Harbor-to-Harbor Fast Paddle
Paul Jonason, Lee Shuri and I met Sunday morning at Hobie Beach and launched in overcast skies and hazy weather to do the 13 NM round trip. Ari decided not to go, after having only a couple of hours sleep, so he participated in the practice session at 0830 or so instead. We reached the end of the outer breakwater at about 0800, where I usually start time trials on paddles to Ventura Harbor.

There was a light west breeze, which got stronger as the day wore on. We only saw one other paddler on the way up, an accomplished kayak surfer off Mandalay Beach. We stopped offshore from the Mandalay power plant for a break.

We encountered a pod of dolphin offshore of the oil well district a mile further. A second pod played at the Santa Clara River mouth, with animals jumping far out of the water. Jet skis leaped even higher above the waves. The occasional sea lion poked its head above water. The chop was strong in the potato patch between the river and Ventura Harbor. We barely made it over some steep 5 and 6 foot waves in the area, especially Paul, who was paddling way inshore.

Before we knew it, we saw the outstretched arms of the Ventura Harbor breakwaters and turned starboard past the first jetty to land at Mother's Beach in 1:43 elapsed time. We had a long, leisurely break at the nice beach there. There was a sick sea lion sitting forlornly on the beach, myopically staring and barking at passersby. Paddlers were practicing with large Hawaiin-style outrigger canoes and exercising on the beach.

Paul tried to tap the soda machine, but it wouldn't take his wet dollar bills. He was a food junky, passing us brownies, walnuts and other goodies.

We headed out about 1015, giving Lee a five minute head start, a mistake, which Paul and I paid for on the return trip. Boat traffic had picked up considerably. We saw cruising, fishing, recreational and fishing craft, an oil platform tender, even a large ship anchored in the distance off Port Heuneme.

We saw Steve and Pete's group practicing offshore of the breakwater when we were about 1 1/2 miles away, but they had finished and were returning to port by the time we arrived. But we caught them at the East end of the breakwater and paddled back to Hobie Beach together. I was pleased to see how many new folks from recent paddles came back and participated in the practice. There were three SOT's, which is unusual for a practice session.

The guys were hurting, because they hadn't done much distance training, but gamely hung on and outperformed themselves, finishing 15 minutes faster than the outbound trip, which is no mean feat when sore and tired. The sustenance was welcomed when we got to our traditional Sunday brunch at Big Daddio's. We'll all sleep well tonight.

Regards,
George Miller and Paul Jonason

Submitted on June 12, 2005