How it Happened
Last time Carol dragged me to an LA Chapter Sierra Club outings scheduling meeting, I spent too much time there bragging about the CKF and all of their interesting paddles, so I was assigned to do a joint event in July. Carol is a hardcore hiker and leader in their Wilderness Adventures and Inner City Outings groups. Beth Powis, a Sierra Club Leader and Kayaker, joined me as a co-coordinator, along with CKF President Len Goodman. Both came up with good ideas, recruited people and made this event a success. Dublin Dave, Duane Strosaker, Carl Smith, George Kulakowski and Carol Miller also worked to make it even better.

We set it up to maximize participants and encourage beginners, as well as old hands (paddles?), to show up, learn, paddle, socialize and just enjoy being on the water on a Sunday. 34 people finally showed up, mostly at the Newport Aquatic Center, in the scenic Back Bay. We picked up about 10 of them at the Southwind Kayak Rental Center under the PCH bridge, on the way out to the lower bay. This was the most diverse assortment of boats-and people-that I've seen at a CKF event in the almost 2 years I've had the pleasure of being involved (also the greatest number of nice single people). There were quite a few new folks- from the Sierra Club, CKF friends and surfers on Ray Roux's fabulous CKF web site.

Getting Underway
People stated launching from The Aquatic Center at about 0845 and leisurely heading down to meet the mostly less experienced renters, at Southwind. A few of us waited at the Aquatic Center until about 0930, for stragglers to show up. The overcast peeled away about then, exposing another fine, sunny day on Newport Bay.

By the time most of us reached the rental center, in the cool shade of the bridge, Len and Dave were already selling shares in the CKF, and probably the bridge over them too, (remember, Len is from Brooklyn) to unsuspecting novice kayakers. It appears that Southwind has improved its checkout procedure and shortened the long waits seen in the past, even as they checked in three groups simultaneously.

In the Harbor
While the rear guard waited for the last couple of kayakers to get their boats and launch, Len (DOWN2THEC), in his purple pace boat, started leading a long column of kayakers through labyrinth channels, past breathtaking multimillion dollar homes and nearly as expensive yachts at their docks. It's amazing that there is still this much wealth left in the country after the stock market crash and recession of the last couple of years. We wanted to paddle and exit the lower bay, before the infamous boating gridlock common there on sparkling summer weekend afternoons, set in. Len took us on a loop, across the main channel, skirting the transient boat anchorage, along the south channel, past the scenic Balboa Ferry and amusement area. Duane, Carol and others were snapping pictures along the way (see them at the end of this report).

Due to the extreme disparity in levels of experience and size of the fleet, the group was stretched out for quite a distance. George K. and Dublin Dave swept the rear. Beth, Carol and Carl patrolled the column. Duane remained on station with Sue, in his gigantic Northwest tandem, ready to practice his expert rescue techniques on any paddlers unfortunate enough to find themselves in distress. Len continued on point. We stopped in the safety of an anchorage near the ferry terminal, to reorganize, regroup, rest and just enjoy the sheer beauty of the breezy bay, warm sun, bustling boat traffic.

I observed just a few people struggling with short, stubby rental kayaks resembling Tupperware guppies. One paddler, Sonya, fared far better when she later tried out my Perception Eclipse. I guess they had already rented out everything seaworthy. I can't say I wasn't warned- Southwind said that it would be a very busy weekend.

Lunch Time in the "Back Bay"
To keep on schedule, we crossed again through the main channel, before we reached the coast guard station, headed back up the bay, then cut through the canals in a different route, to reach the bridge. A few renters checked out early, while the rest of us relentlessly headed up the Back Bay, like spawning salmon, to land and lunch at the Aquatic Center. As you head north, the crowded harbor gradually gives way to marshland framed by white cliffs. Twenty something people enjoyed a leisurely lunch, complete with complimentary, really great ice cold watermelon, supplied by CKF, via Len Goodman. One knows that summer has truly reached its zenith when the watermelon is that good.

We always enjoy talking to different paddlers, hearing their stories. I inspected the Strosaker's 90 lb Northwest tandem, Beth's brand new Perception Shadow, Kevin's Feathercraft, Lee Ann's beautiful fiberglass Necky and George K.'s sturdy Current Designs. Old friends Mike and Daniela Haupt fairly flew along in their tandem rental. We heard tales of trips past and plans of trips future, including the CKF Morro Bay trip coming up, Steve Brown's Todos Santos trip on 18 August, Dave's Queen Mary and Anacapa Trips, etc.

One thing that came out in discussions- many CKF'ers and CKF web surfers are unaware of the ListServe, or club email list. You can sign up for it on the web and get a running commentary of CKF stuff, including outings and opportunities published nowhere else. Sign up today! Get your password from the Webmaster and go to Members only section.

The Aquatic center appears to be quite the rower's and canoer's Mecca. I hear that they give lessons, serve as a base for competition teams and may also do rentals. There are rows of fabulous craft in the boathouses. The kayaks, however, leave much to be desired.

Beth's Beautiful Back Bay Adventure
After lunch, Beth took some of us up the Back Bay, one of her favorite paddles. There were LOTS of kayaks up there, but it wasn't crowded. The tide was up, so we had plenty of sea room. There was abundant birdlife and fish were jumping. Even with noisy jets from the nearby airport overhead every couple of minutes, it was soothing to paddle through the bay. Marshlands always calm me down. While we were doing that, Carol took some of the others back to the rental base.

Epilogue
Afterwards, those that remained packed up slowly and enjoyed chatting before heading back to OC, LA, Inland Empire, Ventura County or other destinations. Several new trips were conceived. I think that just about all would agree that it was a very nice day. We hope that some of you new folks will join us for future fun!

George Miller
Len Goodman
Beth Powis

Photos by Carol Miller Click to see larger image
Dave and Duane indoctrinate new folks, while Nicole and Sue look on adoringly	Daniela and Mike getting revved up for the big paddle
CKF patrol approaches the Paddlewheeler	Break time!
Waiting for Len to chart a new course	The ferry sails
Movin' on	Balboa peninsula in the background
Y'all come back next year!	Paddling buds Duane and George

Photos by Duane Strosaker Click to see larger image
Getting ready for a little lunch	Time to relax at the Newport Aquatic Center
Relaxing after the mornings paddle	Len slicing melon, George watches
Carol, George, & new paddler Sonya	Ray eating - Len slicing