South Palos Verdes Peninsula
Some friends and I got together for a 14 NM paddle along Palos Verdes
Peninsula from Cabrillo Beach to Long Point and back today, Sunday, August
5th. The friends on the paddle were Linda Roman, Anneli Kyner, Steve Wilson
and Hugh. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful. We had sunshine
the whole way.
It is really remarkable how the peninsula is so beautiful, yet it is right
smack next to the metropolis of LA. Those cliffs make a nice barrier.
Surprising too is how few boats we saw, and how little this coastline is
used. The peninsula really is a jewel. Linda and Hugh agreed that they
almost felt like they were paddling in Baja.
We hugged the coastline along the way. Some of us paddled into the sea
caves at Inspiration and Portuguese Points. After turning around at Long
Point, we paddled back down to secluded Smuggler's Cove and landed there for
a break. We walked along the tidepools and Linda went for swim. I'll have
to come back to the cove with my snorkeling gear, because there is a lot of
beautiful structure just under the water at the points at each end of the cove.
When we landed through the small surf back at Cabrillo and were packing up to
leave, I kept an eye out on the ocean for Harry and Stephen, who were
planning a Catalina crossing trip this weekend. I believe that they had
planned to cross back to Cabrillo that morning and would be arriving around
the time we were back there. However, we didn't see them. Harry and
Stephen, let us know how the trip went.
I was thinking that for the Day After Turkey Day Paddle this year, we could
paddle to Smuggler's Cove and share a potluck lunch there. It would be
relaxing to eat and chat, and snorkel there. Round trip would be around 10 NM.
Duane Strosaker
Submitted on August 5, 2001