Tuesday, Death Valley
After a virtually sleepless night punctuated by a full moon that felt like a spot light staring at us we arose at the crack of dawn groggy and bleary-eyed. The wind, as per normal in Death Valley, blew all night long. Not only could we hear it, but we could see the effects of it. Since the night was so bright, we could see the sides of the tent collapsing on us, and when a strong gust came up the only thing holding the tent up was the outlines of our noses formed with the nylon of the tent. I’m not saying we didn’t any sleep, I’m just saying that what with the kangaroo rats running around checking out what we had left for dinner, we weren’t the only living beings awake.
Oh, yeh, I can’t forget about the kids inside their RVs screaming out at 2:00 AM something to the effect of, “Mama, I really don’t need to go to the bathroom. I don’t want those kangaroo rats to jump on me! I like to sleep in my wet pajamas. Honest!”
We got up for the third time for good at 7:30, packed up the car and drove over to the General Store to get a General Store cup of coffee (right color, evidently some caffeine since I didn’t drive off the road). We drove through a place near the Furnace Creek Campground that was pretty neat as it was a car tour through an area that had a lot of the local geology (borax mine, tailings, effects of flash flooding) represented in a small area. The evening before we had driven about 15 miles south of Furnace Creek, which is about 180’ below sea level to a place that is even lower, ‘Devil’s Golf Course.’ Actually, he wasn’t there and I’m kind of glad, but it did appear to be a pretty challenging and difficult golf course to shoot par on. We never did see any greens. I went to look for golf balls, but couldn’t find any. I think we may have missed tee time.
Next, we drove to a place called ‘Natural Bridge.’ After about a 20 minute walk up a dry stream bed to a place where the stream bed has eroded the canyon walls and undercut a channel leaving a natural bridge.
Right after that was the Artist’s Drive which is just a short drive along the west-facing side of Death Valley that showcases, in a very dramatic way, the different minerals that make up the mountains. The sides of the mountains are multi-colored hues of greens to yellows to blacks in a very small area that appear to bleed varied colors of rocks.
Wednesday
Today we went to Mosaic Canyon. I went there last year and at the end of the canyon, on a small outcropping, I left a rock signed with my name and the date. I went there last year on April 11, 2010 since it was my last weekend to be in Loma Linda. Today, I left another rock with our names on it and the date April 18, 2011. Perhaps one day in the not too distant future we can take the grandkids there and we can ‘happen’ to discover the stones.
Now it’s 3:00 in the afternoon and we drove to the north end of the park at a campground called Mesquite Springs. I’m not sure why they called it this as we haven’t seen any springs. It’s not too hot, but pleasant, windy, but not too windy. Cloudy, but not too cloudy. We’re sitting here doing what we had planned to do; sit here and do nothing. We feel very successful.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Much more enjoyable?
In a time before time (meaning when I was much younger), I didn’t go to Sunday School but Sabbath School. It was basically the same message but had a Saturday (Sabbath) spin on it, and not a Sunday spin on it. Evidently in the Bible the fourth commandment that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai on the stone tablets that God inscribed with….????….????....that God inscribed, says that a person should keep the 7th day holy, as in reserved for God and God-like activities. My calendar had Saturday as the 7th day of the week, so it was pretty hard to argue, even for a know-it-all 10 year old.
I remember sitting there and listening to the teacher say something about “Don’t fall in with the wrong crowd, they’ll surely get you into trouble.” Even then I thought that was a great message until I realized that the teacher was talking about me to the rest of the kids there.
I was looking around the room and seeing who I thought were the bad-ass boys. Herm, Robert, and Bill were the first ones to come to mind as they were the ones that were consistently not listening to anything the teacher had to say. Meanwhile, myself, I hung on every word as I didn’t want to be forever damned to damnation. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was, as the teacher was somewhat vague about exactly where it was, but I did pick up on the fact that it was really really hot and it lasted for a really really long time. Even then as a youth I thought it may not bode well for me as I had trouble concentrating on anything for a really long time.
Considering the fact that these guys seemed to always having a lot of fun, maybe I was one of the bad-crowd and God was bestowing his blessings on these guys. After all, whenever I tried to get away with something that was remotely questionable such as taking an extra scoop of ice cream at the Saturday Night Movie Nights I was busted immediately. Meanwhile these guys would almost founder themselves on cartons of ice cream and not even be noticed. That is when I started to question the justice system and made me think, maybe I should have born one of the ‘bad crowd’ instead of just someone who had a hard time concentrating on anything for a really really long time. Most of what they did led to fun and frivolity. Most of what I did led to embarrassment, catastrophe, and shame. I had to admit whatever they were doing looked like a lot more fun than what I was doing.
I remember sitting there and listening to the teacher say something about “Don’t fall in with the wrong crowd, they’ll surely get you into trouble.” Even then I thought that was a great message until I realized that the teacher was talking about me to the rest of the kids there.
I was looking around the room and seeing who I thought were the bad-ass boys. Herm, Robert, and Bill were the first ones to come to mind as they were the ones that were consistently not listening to anything the teacher had to say. Meanwhile, myself, I hung on every word as I didn’t want to be forever damned to damnation. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was, as the teacher was somewhat vague about exactly where it was, but I did pick up on the fact that it was really really hot and it lasted for a really really long time. Even then as a youth I thought it may not bode well for me as I had trouble concentrating on anything for a really long time.
Considering the fact that these guys seemed to always having a lot of fun, maybe I was one of the bad-crowd and God was bestowing his blessings on these guys. After all, whenever I tried to get away with something that was remotely questionable such as taking an extra scoop of ice cream at the Saturday Night Movie Nights I was busted immediately. Meanwhile these guys would almost founder themselves on cartons of ice cream and not even be noticed. That is when I started to question the justice system and made me think, maybe I should have born one of the ‘bad crowd’ instead of just someone who had a hard time concentrating on anything for a really really long time. Most of what they did led to fun and frivolity. Most of what I did led to embarrassment, catastrophe, and shame. I had to admit whatever they were doing looked like a lot more fun than what I was doing.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Come Back Town USA
There have been a number of letters to the editor and acknowledgments about how effective the disaster plan was when it was implemented in Crescent City before, during, and after the tsunami that was generated by the earthquake in Japan.
That being said, the tsunami had a very small effect in comparison to the devastation in Japan caused by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami followed by the damage to the nuclear reactors.
I think it could be said that because of the all too common occurrence of tsunamis in Crescent City the city should never have grown here, much like building of New Orleans below the level of the Mississippi River, but because of its location it was almost necessary. I noticed while looking at the videos that have been posted, it appeared that many of the towns most devastated in Japan were behind sea walls that were built to protect the towns from just what occurred, and those cities too were built below the level of the ocean. Japan, being the most tsunami ready country on earth, thought they had prepared well but when the big one hit even their preparation wasn’t sufficient. It’s true, the earth always wins in the end.
As with many seaside towns along the coast, Crescent City has been and is very dependent on the commercial fishing industry. It is an economy in decline much like the logging industry, where the demands are increasing while the resources are dwindling. Unfortunately, like our lumber needs where we get more and more from areas out of the country where the environmental concerns are not followed, so it is with the fish that we buy where the stocks, resources, and future of the fisheries are not considered. I think certain areas of the world are somewhat like a modern day gold rush where the future of resource is not given due consideration.
In the recent past the U.S. government has bought out boats from fishermen and retired their licenses so as to not allow over-fishing and take those boats out of the fishery. This way the existing boats could have a better possibility to make a living while still harvesting a resource.
The local harbor is a real draw from a historical point of view as well as a real working harbor. The Crescent City harbor has had a history of the highest poundage of crab being landed of any harbor on the West Coast. But this is the first year that I haven’t had a least one of my students whose parents weren’t fishermen though.
As far as community involvement, this afternoon there is going to be a community cleanup of the harbor and beaches that Andrew and I are going to be taking part in. After the 1964 Tsunami there was a radio personality in town by the name of Bill Stamps that coined the phrase, “Come Back Town USA.” I think we’ll be hearing more of that phrase in the weeks and months to come.
That being said, the tsunami had a very small effect in comparison to the devastation in Japan caused by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami followed by the damage to the nuclear reactors.
I think it could be said that because of the all too common occurrence of tsunamis in Crescent City the city should never have grown here, much like building of New Orleans below the level of the Mississippi River, but because of its location it was almost necessary. I noticed while looking at the videos that have been posted, it appeared that many of the towns most devastated in Japan were behind sea walls that were built to protect the towns from just what occurred, and those cities too were built below the level of the ocean. Japan, being the most tsunami ready country on earth, thought they had prepared well but when the big one hit even their preparation wasn’t sufficient. It’s true, the earth always wins in the end.
As with many seaside towns along the coast, Crescent City has been and is very dependent on the commercial fishing industry. It is an economy in decline much like the logging industry, where the demands are increasing while the resources are dwindling. Unfortunately, like our lumber needs where we get more and more from areas out of the country where the environmental concerns are not followed, so it is with the fish that we buy where the stocks, resources, and future of the fisheries are not considered. I think certain areas of the world are somewhat like a modern day gold rush where the future of resource is not given due consideration.
In the recent past the U.S. government has bought out boats from fishermen and retired their licenses so as to not allow over-fishing and take those boats out of the fishery. This way the existing boats could have a better possibility to make a living while still harvesting a resource.
The local harbor is a real draw from a historical point of view as well as a real working harbor. The Crescent City harbor has had a history of the highest poundage of crab being landed of any harbor on the West Coast. But this is the first year that I haven’t had a least one of my students whose parents weren’t fishermen though.
As far as community involvement, this afternoon there is going to be a community cleanup of the harbor and beaches that Andrew and I are going to be taking part in. After the 1964 Tsunami there was a radio personality in town by the name of Bill Stamps that coined the phrase, “Come Back Town USA.” I think we’ll be hearing more of that phrase in the weeks and months to come.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The new svelte me!
Sandi and a friend of ours went together a bought a new treadmill. Of course it has an incline adjustment, a calorie counter, a speed adjustment, and basically a lot of things that are probably very impressive. When you turn the machine on it’s even more impressive. It even has a beer holder
I used it tonight for the first time. I put on my walking shorts (since I didn’t plan to run, otherwise I would have put on my running shorts) and went out to get fit. I looked at the machine and marveled at everything it could do. Since Sandi set it up in front of the TV in the little house (we had to take out the bed) there weren’t too many excuses left for not using it. It even had a jack where you can listen to music on an MP3 player or iPod.
I stared at it for about five minutes deciding what I wanted to do and closed my eyes imaging my svelte body when I was done working out. I punched every button on the front and nothing worked. Just to be on the safe side I turned the TV off and on to no avail.
Finally, after about six minutes I had to go in the house and ask Sandi how to turn it on. I jumped on it and walked for 20 minutes. I figured that should be enough of a workout the first time out. I wouldn’t want to lose too much weight too quickly.
I have to say for the first time it was a very successful workout. I worked up a sweat, my endorphins were elevated, and my heart rate was working at the performance level.
I think I’m going to like this workout thing. I may even plug it in tomorrow.
I used it tonight for the first time. I put on my walking shorts (since I didn’t plan to run, otherwise I would have put on my running shorts) and went out to get fit. I looked at the machine and marveled at everything it could do. Since Sandi set it up in front of the TV in the little house (we had to take out the bed) there weren’t too many excuses left for not using it. It even had a jack where you can listen to music on an MP3 player or iPod.
I stared at it for about five minutes deciding what I wanted to do and closed my eyes imaging my svelte body when I was done working out. I punched every button on the front and nothing worked. Just to be on the safe side I turned the TV off and on to no avail.
Finally, after about six minutes I had to go in the house and ask Sandi how to turn it on. I jumped on it and walked for 20 minutes. I figured that should be enough of a workout the first time out. I wouldn’t want to lose too much weight too quickly.
I have to say for the first time it was a very successful workout. I worked up a sweat, my endorphins were elevated, and my heart rate was working at the performance level.
I think I’m going to like this workout thing. I may even plug it in tomorrow.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
I understand that there's a tunnel back east somewhere that advertising is being sold on and in. On one end of the tunnel is a message board that says something to the effect "Believe in God and you will be saved." On the other end of the tunnel is a message that says "There is no God." I would guess that a person that uses this route to commute to work would wondering what they really believe.
Perhaps that most important message would be the one in the middle of the tunnel. It states, "Jesus Christ! Look where you're going!"
Perhaps that most important message would be the one in the middle of the tunnel. It states, "Jesus Christ! Look where you're going!"
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Lunar Eclipse
Just before I settled down to my evening's nap I set the alarm for 11:30 PM. I wanted to see the lunar eclipse with the reddish glow. Upon awakening I rushed to the door and threw open the sashes where to my wondering eyes should appear but…..a cloudy sky.
