Kayaking Report - June 8, 2003 by John Schultheis     photos

On an overcast Sunday in June, a flock of Après and friends migrated south for a day of kayaking on Monterey Bay. We had 45 rugged souls arriving in a variety of vehicles for a wet adventure. Among them we had 12 guests.

After some basic instruction on how to operate the kayaks, and what to do and where to go, we hauled a bunch of brightly colored kayaks down to the water. A little bit of adjustment, a little bit of packing and we were off!

We paddled out around the Breakwater to the open Monterey Bay. The Breakwater was covered with Sea Lions, as were several boats and floating buoys. We meandered like ducklings towards the Monterey Bay Aquarium, some moving in fairly straight lines, while others were zigzagging like drunken sailors. Après President Laura Bryan and Event leader John Schultheis herded the wayward ones towards the safe zones.

The seas were calm and dark, and the skies were gray and cool, but wetsuits and spray jackets protected us. We had to fight the wind a little bit on the way out, but that just meant that we would have the wind at our backs for the return trip.

As always, the bay was teeming with life. There were a number of otters floating in the kelp, calmly relaxing and watching us. One bold otter even climbed aboard one of the kayaks for a ride! There were seals and sea lions on the rocks and cavorting in the waves. Some young sea lions were very curious about us, following some of the kayaks. There were cormorants and seagulls posing on the rocks and docks, and skimming gracefully over the water in search of nesting materials. Marcia Male spotted a large humpback whale breaching and spouting in the distance. I was a little to slow to turn around, so all I saw was the massive splash and the great spout of water.

There were groups of kayaks clustering in various places, chatting and eating and sharing smiles. Others were more intent on paddling every inch of the allotted areas. It was very serene and very relaxing.

Unfortunately one pair in a double kayak did something I didn’t think that they could do. They managed to completely capsize their kayak, knocking both occupants and all their stuff into the cold water. They had been floating along with a large group of kayaks, and their kayak had ridden up the side of another one. One little bit of leaning the wrong way, and over they went. There was a bit of sputtering and a bit of struggling, but both managed to get back into the kayak once it was righted. Now I know that you actually can flip one of the double kayaks over.

Not to be outdone, the Daffy Dutchman Eric decided that he wanted to see if he could stand up in a kayak. He did, but only for a few seconds, and then he was in the briny water. Again there was some huffing and puffing and then he was back into the kayak, dripping and smiling.

Hunger was growing, so the group headed back towards the beach, again navigating through the kelp and around the Breakwater. Some of the people detoured through the boats moored around the piers, and others just wound around aimlessly. It was wonderful.

The hardest part of the day is when you have to carry the kayaks back up the beach to the racks. Teamwork and perseverance prevailed, and everyone set off to get cleaned and changed.

Ravaged by hunger, the group headed off to El Torito’s on Cannery Row. The restaurant had chips and salsa, and cold margaritas and windows that overlooked the areas that we had just paddled. Martha requested a “table for 30” and they actually took care of us! When all was said and done we had 37 people at three tables in one room. Of course it took forever to get food ordered, and even longer to get our individual checks, but the staff was very patient and friendly, and it all worked out.

Around 6:00 we all said our final goodbyes, and headed back to our homes. I think that everyone had a good time, and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that. See you on the water next time!