Long Training Paddle

Last year, on April 16th, I had plans to go for a 15-mile paddle with Nick Bryson. But I fractured my radial head (left arm) on the 15th - which is how my skateboard wound up in Sayulita, Mexico, courtesy of Mike McDaniel.

This year, sans skateboard, things are going better. I've been working up my mileage and, today, I did my first 20-mile paddle of the year - an annual milestone.

Lately, most paddles have been in Monterey, from San Carlos Beach. I was feeling like a paddle at my home waters was due.  I was up at 5:15 a.m. and planned to be on Carmel Beach before 6:30. I had everything organized, easily heading out the door only slightly late, at 6:20.

It was an especially gorgeous morning (in case you weren't up), so I brought my camera. [Click on photos to enlarge, hit <esc> to return.]

I've admired this low-tide view often. This seemed the perfect time to take the shot.

But I dealt myself a delay. I noticed a couple of days ago that my GPS mount was getting loose from my board (it's held there with dual lock tape). My neglect was rudely pointed out to me as I paddled through the Carmel shorebreak. Fortunately, I always attach the GPS lanyard to my water bottle cage, saving the GPS. But that didn't stop King Neptune from claiming my GPS mount. After I found a place to nestle my now unmoored gadget, things got underway.

Sunrise beams on Pescadero Point.

Where not to paddle.

The entire paddle was sun-soaked and mostly windless. It began at low tide and ended at high tide.

I love the out and back high mileage that Santa Cruz offers, with so much gorgeous coastline. In Carmel, without a paddling partner, I restrict myself to staying somewhat closer to land, and prefer not to round Pescadero Point and head for Cypress Point. But the scenery is so amazing, I didn't care about doing laps. It helped that Stillwater Cove's kelp bed was still passable, and it got better as the tide rose.

I settled into a sustainable pace. Once I get underway, I can always rely on this to clear my mind's clutter. Getting into the physical and out of the cerebral on regular basis is something that helps make my life especially good. 

But today, there were so many other things in addition to paddling to enjoy and draw inspiration from. And I wasn't alone in thinking so. There were several kayaks, two Monterey-based dive boats, two divers venturing out from Stillwater Cove on bodyboards, and a stand-up paddler.  I couldn't help but pull out my camera ...

Stillwater Cove, down below.

I take Joe Bark with me everywhere I paddle!

One kayaker told me about how good salmon fishing is this year.  Now, if I could just learn to like fishing and figure out how to fit that into my next 20 miler ...

Spring is Goooood!

The evening ended in picturesque calmness at San Carlos Beach

The wind blew up some fun bumps today, and the wind cordially backed off just before Mike Roberts and I paddled, around 5 pm. That left plenty of windswell, but made for an easy upswell paddle.

It's great to train with Mike Roberts (AKA "M3"). He's made some good suggestions. We keep each other motivated. We keep it fun. What more could I ask?

It was also good conditions for learning to knee-paddle downwind. Just enough challenge for my still early-development stage.

But as seemingly tame as it was, there were some good rides to be had. My GPS reported that I topped out at 12.0 miles per hour. Dropping in and going like that is a memory that will keep me coming back.

Two surfski paddlers going upswell hooted us on. Turns out M3 knows them. They must have hooked the buoy at Pt. Pinos because we didn't see them until we got back to shore. Then they went flying by.

Spring is good!

2012 Is On

It's only April, and I'm well into training, thanks to Mike Roberts. Mike, known as M3, the youngest of three Mikes, has been a major boost. We've gotten a few good ones in and he's great at pushing me.

M3 lives for cottonballs - wind-whipped seas. But downwinders are still new for me: I have a lot to learn. And it's fun learning. Today, I got up the resolve to go out. Winds were running 18 - 20 knots out of the Northwest. DeeAnn graciously agreed to drop me off at Lover's Point and park down by Wharf 2 so I could go one way.

Obligatory stretches.

Lover's Point

Serene entry.

Headed for fun times.

One of the most useful things I have recently read was a comment that paddling icon Jamie Mitchel uttered: "If it feels like you're fighting the ocean, you're doing something wrong." Or words to that effect. That really encouraged me to experiment and today I learned a few things.

It was about three miles, and it was a lot of fun. It was all bumps all the time. I learned a little better when to pitch out my board and improved my board stability on the bumps.  I finished with a smile on my face, ready for next time. The only hard part was getting the board to the car and safely strapped on (Thanks Mile 22!) in the wind.

Next time, M3 will be on it with me.

Thanks to DeeAnn for the photos.