mendo commented about having fog issues with their cameras. I felt for them and took a moment to appreciate the reliability of our waterproof point and shoot camera. Our Olympus Stylus 850SW has been a champ. It has seen A LOT of use since we bought it in the summer of 2008 and been a solid camera for us - taking great photos and video (considering it is pre-HD). Each year, we have sent it in for refurbishing and maintenance and it has come back looking like new and working great.
This week despite all precautions, it caught the "fog bug." The lens and lcd panel started fogging up. I was very disappointed as I missed some great shots but what can one do?

I called Olympus yesterday and it just happens that my baby is still under warranty from last winter's repair and refurbish. They warned me that they are no longer fixing older models like this. I begged and pleaded that they bring it back to life as it is the best camera ever. Hopefully they will. Their warranty and customer service has been outstanding so I am optimistic.

I didn't tell Olympus that perhaps the camera was exposed to the deadly "fog bug." Jeff had borrowed a camera from one of the paddlers in our group and it turned out to have the "fog bug" as well. He made the best out of some of his foggy photos by making them in to black and whites.

Taking One for the Team

2011-06-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

Yep. Sometimes, you get to take one for the team. In last week's Tour de Mendo, I took at couple. Sometimes, it is taking one when guiding another paddler through rocks or waves and other times it is being in the impact zone for that perfect photo.

I took 2 on our first day of the Tour de Mendocino. The first was guiding some sea kayakers in through a small, dumpy beach break. I had paddled in to check on a student and then turned to come back out and a larger set came in. I didn't have the speed to punch through the wave and did a nice end over end. It was quite entertaining, but most importantly I guided all of my students in safely without carnage.

The other was sitting in the wash zone of a pour-over. A larger wave came through and I was photographing Jeff and John coming over the pour-over together. My one handed brace wasn't enough and ker-plop I went with the camera dangling. All was well though, I got the shot and rolled up (although not one of my better photos, but sometimes its not the photo but the story).

It is Time

2011-06-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am going to stop ranting about plastics and give my plastic kayaks a spa treatment of 303 because it is almost time for the Tour de Mendo (our June one).

This year, I finally get to go. Yes!!! We have a sold-out trip so we are going to close the shop for 4 days and show a crew of paddlers from Southern California a great time sea kayaking on the Mendocino Coast. Only one member of the group has paddled here before so I can't wait to see their expressions when we paddle and play in the rock gardens and explore the sea caves and tunnels of this magical coastline.

Of course we are likely to get out in whitewater kayaks for a bit of surfing and rock gardening play too.

Jeff and I have a special adventure up our sleeves for this crew. Can't wait to share it but I'm not going to spill the beans now.

Washed Ashore

2011-06-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Here's Henry . . .

He was washed ashore - actually in the form of millions of pieces of plastic. He is going to be on display June 25- October 15, 2011 at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA with 14 other "trashy" marine life sculptures. The exhibit is called "Washed Ashore: Plastics, Sea Life, and Art."

Again - a calling for us to rethink our use of plastics. And a good excuse to visit the Marine Mammal Center.

Plastics

2011-05-31T07:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about how much plastic we use?

And where it ends up?

Plastic seems to have become a necessity in our lives. Many of us have discontinued using single use plastic bottles and carry cloth bags to the grocery store. Unfortunately, this is only a start. As I write this, I look at all the plastic shtuff around my desk and all the plastic kayaks on our kayak rack.

Plastic seems to have become a necessary evil in our lives today, but I think that we need to start decreasing our dependence of it and be more conscientious of recycling and proper disposal.

Any thoughts or ideas? Please share, discuss, ect.
Let's work together to increase awareness and start working toward solutions!!!

When the South gets Blown South

2011-05-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

Excitement over the south swell this weekend was pretty well nixed by strong northwest winds. What's a girl to do? Rather than fight the wind and get bounced around at sea - I ran for the hills.

Actually I didn't run - I pedaled.

Over the past 4 years, small business ownership and lots of time on the water has greatly decreased my time in the saddle. It is hard to maintain a balance between my water and land passions - especially since I make a living on the water. This spring, I started to get into a regular riding groove and think that I may be on track to finding balance.

This weekend, I connected with a local group of the Mendocino Coast Cyclists to ride the trails in the Caspar watershed area of Jackson State Forest. It was fun to ride and catch up on goings on - NEW Trails, Mendocino Coast Fat Tire Festival, trail work parties, bike lust and component envy.

The local riders are putting on a Mendocino Coast Fat Tire Festival this fall. In preparation for the festival, Jack and Roo are working on mapping the mountain bike trails. They hope to have a guide book out in the fall for the festival.

As we are riding, we come across one our local riders/trail builders doing some trail maintenance. He was building a bypass around a section of trail to decrease erosion. Cheers Jesse and all the other trail builders and maintainers for all of your hard work!!!

Traction was perfect. The couple of inches of rain that we had during the week soaked in and settled the dust. A couple of spots were a little sticky like the bottom of our ride-thru tree (which I guess by the new sign is called Drive-Thru).

Spring is a great time of year to ride. The birds are singing, the creeks are babbling, and the wildflowers are blooming.

I had to get some photos of the carpet of blue forget me nots lining the trail by Jughandle Creek.

And of Amy sporting an North Coast Brewing Company - a reminder that not only do we have great mt biking but fresh, tasty local beer. I wonder if they have an Old R asputin Jersey?

It isn't hard to get motivated about riding on the Mendocino Coast with an AWESOME network of single track trails in a coniferous rain forest and a great bunch of riders to share it with.

What does the Laundry Say?

2011-05-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

Wash me!!! Duh!!!

But what does it really say?

On those weeks when the pile is high it says - "You've been playing hard and neglecting your dirty wash."

Salty polypro tops attest to some quality time upside down in the ocean - perhaps a surf or rock gardening session.

Mud splattered bike tights say - "Those mud puddles on the trail sure were fun!" While dusty socks say, "Gee it hasn't rained in a while."

Trunks and uv tops that are spattered with sunscreen attest to some warm sunny days of flat water paddling.

Carhardts always tell a tale of the latest project - "painting the bedroom green, eh?" or "need to add a little more compost to your soil."

Wool socks - "We will keep your tootsie's warm just remember to line dry."

And those dirty sheets - no comment from them - just a grin.

So from now on - don't curse the pile of dirty clothes in the hamper. Admire the fine adventures from the week.

Stepping It Up

2011-05-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you DO IT . . .
You get into the zone and JUST DO IT . . .

We didn't get much whitewater river kayaking in this winter, but somehow I stepped up my game from being a schizophrenic class II/III boater to confidently paddling some class IV.

I'm not sure how this really happened but suspect that it had a lot to do with the time that we spent this winter in the surf zone.

Capsizing in the surf zone when you are kayak surfing is inevitable and even a good strategy so needless to say a winter of kayak surfing meant lots of time upside-down and rolling in moving water.

When I started whitewater kayaking, my main goal was to remain upright. I was terrified of flipping and being flushed down a rapid upside down. Through experience, I have come to realize that a capsize and roll only takes seconds and that you don't end up way downstream in the process. It is almost like time stands still and you roll up in almost the same spot where you capsized. The key is confidence in your roll.

So this whitewater season, I surrendered myself to the inevitability of capsizing on the river. My mantra shifted from take the easy line and stay up-right to see your line and execute it. If things go to !@#$ - roll up and paddle to safe water.

