It was warm, overcast, smooth, morning with only a slight breeze as we prepared
to paddle this morning at Channel Islands Harbor. Lance Pillsbury, Peter
O'Sullivan, Joe Barrett, and I were first surprise when Bev Waldron showed up
to paddle on the first Sunday in at least a year.
Lance headed out to the Port Hueneme Buoy and Pier. Joe had been practicing his
kayak re-entry and wanted to practice that and rolling again at Hobie Beach.
Bev stopped to see instructions were being given correctly before venturing off
to paddle the harbor.
After practicing at Hobie Beach, we headed to the pond where we saw only a
slight swell with waves breaking right on the beach. As we were drawn by the
current out beyond and north of the breakwater, the swell was gaining strength.
Peter challenged Joe to try his reentry in the swells. Joe performed smoothly
doing a paddle float reentry, but by now the swells had grown, where he asked
for Peter to stabilize his boat while he pumped out.
We decided to head in and see if we could intercept Bev in the harbor, but were
distracted by two paddlers, one of which I thought was Lance returning. But
surprise number 2 was, it was Michael and Ray Herbst (sp) whe we had not seen
for maybe a couple of years. Think they were out relieving stress from their
daughter's wedding next week. While visiting with them watched a number of fish
jump and a couple of seals frollicing and calling to each other.
By that time, Bev radioed telling us that she was back at Kiddie Beach and
loading her boat.
Suprise number 3 was seeing Tom, who had joined us for our practice day last
week, in a borrowed kayak, make a perfect 3 point landing at Kiddie in his new
kayak.
Bev went for a walk, but joined us at lunch for tea.
That is the way it was this Sunday proper to Labor Day weekend.
Robert Tongen reporting.
