Winter Has Arrived

The Endless Summer of 2019 has ended and winter has begun on the Mendocino Coast.

Due to the unseasonably warm and dry weather, we extended our Noyo Meander tour season into the fall. Kayakers who came out with us this fall were treated to the gorgeous colors, reflections, tranquility, and wildlife of the Noyo River in fall. Most days, we were the only people kayaking on Fort Bragg’s Noyo River. We definitely weren’t the only life though. Winter migratory ducks have arrived. The coho salmon have started migrating up the river to spawn. The salmon migration attracts the usual crew of harbor seals and river otters and this year a bald eagle has been cruising along the Noyo.

The remainder of the fall will continue to be beautiful and full of life on the Noyo; however, we are ending our Noyo Tours for the season. Come kayak with us on the Noyo next spring and summer when the Noyo is green and the days are warm and long.

For the Winter of 2019 - 2020, we will be offering kayak instruction. Sea kayak, whitewater river kayak, surf kayak, and kayak rolling lessons are available by private appointment after January 1. We have our tandem sea kayaks all spiffed up and will be available for custom sea kayak tours.

Contact us if you would like to schedule a private lesson or custom tour with us this winter.

Cheers,

Cate and Jeff

Summer Kayaking is in Full Swing on the Mendocino Coast

WOW!  The first week of summer on the Mendocino Coast has been amazing.  Sunny, warm, and with relatively calm ocean conditions.  Our summer kayak tours are in full swing and we are getting rave reviews from all ages and abilities about our Mendocino kayaking tours and classes.

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Our kayak tours and classes get a thumbs up!

Of course we can't take all the credit.  Mother Nature has definitely been cooperative.   In Fort Bragg, our dry and mild kayak tours on the Noyo River have been spectacular.  Highlights have been all the babies.  From river otters to newly fledged birds, the Noyo River is teeming with wildlife and their young, and we are enjoying the show from our kayaks.

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Another gorgeous day for a family kayaking on the Noyo River.

One of our favorites of the summer is seeing the newly fledged Belted Kingfishers learning how to fish from their parents.  The adult will catch a fish and stun or kill it then drop it into the water for the fledgling to retrieve. 

Newly fledged Belted Kingfishers on Fort Bragg's Noyo River

For the most part, our ocean conditions have been unseasonably calm.  In addition to playing in the whitewater and waves on our Whitewater of the Sea Adventures, we are getting to kayak into some of the sea caves.  

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Kayaking into a Sea Cave along the Mendocino Coast

We are definitely pegging the fun meter with these trips.  It is really fun to introduce all skill levels including beginners to the fun of rock gardening.

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A beginning kayaker rock gardening on the Mendocino Coast.

It has also been fun to see students excelling in our kayaking classes.  Our Art of Sea Kayaking Mendocino has been a success.  It has been fun to have a specific focus each month on the specific paddling skills and features of the Mendocino Coast.  Our next class is The Art of Pour-Overs (a pour-over is a popular rock gardening maneuver where a kayaker rides a swell or wave over a rock).  We can't wait to get our students running pour-overs with finesse and style.

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Riding a wave as it pour-overs a rock.

In August, The Art of Sea Kayaking takes us into the Magical Mendocino Sea Caves.  If you want ooouuus and ahhhhhs this is a trip not to miss.  In 2 days, we will be exploring and playing in some of our favorite sea caves of the Mendocino Coast. 

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Sea kayaking through Mendocino sea caves.

If you haven't made it out on the water with us this summer, there is still time. Check out our calendar or give us a call and let's get out there!

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Enjoying a beautiful evening wildlife watching kayak tour on Fort Bragg's Noyo River.