Although my birthday was the day before, I invited some friends to join me for a kayaking day trip, followed by a hot tub, dinner, and a movie. I launched alone from Campbell Cove in bad looking conditions with wind and rain! Then I paddled across and up the channel to the dock in Doran Beach County Park where Roger Lamb prefers to launch. There I finally found Roger and Jeanne Bracken, who were the only people to join me on the water.
We paddled into the wind with the plan to stay south so the wind from the south would help push us home if we got in trouble. I wanted to get into the rough water behind the Bodega Rocks and play in the bouncing waves. Roger wanted to circumnavigate the rock. Jeanne was out of practice and decided to hang back and avoid the rough stuff. When Roger decided to stay with her I continued solo behind the rock.
I reached my goal and paddled very close behind Bodega Rocks. The wind and current were pushing me towards the shallow area where the breakers roared around the island. If I fell out of my boat I'd quickly be pushed into a bad situation. I kept the nose pointed southwest and moved past this area. Close to the rocks, sea lions swam up to me and raised their heads to get a good look at me. Usually they bark to scare me away from their territory but on this day they did not!
I turned back and rejoined Roger and Jeanne, who offered to paddle in circles while Roger and I did his circumnavigation of the island. But Roger was in his long touring boat because his float bags needed replacing in his Coaster. The longer boat was not handling well when empty in stormy conditions. So he decided to forgo his plan and we just headed back to shore.
We stopped at the bar in the Lucas Warf Restaurant for a warm drink with Jeanne, who had to return home. Then Roger and I went to my house for a soak in the hot tub, a crab dinner delivered by Maryly Snow, and my usual birthday celebration of staying up late watching my favorite movie (The Abyss).