The surf at Dan Blocker beach was it's normal dumping self. Most of the waves were in the 3--4 foot range and every once in a while there were some seven footers. As we launched, I saw a big one starting to form right in front of Paul C. I'm sure it was the biggest he's ever punched through and he made the typical new paddler error of raising the paddle over his head. Later we discussed why that is not a great technique, but he made it out without any problem.

Patrick Martin spent an inordinate amount of time in the surf zone during the launch, because Neptune tried to steal his hat. We kept trying to tell him we'd get it from the beach, but he kept sticking around to find it. Finally he did leave the surf zone and Duane grabbed his hat and brought it out to him.

Teresa was next and somehow the timing was wrong on her launch. As soon as she started out, a set of the 7 footers started forming. She got smacked by the first one right in the chest and she braced and stayed upright. Her momentum was a little slower now and she then got punched by another one. This one stopped her dead in the water. The third one picked her bow up and started surfing her backwards to the beach. I was surprised she was able to stay upright through it. Finally she was back at the beach and I waded out to turn her boat back to the incoming waves. She then paddled out and successfully punched through a slightly smaller wave and out past the surf zone.

Teresa was lamenting earlier that she has not paddled enough with CKF to earn a nickname. She is now known as PUNCH! because of her wave punching skills. Anthea then launched and she had much better timing (luck?) because she only hit the normal sized waves and easily went through them. I launched into the soup of a broken wave and immediately got slapped in the face and chest with a wall of water. After that, my timing or luck was good and I just paddled past the surf zone without any other breaking waves. John P and Peter then launched as the last ones and we were on our way.

We paddled non-stop to Point Dume. George, of course, got there before the rest of us and landed at Westward Beach. I spoke to George via VHF and he said the surf was really rough there so we did not land the group at all. We played around the reef and rocks at the point and I saw a set of flukes. I couldn't tell if it was a large dolphin or a small whale. Soon we found ourselves surrounded by a pod of dolphin so that answered that question. They together with a sea lion were feeding on some bait fish.

Next we paddled over to Paradise cove for an easier landing. Everybody but me made a very simple uneventful landing. Just as I was getting close to the beach, a 4 footer started to broach my boat. Duane on the beach thought I was a goner, but having a boat that pretty much only lands sideways has given me a lot of practice side surfing. This time I remembered that my GP requires a sculling stroke while side surfing and I landed without any problem. Duane was surprised that I was able to use a low brace on that size wave, but that is my preferred brace. I reserve the high braces for those waves where I'm tempted to put my head between my knees and kiss my but good-by.

After a water, snack, potty, and stretch your legs break, we launched without any incidents for the trip back. So far it was looking like a bust on the whale watching, but it was still a fun day. Soon Paul C, who had really left the group and was way out by himself, started waiving his paddle like crazy. Since this the signal we use when someone needs help, several paddlers took off to catch him and help. Actually, he was trying to get everybody's attention because the he saw a whale.

Half of the group had already gotten "horse to the barn syndrome," and they had either already landed or were close to Dan Blocker Beach and missed the show. John Peterson, Peter, and I were slowly bringing up the rear while talking. Suddenly, in mid sentence, John shouted, "There's one!" It was 50 yards from my boat and swimming the other way. The three of us turned around and tried to keep up with it. I managed a brief call on the radio to let everyone know, and we managed to stay with the whale for about 15 minutes. Soon it took off and left us in its wake. Mike Brown and Dave Houser, who had paddled up to Paul Chiang, managed to join us just before the whale left. I don't understand it, they weren't even breathing hard after paddling almost a mile to catch up to where we ended up after turning around.

Soon the rest of us landed and found that everyone had landed safely and nobody won any kelp awards. It was really nice to be on a paddle, where the only capsizing was intentional to cool off. The group paddled at an overall speed of almost 3.5 knots which included the time we were just milling about at the point and our total paddling distance was 10.25 NM or 11.8 statute miles.

After loading our boats, most of us went over to the local Malibu Colony Subway for a sandwich and to see if we could site any celebrities. Unfortunately, if there were any, we didn't recognize them.

Thanks to all of the participants for making this such a fun day.

Some exciting pictures of our launch can be found on Duane Strosaker's web site at www.rollordrown.com/recent.html Mike Bode, who couldn't paddle with us today, went to Point Dume and shot some pictures from the bluff.

Steve Holtzman