On our Eel River Mountains to the Sea Paddle last month, We encountered a couple of stretches of Class IV. Our last paddle of the trip was on the Middle Fork of the Eel River at 3500cfs. The run was 25 miles of class II and then probably the hardest rapid that I have run yet in the class IV range.

We scouted the rapid and the middle looked downright ugly. It had 2 consecutive but slightly offset recirculating hydraulics - DEFINITELY not a place to be. Neither the left or right had a clear path but the left looked like the best route to take and not end up in the messy middle. Of course the left had 2 considerable hydraulics to be negotiated. The plan was to avoid the first and punch the other one (most likely capsize, flush-out, and roll-up) and enjoy the wave train finish.

Of course, I capsized on the entrance drop into the rapid - rolled up and eddied out. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP - I felt my heart beating through my chest. The thought "I could get out here and portage," shot through my mind. I erased the thought and told myself to charge it. I ferried midway across but should have ferried further to the left. When I turned to head downstream, I was heading right at the hole on the top that the plan was to avoid. I didn't have time to avoid it and tried to drive through it.

It grabbed me and flipped me. I rolled up and continued driving for my target rock on river left. I got there and somehow skirted the flush-out and roll up hydraulic. F - Yeah!!!

It might have been nice to run the lines cleanly, and I am sure that someday I will. But there is definitely satisfaction in nailing a combat roll in a critical situation - not to mention nods of approval from paddling companions.

Chicken Point

2011-04-11T10:48:00.001-07:00

Pomo Bluffs is a headland on the south end of Fort Bragg's Noyo Bay. It is now a city park that has a nice paved walkway with interpretive information and amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. The north end of Pomo Bluffs where it juts out into the ocean is called Chicken Point.

Fishermen/women and urchin divers call it Chicken Point because that is where they go and look at the coastal conditions and decide if they are going out or chickening out that day.

Chickens is a name that local surfers have called it. It has a reef break that on a good day produces overhead to double-overhead waves with nice left shoulders. The trick is that surfing the break becomes a game of chicken with the rocks that are scattered within the break. Needless to say, one doesn't see it getting surfed too often.

Chicken Point is always a point of wonder and awe when we are kayaking in Noyo Bay. On a very flat day, one can paddle around the rocks of chicken point. It is beautiful and fascinating with a healthy and colorful intertidal zone and a rugged rocky backdrop.

On typical days, it is awesome to watch the waves roll through the reefs at Chicken Point. It is exciting to sit on the edge of the breaking waves and witness the power of the ocean engulfing the rocks. To those that surf, we are mezmorized by her dangerous beauty. We try to visualize a line to surf through the maze of spilling waves guarded by the rocks.

Jeff is not one to be disuaded by rocks and I remember the first time that he and our friend Josha surfed Chickens. WOW!!!

As we rock garden in Noyo Bay, Chicken Point draws us like a magnet. Surfing Chickens is a bit out of my comfort level, but I have become comfortable enough with the break to position myself on the edge to watch and take photos. I am always stoked to see those with the skill and the nerve get in there and surf her waves.

Jeff has been encouraging me to get in there and catch a ride. Several times, I have eased myself into the break only to withdraw (chicken-out) when looking at the wall of water building behind me and doubting whether I have the composure and skill to surf the wave and not be caught in the foam pile and swept into the rocks.

It is very fun to watch Jeff. Many days the waves are just to0 big and scary to even tempt me but I am drawn to the challenge and really want to be able to surf it. In preparation, I have started getting my rock gardening boat out more in the surf zone to hone my skills, focus, control - and most importantly my confidence.

Occasionally another paddler will be in town and be game for surfing Chickens with Jeff. Several weeks ago, a skilled whitewater kayaker and his girlfriend were passing through town and connected to paddle with us. Chicken Point lured him from the moment he drove into the parking lot of the beach. As we rock gardened and played in the bay, she kept beckoning to him.

His creekboat was not the idea craft but good paddlers have a way of making things work - check it out in this video (below but best if you click the link and watch on YouTube).

I have had this post in my mind since filming the guys this day but just haven't had the chance to write it. As I am writing it, I have had my first rides at Chicken Point under my belt. We don't have any photos or video to post, but I can tell you that I was not swept into the rocks and am now drawn even more than ever to surf Chicken Point.

Swimming the Eel River

2011-04-06T08:39:00.001-07:00

The Eel River is on my mind this morning with many thoughts - we haven't been on it much this year - the Willits Water Festival next weekend - our upcoming trip on its wilderness stretches - and those warm sunny days kayaking it last spring.

The Outlet Creek to Dos Rios stretch of the Eel River has been described as a Class III whitewater kayaker's delight. It isn't run regularly by a lot of boaters due to its location in the northeast corner of Mendocino County and because it is primarily a rain-fed winter and early spring run (making it a foul-weather run that is often chilly). This stretch of the Eel River is quite special to me because it is where I learned to whitewater kayak (I probably should say am still learning).

Yes, my beginnings on this run were tormentous as many who were with us might recall. Fears and tears and of course lots of swimming. Jeff's patience and the strength of our relationship was definitely tested on our trips to the Eel River.

When we started running the Eel River, I was a SWIMMER (in several senses - one being that I was a life guard and water safety instructor who swam regularly for fitness and the other being that I swam most of the time when I capsized). Fortunately, I was a good swimmer and usually self-rescued by holding onto my gear and getting into an eddy and onto shore.

When we started boating on the Eel River, I had just relearned to roll. I had a decent flat water roll and was racking up combat rolls in the ocean surf and rock gardens; however, the river roll was eluding me. I hated capsizing for numerous reasons - the water was COLD, the air was COLD (problem with learning to boat in the winter), my playboat was not easy to roll, my kinesthetic senses were altered in the current, I was terrified of hitting my head on a rock, or being stuck in a hydraulic. Yeap - a TON of EXCUSES!

(I would like to say that more time on the river has cured these things, but I am sure that I will swim again on the Eel - afterall - we are all in between swims.)

My first season of boating on the Eel - I ran (swam) it twice and gave up on whitewater kayaking FOOORRREEEVVVEEER! It was too cold, too scary, and too frustrating.

I continued sea kayaking and rock gardening and then even started kayak surfing. I saw photos and videos of the beautiful waterways that people were whitewater kayaking and felt a little sad when I stayed home while Jeff and our paddling buddies went river kayaking.

In the winter of 2010, I became determined to master my fears and learn to whitewater kayak - so off to the Eel River we went. Some days we would just park and play (drill) on one rapid and others we would practice different skills while heading down river. I still managed to swim plenty; however, I rolled more than I swam. I am certain that I have swum every rapid on the Outlet Creek to Dos Rios section with the exception of Tunnel and CalTrans(Willow).

In our sessions on the Eel, I realized many of my fears - hitting my head on a rock (the helmet has a couple of scratches but I am no worse for wear -I think- and getting stuck upside-down in a hydraulic and working my way out without swimming -took 3 rolls but I did it).

The cold water is still a huge issue for me. The Eel River has some great surf waves and I so want to learn to surf, but I still prefer to keep upright in chilly fresh water. My kinesthetic sense underwater in current is improving with experience, but I still get disoriented. The Eel River has many firsts for me including my first combat river roll, my first time whitewater river kayaking without Jeff and I am excited about the prospect of my first multi-day wilderness whitewater trip. Will swimming be involved on this trip? I definitely hope so . . . when it is warm and sunny and not necessarily an out-of-boat experience.

Sorry - no photos or videos of my swimming on the Eel, but this video might show a bit of the character of whitewater kayaking on the Eel (notice the contrast between the gray days of winter and the sunny green days of spring).