I searched for the moon and there it was, a fuzzy yellow shape about a thumb width (at arms length) above the trees. There appeared to be a bite taken out of it and then it disappeared. I think we are in the area of the US where only about 3% of the people get to witness this event. Much like our AT & T coverage, we’re perpetually in the 3% that doesn’t have any coverage.
I yelled out to Sandi, “It was a doozie.“ By the way ’doozie’ is an astronomical term.
It was coined the last time there was an lunar eclipse on the winter solstice in 1638. In just so happens a Mr. Galilei was under house arrest during the eclipse and so one would think that that he being the great Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher was the one to coin the phrase. But, no, it was his guard exclaiming to Galileo (since he was under house arrest and one would think ‘in the house’) “It’s a doozie!” He was under arrest for blasphemous teachings that he wouldn’t back down from; that being the Sun and not Earth was the center of our universe.
This was cool too even if I don‘t totally understand it:
“Why red?
A quick trip to the Moon provides the answer: Imagine yourself standing on a dusty lunar plain looking up at the sky. Overhead hangs Earth, nightside down, completely hiding the sun behind it. The eclipse is underway. You might expect Earth seen in this way to be utterly dark, but it's not. The rim of the planet is on fire! As you scan your eye around Earth's circumference, you're seeing every sunrise and every sunset in the world, all of them, all at once. This incredible light beams into the heart of Earth's shadow, filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the Moon into a great red orb.”
To me, this was really fodder for the imagination.
Jim
I searched for the moon and there it was, a fuzzy yellow shape about a thumb width (at arms length) above the trees. There appeared to be a bite taken out of it and then it disappeared. I think we are in the area of the US where only about 3% of the people get to witness this event. Much like our AT & T coverage, we’re perpetually in the 3% that doesn’t have any coverage.
I yelled out to Sandi, “It was a doozie.“ By the way ’doozie’ is an astronomical term.
It was coined the last time there was an lunar eclipse on the winter solstice in 1638. In just so happens a Mr. Galilei was under house arrest during the eclipse and so one would think that that he being the great Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher was the one to coin the phrase. But, no, it was his guard exclaiming to Galileo (since he was under house arrest and one would think ‘in the house’) “It’s a doozie!” He was under arrest for blasphemous teachings that he wouldn’t back down from; that being the Sun and not Earth was the center of our universe.
This was cool too even if I don‘t totally understand it:
“Why red?
A quick trip to the Moon provides the answer: Imagine yourself standing on a dusty lunar plain looking up at the sky. Overhead hangs Earth, nightside down, completely hiding the sun behind it. The eclipse is underway. You might expect Earth seen in this way to be utterly dark, but it's not. The rim of the planet is on fire! As you scan your eye around Earth's circumference, you're seeing every sunrise and every sunset in the world, all of them, all at once. This incredible light beams into the heart of Earth's shadow, filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the Moon into a great red orb.”
To me, this was really fodder for the imagination.
Jim
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Henry David Thoreau was a genius!
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thoreau was a genius!
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Opening day buck!!!
That’s right, Andrew and I got a legal buck on the opening day of deer season. That has NEVER happened to me before, especially given the fact that we didn’t leave until 2:00 in the afternoon because we went to Gonzo and Gabriela’s baptism in the morning. We came back home cold, wet, tired, and hungry, but we were successful! It was a great day!
What made the getting the buck especially memorable was the fact that it was near the place where Dad and I each got a forked-horn buck when I was about 13 years-old. It’s a place called Rattlesnake Lake up the south fork of the Smith River. Dick and I have been there and shot his pistol.
When I was about 13 years old Dad and I were hunting there and walked up a cutover area looking for deer. We were about 20 yards apart working our way up the hill and I heard a shot coming from where Dad was at. I froze looking for what he may have been shooting at. Above the brush in from of me I saw a deer with forked horns looking in the direction of where the shot had come from. I took aim at the deer and fired a shot. The deer dropped, and I at first thought that I had missed and he had turned and run off. I yelled to Dad something to the effect that I saw one but had missed and it had run off. I ran up to where I had last seen the deer and looked saw the deer laying there. I looked to the side, and much to my surprise I saw another forked-horn deer laying there. Two deer. Dad had seen the one he had shot and had not seen my deer, and I had seen the one I was shooting at and had not seen Dad’s deer.
