Elkhyorn Slough
Because of the unfavorable tides in the slough (pronounced "slew") for the past 5 days, we have waited until today to paddle this marine sanctuary. We had witnessed a few days prior the incredible force of the cross currents of outgoing tide meeting the incoming waves at the mouth of the jetty leading where the Pacific meets the slough into Moss Landing--not something an unsuspecting paddler would enjoy encountering. In fact, for most of the week, Monterey Bay Kayak's satellite shop at Moss Landing was closed for rentals due to the adverse conditions. But today was a different story--the tide would be incoming to Kirby Park until 11 a.m. and then would reverse for several hours with a drop of 6 feet. Hooray! We would get the best of both worlds, paddling with the tide in both directions. And even though it is Sunday, we are alone on the water.

We launched our boats and started the paddle at 8:30 a.m. The water was glassy, the temperature was cool and the sky had some high clouds. Fog had been an issue earlier in the week but not today. As we rounded the bend to cross under the highway 1 bridge that spans the slough, we felt the swift tide enhancing our strokes as we paddled along. On previous passages of this wonderful waterway we have encountered lots of otters and seals just past the bridge, but this was not the case today. What we did see were pelicans, gulls, small birds and a group of what we perceived to be 25 white pelicans standing alongside the bank. The slough makes a sweeping left turn just past the dairy about a mile and half up. As we turned our boats, we did encounter some seals lounging about in the water. Every now and then a sleek rounded head would pop through the water, then as if pirouetting around, you'd see those adorable large seal eyes checking you out. We also encountered a slight headwind that would become pesky on the return. The landscape changes at this turn. Whereas the embankment had been somewhat flat with little vegetation, the view now was of rolling hillsides lush with green agricultural squares and stands of trees scattered here and there. Straight on the right at the turn is a stand of eculyptus trees, and with the mornings' coffee having been processed by now, the resultant effect is asserting itself rather forcefully. Time to land at the eculyptus trees! Just as we land and walk up on solid ground, here comes a bird watcher. Barbara is thouroughly distressed to see this fellow. But he did have a bird watching dictionary with him and we were able to confirm our sighting of the American White pelicans, as he had a picture of them in his book and had been aware that sightings had been made in the slough.

With renewed zeal to reach Kirby Park, and the portapotty available there, we push off to paddle the additional 1.5 to 2 miles to our relief and turn around destination. We are now getting broadsided by wind chop. A few more surprises of seals popping up next to our boats within 10 feet or so keep the entertainment portion of the paddle going. It is 10 a.m. when we land at Kirby. We take a half hour to stretch, have a snack and watch 5 whitewater kayakers launch. Seems an odd spot to pick for this type of boat--but hey,they seemed not to mind. Tide is to go back out to the sea at 11, so we have a half hour of incoming tide to paddle against. That wouldn't have been too bad but the wind had kicked up more and the broadsided chop had increased. Still not a major issue, but enough to keep you alert to what's going on.

As we rounded the bend once again, we began to see other paddlers for the first time. The closer we got to the dairy, the more boats we saw. Large groups of them. Must have been at least 150 people on the water in this area, most of whom were renting boats from either MBK or the other tour company next to MBK. We landed at 12:30, having taken lots of time to get back, watch more pirouetting seals, birds and just drift with the outgoing tide. Another relaxing day on the water and the final chapter of this post harvest trip as preparations for turkey day require our return home on Monday.

    Richard and Barbara Tieskoetter

Submitted on November 18, 2001