Back Bay May 14, 2011

Today our paddling group included Lorelei, Ron, Linda, and my son Bennett. We launched from the Baywood Pier at 10 AM on a receding tide, and paddled out to meet Linda, who had launched from the Cuesta inlet. We took a north-westerly route over to the sand spit and walked up to the highest point in that section, where we enjoyed views of the ocean and Morro Bay. We stayed on the dunes for as long as it took to consume all of the snacks we brought (sun chips, pecans, chocolate covered pomegranate seeds and 23 crumbs of kettle corn). The day was sunny and almost warm.
We paddled south along the sand spit for awhile, then headed back toward Baywood, by way of Cuesta. Spotted wild life included a couple of seals, a small group of white pelicans, a family of snowy egrets, and more than the usual number of cormorants.
We were treated to a fine mud bath upon our arrival back in Baywood, as the tide had receded enough to keep us from sandy shores. Bennett volunteered himself to upper-calf deep mud in order to pull the others up on the sandier beach, thus avoiding a leg coating of Baywood slime.  Thanks to Linda for the picture; giving me the opportunity to appear in this blog.