All these memories came flooding back as Andrew and I went up to Rattlesnake Lake. I’ve been there three times since Dad and I were there, but I must say I haven’t been able to recognize the place, only recollect the memory.
It was raining lightly as we were experiencing the first precursor of winter. It was a warm rain, but yet the harbinger of what the season was to bring. For better or worse we didn’t see any deer there, only the affirmation that it was in the fall season. The only thing we saw were the Band-Tailed Pigeons flying out of the roadside berry bushes fueling up for their migration south.
We drove up the road until we saw a likely looking place. As I was getting out of the pickup I noticed the buck. It was a successful trip.
Oh, you thought I shot a deer? No no no. I just found a dollar.
Jim
What made the getting the buck especially memorable was the fact that it was near the place where Dad and I each got a forked-horn buck when I was about 13 years-old. It’s a place called Rattlesnake Lake up the south fork of the Smith River. Dick and I have been there and shot his pistol.
When I was about 13 years old Dad and I were hunting there and walked up a cutover area looking for deer. We were about 20 yards apart working our way up the hill and I heard a shot coming from where Dad was at. I froze looking for what he may have been shooting at. Above the brush in from of me I saw a deer with forked horns looking in the direction of where the shot had come from. I took aim at the deer and fired a shot. The deer dropped, and I at first thought that I had missed and he had turned and run off. I yelled to Dad something to the effect that I saw one but had missed and it had run off. I ran up to where I had last seen the deer and looked saw the deer laying there. I looked to the side, and much to my surprise I saw another forked-horn deer laying there. Two deer. Dad had seen the one he had shot and had not seen my deer, and I had seen the one I was shooting at and had not seen Dad’s deer.
All these memories came flooding back as Andrew and I went up to Rattlesnake Lake. I’ve been there three times since Dad and I were there, but I must say I haven’t been able to recognize the place, only recollect the memory.
It was raining lightly as we were experiencing the first precursor of winter. It was a warm rain, but yet the harbinger of what the season was to bring. For better or worse we didn’t see any deer there, only the affirmation that it was in the fall season. The only thing we saw were the Band-Tailed Pigeons flying out of the roadside berry bushes fueling up for their migration south.
We drove up the road until we saw a likely looking place. As I was getting out of the pickup I noticed the buck. It was a successful trip.
Oh, you thought I shot a deer? No no no. I just found a dollar.
Jim
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Past Summer Fun
North Coast Kayak Fishing
Del Norte County is on the cusp of a new and enjoyable phenomena! Select fishermen in the area are venturing into a new local fishing area that is very old. More and more people are fishing from a kayak in the North Coast region.
Fishing from a kayak allows a person to successfully fish formerly local non-fishable waters. Just beyond where a person can cast from the onshore rocks, but just inside of where motorized boats dare not go, is where it’s at. So near but yet so far. Virtually unfished waters await a person fishing from a kayak.
The local Crescent City area is fortunate to have many places to launch a kayak from and be fishing within five minutes. The third turnout south of Washington Boulevard on Pebble Beach consistently has the smallest surf coming ashore and allows one to access and fish the sea stacks just south of Castle Rock. Garth’s Cove Beach, by the airport, is protected from north winds and swell which allow a fisherman to fish the waters south of where much of the rock was quarried at Pt. St. George for the harbor jetty. You can also access the rocks in front of the steps south of Pacific Avenue, but the hard part is dragging your kayak back up the stairs. Access to the south side of Preston Island is a short drag across the rocks but the water is generally very well protected from the north swell. The beach access at 6th Street is a place where it is generally an easy launch across a sandy beach. Wherever there is a kelp bed it tends to dampen the swell, but it makes it harder to fish around. These inside waters are rarely fished but are rich in rock fish. The wind and / or swell direction ultimately dictates where to fish from.
The sport is becoming more and more popular as people discover the benefits of fishing from a kayak. In Southern California it is very popular. In fact, kayak fishing has it’s own magazine devoted to the sport as well as online kayaking forums.
Besides being able to access water that is rarely if ever fished, you don’t need a trailer for your boat or need to launch from a boat ramp, and there are minimal maintenance issues. It’s good to see that more local people starting to fish the area from a kayak. After having fished locally from a kayak for fifteen years I can highly recommend it.
