Kayaking in Monterey
It’s been almost one month since I last posted and a lot has happened! I had just prepared a final Norway presentation at school to encourage students to study abroad, was packing up for the drive out to California on Sept 10th, had a long drive and met my Aunt Grace and her new husband Russ in Pismo Beach, visited San Jose briefly to see my mother fly home as I flew down to San Diego for Toorcon that weekend, started school, finally got moved into my room, and have started graduate school in Monterey. =) So now that that is over, I went kayaking today!!!
I was reading the Paddling Big Sur article in September’s National Geographic Adventure magazine before coming out to Cali, and told myself I really wanted to try this! So, today I heard of a 50% off deal on used kayaking equipment at Monterey Bay Kayaks downtown and checked it out. As I started talking with the gentleman there, explaining that I’ve never kayaked before but am looking to get involved after reading said article… he says, ‘Yeah, that’s me in the article. They sure took a lot of pictures though.’ Yes, it was Bryan Jones – the guide to Big Sur kayaking in the NG article. I got my copy signed too! Sweet.
I tried out some of their used kayaks on sale for 50% off (new price) including: a river kayak ($325) without a skirt though-so it filled with water quickly, an open-top surfing kayak ($350) that was pretty fun in the waves and self draining, and finally one touring kayak ($450) that was a bit big… but comfortable and probably good for open water kayaking and keeping dry with a neoprene skirt. I have my eye on that one, but I just bought textbooks, a mp3/video toy to gamma test, and lots of travel expenses lately. Waiting for my first paycheck! Also need a bike for commuting to school.