After a lesson in paddling on the deck above the launch ramp, and after launching and practice paddling in a back section of the harbor, we started paddling out through the anchored motorboats and sailboats. As soon as we started paddling we spotted otters,
and stayed aside of them.
On the 3/4 of a mile paddle to in front of the Monterey Bay Aquarium we saw an egret standing on kelp (center of photo below) who flew to our sides and front as it searched for food. We also had many seagulls and rows of pelicans and cormorants fly by us, some far overhead, some just above the surface of the water. Saw more otters and seals swimming by and around us as well.
We had patches of blue sky above us most of the time, but the photos mostly show the huge fog bank hiding Santa Cruz across the bay:
When we got to the Monterey Bay Aquarium we formed a group photo:
I told the students that some of the people watching us from the Aquarium balconies were thinking
“I would not be able to do that!”
When we got back, one of the otters in the harbor looked like it was sleeping:
Nobody fell out of their kayak on this trip!
Details about this De Anza College Outdoor Club adventure, usually offered fall and spring quarters, are at: