Take Me to the River

Since the first of the year, my life has been a bit too busy.  I've had my head down with a remodel project in our home and been working on the nuts n bolts business end of Liquid Fusion Kayaking.  Things are coming together, and I am starting to see the light.  Now it is time for my sweetie to take me to the river.

My first multi day kayak trip - 169 miles self support on the Eel.

Many women dream of trips to Hawaii, Mexico, or Europe.  My vacation fantasies are mostly about multi day kayak trips in the wilderness.  I enjoy the simplicity of boat, camp, be.  No telephone, no Internet, no lights, no driving - just being.

Camping in the Grand Canyon

In particular I like river trips.  On the river, the weather and the logistics tend to be simpler than trips on the coast.  Freshwater is present for drinking, cooking, and bathing, and the weather tends to be less temperamental.  It is nice to not have to be prepared for coastal paddling's weather what if's - what if the fog socks in, what if the swell picks up, what if the tide/currents are different than our calculations, what if there is no fresh water.  On the river, we go with the flow.

Packing the provisions and the necessities

Going with the flow depends upon the river and the paddling group.  Some river trips are relatively calm, flat water trips while others involve whitewater.  I tend to like a little bit of both.  I love the challenge of running rapids.  However, one of my favorite parts of river kayaking trips is lazily drifting in the current - floating, spinning, day dreaming, and being a part of the river.

Spectacular River Scenery

Eventually one finds a paddling partner or group that has similar go with the flow interests.  Some paddlers like to do it all and see it all and rack up the miles.  Others tend toward more leisurely trips.  Jeff and I are definitely of this mentality.  Let's do the fewest miles in the most days possible.  We love leisurely mornings and lay over days.  Lay over days are days where you don't break camp and stay in the same spot.  They give you the opportunity to explore an area more by foot, rest and relax, fish and forage, soak in a spring, or play on a surf wave.

Camping on the Eel River

I'm ready  . . . Take Me to the River!

Paddling with the BOYZ

Earlier this month, Jeff and I coached at Paddle Golden Gate.  It was a gorgeous weekend in the San Francisco Bay area with lots of excited and eager students.  I enjoyed teaching rock garden classes and getting to hang out with other paddlers.  However, I have to admit that the post symposium shenanigans is what I enjoyed the most.

Whitewater of the Sea - Rock Gardening Class Out the Golden Gate Bridge

One of my favorite things about kayak symposiums is getting together with other coaches.  It is a time for us to share ideas and experiences.  There is sense of family among us, and we relish the opportunity to get together and catch up - and do some boating.  It has become a tradition for many of the Pacific Northwest Coaches to stop by Liquid Fusion Kayaking's playground on the Mendocino Coast on their way home from events in the bay area.  This year we had a full house including the Ninkasi beer wagon.

I feel like the luckiest girl alive when I get to share my paddling playground with some of the most inspiring paddlers in the profession.  Often conditions are quite sporty for the coaches' paddle, and it is refreshing to be out there with a competent team.  All though we only paddle together several times a year, we work well as a team.  The team trusts one another to make good decisions but are also there if things don't work out. It is a great environment for pushing the limits.

Me getting in a little rock garden play in Noyo Bay.

This year's Mendo Coaches Paddle was no exception.  Conditions were sporty with a sizable long period swell and a 6.6 foot high tide.  We headed out to the Noyo Bay which offers a little bit of everything - rock gardening, surfing, sea caves, and lots of dynamic water.  The rock gardening was of course just a warm-up as surfing was what was on everyone's mind.  Chicken Point was calling, and the boyz were answering.

Don Cheyette of Salish Strokes drops in at Chicken Point

Today, Chicken Point was showing her multiple personalities.  Knowing Chicken Point well, I recognized her split personality toying with us and decided that I wasn't willing to pay to play.  I positioned myself on the inside to photograph the boyz as they negotiated their rides with her.  She was exerting her all today and even challenged my presence with cleanup sets that barreled through the usual safe zone.

Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Jeff Laxier surfs along at Chicken Point in the Dagger Stratos

She teased with low angle waves that required a good running start to catch but rewarded with long glassy rides.

Jamie Klein surfs the P&H Hammer at Chicken Point

Then she flexed her might with exhilarating steep drops and bombing lefts that had the surfers constantly looking over their shoulder to see what she was unleashing.  Sometimes it was her thundering and exploding over the rocks and into the cliff.  Sometimes it was her boil lines pitching into roaring foam piles.

Paul Kuthe watching  the wave over his shoulder

Paddlers who were willing to drop in deep were treated to steep drops and spectacular rides but also punished as the ocean let us know that she is the boss and spectacular rides have a price.

Jaime Sharp pulls off a deep drop.

From behind the lens, my emotions ran the spectrum of wonder and excitement to thrill and terror.  The boyz were flying today at supersonic speed.  Bows planned above the surface of the wave on one ride and buried on the next.  I watched with wonder and amazement as seemingly unrecoverable drops were made and disaster thwarted.

Paul Kuthe recovers nicely from this steep drop at Chicken Point.

Wave selection and positioning were key.  Reference points and indicators were challenging with the varied swell.  Chicken Point lured the paddlers inside the boil line with lower energy swells and then switched on the juice and slammed them with meaty long period energy.  Jeff and I know this dance well.  It was fun to see him relaxed and in perfect position and time with her energy - flying with her.

Jeff Laxier styling and smiling at Chicken Point

This year, we added a couple new members to the Chicken Point Swim Club.  It is a distinguished list with tales for another day.  As I write this, I can hear Chicken Point churning out waves and thundering into the cliffs.  She is calling . . . is anyone home?

Love to Be on the Water

Here's a new video that I put together for a video contest at Paddle Golden Gate Symposium.  I hope that you enjoy this edit.  Some of the footage you might recognize; however, there is some new footage and old footage that I haven't used before.

Tomorrow night at the Canoe and Kayak Magazine Party, they will show the finalists and announce the winners.  Cross your fingers :)

2015

Wow - 2016 is rolling along and I haven't shared my 2015 highlights.  I have been running through them in my head and have to say that perhaps the reason that I haven't shared them is that there are so many that I don't know where to begin - not a bad problem to have.  My theme for 2015 was "Carpe Diem" - Seize the Day!

SCORE!!!  A nice crop of Boletus edulis. 

Definitely a highlight of 2015 included a trip to the desert.  Jeff and I had never been to Death Valley before and were seduced by her wonder and beauty.

Lupines blooming in Death Valley National Park

While 2015 was a dismal whitewater kayaking year, it was a great year for playing in the ocean.  The warmer water temperatures of El Nino made things a bit interesting but also the water more inviting for playing.  I rediscovered my love of snorkeling and abalone diving and also threw some Coasteering into the mix.

Kayak fishing became a weekly habit, and we enjoyed lots of fresh rock cod for dinner.

Rock Cod for Dinner

I got out in the surf a quite a bit.  I mixed it up by playing in my new (to me) hp surf kayak as well as in my Jackson Kayak Star.  The speed and carving ability of the surf boat is pure bliss.  The playfulness of the Star is shits n giggles fun.

New to me Mega Bullitt Xs Surf Kayak ready to rip.

Tons of fun bouncing, sliding, and spinning on waves in my Jackson Kayak Playboat

Mountain biking and trail running continued to keep me grounded in 2015.  This year our annual Lost Coast trip ended up being a mountain biking weekend with some friends.  Jeff found his legs and lungs on the Lost Coast and now has the riding stoke.

Mountain biking on California's Lost Coast

The loss of 2 special friends in 2015 was very difficult.  Both of them were lights in this world for me and others.  Our time here is limited.  Don't wait for tomorrow or next year - Carpe Diem!

What does 2016 have in store?  I am hoping for lots of whitewater, surf kayaking, mountain biking, and good times with friends and loved ones.  I hope to share these adventures and things learned along the way in my blog.

Whitewater of the Sea!  Kayaking ocean rock gardens on the Mendocino Coast