Skunked

2011-03-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

Maybe the skunk was an omen or just bad timing . . .

I've been looking forward to the Santa Cruz Paddlefest (formerly Kayak Surf Festival) since last fall when we made our 2011 calendar.

Jeff kept telling me about the magic of the Santa Cruz reef breaks. Spilling waves with great right shoulders and channels that were easy to paddle out. The attitude of Santa Cruz surfers though is world renowned so it is definitely a place to watch your P's and Q's. I was excited that the Paddlefest would give me the opportunity to paddle one of these fun breaks with minimal hassle.

We left for the contest a couple of days early to visit friends and family in the area and to get a day or two in of surfing. Our dogs, Bear and Aften, journeyed with us. Of course we left later than planned and enjoyed some lovely bay area traffic. It rained heavily for most of our drive. The rain lightened up when we reached the South Bay Area, and we stopped for beer and to let the dogs out for a stretch and pee-break in an empty parking lot.

Having had a good stretch and feeling thirsty, I called the dogs over to the truck. Aften trotted right over and I lifted her in. Instantly my nostrils were inundated with the smell of skunk. The only thing worse than your dog getting skunked is being on the road when your dog gets skunked. I too was pretty smelly. Fortunately there was a creek nearby and the grocery store was still open. I bought some vinegar and proceeded to give Aften a cold vinegar bath. It worked as well as could be expected.

At the time, I couldn't help but wonder if this was going to be an omen for our surf weekend.

Thursday, we made our way down to Santa Cruz and scoped out a couple of surf spots. It was warm and sunny with some nice surf. The peeling right handed waves were such a treat and I was a little remiss for not bringing my surf boat (I only brought my whitewater kayak due to space and because I was competing in the novice division which didn't allow high performance surf kayaks).

The weather forecast was for rain and high surf. Despite weather forecasts being consistently wrong all winter, Friday morning was as predicted - rainy and windy. Jeff was competing and my plan was to demo some boats and get a practice run in on the break that I would be surfing for the contest.

The surf was big and it was BLOWING. Quickly Plan B formulated. Dress in rain gear, watch a couple of heats, and enjoy a good book in the hotel room.

Saturday, I was to compete. I woke to the sound of the wind howling. A glance at the ocean showed whitecaps and thumping storm surf. I went to the prepaddle meeting and then looked again at the surf. Why was I here? To surf a fun break. Today looked anything but fun so I decided to scratch. It was a good decision but a hard one.

I watched what would have been my heat. Ugggg - no thanks. The wind was gusting. Most of the waves were storm chop and the main sets that came through were powerful. Hats off to the guys who paddled out there and tried to surf in our heat. They got a few foam pile rides but the green faces eluded them.

I was disappointed but wasn't totally skunked. Thursdays rides were so worth it and Jeff did well despite the conditions. Next year? We will see.

Following the Pied Piper

2011-02-25T08:04:00.000-08:00

I missed the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium (GGSKS) but as the stars aligned I had the fortune of paddling and playing with 5 of the instructors after the symposium.

Like the Pied Piper, Jeff played a sweet tune and lured several of the GGSKS instructors to our house and the magical paddling playground of the Mendocino Coast. Paul Kuthe, Dave White, Matt Nelson, and Bryan Burkhardt couldn't resist the piper's tune and came to play.

I was a little skeptical about tagging along knowing that my skill level was no where near their caliber and also not wanting to hold them up if they were looking to get some miles in and see our coast. Ahhhh - but what do these guys do for their paddling fun - ROCK GARDEN and SURF!

Our Pied Piper led us to a bouncy passage to the south of Russian Gulch and the opening of a sea tunnel that traveled under the headlands. Through this sea tunnel, we traveled to a magical playground of surge channels, pour overs, and slots.

After a journey through the milkshake room (aptly named by Bryant) we traveled to a reef break in Agate Cove. Steep 10-12 foot waves had me stepping back and watching but eventually venturing in for a little fun. The Northwest wind kicked up and made getting into and holding position to catch the wave tricky.

The guys carved this baby up and I held on for dear life, keeping my sea kayak from broaching and heading right and into the rocks.

After a lunch break, our pied piper turned out to be a business owner who had to get back for a teleconference with the accountant so we all returned to tell our tales. But being in the kayaking business, we couldn't resist a few more rides as we traveled back to our magical tunnel. The northwest wind had kicked up significantly so we stayed on the inside using the rocks as buffers from the wind and breaking waves. I surfed every wave and surge possible to help with gaining headway in the wind.

Before traveling through our magic tunnel, we rode one more pour-over. The pour-over was straightforward but holding position in the wind and current was challenging. The guys were much better at holding position than I was but were stoked to see me in there charging it and encouraged me to be patient and wait for the right wave.

Back through our tunnel, we returned to Russian Gulch, extended invitations for more play, and sped away - Matt back to Orcas Island, Dave and Paul to Portland, Bryant to Sacramento, and Jeff and I to our meeting with the accountant.

It was awesome to paddle with these guys and I look forward to paddling with them again - Lumpy Waters maybe?

Surfed

2011-02-03T02:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you surf waves and sometimes you get surfed.

The Mendocino Coast has been having epically gorgeous weather. The warm sunny days with little to no wind have been very inspiring to get out and play in the water. Kayak surfing has been on my mind as I decide if I am going to enter in one of the events at the Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival.

I just re-outfitted my mini-mako surf kayak and was looking for a mellow surf session to test out my new outfitting and get reacquainted with its slicy edges. Tuesday, one of our river kayaking friends meandered over the to the coast and met up with us to look for surf. The swell was relatively small for this time of the year at 5-7 feet but with a 13+ second period meant that there was some power behind it.

My favorite mellow surf beach was barely breaking so we moved on. With limited time, we headed to Hare Creek. Hare Creek is a tricky spot to surf. It is a beach break that changes quickly as the tide height lowers or drops. The outside can be a thumper and the inside can be confused with reflective waves. We have enjoyed some mellow sea kayak surf sessions there as well as some quality sinus clearing surf sessions.

Jeff and Jerry headed out as I watched a couple of sets go through. I am still learning to read the surf and find that it helps to watch it from shore before heading out. Today there were definitely some thumping sets coming through but also some appealing left shoulders on the inside.

I resigned myself to the inevitable sinus clearing of Hare Creek but wanted a couple of those spilling lefts. I settled into my surf kayak and paddled out. The slicey stern, planing hull, and rails on the boat contrast greatly with the bouncy, forgiving feel of my whitewater kayak. The crisp handling of the boat combined with the sunshine and cool splash of ocean water was exhilarating. I was ready to go surf some waves.

Just as I was getting to where that peeling wave was, I saw the next set approaching. It was one of the larger ones. Where my spilling wave was became the impact zone. I paddled hard and tried to punch through the wave but it wanted to remind me that I wasn't in charge and tossed me like a rag doll. I tucked tight to the deck of my boat as it washed me about and surfed me toward shore. For a moment I thought, "Geeeezz . . . here we go again . . . another beat down session at Hare Creek."

I erased the thought and rolled up and was faced with the freight train foam pile of the next wave of the set. I dug in and sprinted at it and over it. Alright, the big set had passed it was time to ride that left shoulder.

Or try to.

Salt water is good for . . .

2011-01-26T19:30:00.001-08:00

My mom always said that saltwater is good for the sinuses . . . I believe it is also good for the soul.

Yesterday, we went to surf but the tide and conditions just weren't right. It was thumping and we knew that our surf session was going to be more like a beat down session. I told the guys that I would enjoy the sunshine and take photos and videos of their surf session. After another set thumped through the surf zone, they suggested that we go rock gardening instead.

