Coronado Island Circumnavigation
It rained as "Dublin" Dave O'Connor and I drove from Orange County this morning, but as we arrived in San Diego, the sun was shinning brightly through a partly cloudy sky. Just outside Shelter Island, we were surprised to find out that there was no traffic access to the island until 10:00 am because of a running race. Those darn runners!!! ;^) We waited at bagel shop near the road barricade, and the island was opened back up for traffic again early at 8:40 am, at which time we headed to the launch site.

We were disappointed that only one representative from San Diego joined us, but we were very happy to meet this representative, who is Kevin Montgomery, better known on email lists as Dr. Paddle. For a long time people have been asking me who is doctor paddle, and until today, I always had to say that I had no idea. It turns out that Dr. Paddle is quite a nice guy, and I hope he joins us on more paddles in the future.

We launched at 9:15 am and paddled on up to Point Loma, sticking close to shore, weaving in and out of rocks, and stopping briefly to play in some small surf. After crossing the harbor entrance, we had a nice little following sea helping to push us along the long stretch to Hotel Del Coronado. The surf at the hotel was around three feet, and we all came in between the waves. Closer to shore, Dave capsized while trying to avoid a collision with me, but he stayed in the boat and rolled up.

We portaged between the hotel and the tall condo buildings. A sign at the road says no pedestrian crossing, but we crossed anyway, managing to not get hit by a car or even worse, get a ticket.

After the portage, we paddled on around to the beach next to the ferry landing. A sign on the beach said that launching and landing of vessels was prohibited, but we did anyway and managed not to get a ticket. Lunch was at a deli there.

After lunch we crossed the harbor in some wind chop to follow the down town shoreline. Being that Dr. Paddle is a local, he was able to show Dave and I small passages so that we could paddle under a restaurant and behind Fisherman's Pier, which was fun and gave us a bit of shelter from the wind. Then we followed the outside of the harbor on around.

Along the way, a bunch of people in a restaurant next to the harbor were waving at us, so Dave and Dr. Paddle did some rolls to entertain them.

The three of us arrived back at Shelter Island at around 2:00 pm. After landing, I noticed that a sign there also said no launching or landing of vessels, but once again, we didn't get a ticket. I can't remember breaking so many laws on a paddle before.

It turned out to be a nice day on the water. My only disappointment was not seeing any people I know from San Diego and not meeting more people from the area. Maybe there will be a better turn out next time without the threat of rain.

    Duane Strosaker
    www.rollordrown.com

View picture of Point Loma Light House
View picture of Glorietta Bay

Submitted on November 16, 2003