Monday, May 18, 2015

Mendocino Coast Community Kayaking Events


Wahoo!!!  Liquid Fusion Kayaking has officially kicked off our spring and summer kayaking season on the Mendocino Coast!!!

On Saturday, we kicked things off with Kayak Safety Day.  We offered this event for folks to come out and ask questions, check out kayaks and kayak equipment, support the Mendocino County Water Safety Coalition, and get out on the water to learn kayak safety skills.

Those that participated had fun and learned a lot.  We have to admit that we are a bit disappointed with the turn-out.  We know that there were a lot of other activities going on in the community but also realize the need for better out reach education to help paddlers and prospective paddlers gain the skills that they need to prevent a capsize and to help themselves and others in situations when a kayak has capsized.

Saturday evening, Cate guided the first Sunset Bird Paddle of the season.  It was spectacular.  There was an evening glass-off (when the winds die down in the evening and the water is glassy smooth) and the wildlife sightings were spectacular including numerous kingfishers, great blue herons, osprey, nesting ravens, a sea lion, and even a green heron.

Of course a mamma harbor seal and her pup stole the show.

On Sunday, we hosted our annual Afternoon on the Noyo River - benefit for Books for Babies and Kits for Kindergarten.  It was a beautiful sunny day with lots of folks coming out to enjoy the beauty of the Noyo River.

Books for Babies and Kits for Kindergarten are early literacy projects of our local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International (DKG).  DKG is an international organization of women educators.  Ladies from our local chapter baked goodies and volunteered with registration, fitting life jackets, and even carrying kayaks and equipment.

The sunny afternoon was enjoyed by both volunteers and participants and over $900 was raised for Books for Babies and Kits for Kindergarten.

We are proud and excited to be a part of the Fort Bragg and Mendocino Coast Communities and feel really good about kicking off our season with activities for our community.

If you missed our community events this weekend, mark your calendars for Monday Nights starting in June.  On Monday June 1, we will be starting our Learn to Kayak Series for Mendocino County Residents.  We also are going to be starting our Monday Night Social Paddles.  This is an opportunity for locals to get out on the water and meet other local paddlers.






Friday, May 1, 2015

Preparing for a Spring and Summer of Mendocino Kayaking

Jeff and I are just back from our annual spring retreat and are getting excited about our Spring and Summer Kayaking Season on the Mendocino Coast.  An article "Paddling Along the Rivers of Mendocino County'" recently appeared on KCET's SoCal Wanderer site.  It has us jazzed about the magical kayaking opportunities that we provide for individuals and families of all ages and abilities.
Evening Wildlife Watching Kayak Tour on the Noyo River
May is when we officially kick off our spring and summer season for kayak tours and classes on the Mendocino Coast.  The season kicks off the first weekend of May with our Intro to Kayaking and Intro to Ocean Kayaking Classes.    The first week of May will start our Monday Night Learn to Kayak Series. This class is geared toward locals who want to learn to kayak and meet others to paddle with. 
Evening Learn to Kayak Classes for Mendocino County
Abalone Divers enjoy our Learn to Ocean Kayak Class
During the first week of May, we are also expecting a shipment of brand new kayaks, life jackets, and paddles.  Wahoo!!!
Ocean Rock Gardening on the Mendocino Coast of California
The Second Weekend of May kicks off our Art of Sea Kayaking Mendocino Series.  We are very excited about this monthly series that gives sea kayakers an opportunity to develop specific rock gardening skills and to paddle and explore different stretches of the Mendocino Coast.  In May, we will start the series with Touring Ocean Rock Gardens.   Other classes in the series include Surfzone FUNdamentalsThe Art of the Pour-Over, and Magical Mendocino Sea Caves
Kayaking in Mendocino Sea Caves
The Third Weekend of May is the official kick-off to our spring and summer kayaking season.  On Saturday, we are teaching a Kayak Safety Skills Clinic.  Sunday is our Afternoon Kayaking on the Noyo River .  Bring your family our for this fun afternoon of leisurely kayaking on the Noyo River that benefits for Books for Babies and Kits for Kindergarten.  We are also starting our evening Sunset Bird Paddle Tours.
Family kayaking fun!
From here on out, we are heading full steam into summer with our Tracks to Kayaks Tours,Noyo Meanders, and Whitewater of the Sea Adventures.

For whitewater kayakers looking for some ocean whitewater kayaking fun, the last weekend of the month is a Rock n Surf Safari.  It is two days of surfing and playing in the waves and whitewater features of the ocean in whitewater kayaks.
Whitewater Ocean Kayaking
Lots of fun stuff planned - hope to see you out on the water!!!
Whitewater of the SEA!