Off to Noyo Bay, we went. The bay was much calmer than the beach that we were scouting to surf, but still had a few good sized sets rolling through.

I was lined up to ride one of our favorite pour-overs when the wave of the day came. I watched it hit the indicator rock and said to the guys - "Whew this is a big one" and antied up for the ride.

This particular pour-over has a large hole that opens up on its backside that would have any class V whitewater river kayaker portaging. However, the ocean is a different animal. I knew that this frothing pit might swallow me up, but it would magically let me go.

Way up over the rocks I launched on my wave (probably only about 10-12 feet at the top of the wave). However at the top of that wave, I was staring down a steep tongue like drop of about 15 feet that slid into a foaming throat.

Fortunately, my timing was perfect to be sitting on the peak of the wave. As I sat at the top of the wave, I could have selected to go right and take the soft fluffy elevator ride down the backside of the wave, but today I was charging it and went for the big drop into the hole.

The ride down the tongue was exhilarating and then the churning hydraulic hole below swallowed me up. It tossed me toward the rock wall that I had just hurled over then tumbled me over the lower side of the pour-over. Being upside down and being washed about over a pour-over isn't necessarily the funnest rock gardening situation to be in. At one point the whitewater sucked and pinned me on my side. The power of the water had me in a limbo land of not being upside down but not being right side up. I could feel the sun shining on my face through a layer of water.

As I held my breath, I felt safe in my mermaid boat. (We refer to my kayak as the mermaid boat because of its sea foam green color and my affection for it being an extension of my body). There was so much water churning about that my body didn't touch the rock that I was being worked over. I felt a little water leaking through my sprayskirt into my boat but held out for Neptune's release.

I waited . . . it washed me over the pour-over again. I felt my paddle clear the foaming whitewater and rolled up.

"Cate's got Heart," Nick declared. Yes, yesterday I did have heart. And today my sinuses are still draining salty goodness.

What to do River Otters Eat?

2011-01-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

As we were finishing up our day on the Noyo River, we were delighted with the appearance of a river otter. One never knows what these rascally mammals are going to do so I grabbed the camera and followed as it cruised along the bank of the river.

Jeff had noted a western grebe around the bend and commented that the otter was probably hunting it. Sure enough. As the otter came around the bend, the grebe became alarmed and dove. The otter floated in the current like a small log closer to the grebe. We have had a lot of debris in the river from heavy rains and a high tide so it was perfect camouflage.

The otter dove and the grebe dove again and next thing we knew . . . the otter came up with the grebe in its mouth. Here's the video of the otter with the grebe. Turn your sound off if you don't want to hear the bird's calls of alarm.

It took the otter several minutes to kill the bird and then he took her up the bank . . . for dinner by the river. Kind of gory, but nature on the water before our eyes.

A Kayak in Your Living Room

2011-01-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

A friend stopped by the house this week and commented, "There's a kayak in your living room!?!?"

My surf kayak is in need of an outfitting makeover. The duck tape foam paddling was a bit too loose on my last surf session. When you have to hold your legs a specific way to keep the foam in place defeats the purpose of the foam outfitting. I also feared that a swim would result in a mini-cell foam flotsam party in the surf zone.

For me, outfitting a boat is a tedious and frustrating process. I figured at maybe doing it in the warm comfort of my living room with a tasty beverage might make the process go better. So the Mini Mako is in the house for an outfitting make-over.

My skin on frame sea kayak needs an outfitting make-over too -

Think I can get it in the living room?

Looking for Pearls

2011-01-10T07:17:00.001-08:00

I've been slacking a little on my woman on water blog posts, but I have been out there kayaking our Mendocino Waters -

Looking for Pearls

Limboing Logs

Carving Waves

Sea Kayak Rock Gardening

Paddling in the rain.

Whitewater Kayaking
Check out Chris Hansen's photoblog of us on the Eel River

And so much more fun to come!

The Hockey Stick Roll

2010-10-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

This week when I was grabbing paddles to take to our Monday night pool session at the CV Starr Center, I grabbed a stick (not a greenland paddle but a hockey stick). Peter Donohue, editor of California Kayaker, inspired the idea this summer. Here's a video of my first attempt at the hockey stick roll.

After I loaded this onto YouTube, I discovered that some paddlers in the Olypmic Kayak Club have already rolled with a hockey stick. They call it the Canadian Emergency Paddle Roll.

Pretty fun, eh?

Rainy Day Reading

2010-09-19T07:09:00.001-07:00

After a busy summer, a much awaited rainy day has arrived. Ohhh . . . how I have been looking forward to a rainy day spent in a cozy chair in the sunroom cuddled up with a blanket, a cat and a good book.

Today I am reading Wild Trees by Richard Preston. A story of passion and daring and redwoods . . .

As my laptop has been down, I have been reading more than writing while at our shop on the Noyo River. If you are looking for a rainy day book, here's my top picks from my summer reading -

Confessions of a Wave Warrior by Eric Soares - Tales of Eric's beginnings as a boy in the water and sea kayaking adventures (and misadventures) with the Tsunami Rangers. Eric has recently started blogging on his website. His latest blog was on sea cave safety.

Diary of a Sea Captain's Wife: Tales of Santa Cruz Island by Margaret Holden Eaton - Jeff is reading this one now. Fascinating stories of early days in the channel islands including stories of boats, fishing, camping, bootlegging, and movies.

The Raven's Gift by John Turk - An adventurer/scientist's travels to the Siberian Wilderness and spiritual journeys with a Koryak Shaman. A must read!!! Adventure, exploration, spiritual journey, and even a search for reindeer. I am going to check out his other writings.

The Chicken Thief Soldier by Michael Fields - My high school English teacher crafted a page-turner coming of age novel set within Valley Forge, PA. Here's a description of it that does way more justice to Fields' writing than I can.

The Shack by William P. Young. An "out of the box" look at how we view tragedy and god and probably a book that will mean something different to each reader.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. A fun tale that entertains with a family's quest to raise their own food and support local farmers that also educates about the realities of agriculture in our modern world. Good resources as well in the book and website.

California Kayaker Magazine - a fun, new magazine that covers different aspects of kayaking.

Although I have to admit that a rainy day at the beginning of fall may have me picking up Dick Schwind's - West Coast River Touring: Rogue River Canyon and South which is likely to bring sweet afternoon cat nap dreams of our upcoming Mendocino County whitewater season.

It FLOATS and Surfs!!!

2010-08-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

The frame was almost too pretty to skin but that wasn't the purpose.

So I sewed a ballistic nylon skin on her.

And she floated.

And hasn't broken yet kayaking in our Mendocino rock gardens.

Good thing I skinned it with the 12 ounce cloth.

Skin on Frame Kayak

2010-07-02T21:18:00.001-07:00

Progress continues on my skin on frame kayak which I am building on our deck over the Noyo River. It is fun to hear the comments that paddlers make about her as they cruise by on the river.
The chestnut chickadees, downy woodpeckers, wilson's warblers, orange crowned warblers, and violet green swallows flit about feeding in the alder tree by my new kayak. It is fun to hear and watch them. Perhaps they will be inspiration when naming her.

When I cut the ribs, I put them in the mortises for a stegosaurus effect. At the moment when I took this photo, Stan and Jim of the Lost Coast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association rowed by and were intrigued.

