I took time to envy those wearing securely-strapped-on kayak booties as I wondered how to put my shoes back on and then clean the mud off my hands. The only water was either in the lake - which meant gooshing back through the muck - or in the Camelback strapped pristinely onto the back of my PFD.

I finally gave up and wiped my hands on my shorts. Then I grabbed two handfuls of gear out of the boat and tramped muddy-legged up the steep dirt trail to set up camp.

We were at Lake Santa Margarita, just outside San Luis Obispo for "Kayak Camping 101," an overnight trip designed to teach beginners the ins and outs of kayak camping. Despite the extraordinarily low lake level and resultant mire, the trip was overwhelmingly successful, full of fun and good camaraderie.

Our group of 20 met lakeside on Saturday morning, Oct. 19. Some were true kayaking beginners, some were very experienced, and at least one person had never been camping before. There were four sit-on-tops, one tandem, and the rest single sit-insides.

The original plan was for trip co-host Paula Chavez to demonstrate packing a sit-on-top, and then host Steve Holtzman would demonstrate packing a sit-inside. There was a demonstration - but most of the boats were already packed.

"I looked around and most of you guys were already halfway through packing your boats, just asking each other questions and helping each other out," Paula told us before we launched. "That's what I love to see; everyone just helping each other."

From our put-in at the main boat launch, it was a quick 1.9-mile paddle under sunny skies to the Sapwi backcountry campground. Conditions were calm and placid, with one or two gentle wakes kicked up by the fishing boats that shared the lake with us.

Created in 1942 with the construction of a dam on the Salinas River, Lake Santa Margarita includes several campgrounds, 24 miles of multi-use trails and a swimming pool that is open during summer months. The lake is stocked with bass, catfish, bluegill, trout and other fish.

The lake is actually a drinking water reservoir for San Luis Obispo, and all body contact with the water is prohibited - even feet or hands. This made the mud landing at camp especially challenging. Some wisely chose to land at the nearby dock, even though it rises about two feet above lake level and posed its own challenges.

The campground was large, full of shady oak trees and punctuated by a large fire ring at the center. Once settled, many people jumped back into their boats for an afternoon paddle. Several of us headed back to the cars to pick up items we'd left behind or - in my case - to hop in the car and drive to the nearby store to indulge a craving for diet Coke. What a strange camping trip this is, I laughed to myself.

We were back in the boats and returning to camp when I heard loud splashing. I turned around to see the white hull of a capsized kayak, with two hands on either side, leisurely slapping. It was Chris Wood, obviously waiting for a bow rescue. I was quite surprised to see such an experienced paddler unexpectedly in the water. Of the four people nearby, Steve was closest, but as I watched, his boat moved oh-so slowly. Finally, the slapping hands disappeared and Chris appeared by the side of his boat, swimming. So much for no body contact with the water!

He was assisted back into his boat in a matter of minutes. "Sorry," Steve said. "I couldn't get my boat turned!" It turns out that Steve and Chris had traded paddles. Chris, not used to a feathered paddle, tried a brace that didn't quite hold. Meanwhile, Steve couldn't get his boat to turn with Chris' skinny Greenland-style wood paddle. It was an entertaining show for the family fishing from the nearby shore.

Back in camp we enjoyed frozen margaritas for happy hour, courtesy of Paula, and after dinner shared kayaking stories and roasted marshmallows around a blazing campfire.

A highlight was going around the fire and sharing what each of us would like to get out of our involvement with CKF. The responses varied: more leisurely trips with more landings and photo opportunities; more trips tailored for those with sit-on-tops; more camping trips. Trips to more flatwater locales. Perhaps a coastal paddle and camping trip. We joked about the testosterone-laden trip reports that dominate the members-only list-serv, and someone suggested a rating system for trips -- using one to four "balls" as a guide. Steve and Paula promised to take our suggestions to heart - and then urged us to become involved and help plan the very trips we were suggesting. Stay tuned.

The next morning we took our time re-packing the boats. Most people had relocated onto or near the dock by this time, and successfully avoided the mud. Once in the water, the low lake level limited our paddling options, and we headed back toward the cars. We landed there to unload the boats. About half the group opted to get a jump on their drives home and bid us adieu. The rest of us re-launched in now empty boats and paddled the lake for another hour.

As we loaded boats back onto the cars afterward, we all agreed it had been a great trip and that we'd like to return. After all, most Californians pay a lot of money to be encased in warm, gooey mud. We got to do it almost free - and with a great group of people.

Pictures by Beth Powis - Click on picture to see larger image
Packing the boats	Launching	The group
Beth	The mud	In camp

Pictures by Paula Chavez - click on picture to see larger image
Signing waivers & packing	The only bag I have	Whew it all fit!	Away she goes...
Low Lake Dock	High Dock Entry	We love our double & space	Our Fearless Leader Steve
Bob, Chris, & Tanya	Lee Ann & Sheila	Lee	Paul
	SOT vs sit-in	There she goes...

Pictures by Donna Holtz - click on picture to see larger image
Fireside Chat	Beth & Paul	Dad & Son	Double
Muddy Feet	Beth at the dock	Paula & Steve	JLG & Paula
Launch	JoLinda	On the water	Lee Ann
Loading	Low water	Paddling lesson	Packing lesson by Paula & Steve

Pictures by Steve Holtzman - Click on picture to see larger image
This is the place	Setting up camp	Lee pitching tent	Pitching tents
Camping inthe fog	Chris in camp	Waking up	Campsite
After the sun came out	At the launch ramp	The launch ramp	They'll never fit it all in

    Beth Powis