We love going to the Mendocino Coast for the beauty of the coast line, all the beaches along the way and of course all the fun little places to check out. Here is a cool little slot we went in with a tiny beach and waterfall at the end of it. It is only big enough for one kayak to get into and turn around in and you have to let the water take you in and use your hands on the rocks as it is way to narrow to paddle through but it's a spot we just have to check out each time we go.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Scott's First Pourover
Last weekend in Mendocino, Scott attempted his first pourover.
Although it was not a total success, he came up laughing
with a huge grin on his face. I'd call that success!
with a huge grin on his face. I'd call that success!
We can't wait to go back and play some more!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Why We Love Mendocino...
Great Friends...
 |
Beautiful Scenery...  Wildlife...  Sea Life...   Caves...  Tunnels...  Blow holes...  Pourovers...  and Secret Beaches.   What's not to love about it? |
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
My Parents are Certifiable
Well, only if you consider an extreme obsession to kayaking a mental illness.
Over the past year and a half my parents have taught us everything that we know about kayaking. They taught us how to wet exit and how to self and t-rescue. We moved on to bracing, edging, and forward stroke. They taught me how to roll. Then once we got the basics down they took us on trips where they taught us about eddy lines, currents, wind, waves, and being prepared.
This time last year we were preparing for our second trip to the ocean (on the first trip, three months earlier, we only got on the ocean once and in very mild conditions). We were not yet members of the Sacramento Sea Kayakers but had begun going to meetings and joining them on trips, and this trip was their annual Mendocino Campout.
The group consists of three types of paddlers. Those that stick to the calm flat rivers, those who explore the oceans tunnels and caves, and those who love to explore the rock gardens. My parents fall in the later two.
Being so green to kayaking, the group expected us to stick to the rivers, but that wasn't what we did. Every morning we got up early and joined my parents on trips thru caves and tunnels, we were introduced to the washing machine, rode eight foot swells, played in small waves, enjoyed lunch on beautiful secret beaches and even tried a teeny tiny pourover.
Now my parents have gone and got themselves certified! I can't imagine two better kayak instructors and I am very proud of them for all that they have accomplished. They have given up many fun and exciting exploration paddles this year in favor of long boring practice sessions on the local lake, and all of their hard work and determination has finally paid off for them. I just hope they don't start charging us for lessons now...
Over the past year and a half my parents have taught us everything that we know about kayaking. They taught us how to wet exit and how to self and t-rescue. We moved on to bracing, edging, and forward stroke. They taught me how to roll. Then once we got the basics down they took us on trips where they taught us about eddy lines, currents, wind, waves, and being prepared.
This time last year we were preparing for our second trip to the ocean (on the first trip, three months earlier, we only got on the ocean once and in very mild conditions). We were not yet members of the Sacramento Sea Kayakers but had begun going to meetings and joining them on trips, and this trip was their annual Mendocino Campout.
The group consists of three types of paddlers. Those that stick to the calm flat rivers, those who explore the oceans tunnels and caves, and those who love to explore the rock gardens. My parents fall in the later two.
Being so green to kayaking, the group expected us to stick to the rivers, but that wasn't what we did. Every morning we got up early and joined my parents on trips thru caves and tunnels, we were introduced to the washing machine, rode eight foot swells, played in small waves, enjoyed lunch on beautiful secret beaches and even tried a teeny tiny pourover.
The club was so impressed that at the Christmas Dinner awards ceremony we were awarded with this...
Best Novice Couple Award
Now my parents have gone and got themselves certified! I can't imagine two better kayak instructors and I am very proud of them for all that they have accomplished. They have given up many fun and exciting exploration paddles this year in favor of long boring practice sessions on the local lake, and all of their hard work and determination has finally paid off for them. I just hope they don't start charging us for lessons now...
Monday, August 30, 2010
Blood Dolphins
In these modern times with all we know about dolphins, with all we do not know and all that we still can learn, how is this still happening?
Click on this link to learn more. The Cove Movie This was heartbreaking for me because dolphins are my passion!