Steaming and bending the ribs can be a little nerve-racking. I broke several of my first attempts on the steeply V'd first ribs but then started to get the hang of it - sort of. My ribs definitely aren't perfect. The keel required some shimming and I am hoping that the chines will help pull things into shape a little bit better tomorrow.

My friend John's ribs are very symmetrical and even (the boat closest to the river). But my purpose for building this boat is to do it on my own (with a little insight from my friends) and learn from and enjoy the experience. It will be fun to see how well my imperfect boat paddles.

Lazy Days on the Noyo River

2010-06-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

Lazy days on the Noyo River? Well not really but it kind of feels like it - kayaking, bird watching, soaking up the sun. Pinch me . . . it this a dream?

Birds, birds, and more birds . . . I think that spring/early summer is one of the most exciting times for birders. We are enjoying the wilson's warblers buzzing about, the musical songs of the black headed grosbeaks, glimpses of the downy woodpeckers, diving osprey, fuzzy mallard ducklings, and colorful violet green swallows. The Canada geese have been rather entertaining lately. The goslings are growing fast and they seem to have adopted a new member to their flock. I have heard of the odd duck but how about the odd goose?

I have started building my skin on frame kayak which is modeled after Brian Schultz's Cape Falcon F-1. It is magical to be able to work on it on our deck just above the Noyo River where I will launch it (hopefully by the end of the month).

Ahhhh . . . life is good.

Twilight Whitewater Kayaking

2010-05-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

Winter and early spring is typically our whitewater kayak season in Mendocino County, California. We feel pretty spoiled when we get late spring rain and boat every chance we get - even if it means an evening twilight run.

New Green Kayak

2010-05-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

The new green kayak gets wet and wild . . .

on the Eel River, Mendocino County, California.

Go GREEN!!!

2010-04-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

My world is looking pretty green at the moment.

All of the trees and plants are green with new leaves and growth.

Jeff and I "adopted a highway" and donned our green vests while picking up litter.

Jeff and I just painted our bedroom bright spring green,

my new green sleeping bag just arrived, and I just unwrapped my new green whitewater kayak which unintentionally matches my green bike.

So is green my favorite color? No, but maybe it will be.

And on the Seventh Day . . . We Paddled

2010-03-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

It wasn't a suped up DeLorean but my Toyota Tacoma that transported me for a week this month back in time. My destination wasn't small town America but the old Naval Air Station in Alameda, California.

For seven days (eight due to a material issue), I felt like I was immersed in a high school woodshop class. We were mostly using hand tools and techniques that the Inuits used to construct a skin on frame kayak. Many of our materials and tools were modern due to the fact that our goal was to finish these boats within a week. Our instructor's philosophy is that one could spend all day completing a task with simple tools but that doesn't leave much time for surfing.

Brian Schulz of Cape Falcon Kayak was our instructor. He is world renowned in the skin on frame boat design and construction. He usually teaches classes in his workshop in Manzanita, Oregon; however, he will take his tools and materials on the road to teach in other locations throughout the world. Recently Brian completed a class in Tasmania. Brian was recruited to teach a class in the San Francisco Bay area by several Bay Area Sea Kayakers (BASK) because of their interest in a specific design that he builds. The Mariner Coaster is a popular sea kayak in the Bay Area; and Brian has designed a skin on frame version called the F-1.

Why build a skin on frame kayak? Everyone has their own reasons. In our class, the main reasons were to have a lightweight kayak that handled rough waters well and could be built to fit a specific individual - sounds like I'm not the only Goldilocks kayaker. It was the Goldilocks in me that drew me to interest in Skin on Frame kayak construction. If the manufacturers didn't build a boat that fit me and my paddling needs, then maybe I could. I had been researching skin on frame construction and was contemplating taking a stab at building one with a little help from my friend John who has built one with Wolfgang Brinck - Bay Area small boat builder and author of the Aleutian Kayak. Typical of one of my research projects, the kitchen table stacked up with books on skin on frame construction and the internet was scoured for information.

A class seemed like a great way to learn the ins and outs without lots of trials and tribulations. And then it happened . . . a post on the Bay Area Sea Kayaker's online forum BUZZ appeared. Maryly posted that she wanted to take Brian's class in the bay area to build a F-1 but was unable to. She queeried if some one would be interested in taking the class and building an F-1 for her." Ding-ding-ding . . . we have a winner (actually 2 - Maryly who gets an awesome custom skin on frame kayak and Cate who gets a hands on experience to learning how to build a skin on frame.)

It was awesome!!! Under Brian's guidance and assistance, Gordon, LaRhee, and I shaped wood into a frame. Each of our kayaks were of the same design but being customized for the size of the paddler who would be paddling them.

For 3 days, we drilled holes, carved out mortices and tenons, steamed and bent wooden ribs, planed surfaces, and joined the pieces with wooden pegs and artificial sinew lashings. Many discussions ensued during the process including comparisons of the techniques and materials that we were using compared to the Inuits as well as discussions on paddling skills and techniques, philosophies of kayak instruction, sustainable organic farming, and whitewater kayaking.
At the end of day 4, our frames were completed and we had carved paddles. We put our woodworking tools away and got out needles and thread.

Day 5 was a fabric and sewing party. At the end of day 5, we had skinned our boats (balistic nylon not seal skins) and were wetting them to get the fabric to shrink into the shape of the frame. We wet the boats. Instead of water soaking into the fabric, it beaded up. !@#$% - the manufacturer sent us the wrong material. The need to reorder the fabric and reskin the boats became apparent so class was dismissed until the following weekend.

A little side trip 2 hangars down was in store - we ventured down to Hangar 1 for some vodka tasting to celebrate the early beginning of the weekend for us.

A week later, we returned to our little workshop among the hangars of the Alameda Naval Air Station. Reskinning the boats went quickly as we were now experienced boat skinners and this time the skins shrunk to fit the frame. The next morning, we treated the skins with "goop" a polyurethane mixture to seal them. On the 7th (actually 8th day), we outfitted the boats and paddled them.

And they paddled beautifully. Brian demonstrated some techniques with the Greenland Paddle and off we went. The kayak that I had built paddled smoothly in the water. The secondary stability was excellent. I practiced some edged turns with sweeps strokes and found the boat to be very responsive. The warm and sunny day inspired notions of getting my hair wet so I did some sculling and rolling and found the boat did exactly what I wanted it to do. I look forward to building my own and putting it through the measures of kayaking in the surf and rock gardens of the Mendocino Coast.

Maryly smiled from ear to ear as she paddled her new handmade kayak. When we were finished with our test paddle, it was really cool to see her effortlessly carry it from the water to her car Mission accomplished - a lightweight, custom fit kayak!!!

I can't wait to build mine!!!

Goldilock's Issues Revisited

2010-03-12T19:20:00.001-08:00

This boat is too wide, this boat is too deep, this boat is sooo uncomfortable . . .

Last spring I fessed up to my Goldilocks ways in my blog and online. I stuck my neck out with some posts on forums in discussions of boats for small adults. Of course I was lambasted several times on paddling.net for voicing my opinion (by men of course) but also found many other women in the same too big boat as myself.

Almost a year later, Goldilocks has had several revelations:

1. Don't expect others to understand my issues with boat design and fit. Everyone is in their own boat when it comes to this subject. I do feel for those with big feet as they seem to have as many if not more fit issues than us petite paddlers do.

2. YEAH DAGGER and WAVESPORT!!!! You guys got it!!! I was stoked last year to see that Confluence Watersports' new whitewater kayaks - the Dagger Axiom and Wavesport Diesel had sizes for all sizes of adults. I reserved judgement though until I had a chance to paddle both. Last week, I had the chance to paddle the Dagger Axiom 8.0 and the Wavesport Diesel 60 and was stoked that both fit and performed wonderfully. Now, I have the tough decision of which boat to choose and even tougher choice of what color.

