There was no wind blowing and the huge surf was only 1 foot to 1 1/2 feet high although the surf was breaking on an angle to the beach.

Some of the guys were getting turned by the waves sideways and Peter came up with a new method of launching. In the best tradition of Wayne Horodowich's "ABC'S of the Surf Zone", Peter stayed on the beach to help launch everyone and I was one of the first paddlers on the water to wait for them in the staging area.After everyone launched, Peter took his turn and his boat was quickly turned sideways. He decided to continue the turn and then paddled out through the surf backwards. We have decided to name this launching method after Patrick's backwards surf landing method. So from now on, this maneuver will be called a "Reverse Martin".

We started paddling and managed to keep a good tight group for about 10 minutes. We then paired up and Mike Brown, George Miller, and John Ernst left the rest of us in their wakes.We did a leisurely paddle and according to my GPS, our average moving speed was 3.0 knots but our overall speed was really 2.6 because we took several breaks. We paddled the 5 1/2 NM and arrived at Hendries to find that there was again small 1 - 2 foot surf.

All of us but one landed without any problem, but Steve P broached on his SOT and tumbled. Some people on the beach came up to him and asked if he was the one who had rolled the SOT. They said that was awesome - of course they completely ignored the 8 paddlers who landed completely dry.

Since Mike, George, and John had landed so much earlier than the rest of us, George was able to get us a table at the Brown Pelican on the beach. It must be something to get all dressed up to go to Sunday Brunch and then be sitting next to a bunch of kayakers who show up in smelly neoprene and paddling gear. At least we left our PFD's and skirts at the boats.

When the check came, we tried to convince Mike Brown and John Ernst that since they had just celebrated birthdays last week, that it was traditional for them to buy brunch for the rest of us, but they wouldn't have any part of it.

After we got everyone on the water (thanks to Steve P for saying that since he had a SOT, he would stay on the beach and give everyone else a push), we had a group photo session by John P.After that, we set out for Butterfly Beach and the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel. There were several dolphin that appeared right in front of us and several harbor seals and sea lions.

Mike Plummer even saw a bat ray in the water. Most of the time the water was crystal clear but at times there was a definite red tide. Steve P caught the biggest fish of the day, but it was made of Mylar and in a previous life was a fish balloon. The temperature started to climb on the return paddle and everybody was rolling or getting wet to cool off. Not trusting my roll, I used Patrick's bow several times to get wet.

We arrived at Butterfly to find that George, John E, and Mike B already had their boats on top of their cars. Everybody helped each other carry boats to the cars and we all said what a great time we had on the water as we loaded our gear and left.Mike P's home built wood strip kayak was the talk of the beach crowd as they ooh'd and ah'd over his beautiful creation.

    Steve Holtzman

Thanks to my CKF buddies for entertaining me today at work!

Click on image to see a larger picture

    Paula Chavez

LAUNCH LOCATION:

1. 101 to Olive Mill Road in Montiecto.
2. Exit Olive Mill Road and turn left.
3. Follow this road past the Four Seasons Biltmore.
4. A short distance later you'll come to a stop sign. Your there now and look for kayaks or cars and trucks with racks on them. Park and paddle!