Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Museum of Natural History

Today I paddled solo from Pasadena Point in Baywood at the lowest afternoon tide (just over 2 feet). I headed north toward Morro Bay and paddled past the museum and up to the Morro Bay Inn before turning back for Baywood. I was on the water for only 75 minutes or so, but saw several dozen seals and a few diving pelicans. Photos are of the Museum with Black Hill in the background and of the State Park Marina with Hollister Peak in the background.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Shark Inlet 8/8/11

I paddled from the Baywood Pier on a rising tide, planning to paddle around the point and into the estuary, but the wind and waves were coming pretty solid from the northwest, so I headed into them and out over to the sand spit, then south along the spit into Shark Inlet. Once in the inlet (and out of the wind), I paddled slowly and watched as numerous little silver fish ran out ahead of my boat. Before long, a leopard shark hit hard and fast on the edge of the water over the pickle weed. It was the only one I saw. With the tide over 4 feet and rising quickly, I paddled back as far as I could, into the 3 foot wide channels that fill only on higher tides. I settled against some pickle weed and just sat for a while, amazed at the flow of the tide into the channels. When the place where I sat became totally submerged, I headed back into Baywood with the wind on my aft quarter, making good time.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Sand spit paddle with Emily

Emily and I had a nice paddle from Pasadena Point over to the sand spit, with a stop there to hike up to the top to enjoy the view of the spit, the ocean and the bay. It was a bit windy paddling over, but not a problem. A gorgeous day and certainly a fine one to share with my daughter, who has not been paddling for several years.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Harmony Headlands


View Harmony Headlands Trail in a larger map
My Dad and I drove up the coast on Hwy. 1 north of Cayucos and went to hike the Harmony Headlands trail. The trailhead begins on the west side of the highway just south of the little town of Harmony. It's about 2.5 miles from the trailhead to the beach, and the walk is easy along an old dirt road that was part of a cattle ranch. Along the way there are restrooms available at a spot where an old ranch hand house exists. There are some interesting features, including a pond; fairly rare around these parts. There are some trails along the bluffs on the beach side, and several benches for resting and gazing at points along the trail. A great way to spend a few hours, especially if you have my Dad with you!

Baywood Boatzart Concert


My Dad and I paddled from Pasadena Point over to Cuesta Inlet, then back into the cove at Baywood to join a few hundred others who were enjoying the Boatzart concert at the pier. The band on this fine Sunday (July 31) was the Gilley Wheesels, a Scottish band with pipes. Great sounds, a fine day, and a nice paddle.