3. Kudos to The River Store in Lotus, CA on the American River. They have an excellent selection of sizes and boats in their demo fleet and very helpful employees.

4. I still love my Eskimo Kendo Starlight. Solid German plastic and a petite 29 pounds. Not my choice for creeking but definitely a fun river runner and ocean rock gardening boat.

5. If the boats don't fit, build your own. Skin on frame sea kayaks have captured my interest. I am in the finishing stages of building one for another petite paddler and am looking forward to starting on one for myself in the near future. Check out Brian Schulz of Cape Falcon Kayak boats and ideas on boat design.

Stay tuned to see if Goldilocks ends up with a new river runner and what color she chooses and for trials and tribulations of skin boat construction.

New Boat - New Paddle - New Waters - Happy New Year

2010-01-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

We have been enjoying drop in kayak sessions at the new pool just blocks from our house in Fort Bragg. It has been nice to have a couple of hours to just play in calm, warm water -no waves to catch, no wildlife to watch for, and no where to go. So what does one do - enjoy the music and mess around in boats. Kayak polo - anyone?

This month I started playing with the greenland paddle during our pool sessions. WOW - it is so much fun. I have been intrigued by the greenland paddling style for its traditional roots and admired the fluidity of movements from the first time that I saw Cheri Perry rolling in This is the Sea 3. It has brought a new sense of kinesthetic awareness to my rolling including more precise and controlled movement. Here's a clip of one of my first rolls with the Greenland Paddle (This is a start and definitely room for improvement).

New for me this year is paddling a performance surf kayak. There has been a green Mike Johnson Design Mini Mako sitting on our kayak rack for a couple of years now. I finally got out our bag of foam and outfitted it. SWEET!!! It is has a totally different feel than any other kayak that I have paddled. It is a fast boat and makes catching waves effortless (almost). I have had a few head over heels tumbles from catching one of the rails and definitely need to learn more about maneuvering the mini mako in the surf. I feel like I have upgraded from my Camry-like Eskimo Kendo to a high performance sports car.

New waters for me besides more time in the surf zone include our local whitewater runs. Last weekend I had my first run on Rancheria Creek and understand why so many boaters rave about the run. It is scenic and fun. Miles of class II rapids keep one entertained and grinning from ear to ear while traveling through a mystical mossy canyon inspires awe as one watches for wood sprites and fairies in the seemingly ancient forest.

Winter rains have also put us back on the main fork of the Eel River between Outlet Creek and Dos Rios. I definitely get to exorcise my demons on this Class III run (more on that in another entry). One of the highlights of this run for me of course are the birds including American dippers, bald eagles, and believe it or not - a male harlequin duck (this is the first recorded sighting of one on an inland river in Mendocino County). In this photo, Jeff watches a 2 year old bald eagle land on a rock next to us on the Eel River.

Good Stuff!!! And more to come!!!

Old Rasputin

2009-12-20T12:28:00.000-08:00

Dark Beer Paddlers - Never Say Die!!!

We just celebrated our Second Annual Old Rasputin Paddle and declared this to be an annual event for those of us who love North Coast Brewing Company's Old Rasputin and sea kayaking out of Fort Bragg, California - the home of North Coast Brewing Company and Liquid Fusion Kayaking.

In 2008, we celebrated the conclusion of our paddle with Old Rasputin XI which is North Coast's barrel aged version of Old Rasputin celebrating its 11th anniversary and only sold at the brewery in Fort Bragg. This year, we followed suite with the even smoother and more delicious Old Rasputin XII. YUM!!!

December 2010 - Fort Bragg, CA - Old Rasputin Paddle III - Never Say Die!!!

Confessions of a Boletivore

2009-11-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Cate and I am a boletivore.
David Arora in his book Mushrooms Demystified defines boletivores as ---- predators of boleteus edulis - King Bolete. The King Bolete (boleteus edulis) is considered to be one of the best edible species of wild mushroom. I love the size and shape of it. It is exciting to spy one growing out of the forest floor. Just one is enough for dinner unlike other mushrooms that require a bit more gathering.

After the first fall rains, I disappear into the forest of the Mendocino Coast in search of these delicious fungi which I enjoy dry-sauteeing, grilling, drying, and sharing with friends.

Even when paddling, I am scouting the banks of our rivers for wild mushrooms. The boletes are one of my favorites; however, I admire all forms of fungi and enjoy trying to identify them. Some are easy like this amanita muscaria (aka Alice in Wonderland Mushroom) and others are more challenging.

Boletivore, mushroom-head, crazy, . . . whatever . . .

Noyo's Odd Duck

2009-10-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

Dolphin Isle on the Noyo River of Fort Bragg, California has become home to a male harlequin duck. We enjoy seeing him daily and admire his handsomeness but can't help to think that he is a bit odd.Over the past 3 years, this harlequin has delighted and baffled us. Typically harlequin ducks like turbulent waters not flat water estuaries like the Noyo River. Harlequins typically are solitary birds or hang with just a few of their species. This harlequin is quite gregarious with other ducks. He flocks with the buffleheads in the winter and the mallards the rest of the year.

He doesn't appear to have a mate. In previous years, we had hoped that he would convince a female to return to the Noyo with him. However, last year he only migrated for a short period of time, and this year he did not migrate. Here's a photo of him this summer on the Noyo in eclipse plumage.

Odd or not, we enjoy his colorful presence on the Noyo River.

Tail of a Noyo Harbor Cat

2009-10-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

Felis catus noyo - subspecies of domestic cats specific to the Noyo Harbor of Fort Bragg, California. These cats generally have black and white or gray and white "tuxedo" markings and reside along Fort Bragg's Noyo River. It is common to see them in the Noyo Harbor around the fisheries, but some appear to have migrated into the town of Fort Bragg and up the river. Several are regularly sighted in the vicinity of the river otters' dens and shoreline tunnels. It is theorized that they have a symbiotic relationship with the river otters of the Noyo River.

Today, my friend Amy and I were kayaking up the Noyo River and discovered a Noyo Harbor Cat stranded on a log in the river. She was damp and shivering uncomfortably on the log. We figured that she must have lost her balance and fell down the steep bank.

The tide was rising and her log was soon to be submersed so we decided to attempt a rescue. We paddled next to her log and with the guidance of my paddle (I didn't want to risk her putting holes in my drytop) coaxed her onto the deck of our kayak.

She cooperatively sat there while we paddled her to shore landing her on the bank (hopefully on the side with her home).

God speed kitty and be careful around steep river banks.

Mendocino's Disney Slot

2009-09-29T16:34:00.000-07:00

At least I rolled up.

This weekend the Bay Area Sea Kayakers were paddling in Mendocino, and I had the fortune to paddle with them and run the fabled "Disney" slot. Jeff has me practicing a protective tuck position on my landings to keep my paddling injury free. Unfortunately I haven't quite got the balance of it yet and am capsizing on many of my landings. The upside of this is lots of eskimo roll practice.

Thanks for the video Peter and a special thanks to Jeff for all of his coaching and patience.

It was Inevitable

2009-09-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

Sooner or later . . . it was going to happen. BASH!

Brindle's Bash is one of our favorite rock gardening features on the Mendocino Coast. As our typical NW swell wraps around the north point of Noyo Bay it hugs the shoreline and creates a very fun whitewater ride over a bedrock outcropping along the north side of the bay. On some tides and swells, the wave and whitewater ends with a spectacular bash on the rocky cliff.

