Wednesday

Wednesday

Wednesday

Wednesday

 

Wednesday

 

Wednesday

 

The Osprey and the Buzzard

One day our family and some friends were kayaking on the Sacramento River. When we had stopped and were eating lunch we heard a bird scream. We looked across the river and we saw an osprey with a huge fish! There were some turkey vultures, sometimes called buzzards, trying to steal the fish from the osprey.

 

I jumped on the back of Shannon's kayak and we went across the river to get a closer look at the birds. As we were taking pictures, the vultures flew away. The osprey stayed there eating his fish as fast as he could.

 

 

We got so close we could almost touch him. Then he flew off but the fish was so heavy it weighed him down so much he could barely make it to his log! Lucky for him the vultures didn't follow.

 

Kayak Cart

If you can’t drive close to your launch and you don’t want to carry your boat the whole way, you might find yourself in want of a kayak cart.  

Properly balanced a kid can pick it up.

Kayak carts are a device you set your kayak on top of, strap it down, and pull it on wheels to your destination, like a kid with a little red wagon.  The average sit-inside plastic kayak’s weight starts at 50 lbs and the sit-on-top at 60 lbs. Add in your pdf, paddle, lunch and miscellaneous gear and you have one awkward stagger from the truck to the water.  

Scrap metal and purchased wheels.

When I started shopping for a cart, I was shocked at how much they cost.  Most of the time I don’t need a cart as I can drive right to the launch, so paying $100 to $200 dollars for an item of limited use was not in my budget.  Being cheap is the start of most do-it-yourself (DIY) projects.

DIY Kayak Cart

I made most of my cart from some scrap metal I had around the shop buying only the wheels from harbor freight.  The cart cost me around $10 out of pocket and an hour or two of time.

 Ready to roll.

Happy trails and happy paddling!

Wednesday

Paddling on clouds. 

January's Kayak Trip

For our January kayak trip we decided on the the Thermalito Afterbay.  A cool and foggy day, but no wind.  We launched at the Monument Hill launch ramp.  We were hoping for more birds, but so were some of the duck hunters we saw.

Brenda & Makenna keeping warm

Coots taking off.

Ruddy Duck

Sheldon and Trista

 

All is quiet in the fog

Run!

 

 

 

 

Back to the launch.

This is a nice area to explore in the winter.  Summer time finds it full of jet skis and power boats.  We had in mostly to ourselves, just a few friendly hunters today.

Don't miss out on a wintertime paddle, they can be very enjoyable.

Wednesday

Wednesday

Wednesday

New Favorite Kayak Shirt

I got a package in the mail the other day, it was from a friend of mine.  In it I found what may become my favorite shirt for kayaking.

Do you have a favorite shirt you wear on the water?  I would love to hear about it.

Have a good weekend, hope to see you on the water.

Pine Creek

Launch: Pine Creek Day Use Area

Take Out: Same as launch.
Fee: State Park Fees may apply
Link: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=463
Map: Map
Pine Creek is a small tributary to the Sacramento river. The launch is about ½ mile south of highway 32. This is a nicely maintained launch ramp ran by the state parks system with restrooms on site. There is a cement launch ramp, with paved parking for cars and trucks towing boat trailers. It never seems too busy, mostly being used by fishermen heading downstream to the Sacramento River to fish.

Pine Creek in July

Starting here and paddling upstream will give you a bit more of a workout, and a nice rest on the way back down.  Once you paddle under the highway 32 bridge, you feel like you are entering a different world.  Thick trees and shrubs surround you giving a haven to lots of wildlife that you would not have guessed was there, speeding by in your car.

Pine Creek in February

Muddy water after a storm

Kurt

Trista

Old riveted water pipe in a side channel 

A couple of river otters

This is a nice place year-round.  Winter and early Spring brings higher water and flows, giving a better workout going up, but you can usually go much farther without running out of navigable water.  Spring and Summer bring flowers to the area, and picking wild plums to snack on isn’t unheard of.  Late Summer has the creek at pond like status, with water plants so thick in areas that it can be like paddling across carpet.

So if you are looking for a new kayaking spot, give this a try.

Enjoy the float.

Wednesday

Sunset on the Thermalito Forebay.

Big Chico Creek to Sacramento River and back.

Launch: Big Chico Creek access off of River Rd.
Take Out: Same as launch.
Fee: Free
Link: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=463
Google Map

This is a pleasant float that you can make as long or short as you want. The put in is nice and is only for canoe and kayak launching. It has a cement launch ramp, but can have lots of sand and gravel on it and is a little steep, so watch your footing. The parking lot is large enough for several cars. There is room for a trailer if you are towing one. There is a circle drive, so no need to back up.

The confluence to the Sacramento River is a little over 1/2 mile downstream. The paddle back upstream is usually easy enough for the beginning paddler, so judge for yourself and use common sense in higher water flows.

Along the way you will see a lot of wildlife. Birds, turtles, river otters, and beaver are in the area. Dawn and dusk are the best times for seeing beaver.

The Launch site.

The confluence of the Sacramento River

A family we met trying out a restored cedar strip canoe.

Going up Big Chico Creek.

We have introduced many friends to kayaking at this special spot. This is a favorite place of ours and we visit it several times a year. It is a good place for a quick paddle, or to spend an afternoon playing in the water. It is also a good starting place for a through float, more on that later.

Enjoy the float.

New Year's Goals.

I normally don't like New Year's resolutions.  You are just setting yourself up for failure.  With that said, I am setting a couple of kayak goals for 2011:

1.  Kayak at least once in every month of 2011.
2.  Write in this blog at least once in every month of 2011.

If I do number one, I should be able to do number two easy enough.  Come to think of it, I just took care of number two for January.  Now I have 30 days to find a paddle.

Happy paddling!

--Sheldon

Kayaking on the Oroville Afterbay.