SanLuisObispo.com: Kayaking SLO County's Coast

An adventure is born: 7 days, 3 kayaks, one great adventure

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:38 PST

When Tribune photographer Joe Johnston first suggested kayaking the San Luis Obispo County coast, I thought to myself, "Somebody's been spending too much time in the darkroom."

Joe's Big Blue Adventure sounded more like a get-outta-work-quick scheme than a story pitch. Ditch the daily newspaper grind, hop on a kayak and spend the next week camping and paddling about our gorgeous coastline.

As much as the outdoors-man in me wanted to do it, I figured the idea probably wouldn't fly with our editors, let alone my wife and newborn daughter.

Day 1: In history's wake

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:10 PST

Coastal explorers have been launching boats from the mouth of San Carpoforo Creek for hundreds of years, so we figured our sunrise send-off wouldn't be much of an adventure.

But when the sun peeked over the Santa Lucia Mountains and shed some light on the fogged-in cove just north of Ragged Point, we were greeted by a stomach-churning beach break that had us reconsidering our launch site.

Instead of the calm summer swell we had hoped for, we were faced with 4-foot-high waves that were better suited for 6-foot-long surfboards, not 15-foot-long kayaks jam-packed with food and camping gear that were supposed to stay dry for the next six days.

Day 2: Hang 10 and hang on

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:41 PST

Our kayaks were swaying from side to side along the Cambria coastline when we saw the silhouette of another kayaker slicing through the morning mist.

The three of us were still half asleep after our 22-mile adventure a day earlier, but it didn’t take long to realize this paddler was our friend Steve Hennigh, who owns Good Clean Fun water sports in Cayucos and knows the North Coast’s nooks and crannies better than anyone.

Steve was the first human to join us during our six-day trek down San Luis Obispo County’s coast. Up to then, a handful of sea lions had been our companions.

Days 3 & 4: Landmark in the mist

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:26 PST

Editor’s Note: On July 29, Tribune reporter Brian Milne, Tribune photographer Joe Johnston and Kayak Horizons guide Beau Clyburn set off on a six-day, 98-mile kayak trip down the coast of San Luis Obispo County. Here is Milne’s account of the third and fourth days of the trip, from Morro Strand State Beach to Morro Bay harbor and on to Montaña de Oro.

By the third day, the three of us were sunburned, blistered and plenty salty after another wet and wild launch at Morro Strand State Beach.

We had been paddling toward Morro Rock for three days and were excited to be looking up at the 581-foot volcanic plug again.

Day 5: A view for a few

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:55 PST

Editor’s Note: On July 29, Tribune reporter Brian Milne, photographer Joe Johnston and Kayak Horizons guide Beau Clyburn set off on a six-day, 98-mile kayak trip down the coast of San Luis Obispo County. Here is Milne’s diary of the fifth day, from Montaña de Oro to Port San Luis.

As we paddled south from Spooner’s Cove, it was as if the three of us were leaving the civilized world behind.

A handful of early morning hikers were sprinkled about the Montaña de Oro Bluff Trail, but once we paddled around Point Buchon, it was just me, Joe and Beau.

Day 6: Whale of a finish

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:24 PST

Editor’s note: On July 29, Tribune reporter Brian Milne, photographer Joe Johnston and Kayak Horizons guide Beau Clyburn set off on a six-day, 98-mile kayak trip down the coast of San Luis Obispo County. Here is Milne’s diary of the sixth and final day, from Port San Luis to the Guadalupe Dunes:

Sunrise was still nearly an hour away when the three of us began lugging our kayaks to the dimly lit dock behind Port Side Marine.

We were greeted at the launch area by an old sailor who looked as if he had just walked off the set of the latest “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel. The crinkly faced man took a brief break from his early-morning routine of collecting aluminum cans and wished us well on the final leg of our trip.

Meet the kayakers

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:03 PST

Joe Johnston

Johnston, a Livermore native, has been a Tribune photographer for seven years. The 33-year-old Shell Beach resident graduated from Cal Poly in 1998 and has been enjoying the Central Coast ever since. An avid surfer, Johnston recently got into kayaking after purchasing a wooden sit-inside kayak on eBay.

Johnston on the trip: “I’m looking forward to being able to see the beauty of the county’s coastline from end to end and doing it in a physically challenging way. I think pushing myself each day to paddle these long stretches of coast and capturing images of what we see and experience along the way will be well worth it. There’s something very self-insightful and significant, I think, that comes from throwing yourself into something like this.”

Planning and prepping

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:05 PST

This is not a trip for weak stomachs or soft shoulders.

While we are far from expert kayakers, we have been paddling two to three days a week in preparation for this week-long project, which could cover close to 100 miles of coastline.

We also have the support of friends and family members who will be checking in with us at each landing.

The gear

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:07 PST

Brian is paddling his own Ocean Kayak Prowler 15, Angler Edition. Joe is paddling a Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro from Good Clean Fun in Cayucos, and Beau is taking out a Cobra Tourer from Kayak Horizons.

Electronics

* Garmin eTrex Legend GPS