The Bash is very spectacular - representing an explosion of whitewater hitting the rock and shooting away from the rock. "Waaaabooof and splash" is the sound that it makes (I must get some video to help with my description). Dramatic effect is very evident in this feature.

This year we have run it hundreds of times in both our whitewater and sea kayaks as well as coached our students in running it. On a high tide, Jeff has been riding the swell clear up above the bash and then sliding down with the spray of bash behind him. In skateboarding terms, it is kind of like doing a kick turn on the top of a half pipe.

My strategy has been to ride the feature with a low brace turn away from the bash letting the spray from the bash rain on me. Lately I have been taking bigger and bigger and bigger rides the ones that inevitably sweep the paddler into the bash.

Now the story of my bash . . .

It was a warm, sunny day on the Mendocino Coast - too perfect of a day not to be on the water. My friend Kim was visiting from San Diego and we were playing and exploring in the Noyo Bay and around the Fort Bragg Coastline. I had just finished explaining Brindle's Bash and saw a nice swell on the horizon. I quickly excused myself and paddled around to get into position. It was a good size wave but no bigger than many that I have taken. I took a couple of forward strokes as the wave built behind me and was instantly elevated about 6 feet and swept over the rock in a rush of whitewater. I don't know if the swell was bigger than I had anticipated or just what happened but I was being hurled directly at the bash with none of my usual low brace exit maneuvering.

Bashing was inevitable so I purposely capsized my kayak so that the bottom of the boat and not me would take the bashing. The pillow of water in the bash prevented collision with boat and rock; although, Kim reports that there was quite the dramatic "Waaabooof" sound of water hitting the rocks. I of course did not hear this as I was underwater in the swirling whitewater timing my roll.

Sorry to report for those who were hoping to hear of more significant carnage - I made my roll and my little mermaid boat and I were just fine but with a story to tell. Wheeeeeew!

Kim tells me that it definitely had entertainment value. Too bad she didn't have the camera.

Welcome to My Playground

2009-08-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Sea kayaking on the Mendocino Coast is never complete with out some rock garden play and the Noyo Bay in Fort Bragg is one of our favorite play spots.

I was injured for over 6 months last year and couldn't play . . . so now I am making up for lost time.

This week we were sharing a few rides with Chris and Hawk from Humboats . . .

How do you like dem apples?

From WILD to MILD - a perfect Day kayaking on the Mendocino Coast

2009-08-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

It has been sunny and warm on the Mendocino Coast with very calm, glassy ocean conditions. Yesterday, our day started with a WILD rock gardening session with some experienced whitewater kayakers, proceeded to a sea kayak coastal exploration, and wrapped up with a mild Noyo Meander (of course followed by a trip to North Coast Brewery).

Seeking whitewater with experience whitewater paddlers in calm conditions sent us to one of the outside reefs where it was anything but calm . . . Definitely WILD!!! I dropped an "F" Bomb going over one of the 12 foot drops when I saw the gigantic hole below. The mermaid boat submerged and flipped . . . but the mermaid in the boat was calm and cool (cold water helps with that) and rolled up.

In the afternoon, we toured in tandem sea kayaks the Noyo Bay and Fort Bragg Coastline. I was excited to have a 13 year old young lady paddling with me while her family waived to us from shore. We saw some amazing jelly fish and enjoyed the sunshine, wildlife, and meandering along the coast and checking out a couple of sea caves.

In the evening, I enjoyed the company of a family from Sacramento for a meandering paddle on the Noyo River. We enjoyed spectacular displays of marine mammals including a pair of sea lion pups jumping clear out of the water in unison. My streak for daily sitings of the river otters is continuing and my guests have been treated to displays of their quirky behaviors.

Ahhhh . . . I am enjoying a few minutes in the office this morning uploading photos and attending to communications but am looking forward to another afternoon of sea kayaking and wildlife watching on the Mendocino Coast (paddling paradise in my opinion).

Doggie Paddle

2009-07-28T10:43:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Aften (my red doberman) went for her first paddle. Aften is not a "water dog" and is definitely not fond of swimming so we have been waiting for the right moment to try her out in the kayak. It seems to have gone well. She was interested in the birds and wildlife on the Noyo River as well as chilling out. Definitely a girl after my own heart.

Social Paddle

2009-07-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Our Wednesday evening social paddles around the Noyo Bay continue to be a lot of fun. Paddle craft varies as does the cast and crew. Some like it on the MILD side and others on the WILD side.

Heather and Craig enjoying the setting sun and calm waters.

Here's Dave and Yoshi. Yoshi went with Jeff for a few minutes so that Dave could take a couple of rides on Brindle's Bash.

Craig explores the Sinkhole Cave.
Reid in "The PIT" waiting for the swell to lift him up over and out of it.
John watching as Chuck takes the wave straight on.

Jeff rounding Nick's Nightmare.
Chuck charging Brindle's Bash.
Me taking a ride on Brindle's.
And another beautiful Noyo Sunset.

Gulch to Gulch

2009-06-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

Ahh . . . after 3 weeks of unheard of calm coastal conditions on the Mendocino Coast, the wind has kicked up again. Just as it was starting to pick up on Wednesday, we enjoyed one of our favorite Mendocino sea kayak paddles from Russian Gulch to Smuggler's Gulch. Unfortunately, Smugglers' wasn't breaking for a surf session, but we did find a fun wave to play on just under one of the big archs of the Mendocino Headlands.

Of course we ventured deep into the Mendocino Headlands via sea caves and played in rock garden currents and pour-overs. Randy was enjoying paddling his new poly Avocet. We kinda looked like twins with our lava colored Avocets and mango colored drysuits.

Ralph let me take his skin on frame for a spin. Wow!!! Not only is it beautiful but light and responsive. I am super excited about our plans for kayak building this winter. Ralph took video footage from the day. It will be fun to see his footage. We had 3 sea lions negotiating swells outside of the Emerald City that we are hoping he got in his video.

Wild Life

2009-06-07T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today, I was at our local chapter meeting of Delta Kappa Gamma International, (an organization of women educators). This year I have been blessed with so many opportunities including a leadership role in our Iota Zeta chapter.

When asked today to reflect upon my doings outside the realm of public education, a smile spread across my face and Mendocino Coast WILD LIFE came to mind . . .

A fawn nursing on the coastal rocks near Point Cabrillo Lighthouse.
A pigeon guillemot escaping turbulent water.

A starfish doing pull-ups in a sea cave.

And me going a little wild - rock gardening in Fort Bragg's Noyo Bay.

Birds on the Brain

2009-05-29T12:45:00.001-07:00

Paddle, paddle, paddle . . . I started to write my blog about a week full of paddling and ended up with more bird banter than paddle prose. Oh well, nevermymind . . . check back soon for a paddling update or take a gander at our photo gallery to see our paddling adventures.

This week, we have seen lots of great wildlife including lots of babies. On the Noyo River, the mother merganser duck and her tribe are probably my favorite, and I haven't gotten a photo of them yet. I love the way her ducklings take turns riding on her back. The violet green swallows have been swoooping through the air eating insects and appear to have a nest in one of the pilings by our boat slip. We have seen the osprey snag fish, and the acorn woodpeckers continuing to work on their granary. Many of the black crowned night herons are in their breeding plummage, and the juveniles are just as goofy as ever.