As with any endeavor that takes place in or around water kayak fishing should not be taken lightly. There are many factors that can make a trip enjoyable or uncomfortable, and worse yet, dangerous. A person should be totally comfortable with their kayak. Always wear a lifejacket and be familiar with the local tides and weather forecast. You do not really need to go far offshore but need to be aware of any wind coming up. One should never venture out if it looks the least bit questionable. It’s always worse when you’re actually on the water.
Use the ‘buddy system’ or at the very least tell someone where you’ll be fishing and what time you’re coming in. Having some type of signal device or waterproof phone is good insurance. I’ve heard of a kayaker losing their balance flipping their kayak and ending up in the water while fighting a fish. Some gear was lost and a little pride was damaged, but no real harm was done, and luckily, the fish was landed. Whether you use a sit-a-board kayak or a sit-in kayak, it’s not worth catching a few fish to endanger your life or put someone else’s life in danger.
One needs to be very careful so that you’re fishing on the side of a rock or on the shore side instead of being on the ocean side and take the chance of being swept into a rock by a large swell. Also, it’s better to fish with too light of a line than too heavy of line. Breaking off stuck gear is harder than what it seems it should be when you’re in a light kayak, especially when you’re close to a wash rock.
I have found the most successful method for fishing this inside water is not the usual method of bouncing jigs on rocky bottom areas but rather to cast next to wash rocks and rocks exposed at low tides with lures that you might use to catch other game fish. Using jigs work, but I have been most successful casting and retrieving at varying depths until you find the level that the fish are at.
As ocean fishermen know, rock fish do not always hang around rocks and they’re not always at the same rocks all the time. At times they’re found in open water areas away from rocks. Sometimes it takes some ‘prospecting’ to find the fish. A small depth finder / fish finder allows a fisherman to fish smarter and not fish blind.
Besides fishing, being in a small boat allows a kayaker to get up closer to the local marine life, but while one can get close there needs to be a respect for the marine life as we are invading their habitat. Every time birds fly away or the marine mammals are scared off the rocks they expend valuable energy that they must replace and thus shouldn’t be approached too closely. When fishing around Castle Rock a kayaker should maintain the proper distance away from the Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge.
At times a fisherman can get so caught up in the anticipation of getting on the water that they easily overlook important items. I’ve heard of a kayaker having a ‘paddle malfunction’ and realized after putting their kayak in the water that they had left their paddle at home. But, that’s not as bad as the guy that was putting his kayak in the water to go fishing and discovered that he’d left his fishing pole on his front porch at his house.
We live in a beautiful area that merits being explored by any means available. A kayak allows us explore, fish, get exercise, and enjoy our local piece of heaven. Try it, your ‘Fun Meter’ will be off the scale. You will feel powerful, but yet at peace paddling our local waters.
Del Norte County is on the cusp of a new and enjoyable phenomena! Select fishermen in the area are venturing into a new local fishing area that is very old. More and more people are fishing from a kayak in the North Coast region.
Fishing from a kayak allows a person to successfully fish formerly local non-fishable waters. Just beyond where a person can cast from the onshore rocks, but just inside of where motorized boats dare not go, is where it’s at. So near but yet so far. Virtually unfished waters await a person fishing from a kayak.
The local Crescent City area is fortunate to have many places to launch a kayak from and be fishing within five minutes. The third turnout south of Washington Boulevard on Pebble Beach consistently has the smallest surf coming ashore and allows one to access and fish the sea stacks just south of Castle Rock. Garth’s Cove Beach, by the airport, is protected from north winds and swell which allow a fisherman to fish the waters south of where much of the rock was quarried at Pt. St. George for the harbor jetty. You can also access the rocks in front of the steps south of Pacific Avenue, but the hard part is dragging your kayak back up the stairs. Access to the south side of Preston Island is a short drag across the rocks but the water is generally very well protected from the north swell. The beach access at 6th Street is a place where it is generally an easy launch across a sandy beach. Wherever there is a kelp bed it tends to dampen the swell, but it makes it harder to fish around. These inside waters are rarely fished but are rich in rock fish. The wind and / or swell direction ultimately dictates where to fish from.
The sport is becoming more and more popular as people discover the benefits of fishing from a kayak. In Southern California it is very popular. In fact, kayak fishing has it’s own magazine devoted to the sport as well as online kayaking forums.
Besides being able to access water that is rarely if ever fished, you don’t need a trailer for your boat or need to launch from a boat ramp, and there are minimal maintenance issues. It’s good to see that more local people starting to fish the area from a kayak. After having fished locally from a kayak for fifteen years I can highly recommend it.
