Old Farts - Dan Blocker to Pt. Dume
It was an overcast morning with fog threatening to swallow up the view of Malibu as Mike Brown, John Peterson, John Ernst, and I met at Dan Blocker Beach. With a full moon high tide at +4 feet, it meant a dumping surf and a steep beach. Launch timing was important since a mistake could result in a tumbling. Fortunately, there was plenty of sand on the beach so we didn't have to contend with rocks - not yet anyway. All four of us made it off the beach in great style and without mishap.

Once we got past the surf, the 4.8 nautical mile paddle to Point Dume was easy. The wind did not start blowing until we reached Pt. Dume, so we were able to average about 4.5 knots in rather calm water. Along the way John Peterson spotted a bat ray and later something silver spooked him by jumping out of the water and making a splash in front of his boat. Based on his description, it could have been a great white shark - but at a length of only 12 inches there is possibility that it was a less fearsome fish.

At Pt. Dume we studied the surf which was dumping hard and running fast up a very steep beach. We decided that it would be safer to make a landing at a more protected site, so we turned around and started back. Since the trip there was rather short, we opted to take a more scenic route closer to shore. The good news was that being closer to shore afforded a better view of the fabulous estates of Pt. Dume and Malibu. The bad news is that being closer to shore meant that we had unwittingly put ourselves in a place where Neptune could have some fun with us.

So there we were paddling along and having a great conversation when Mike and I felt our boats suddenly lift about 5 feet in the air as this unusually big swell rolled under us. Mike and I were the lucky ones since we were far enough out that the swell had not turned into a wave. Unfortunately the two Johns were in harm's way. Mike yelled a warning and they scrambled to turn into the wave that was building in front of them. As the wave between us grew taller it blocked the sight of them. For what seemed about ten heart beats I feared that they were going to get trashed by the wave and thrown up onto the rocks on the beach at the foot of the cliff. Just as the wave crested, the bow of John Peterson's boat burst through the wave and for a second he was airborne on the back side of the wave. His adrenalin boost was like a JATO bottle launching a fighter off the deck of carrier! I wish that I had a camera to record what he looked like with the spray flying everywhere and his boat up there in the air. John did a beautiful landing on the back side of the wave without missing a stroke.

But where was John Ernst? I kept hoping that he too would punch through the wave. But it didn't happen. The wave sucked John up and spun him into a broach. His brace held and he was on a high speed ride into the wall of rocks on the beach. Realizing that the wave was about to throw him onto the rocks, John ejected from his cockpit. He ended up swimming about ten feet away from the rocks as his boat got bashed into and onto the rocks. As we heard one of the impacts, John Peterson winced and groaned "That didn't sound very good!"

John Ernst was eventually able to make it ashore and get his boat out of the surf on onto the rock ledge. Mike was able to contact John on the radio, and to our relief and surprise John told us that he was OK, his boat seemed to be OK, and the worst thing that had happened was that he had lost his Tilly hat.

It soon became apparent that John was not in a very good spot to launch his fiberglass kayak with all the rocks and surf. The three of us out on the water discussed what we should do.

Plan - C won the vote since John Peterson and I both wanted a cool Tilly hat. Mike's vote didn't count because he already had a Tilly hat that was guaranteed for the rest of his life.

I must admit, that our landings on the sandy beach were a sight to behold. The three of us each rode the back of a dumping wave high onto the beach and made it look like we were professionals. Sometimes we actually get it right.

So Mike and John Peterson and I climbed over the rocks, and took turns portaging John Ernst's boat back to where our boats were. And while John Peterson and I were carrying John Ernst's boat, Ernst found his Tilly hat and retrieved it before either of us could get to it! That resulted in a few comments like: "Hey John, next time you want help carrying your boat to your car, could you land a little closer to where it is parked?"

Before launching we inspected John's boat. To our amazement the only damage we found was a small bubble, about the size of a quarter, on the inside laminate near his forward bulkhead. Something that might be repaired without too much trouble. Though the outer hull of his boat looked fine, just to be on the safe side, we put a couple of duct tape patches over the spot (it's a fact - everything works better with duct tape on it).

Our launches went well, and the rest of our trip went without further mishap. We were even fortunate to meet a pod of dolphins that were in some kind of a frenzy. A couple of them actually swam under John Peterson's boat to give him a thrill. First the bat ray, then the silver "shark", and then the dolphins - there must be something about John's skin-on-frame boat that attracts the sea creatures (that or maybe it has something to do with the way he smells).

At the end of our adventure, we went out to eat at a deli in Malibu. The food was great. Our conversations were lively. And John Ernst looked just fine wearing his Tilly hat.

All the best,

    Patrick Martin

View map
View picture of Dan Blocker Beach
Picture of Point Dume

Submitted on September 14, 2003