The air around the Noyo River is filled with the melodies of happy song birds. I was really stoked to see a Western Tanager with his brilliant colors shimmering in the sun. I have been regularly hearing the black headed grosbeak and have had a couple of sightings of him. We sighted an odd duck on the river that we still need to identify. Last night when we were hiking, we saw her with ducklings on a lagoon near the river. At first we were hopeful that maybe our beloved odd duck the Harlequin had found a lady friend, but it doesn't appear so.

Regarding the mammals on the river, we are still watching for fawns to start appearing. There is a baby sea lion traveling about these days. He looks like a skinny teenager who hasn't grown into his body yet. We have seen some harbor seals courting and the river otters frolicing about.

I often feel as though I am immersed in a National Geographic episode but even better as there is no script.

Video from Kayaking Mendocino Sea Caves

2009-05-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

Mendocino sea kayaking from Jared Noceti on Vimeo.

Yes, that is me in the orange sea kayak with a camera in my hands.

Technorati Profile

Kayaking with Mom

2009-05-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

I recently joined the kayaking.com community and was reminiscing on my most memorable paddle. Numerous kayaking trips came to mind but 2 in particular have been on my mind lately - both included my mom.

My mom is not an athlete or paddler but an enthusiast of life. She has kayaked a couple of times while on vacation in the Caribbean, but the first time that we kayaked together was on the Noyo River in Fort Bragg, CA. She was visiting me from Pennsylvania and flaunting and enjoying the perks of her new "Senior" status. Having gone to the Botanical Gardens and visited the Skunk Train, she was ready for a new adventure. We met up with some friends and enjoyed a sunny afternoon kayaking on the Noyo River. It was on this paddle that her enthusiasm and excitement over the birds that we saw sparked my interested in birding. In particular it was a green heron that perked my interest. The next day while I was at work, she bought me my first bird book. I have been fascinated by birds ever since and now call her to report my latest sitings.

The other memorable trip that came to mind was sea kayaking from Russian Gulch to the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. This is one of our favorite spots on the Mendocino Coast for rock gardening and exploring sea caves. My mom and Jeff shared a tandem sea kayak while my girlfriend and I paddled single boats. The ocean conditions were calm and glassy. It was so exciting for me to be able to share this special stretch of coastline with my mom. We were able to paddle into all of the sea caves and were dazzled by the vibrant colors of the caves and intertidal life. Mom still talks about the spectacular colors and the excitement of the trip. She even let Jeff take her over a couple of pour-overs (when an ocean wave washes over a rock - similar to whitewater on the river).

Happy Mother's Day Mom, I love you!!!

Good Omen

2009-05-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

We knew it was going to be a good day when we met to determine our paddling plans for the day and were treated to a better than Sea World show of a baby gray whale breeching and spyhopping on his northerly migration.

The day got even better as we paddled Mendocino sea caves that are rarely accessible and surfed long smooth waves in our sea kayaks.

Paddle to the Sea

2009-04-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

Recently I picked up a dvd from the library called Paddle to the Sea. It is based on the children's book Paddle to the Sea by Holling Clancy Holling. It was a delightful film, and I just discovered that it is posted on YouTube.

The phrase from the film "Please put me back in the water" has been resonating in my head over the last week as I have been displaced from the sea. I have been in the pool swimming and life guard training so not totally displaced from the water but my soul craves the sea.

Craving the ocean and paddling - is it an addiction? The psychologist William Glasser talks about positive addictions that we create for ourselves. So my spin is that paddling must be a positive addiction - a need that my body, mind, and soul seek for pleasure, release, and solace.

With that thought, I am off to paddle to the sea.

Just Call Me Goldilocks

2009-04-12T20:58:00.000-07:00

Guess I am the Goldilocks of kayaking . . . constantly testing out this boat and that and being hopeful that eventually I will find one that will be "JUST RIGHT."

When will I find the boat that is just right for me? Statistics say that the average height for US women is 5'3" to 5'4". So at 5'4.5" why do I have so much difficulty finding a kayak that fits? Especially in the realm of whitewater kayaks. Sea kayaks by nature are narrower and manufacturers have started working on low volume designs that are more friendly smaller adults.

I just deleted a whole rant about whitewater kayaks but will save that for another day. Currently there is an Eskimo Kendo Starlight sitting in our boatbarn that Goldilocks thinks is going to be "JUST RIGHT."

Guilty with no remorse

2009-04-03T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am officially guilty of pedaling this week more than paddling. Oh, but mountain biking in the Mendocino Coast redwoods is so much fun, the traction is great, I love my new bike, and the whole gang is doing it. Besides, I am not really keen on paddling in the 20 to 30 kt winds that we have been having.

We are getting some new boats tomorrow so I am sure that given high winds or high water - we will be paddling this weekend.

Woman on the Street

2009-03-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

Put me back in the water. I have had too many Cate vs asphalt encounters in my life to enjoy antics such as sea kayaking down the street. Some how the guys convinced me that I should be the test dummy for this little project. Yes, I was wearing my helmet.

Stir Crazy for the Sea

2009-03-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh . . . rainy days don't get me down but our website being down might. 10 days ago our Liquid Fusion Kayaking website finally said "ENOUGH!!!, I am old and just can't take another update." It still has our calendar, our Mendocino Coast sea kayaking video, and information about our classes, but the time has come for a new site. So this woman on water has been woman on the computer and has been consumed with rebuilding our site.

As I develop the pages, write the descriptions, and upload photos; I long for the water. I am getting excited about how the new site is looking but am anxious to launch it and to be able to get more time in on the water.

Need for Water?

2009-03-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

Just finished reading the article from Newsweek titled "Why We Need More Time in Nature."

I couldn't agree more and reading the comments posted indicated that many agree.

Even more interesting would be research on why many of us feel such a draw and connection to water. Perhaps it is because our bodies are over 70% water or maybe that our planet is mostly made up of water and our lives depend so greatly upon it.

Regardless, my recommendation is to get out there and enjoy it.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling . . .

2009-02-28T07:51:00.000-08:00

Yes, remastering the Eskimo Roll was my New Years Resolution. My partner Jeff says that it takes about 100 rolls to have a "reliable eskimo roll." In January, I made an effort to do at least 3 rolls each time that I paddled. Of course being a perfectionist, this usually translated to 5 to 7 rolls. I would often ask for one of my paddling partners to spot me so that I could get an eskimo assist if I missed my rolls. They have been very supportive and encouraging.

This week I hit my 100th roll since January 1st. So do I feel that I have mastered the roll? Yes, I am very confident in my on-side roll. Lately I have started kayak surfing in a decked kayak (which I never thought would be in my paddling scope) and am having a lot of fun rolling in the surf. Jeff tells me that rolling in warm water is even more fun. Our water here on the Mendocino Coast is usually in the mid-50's.

It was quite a commitment to make myself roll in that chilly water, but it has helped me to get used to it so that I am not shocked by it when I do roll over. I definitely recommend learning the eskimo roll in a pool with an instructor, goggles, and nose plugs. We had several sessions last fall at the Fort Bragg Recreation Center swimming pool and are looking forward to teaching rolling this summer at the STARR Community Center - Fort Bragg's new aquatic center.

Rolling on though, now it's time to work on the offside roll.

Woman on Water

2009-02-25T19:54:00.000-08:00

I am Woman . . . hear me ROAR!!!

I am a Woman of Water who plays in and on the water as much as possible and wants to share my experiences in this world of water with others.

Exploring and playing on the water in a kayak is my current passion, but I am interested in all things to do with water and the sea.

Share with me the adventure of being a Woman on Water.