We immediately headed for the jetty establishing a brisk pace. Exiting the harbor we tuned southeast and headed toward Arch Rock. Duane was planning to do a little surfing there but the conditions did not cooperate. There just wasn't any surf. So we just kept our brisk pace nonstop to Crystal Cove a total one-way distance of 2.8 nautical miles. In the water well outside we rested, chatted and reassembled. We discussed how my spoof at Steve Wilson in my last Trip Report (Cabrillo Beach 7/31) was just a little too subtle, more on that in my next trip report. In the mean time, be sure to have Steve show you how to surf backwards through the rock gardens. I do enjoy teasing him only because he is such a nice guy.

On the trip back we chased the big red ball in the sky to the harbor. It was disappearing behind PV when we were still out from Arch Rock. The paddle in through the jetty was at a furious pace only to end with an all out sprint to the put-in. A hard finish does make for a good workout.

John ended the evening by taking the Point Bennett, the kayak Duane designed and built, out for a short test run. The evening ended with the return of the city hub-bub driving through the cursed street construction on Jamboree. The Wednesday night paddle is such a nice way to break up the workweek. More paddlers should come out and play.

    Dave Houser