There is time to think when you camp alone, arguably too much. On my third day on the island, I was worried about a medical procedure my little one was scheduled to undergo that day. The thought of her, scared and possibly terrified or hurt, kept butting into my thoughts. My wife told me to … Continue reading Solo on Santa Cruz (Part 3)
Tag: paddle camping
Solo on Santa Cruz (Part 2)
Day 2 The morning was chillier than I expected, but the air was still, which was what I had hoped for. I prepared some oatmeal, ate some dried mango, and drank two cups of tea. I put on my board shorts and rash guard, hat and glasses, clipped a knife to my belt, checked that … Continue reading Solo on Santa Cruz (Part 2)
Solo on Santa Cruz Island (Part One)
Day 1 I lined up with the others at the dock in Channel Islands harbor, waiting with my gear laid out for inspection. Groups of people filtered in and laid their gear on the ground in front of them. It appeared that I was the only one by myself - which suited me fine. I … Continue reading Solo on Santa Cruz Island (Part One)
Eating on a Paddle-Camping Trip
From time to time, someone asks me what sort of food I bring on my paddle camping adventures. The question usually comes from someone who is wondering how I carry all the food and drink I need without weighing myself down too much. It’s a good question because there does seem to be an inverse … Continue reading Eating on a Paddle-Camping Trip
Enjoy the Journey – a paddle story from Laguna to San O
Five paddleboards laid on the grass at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, paying tribute to an ebullient morning sun. The sight of the boards themselves, pointing out to sea, and strewn with gear, made my heart swell. Morning walkers with their dogs seemed to linger with curiosity. They looked furtively at the boards, the paddles, … Continue reading Enjoy the Journey – a paddle story from Laguna to San O
How I Succeeded in Circumnavigating Catalina (Circumnavigation Part Deux)
A sudden gust threw another whitecap over the nose of my paddleboard, slowing me to a stall. I teetered, hunched down, and dug deep into the foam with my paddle. I felt like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. I still had the bad taste in my mouth from the last time I tried to paddle … Continue reading How I Succeeded in Circumnavigating Catalina (Circumnavigation Part Deux)
How I Failed to Circumnavigate Catalina
I got it into my head that I would circumnavigate Santa Catalina Island by myself on a SUP. Once I had the idea, and thought about those miles of gorgeous uninhabited shoreline and glorious solitude, I could not dislodge the notion. The untamed part of the island called to me. I longed to paddle around … Continue reading How I Failed to Circumnavigate Catalina
Paddle Camping Gear Checklist
I am a big fan of checklists. I like making them, and like checking them off. And I often think that planning for a bitchin' paddle camping adventure is just as cool as the adventure itself. Maybe I just like going to REI once a week. In any event, to give you an idea of … Continue reading Paddle Camping Gear Checklist
Paddling Santa Rosa Island
An adventure, when successfully completed, leaves a mark. The mark reminds you of your capabilities and it gives you a true sense of what real danger is. The confidence you gain softens the edges of anxiety that creep up on you in your daily life. When you do something gnarly, something that scares you, and … Continue reading Paddling Santa Rosa Island
Adventures in StandUp Paddling 