Butterfly to Hendry's Beach
Eleven paddlers showed up for this social paddle. Mostly the usual suspects including a couple of Steve's, a couple John's, Pyropeter, Chris, Ines and others (mea culpa but I am really bad with names at the moment). The air temp was in the 60's, the water reasonably clear and the marine layer gave us limited visibility. Between the social gab and avoiding speeding bicyclists participating in some sort of race event we really didn't get launched until close to 0900 with all launched and bunched by 0910. The sea was flat and there were a couple of dolphins near the launch site. Peter suggested that we test navigational skills by all going off in the fog in different directions then coming back to a predetermined point. This was negated by the group as a whole as we paddled the giant swimming pool past Santa Barbara Harbor. A couple of us went a little coastal playing just outside the surf zone risking our lives in the breaking of the giant 2' surf! There were several harbor seals sleeping in the kelp beds along the way but an otherwise uneventful trip.

We landed at Hendry's by clearing a spot on the beach from swimmers and little primate monsters whose parents seem have degraded their mental powers to slightly below that of sea urchins with regard to supervision. After a little refreshment, conversation and "rest" we began our launch. As boats began to launch the primate monsters returned with bogey boards directly in front of the launching boats; their father along with them. As one boat launched he had to brace and turn to avoid spearing the young soles on his bow, broaching in the light surf. Their father, seeing the predicament, grabbed the kayak bow and propelled the boat out into the surf narrowly missing his darling offspring. There is something to be said for filtering the gene pool but this was not the day to do it.

On the way back the sun began to peak through and the day warmed up. We sort of split into groups based speed as we hugged the coast part of the way back, some playing in the surf zone and occasional rock formation. The wind had picked up a little and so did the swell giving us a fun time with some surfing and bracing in the following/rear quartering seas. We had a little communication problem as we passed the harbor mouth but we all wound up at Butterfly Beach safe and sound. Again the safety issue of landing on crowded beaches came up. We brought boats in one by one keeping the area as clear as possible. All good safe landings. It seems that many people left their brain at the trash can at the top of the steps. Two sweet young things seemed to think that playing in front of the incoming boats was the fun thing to do until I suggested that their being permanently speared on the pointed bow of the boat coming in would not only ruin their whole day but make the kayak even more difficult to control because of the offset balance.

Boats in and loaded we lunched at the In-n-Out in Ventura before going our separate ways.

We had a good day on the water, an easy, social paddle in good weather with some wildlife to ogle over with good friends and company. What a way to spend a summer day, I could think of little else that may be better.

    Mike Brown

View map
View picture of Butterfly Beach
View picture of Hendry's Beach

Directions:

  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!

Submitted on July 26, 2004