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Traveling up the California Coast
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Author:  Longbikermike [ Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Traveling up the California Coast

My wife and I are traveling up the California coast and will be staying in the Monterey area for 4 days and Ft. Bragg for 5 days. Any suggestions on "must do" trips on our Oasis?

Enjoy,
Longbikermike

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Author:  ppicker [ Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Traveling up the California Coast

Tomales bay launching from Hearts Desire
Russian River near Jenner
Big River near Bragg is nearly 8 mile flat water estuary paddle inland from the coast through the redwoods.

Author:  Longbikermike [ Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Traveling up the California Coast

Thanks Picker. What's the water temp this time a year? I've been riding waves most of my life, so I have a good variety of wetsuits. However, nothing thicker than a 3/2 full suit. I thought of using a short john or spring suit as my base layer with a spray jacket. I'm open to suggestions.

Enjoy,
Longbikermike

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Author:  Grampa Spey [ Sun Jun 30, 2013 8:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Longbikermike: Traveling up the California Coast

We have had strong winds this year. Try to plan your yakking early and to be finished shortly after noon, before the wind gets high.

Mont. Bay can be great check with the local yak outfitters. Check the tides and wind predictions.
before each trip.

Bodega Bay is great unless the wind is really high. You can launch at the two parks. Be sure to avoid the really low tides, or you might get stuck in the mud flats until the next high tide. My wife and I like to launch our Oasis a couple of hours before high tide on the northeast side. We launch about 100 yards west of the last home on the shoreline. There is no official launch, but you can see a sand trail going from the side of the road for about 20-30 feet to the water. We use our paddles to get by the moss/algae. This end of the bay is fairly windproof. Tides again are the critical factor.

If you paddle/pedal down the east side of the bay to go by the restaurants, you need to keep an eye for curious and lazy sea lions looking forward to joining you on your cruise.

ppicker wrote:
Tomales bay launching from Hearts Desire
Russian River near Jenner

There is a fairly new launch site in Jenner by the info center. Be careful of moss/algae on the concrete launch. It is really slippery. If there is too much moss, you can launch in the sand on the east side of the info center. There is limited parking in the lot. We often park on the road next to the site.

There is no tidal impact this time of the year as the mouth of the Russian river is closed with a sand bar. Wind can be a factor, we try to get in the water about 9 ish and out shortly after noon. You can paddle/pedal down stream to the limits and go upstream as far as you can make it. Beautiful country and a fun trip.

Big River near Bragg is nearly 8 mile flat water estuary paddle inland from the coast through the redwoods.


We have never done Big River, but a couple, who are good friends and in great shape, go up there in the summer and early fall. They have learned to get off the river before the big winds roar up the river. They have his and hers Outbacks and came close to having to put to shore after getting caught by an afternoon wind and incoming tide. Try to catch an early incoming tide and then go down river with the outgoing tide before the wind comes up, and it will.

This time of the year, we don't need a lot of heavy outer wear. We both use fast drying fly fishing pants with fast drying long johns with the K waterproof/breathable pants with the built in feet. We like the UA tops that dry fast, and we layer with a lighter top first and heavier zip top if we need it. Our Gore tex jackets are in the hatches if we need them if we get caught in the wind.

Author:  Longbikermike [ Sun Jun 30, 2013 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Traveling up the California Coast

Loy's of useful info Grampa S. Thanks! My wife and I come from a SoCal surf background, so we currently have more of a wetsuit wardrobe to use. We are newbies to kayaking and need to build our water clothing lineand there's no time like the present to begin. We also have a cycling background (and I have mucho backpacking and sailing time under my belt), so we have a keen layering appreciation. Any particular gloves you prefer?


Longbikermike
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Author:  Grampa Spey [ Mon Jul 01, 2013 7:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Traveling up the California Coast

Longbikermike wrote:
Loy's of useful info Grampa S. Thanks! My wife and I come from a SoCal surf background, so we currently have more of a wetsuit wardrobe to use. We are newbies to kayaking and need to build our water clothing lineand there's no time like the present to begin. We also have a cycling background (and I have mucho backpacking and sailing time under my belt), so we have a keen layering appreciation. Any particular gloves you prefer?

Longbikermike
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My Scottish Genes insist that I use what I have before I buy something new. So use your wet suit wardrobe.

Glove wise, again the Scottish Gene Pool kicked in, and I use my various Simms fly fishing gloves depending on the weather/time of the year. I own at least one of the Simms Gloves in the link below except for the mitts. Simms gloves and other products last forever, dry rapidly and are comfortable. When you get home, rinse the gloves off and hang dry in a non sun area. I keep a full set in a mesh bag in the trunk of my Ridgeline. A lot of times the bag goes into a yak hatch for the trip minus the pair I decide to use. That way when weather conditions change, I have a set of gloves for the condition.

My wife uses the Simms Solar and/or a set of red kayak gloves.

http://www.flyfishusa.com/apparel/simms-gloves.html

Author:  Grampa Spey [ Mon Jul 01, 2013 7:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Handy Water Temp Guide for California coast.

This link will take you to an excellent water temp guide with current temps and historical temps:

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/cpac.html


Longbikermike wrote:
Thanks Picker. What's the water temp this time a year? I've been riding waves most of my life, so I have a good variety of wetsuits. However, nothing thicker than a 3/2 full suit. I thought of using a short john or spring suit as my base layer with a spray jacket. I'm open to suggestions.

Enjoy,
Longbikermike

sent by iPad using TapaTalk

Author:  Longbikermike [ Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Traveling up the California Coast

Grampa,

Even more valuable information. Fly fishing gloves huh...makes sense. Time for some research.

Thanks again,
Longbikermike
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