Windy.com predicted a steady 19 MPH ENE wind, at Kiddie Beach, Channel Islands
Harbor, Oxnard. But upon arrival it was only blowing ~10 MPH, partly sunny, and
the temp was 56 degrees. Peter O'Sullivan and Lance Pillsbury were already
there accessing conditions. Soon MAryke and Dick Brannin arrived. They had not
paddled for several months, so it was good to see them and catch up. We decided
a harbor paddle would be best based on the weather forecast.
Dick was wishing Joe Barrett was there so he would not be the last one
launching. As we were waiting for Dick, Lance and I noticed two fairly large
patches of blue sky in the clouds. They looked like they were being made by
down or up drafts. We also speculated it might be The Great Spirit peering down.
We headed off to paddle the entire harbor and investigate the Moon Jellyfish at
the far end of the harbor. Bev Waldron has been very good at this but she
hasn't paddle all year, so we decided a report was due. We fought the sidewind,
tailwind and headwind to get to the Moon Jellyfish, but we only saw a couple
dozen at most. Speculation was they got lonely and were off searching for Bev.
The wind switched so we had a bit of a headwind on the way back to our takeout
spot. Dick and Peter had been spotting and naming birds on the paddle, so at
lunch Peter brought his bird book to identify some birds they were not sure of
their names. People in the restaurant were amazed that people still looked at
books instead of their phones.
That is the way it was this Sunday before MLK Day, 2020.
Robert Tongen reporting.