Click on this link to learn more. The Cove Movie This was heartbreaking for me because dolphins are my passion!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Shark Attack on Clear Lake
With all of the kayaking related shark attacks making headlines recently we thought that we would share our own shark attack experience with all of you. Which thankfully, we both survived no worse for wear to ourselves or to our kayaks. For that we are very grateful!
The attack took place on one cool, fall evening in late October on Clear Lake in California. They always say that early evening is feeding time and that is when most shark attacks occur, but we were too focused on going on our first night paddle, hanging out with friends and paddling to dinner at a great local restaurant. We didn't give any thought to sharks let alone heed any of the warnings.
The attack took place on one cool, fall evening in late October on Clear Lake in California. They always say that early evening is feeding time and that is when most shark attacks occur, but we were too focused on going on our first night paddle, hanging out with friends and paddling to dinner at a great local restaurant. We didn't give any thought to sharks let alone heed any of the warnings.
We were paddling along silently, save for the water splashing from our paddles, dreamily gazing at the moon, when I heard something behind me. I looked over my shoulder and caught sight of a giant grey fin! I knew immediately that it was a great white shark! I shrieked something unintelligable to the others who had no idea what was going on. I started paddling faster than I have ever paddled before. I could have won races with the speed at which I was paddling, I could have circumnavigated continents, but it was of no use. The shark was too fast! It was gaining on me with incredible speed. I could see the gleam of it's teeth in my peripheral vision. Judging it's size, I would say that the shark was an enormous 5 1/2 feet. I know that might not seem that big to most of you, but I'm telling you that this shark was a HUGE unrelenting monster...
and boy could it paddle a kayak and FAST!
This shark was sure to take it's time savoring the flavor of my legs.
I miss those water shoes!
Halloween Night 2009
Night Paddle/Dinner with Sacramento Sea Kayakers Paddle Club
BTW: I DO NOT recommend paddling with legs hanging from your neck as they tend to swing and sway knocking into the paddle shaft which in turn throws off your stroke.
For those of you concerned with safety, as we always are, my PFD was on under the sweatshirt as was a dry wicking shirt, the gray pants I wore were dry pants made by Kokatat and we carried extra clothes and a paddle jacket in a dry bag in our hatch (which I wisely wore in lieu of the sweatshirt on the return trip). But really, what could possibly go wrong when you have Popeye, Bluto, Olive Oyl and Tigger & Poo there to save you! (I can't vouch for the one in the middle)
Friday, August 27, 2010
Disappointed But Not Discouraged
Rolling last night was... dissappointing. We thought that with all of the modifications that we had made to Scott's kayak that we couldn't possibly get him any tighter in there while still being able to wet exit. In fact we were a little worried about the wet exit part. The good news is... he slips right out! Unfortunately, that's also the bad news.
We found two spots, one behind his lower back and the other was in the two front corners that we could put a bit more padding. The only problem with getting him crammed in there like a sardine is that he'd also like to be comfortable on say a 14 mile paddle on the San Francisco Bay. Another thought we had was, what if we could make the foam less slippery? Scott suggested velcroing his butt to the seat but I thought glueing some kind of non slip material to the foam might be best.
I just love facebook and kayaking friends! When we returned home I posted on our facebook page asking anyone for ideas of a material that we could use to glue to the foam. I gave the qualifications: it has to be textured as to prevent slipping but also be comfortable to sit on and rub against and it has to withstand being soaked. Within minutes, one of our kayaking friends whom we just met on the down river trip last month sent us a message saying that she had a pair of rubber pants that she hasn't worn in years. They are a sticky rubber for the purpose of keeping your butt in the boat. If the pants fit him he can wear them and the leg material can be cut up and glued to the sections of foam that we want to be less slippy. She is teaching a kayaking class about 5 minutes from our house on Saturday so we can go by and pick them up then! Thanks Lisa! You are awesome!
A kayak club friend suggested looking into outfitting made of neoprene. To redo all of the outfitting will be costly but that is an option we will keep open. Thanks Dave!
