Pelican, Elkhorn Slough
The kayak was floating in water not much deeper than a foot.
Sea Lion, Elkhorn Slough,
A large group of these guys surrounded my kayak.
I was not using the telephoto lens on this one. |
I visited Alaska on a small boat out of Juneau. There were only about 50 guests
on board. This was not one of those dress for dinner cruises. Jeans, sweat
shirts, rain gear and boots were the dress code for the entire cruise. It was
advertised as a hiking and kayaking cruise that did not put into any ports. I
figured I could handle the hiking part, but leave the kayaking to the other
younger more adventurous people. The nature guide signed me up for kayaking the first day. I said no I don't
think so. She was insistent. The couple ahead of me were in their 80's and had
never done it before either so... To make a long story short once they got me
in the kayak they had a hard time getting me to give it up when my turn was
over. I never did go hiking. I bribed other people into letting me take their
kayak time. I loved it and I was hooked. My life has not been the same since.
My husband and I bought two sets of kayaks one for California and one for
Oregon, where we visit often. It is undoubtedly the best way to get close to all
kinds of things that you would never see otherwise. You do not have to be
athletic at all. I have had a pelican dive into the water a few feet from me,
peered into a nest of baby muskrats, had a sea lion bump into my kayak, watched river otters playing, came nose to nose with a
bear eating berries, I almost hit a surfacing Navy "submarine" in Monterey Bay and oh the bird photos I have taken. I have
never felt so close to nature as when I am sitting in a kayak. I have tried "white water", ocean, and still water lakes and
sloughs. I
definitely prefer still water after dumping my camera and myself into the Merced
River. The still water of lakes and sloughs is the best for taking photos and
it is so quiet, not a sound as you glide through the water.
If you haven't tried kayaking it is never to late to start. It is very
inexpensive and good exercise. I do have to warn you that one of the hardest
parts for me is getting out of the kayak gracefully without dumping myself in
the water. I used to be very embarrassed for anyone to see me get out of my
kayak, but then I observed a group of all age people disembarking their kayaks.
I discovered I didn't have anything to be embarrassed about and even if I did I
would still do it.
Some of the best places in the area that do not allow high speed boats are: the
small lake below McSwain Dam, Manzanita lake in North Fork (very shallow and small), Lake Tenaya, Twin lakes in Mammoth and
Mono lake. Elkhorn Slough near Monterey Bay on the coast is wonderful for seeing all kinds of sea life. Watch out for wind,
low tides and snags. No matter how good a swimmer you should always wear a life vest. Recently I embarked on a paddle at Ona
Slough, Oregon when the temperature was 32 degrees and misting. I enjoyed every freezing minute of it.
Linda Gast
www.hummingbirdmountain.com
www.mariposaspca.org
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