We paddled out the Bodega Jetty and turned right. The water inside Bodega Bay was calm but when we started around the head we came into some choppy water. As is usually the case, Bodega Head focuses the wave energy onto itself and it was too rough to go rock gardening behind any of the rocks close to the cliff. Even the little pocket of calm water in front of the whale watching point occasionally had breakers crossing it and I stayed out. We simply paddled north past the Bodega Marine Laboratory and enjoyed the bouncy water on an overcast evening.
We rounded Mussel Point and looked at Salmon Creek Beach, then turned back. On the return trip we stayed a little farther from shore. I suggested that we go past Bodega Rocks and look in on the California sea lion colony. As we approached this rock we saw waves breaking farther out than I expected. Evening was approaching and with the overcast it was getting dark enough to confuse navigation. I worked my way close to the rock and briefly considered trying to surf the waves but thought better of it. I got close enough that several sea lions swam around me, snorting and spy-hopping to get a better look. Jonathan stayed a safer distance from the rock and didn’t have a close encounter with a seal.
We found the entrance to the jetty in the gathering darkness by the sound of the fog horn and the flashing light. By the time we landed it was full dark. I’ve given up on restaurants staying open late enough and just announced this trip as pot luck, bring something to share. I brought some oysters bought the previous day at Johnson’s, Jonathan brought crackers and a bottle of wine. We briefly considered dashing off to a restaurant to get a bowl of clam chowder but decided this was enough for our meal. We sat at a picnic table eating and drinking and staying up late discussing philosophy.