SUPing the San Francisco skyline

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Uncle Bill is game.

The outdoor highlight of my Thanksgiving break was paddling on the bay. My uncle and I put in at Mission Creek and took out at the Dolphin Club. It’s an impressive paddle along the city’s sky scrapers, under the Bay Bridge and past a long line of piers.

We started by sliding under the low draw bridges at high tide, sitting on our boards to get under them. After passing the ball park, we hit the open bay with a current in our favor.

Conditions were calm. Every once in a while we’d pass people gathered on public access piers. They’d snap photos. We didn’t see any other paddlers out there.

I’m looking forward to doing it again.

The weekend also included a day of surfing in Pacifica, a bike ride, and an afternoon paddle on the American River.

Hiking Joshua Tree: Wonderland of Rocks, Geology Tour Road, Hexahedron Mine and Old Dale Road

I celebrated my 30th birthday with a trip down to Joshua Tree. It was a perfect desert fix: two hikes, camp time, dirt driving, taking pictures, and walking on rocks.

The closest I got to breaking a sweat was the hike up into the Hexi Mountains. Perfectly flat walking along Fried Liver Wash led to a climb on an old mining road. A few shafts, lots of old cans, lunch relaxing against the stone miner’s cabin, and plenty of cactus. We found two tortoise shells (and one tortoise foot) on the way.

The Wonderland of Rocks hike to Willow Hole is a great easy day hike in Joshua Tree.

The Wonderland of Rocks hike to Willow Hole is a great easy day hike in Joshua Tree.

The joshua trees are obviously a highlight. Our walk to the Wonderland brought us through a dense stand, but otherwise much of our time was spent above or below the zone that they grow in.

This was my second (third?) trip to the park. I really wanted to get off the main road and we succeeded at that. The days are short. It was dusk before five.

Saw a good number of shooting stars, and learned later that it was part of the Taurid shower. The wildly different night temperatures (chill, to cold, to warm) on the three nights were a surprise. Saturday night was especially marked by the large number of insects landing on our faces.

Other things of note:

  • Great food. Especially the spear caught blue rock fish.
  • It was a full days drive each way.
  • We drove Old Dale to the park boundary where it got rougher. We couldn’t start the truck when the alarm’s key fob died. Luckily, we found a charger and got the Xterra moving again.
  • Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. Thanks guys.
  • Once again I’m pining for a trip to the Basin and Range east of Reno.
We stopped at the Cholla Garden twice.

We stopped at the Cholla Garden twice.

Hiking the Olmstead Loop near Cool, Calif.

A nice way to stretch our legs.

A nice way to stretch our legs.

Brent and I walked around the lower foothills last weekend. We lacked a real map so we’re not sure if we did the “proper” route.

SUPing near Sacramento

Paddling the lower American River on a lazy Saturday.

Paddling the lower American River on a lazy Saturday.

I’ve been on the water a few times every week. Most of it has been hyper local; basically paddling between home and work. I like going under the bridges. Enjoying nature while people crawl along I-80 or I-5.  My recent trips further afield have seen me bringing the board to SF Bay and Lake Natoma.

I paddle and swim. Simply can’t resist jumping in and letting the board float free. The wildlife is nearby. Sea lions, otters, birds and salmon.

The river is mostly used by veteran fishermen and the homeless. It’s fun interacting with them.

Sadly, the season is basically over. Daylight savings has closed down the option of paddling after work (at least without lights.) Still, there’s an ever increasing number of places that I want to bring my board.