We met at 0800 at Aqua Adventures, Mission Bay, San Diego. Quite a varied group, men and women spanning the age brackets from 20's to 60's, expert paddlers down to first timers on SOT's.

Vehicles loaded we headed for the border, stopped for gas and insurance, and off we went. We stopped across from La Jolla for fresh tamales, turned left off the road to a dirt road which turned into a mostly 4WD trail--the Subaru did great!. We arrived at our campsite, set up tents and camp; unloaded the boats and changed into our paddling clothes.

The switchback trail to the beach was steep and a little windy. We hauled the boats part way then slid them down to the beach. A short talk and seal launch off the rocky beach. We headed south and played follow the leader through the rocks. Then we started the real stuff. Gregg, our main host, guided and we mostly made it. Two of us got pinned in the first channel we surfed through. Photos to follow; I was one of those pinned waiting for the surf to come back high enough to get me over the rocks.

We played for about 3-4 hours coming back to a great dinner of salad, barbecued teriyaki beef and chicken, pasta salad and the appropriate liquid libation. Exhausted we all couldn't wait until dark when we could retire to our tents gracefully.

For the next two days we paddled these short boats through open seas, 3-4' clapotis, over rocks, through channels, over 10' walls. The experience leveled ranged from our guides-Gregg, Jeff and Rob--to some really top notch rock gardeners of both sexes, to some of us "sea kayakers" trying to change long boat habits, to the novice. Most of us went through, or attempted to go through everything.

I went down into a hole that looked as deep as the grand canyon and got shot back out the way I went in underwater, rolled up not knowing on what side of the rocks I was on. I swam once or twice when pinned between a rock and the boat under water. Some others swam, too. One of the women did a fantastic attempt at a pour over and wound up being shot out, upside down inside her boat, what looked like 10' above the water but over the pour she was attempting. Nobody hurt. Another paddler got pinned, upside down with a perfect roll set up; only problem was he was 5' about the water level!

This were the "E ride" highlights. All in all we had some very good instruction in paddling techniques--many new things for me to learn, going through channels, pour-overs, rough water in small boats and, rescue techniques. I was very happy I could roll and had to more than I thought I should have.

By the time we came back to camp on Sunday we were all exhausted. As we waited for our dinner of great chicken tacos and beans we were treated to a pod of whales out to see. We could see multiple spouts and sometimes the huge bodies, themselves.

By Monday morning we were ready again to venture out. More of the same. We intended to be out only a couple of hours but that stretched into almost 4 hours on the water. We hauled the boats up the hill, all loaded we headed for Ensendada and great tacos then home across the border.

When the photos come I will put them up on the CKF web site. I cannot emphasize enough that the instructors created an atmosphere with the group dynamic that made this whole weekend a pleasant, though sometimes physically stressful, time. Nobody was encouraged to go past their own safety zone and everyone who asked for help got it and those that needed help got it without asking. Even the newbies on Sot's were going over pour-overs and through channels. I hesitate to give a true blow by blow of all events because I can't remember them all in chronological order. Suffice it say that everyone of us was technically challenged. I was overwhelmed with the experience and technical abilities of those around me as I am sure those with less experience than I was. I would not hesitate to recommend this weekend to anybody--the quality of production by Aqua Adventures is unsurpassed; good people, good staff, good instruction, good food, great days on the water; all home safe and sound with but a few minor bruises.

    Mike Brown