As with any endeavor that takes place in or around water kayak fishing should not be taken lightly. There are many factors that can make a trip enjoyable or uncomfortable, and worse yet, dangerous. A person should be totally comfortable with their kayak. Always wear a lifejacket and be familiar with the local tides and weather forecast. You do not really need to go far offshore but need to be aware of any wind coming up. One should never venture out if it looks the least bit questionable. It’s always worse when you’re actually on the water.
Use the ‘buddy system’ or at the very least tell someone where you’ll be fishing and what time you’re coming in. Having some type of signal device or waterproof phone is good insurance. I’ve heard of a kayaker losing their balance flipping their kayak and ending up in the water while fighting a fish. Some gear was lost and a little pride was damaged, but no real harm was done, and luckily, the fish was landed. Whether you use a sit-a-board kayak or a sit-in kayak, it’s not worth catching a few fish to endanger your life or put someone else’s life in danger.
One needs to be very careful so that you’re fishing on the side of a rock or on the shore side instead of being on the ocean side and take the chance of being swept into a rock by a large swell. Also, it’s better to fish with too light of a line than too heavy of line. Breaking off stuck gear is harder than what it seems it should be when you’re in a light kayak, especially when you’re close to a wash rock.
I have found the most successful method for fishing this inside water is not the usual method of bouncing jigs on rocky bottom areas but rather to cast next to wash rocks and rocks exposed at low tides with lures that you might use to catch other game fish. Using jigs work, but I have been most successful casting and retrieving at varying depths until you find the level that the fish are at.
As ocean fishermen know, rock fish do not always hang around rocks and they’re not always at the same rocks all the time. At times they’re found in open water areas away from rocks. Sometimes it takes some ‘prospecting’ to find the fish. A small depth finder / fish finder allows a fisherman to fish smarter and not fish blind.
Besides fishing, being in a small boat allows a kayaker to get up closer to the local marine life, but while one can get close there needs to be a respect for the marine life as we are invading their habitat. Every time birds fly away or the marine mammals are scared off the rocks they expend valuable energy that they must replace and thus shouldn’t be approached too closely. When fishing around Castle Rock a kayaker should maintain the proper distance away from the Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge.
At times a fisherman can get so caught up in the anticipation of getting on the water that they easily overlook important items. I’ve heard of a kayaker having a ‘paddle malfunction’ and realized after putting their kayak in the water that they had left their paddle at home. But, that’s not as bad as the guy that was putting his kayak in the water to go fishing and discovered that he’d left his fishing pole on his front porch at his house.
We live in a beautiful area that merits being explored by any means available. A kayak allows us explore, fish, get exercise, and enjoy our local piece of heaven. Try it, your ‘Fun Meter’ will be off the scale. You will feel powerful, but yet at peace paddling our local waters.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Rant
I thought of something that makes me barking mad, but I'm not sure why. I was driving back from town this morning I saw something that I hadn’t noticed before. One block away from one of two local “Collectives” is the Social Security office.
Frankly, I’m kind of slow. When the Del Norte Collective first put their sign out and opened for business I thought that it was a new twist on another name for an antique store. Too many antique stores is another rant that I could go off on but won’t for now. I think that anyone that can come up with new twists on language is brilliant. I did think it was somewhat odd that they weren’t advertising in the paper or holding a grand opening or even displaying any of their products where customers could see them. In fact their window were shuttered and barred and the entry doors were none too friendly looking. Later I found out that this was the type of business that information spreads by word of mouth on a need-to-know basis.
Anyway, it made me wonder how many people on Social Security or Disability use the services of collectives such as this. Which led me to think about the importance of education and work. If a person doesn’t prepare themselves they conceivably enter the job market with a disorder before they even start working. A disorder that very well may preclude them from ever working!
I don’t want to give doctors any ideas, but can’t you just see it now? A doctor diagnoses someone with PWSD (Pre-Work Stress Disorder) and with that ‘disorder’ they file for Disability before they start working and never enter the job market but only know where the local collective and the Social Security Office is at!
Rant over.
Frankly, I’m kind of slow. When the Del Norte Collective first put their sign out and opened for business I thought that it was a new twist on another name for an antique store. Too many antique stores is another rant that I could go off on but won’t for now. I think that anyone that can come up with new twists on language is brilliant. I did think it was somewhat odd that they weren’t advertising in the paper or holding a grand opening or even displaying any of their products where customers could see them. In fact their window were shuttered and barred and the entry doors were none too friendly looking. Later I found out that this was the type of business that information spreads by word of mouth on a need-to-know basis.
