Laid Back Father's Day Paddle

Laid Back Father's Day Paddle

The club Fathers appointed Carol and I to run today's paddle from Hobbie Beach, Channel Islands Harbor, since they figured that everyone would be off celebrating Father's Day and no one would show up anyway. They were wrong, since we were blessed with several attractive women, single guys, Al Gore campaigning, and Fathers with amnesia, appearing on milk cartons.

Today's theme was a "laid back," no-pressure paddle to ease into the season.

Speaking of amnesia, I'm not sure if I remember all the names of people who showed up. Carol usually does that sort of thing, but she's doing homework tonight and maintaining her perfect 4.0 GPA for her Cal State Channel Islands teaching certificate, so I won't disturb her. I remembered:

Boatbender Mike Brown, with his newly recycled Necky Tesla
Deborah, his interesting friend from New Mexico. Mike snatched her out of the high country for her first day in a kayak
Steve Holtzman-- Speedy Steve was Leader of the Pack today- Oooo-ooo-ooooo-wwwwaaaah!
Doctor "Headshrinker" John Ernst (if I say that, then I guess I gotta say Doctor Brown, too)
Steve (School principal in Simi). How come I never had a cool principal like that when I was in school?
Capt. PyroPeter O'Sullivan- was drafted as kayak teacher today
Karen, from Ventura. Nice lady, runner and occasional paddler
Tim Werner, general good guy and good paddler
Trip Leader and new substitute teacher Carol Miller
Teacher's pet and scribe George Miller

It was blazingly hot at Channel Islands Harbor. People were stripping off clothing faster than opening day at a nudist convention. SPF numbers escalated to 10, 20, 30.....45. The more athletic and daring participants executed showy rolls to cool off.

When we inventoried human resources, we became aware that some people were not initially comfortable with paddling on the open ocean. Mike, Pyro and I stayed back to paddle with Deborah and Karen. Karen took me on a tour of the harbor, while Mike and Pyro's combined efforts so quickly enhanced Deborah's skills and muscle memory that she was surfing the edge of the outer breakwater before lunch time. It's lucky that the ladies were there to save us from the open ocean.

Meanwhile, back on the high seas, Carol led the group eastward, ever eastward, past Silverstrand Beach and the trendy beach houses, out to the Hueneme buoy, although it wasn't the same without Pyro there to entertain the seals, while the seals entertained the group. Headshrinker goaded Carol into extending the voyage past the port and all the way over to the pier. Coming back against the wind and waves was another story.

We were unable to summon up any "carnage" to compete with the more lurid trip reports of recent weeks, so we'll have to settle for saying that we had a really nice day, caught some rays, did some scenic paddling, enjoyed talking and had a scrumptious lunch. Mike briefly considered staging an incident or two.

Karen was aghast at the luncheon fare, fit mainly for carnivores, at Daddio's, but somehow negotiated acceptable sustenance. I wonder what she thought of all of us kayak geeks chattering about hull speed, paddle length, feathering, obscure trips, can-you-top-this stories, club personalities, etc. She probably thought it was a little bit like runners' talk.

Another nice day on the water. I think we're getting spoiled.

Regards,
George Miller

Submitted on June 15, 2003