Another of our friends who created California Kayaker Magazine had a post up about his magazine and I just happened to read a comment on his post from someone wanting to submit an article about kayakers with disabilities, so I added this person as a friend and sent him an email asking if he had any suggestions. He was kind enough to reply right away offering some helpful suggestions. The best one being hip pads. The whole cockpit is padded! I thought at first, did he even look at the pictures? But now I get the need for a more shapely peice to hold the hip in place! Duh! So, Thank you, Tom!
As for me, it was weird to get used to a higher seat. It felt like I had to relearn my balance. If I rolled quickly I felt it was an asset like it pushed me up almost by itself, but if I hesitated underwater before rolling I felt it was harder. I was glad that I asked Scott to bring the screwdriver to roll practice, I readjusted my thigh braces at least five times. I think they are ok now. It is just weird to fit so differently and hard to get used to. Since removing those metal braces for the seat I don't have much hip pad. We put some in there but found it isn't nearly enough so we will have to add more to that too. Right now I am feeling like I am learning balance and rolling all over again. So far no bruises yet, but my muscles are screaming! All of them.
We are anxious to get back in the garage, modify, modify, modify, and then get back to the pool! But it will have to wait until we return from kayaking on the Mendocino Coast. Darn! LOL
Until then if anyone has any ideas throw them our way, please! Right now it is just a guessing game and we are willing to try ALMOST anything. :D
We found two spots, one behind his lower back and the other was in the two front corners that we could put a bit more padding. The only problem with getting him crammed in there like a sardine is that he'd also like to be comfortable on say a 14 mile paddle on the San Francisco Bay. Another thought we had was, what if we could make the foam less slippery? Scott suggested velcroing his butt to the seat but I thought glueing some kind of non slip material to the foam might be best.
I just love facebook and kayaking friends! When we returned home I posted on our facebook page asking anyone for ideas of a material that we could use to glue to the foam. I gave the qualifications: it has to be textured as to prevent slipping but also be comfortable to sit on and rub against and it has to withstand being soaked. Within minutes, one of our kayaking friends whom we just met on the down river trip last month sent us a message saying that she had a pair of rubber pants that she hasn't worn in years. They are a sticky rubber for the purpose of keeping your butt in the boat. If the pants fit him he can wear them and the leg material can be cut up and glued to the sections of foam that we want to be less slippy. She is teaching a kayaking class about 5 minutes from our house on Saturday so we can go by and pick them up then! Thanks Lisa! You are awesome!
A kayak club friend suggested looking into outfitting made of neoprene. To redo all of the outfitting will be costly but that is an option we will keep open. Thanks Dave!
Another of our friends who created California Kayaker Magazine had a post up about his magazine and I just happened to read a comment on his post from someone wanting to submit an article about kayakers with disabilities, so I added this person as a friend and sent him an email asking if he had any suggestions. He was kind enough to reply right away offering some helpful suggestions. The best one being hip pads. The whole cockpit is padded! I thought at first, did he even look at the pictures? But now I get the need for a more shapely peice to hold the hip in place! Duh! So, Thank you, Tom!
As for me, it was weird to get used to a higher seat. It felt like I had to relearn my balance. If I rolled quickly I felt it was an asset like it pushed me up almost by itself, but if I hesitated underwater before rolling I felt it was harder. I was glad that I asked Scott to bring the screwdriver to roll practice, I readjusted my thigh braces at least five times. I think they are ok now. It is just weird to fit so differently and hard to get used to. Since removing those metal braces for the seat I don't have much hip pad. We put some in there but found it isn't nearly enough so we will have to add more to that too. Right now I am feeling like I am learning balance and rolling all over again. So far no bruises yet, but my muscles are screaming! All of them.
We are anxious to get back in the garage, modify, modify, modify, and then get back to the pool! But it will have to wait until we return from kayaking on the Mendocino Coast. Darn! LOL
Until then if anyone has any ideas throw them our way, please! Right now it is just a guessing game and we are willing to try ALMOST anything. :D
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