Sauerkraut & Fertilizer
Having just flown in from the frozen northwoods of Wisconsin late last night I didn't quite have it in me to get up early enough to join Patrick and the others in Malibu. Instead I slept in a bit and then took advantage of the recent rains to have the unique experience of paddling from the ocean up the Santa Clarita river.

Launching from the Ventura Harbor I had an easy and rainy paddle about a quarter mile down the coast to the mouth of the river. With the heavy outflowing current pushing against the incoming surf the waves were breaking strangely to say the least. The waves were stacking up against the outflowing current with such a shear face that they seemed to almost lean backward before they finally dumped over with a thunderous roar. After several minuets of study I got a feel for the sets and managed to sneak in during a manageable lull.

Once inside the breakers the salty fishy smell of the ocean was quickly replaced with the heavy pungent aroma of, sauerkraut? (or whatever they plant in Oxnard). My friend told me it's actually onions. Whatever it is, that smell mixed with the recognizable smell of chemical fertilizer was almost overwhelming. I tried not to breath through my nose and slogged my way upstream against the current and drag caused by the shallow water. Once past the Harbor Blvd. bridge the river narrowed and finally got deep enough to free my hull from the bottom turbulence. Only about a quarter mile further the river turned to the right and narrowed from about 100 yds to about 30 feet. I believe that is the point where the river used to flow into what is now the harbor but was redirected after the big floods in the 60's destroyed several boats in the harbor. Today the river didn't seem all that happy about being so manipulated and was flowing around that corner with a force that I could barely make headway against. After a half hour of plying my way only a hundred yards upstream I decided the effort probably wasn't worth the reward. From there I let the river take my boat and enjoyed a downriver coast back to the sea.

During the leisurely trip back I was entertained by a few ducks feeding along the shore. I also had a chance to notice how high up the banks sticks and grass had been deposited by the river, it must have really been roaring earlier this week. After maneuvering through the dumping surf I followed the edge of the brown river water where it slowly mingled with the blue ocean then turned West and finished the morning with a visit to the Ventura pier.

Jake Stachovak

Submitted on January 3, 2005