Anyway, it made me wonder how many people on Social Security or Disability use the services of collectives such as this. Which led me to think about the importance of education and work. If a person doesn’t prepare themselves they conceivably enter the job market with a disorder before they even start working. A disorder that very well may preclude them from ever working!
I don’t want to give doctors any ideas, but can’t you just see it now? A doctor diagnoses someone with PWSD (Pre-Work Stress Disorder) and with that ‘disorder’ they file for Disability before they start working and never enter the job market but only know where the local collective and the Social Security Office is at!
Rant over.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Shovel Liquidation Sale
Sandi was right again. While I was at Chuck’s I was digging in the backyard looking for the source of a persistent water leak. I guess it’s only persistent if 10 years counts as persistent. He’s mentioned it just about every time I’ve visited there. Don’t call me a genius or anything, but something tells me that he’s possibly asking my advice what I’d do about it. Anyway, while I was there this time I started digging. I really didn’t get very far. Just far enough for someone to trip in if they were walking around (prowling) in his back yard at night. My back started spasming in its all-too-common fashion where it forms into this attractive S-shape that hurts and the only thing that helps is to stop digging and take some muscle relaxant pills. Generally it goes back in its usual shape after a few days of doing the whale thing and laying around.
I told Sandi about what I’d done to make it hurt and her reply was, “That’s funny, here you can go hiking, kayaking, get wood, and play and your back doesn’t hurt. You pick up a shovel and start digging and suddenly you hurt your back!”
Call it an epiphany, a revelation, an awakening, a message from above, but I think the answer to saving my back is to have a shovel liquidation sale. Need any shovels?
I told Sandi about what I’d done to make it hurt and her reply was, “That’s funny, here you can go hiking, kayaking, get wood, and play and your back doesn’t hurt. You pick up a shovel and start digging and suddenly you hurt your back!”
Call it an epiphany, a revelation, an awakening, a message from above, but I think the answer to saving my back is to have a shovel liquidation sale. Need any shovels?
Monday, July 12, 2010
Youngs Valley
Yesterday, Sunday, we went on a day hike to Youngs Valley. It was about 7 or 8 miles round trip. We hadn't been there in a few years and decided to take some friends that we had gone with before. It was nice to get out of the fog and into some high country. I replaced geocaches at Sanger Lake and Youngs Valley.
Fishing is called fishing for a reason
Rick and I went fishing off Pebble but didn't catch any fish. The last time we caught 3 black snappers each. It was very calm, but very foggy. I had my GPS and the sea lions were in fine form so we could figure out where we were. The depth finder didn't mark too many fish, but it was still enjoyable.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The GO Road
After not having been up there in 20 years, Andrew, Calvin, and I went up there. We have been deer hunting from the other side but had never been all the way through. We got a late start and I was able to hike about 3 miles and see the southern side. We are going to go up again and hike all the way through next time.
"In the early 1960s a road was proposed that would bisect the Southern Siskiyou Mountains and connect the towns of Gasquet and Orleans, hence the name GO Road. Building this road would open up vast areas of timber to the logging industry. The plan was to start at each end and eventually connect the two roads (sort of like the trans-continental railroad). In the late 1960s and early 1970s opposition to the building of the GO Road was initiated by the Sierra Club and the Yurok Tribe. After years of litigation, construction on the road was permanently halted. The end result is a two lane paved road that ends abruptly in a thick forest. Seven miles away is another two lane road that also ends abruptly."
Monday, July 5, 2010
Nice 4th
Claudia and I took part in the Pastels in the Park over the 4th. She did a logo of the US Soccer team and I drew a picture of a Bigfoot. Sandi and I didn't go to the parade but instead went to Lyon's Ranch to see the wildflowers. Andrew, Rachael, and Alex took their rig up there as Andrew wanted to bike up the road. It was a great day to go there as it was about 75* with a light wind and no people. We had a great picnic, took a lot of nice pictures, and flew the kites. We came back in time to watch the fireworks and it was probably the coldest 4th of July I've ever experienced. The wind was blowing about 35 MPH.
This morning we went down to beachfront and picked up post-fireworks trash for about 2-1/2 hours.
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