Easter at Cabrillo
I pulled into the parking lot, earlier then the 2:00 pm meeting time, with my girlfriend Gretchen. This was her brand new kayak's maiden voyage so I wanted to get her situated and ready to launch at 2:00. Drew was already there, Had been for a half hour. Conditions were windy and a bit chilly. This had me second guessing if I was willing to be wet also. The three of us decide to go for it, after all, we had paid for parking and we were already there. The thought of launching out to blown out seas was not a comfortable one. We were hoping the winds would die down a little and not as I have seen in the past, pick up and create a miserable paddling experience. So, we geared up to stay warm and headed to the shore.

Now, Gretchen hasn't paddled in some time and I was expecting calmer conditions for her re-entry into the world of sea kayaking. With this being her first time paddling her new Necky Chatham 16, like a mother hen, I wanted it to be "Just Right"....Well, Let's be honest I wanted perfect So.Cal. weather. At the shore line, preparing to launch we notice Jack Brisley waving as he paddled over in front of us, playing in the break.

Drew and Jack head over to the rocks to do some low-tide gardening, as Gretchen shoves off into the surf. Now, being a paparazzi, you would think there would be 25 shots of this christening, but being overly protective and over concerned, I wasn't even thinking of pics. I wasn't in the moment, so, I missed it...Sorry, Gretch.

So, I stood there on the beach watching her punch through the 3 foot surf, like she had been doing this yesterday. The last wave was the stress breaker for me. Seeing Gretchen in no-man's or no-woman's land, stuck in between the set, there comes a decision: to go for it or hang back and brace for the incoming white water. Gretchen didn't hesitate and dug her paddle in to go through the last wave. Shooting up and over, catching air, I am now hooting and hollering with joy and relief of what I had witnessed. Kudos to Gretch.

Being the only river boater today, I launch and head over to greet Jack and do some gardening. Out at the point Drew got caught by a wave and was washed up on the rocks. Balancing and bracing to remain upright, Drew was knocked around a bit as he was working to get loose from the rocky terrain. At this time, the next set came in and hit Drew. Now out of his boat, Drew pulls his kayak up on the rocks and sets up for a seal launch. With Jack and me watching for waves, Drew slides into the water without any incidents and punches though the sets that were rolling in, catching some good air. Smiles all around, we head out around the point.

While this was all going on, Gretchen had paddled out to open seas to do some practice in paddling and to get familiar with her new boat. I joined up with her for support and some Kodak moments. Jack and Drew stayed inside the break and gardened as we all paddled north up the coastline. At the pool, I joined up with Drew and Jack to get some whirlpool shots. Gretchen stayed outside the break and practiced her paddling skills in the wind and currents. After pic-reporting, once again, I head back out and meet up with Gretchen. And as we head back home, Jack and Drew garden and play in the break zone.

Rounding the point, I caution Gretchen on the areas of concern and to keep an eye on the seas and to never turn your back on King Neptune. This rhetoric was not fitting the sights I was now viewing. It was flat as a pancake. Laughing at myself, I paddle off to play-surf the (as Jack calls them) nano-waves . Moments later, I notice a set of nice 3 footers rolling in. Gretchen is aware of this and rides on the back of the first two waves. I catch the second wave and ride it all the way into shore. Turning back, I now witness Gretchen perfectly entering the last of the set of waves, a beautifully shaped 3 1/2 footer. Now I'm trippin'. She sets up to brace as she is shooting the tube, stabbing in with a high brace, she rolls in with the white water to the shore, only to have the wave peter out. Rolling out of her boat with a grin from ear to ear, I paddled up to her to share in her enthusiasm and excitement. From Gretchen's point of view, the feat "was more guts than grace, more spunk than skill...but, it beats being frozen like a deer in headlights".

I continued to surf these occasional good size waves and play around with the nano-surf line. Gretchen decided to go out on a good note and settled into the shore. Loosing all track of time playing, I realized Jack and Drew have not rounded the point, and I became concerned. I headed out to find them. Past the point I see Drew hung out to dry high on the rocks. Jack's coaching him while hanging out in the break and relays to me, "Drew decided to do a little hiking." Drew makes it back in his boat and launches out of his ordeal. Damage none, cuts small, the kind salt water heals.

We laugh and head in and spend about an hour playing with nano-surf before departing. One quick note: After just one rolling practice session, a few weeks back, Drew pulled off two or three Eskimo rolls. His last attempt brought him towing his boat to shore. Exhausted from the triathlon (kayaking, hiking and swimming) Drew calls it a day... Right-on, Drew!!!!

A fun time on the water, in the water, or on the rocks!! Check out the pics.

Until next time,
    Victor (Paparazzi) Martin

Submitted on March 29, 2005