Anti North Island Circumnavigation
Well, some of us have more good sense than others. I decided to show up at the North Island Circumnavigation Paddle spontaneously i.e. unannounced. I got up early allowing for extra driving time in the rain and for gassing the car. Loaded the car with gear checked the email and headed out. Driving south past San Onofre there was neat surf with huge offshore spray. I thought it would be a good day to paddle to San Clemente Island whether you wanted to or not you would be going there with the horrendous offshore wind. Continuing down the coastline I kept watching the ocean. There wasn't much swell but the surface was dark and rough textured. Then it occurred to me the white caps were on the far side of the waves. I was wondering what the gang would suggest. I thought we could start south in the bay and if the wind reversed directions do the portage across the spit and return back in the ocean.

Traffic was kind and the rain was intermittent and light so I made good time. I was just a couple miles from the put-in at Shelter Island and an hour ahead of schedule when my cell phone rang. It was my wife. A email had posted the paddle was canceled (I have noticed my internet provider is not always prompt in posting incoming mail.) I had figured I was taking a risk with the weather. So I consulted the map turned north and drove to Aqua Adventures.

I got there more than a half-hour before opening but Jeff was there getting ready for the day. He said I could put-in off their dock. I was in the water still 10 minutes before the originally scheduled put-in time. The short of it is I paddled almost the full perimeter of Mission Bay s omewhere around 13 miles. I was eyeballed by a seal, which was more interested in watching a fisherman's line. A penguin squawked at me from a pen in Sea World. And I saw a lot of birds rafting up hiding from the wind in the corners of the bay. There was a forest of Great Heron standing on one rocky point. I enjoyed the departure of a huge flock of Surf Scooters with their wings whistling with every stroke. And seeing a few Black Brant was as the treat of the day. It was brisk, but I had to remove my paddling jacket after the first half hour. What a beautify day with blue sky and picture postcard clouds. On the drive home, I could see San Clemente Island, PV from Camp Pendleton and Santiago Peak was covered with snow.

Wish you were there. It was a good day on the water. And Jeff gave the run down on paddles. What more could you ask for.

Dave Houser

Submitted on November 21, 2004