After a safety check, PFD adjustments and a little paddling advice (we don't do "instruction"), we headed out. Since it was fairly windy and I wasn't very familiar with the new guys' skills, we elected to paddle the harbor, which can be a 2.5 to 4 mile voyage, depending upon the route.
We headed up the east channel under the low bridge.
It was a warm, sparkling Channel Islands coastal day, with the sun burning through the haze earlier than usual. Sea lions swam alongside of us, as Pelicans and comorants mugged for the camera. Boat traffic was very light when we started-- typical of lazy weekend boaters. The fishermen are usually out at the crack of dawn, while cruisers and boozers mostly don't even wake up 'till noon.
Before the first mile, it became evident that one of our group was having problems. Upon examination, I concluded that his seat was inclined too far back, paddle technique was off and fitness wasn't up to pulling a 10' Cobra bathtub toy 4 miles. I shoulda brought the Performa. After some brief additional instruction, technique improved somewhat, but the arms were already way too tired. So eventually, we hooked up a towline to help maintain the trip pace and shortened the route by a mile. End of problem.
Jack is a Lance Armstrong clone and a fitness nut. He looked like he had been paddling for some time.
We paddled some of the new northern harbor extensions-- construction is coming along quite well and homes are selling as fast as they are completed-- what housing slowdown? Not in Ventura County, dudes.
The headwinds made it a little tougher for newbie paddlers, but they handled it well. The hardest thing was trying to keep up with Carol.
The trip back, via the main West channel, encountered a lot more boat traffic and more sea lions. No dolphins today-- they can sometimes be seen in the outer main channel.
We dropped off Carol and Brook at Hobie beach. Jack was hot to try some ocean paddling, so he and I set out for a short offshore adventure. It was quite choppy out there, but the swells were small. We went through the "Pond" and beyond, cutting left just enough to avoid breaking waves and looped around the breakwater. Jack capsized off the outer breakwater, but he was back aboard quickly, with a minor assist. After rounding the breakwater, we stopped behind its shelter to savor the sensory overload of all of the sights, sounds and smells, before heading back to safe harbor.
We all reunited at Hobie Beach and went for our traditional Big Daddy-O's brunch. Brook recommends the fish sandwich. The burgers were less than stellar, but the fries were primo. A good time was had by all. Jack is looking to take some lessons ASAP and join CKF. Jack and Brook rolled back to OC, while Carol and I headed home to the hills of Eastern Ventura County.
Regards,
George Miller
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picture of Channel Islands Harbor