Monterey ocean kayak day trip

kayak with Monterey Bay Aquarium in background: mom and baby sea otter 300 pixels: mom and baby sea otter
ocean kayak april 2007 group photo 168 pixels: ocean kayakers in Monterey:

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We previously went to Monterey, but are trying a new venue.

(We are leaving the details about the Monterey trip below, especially so that previous trip members can find photos.)

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two people in a kayak with paddles not opposite each other

two people kayaking with paddles entering the water almost at the same time on the same side

We now do a kayak day trip with a paddling lesson,
at Baylands Preserve in Palo Alto

We previously went to Monterey.

Driving to Monterey takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Baylands Preserve in Palo Alto is 16 minutes from the De Anza Campus.

There are parking fees in Monterey, but none at Baylands.

No kayaking experience is needed for this event.
The trip is designed for first timers, but people with experience kayaking also join us,
especially if they want to introduce friends to kayaking.
(Some students have done kayaking with the Outdoor Club many times!)

Details and the date of the next adventure, are at: https://marydonahue.org/baylands-kayaking

AND SEE:

Photos from the October 2022 kayaking lesson

running lock cable through kayak and trailer

carrying lifejackets and first boat back to trailer

tandem kayak in race

You will learn to paddle the same kayak model you could use on the between-summer-and-fall-quarter trip to Grand Teton National Park.

You do not have to know how to swim (even strong swimmers must wear a fully zipped lifejacket), but if you don’t know how to swim, De Anza College has a class for you.

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HOW TO FIND US

to pay for a membership, sign up for an event, or to volunteer is at:
Outdoor Club Coming Attractions

Carpools are arranged among the students going on the trips, for info go to Carpool FAQs

Road trip advice and etiquette

Quit being paranoid about sharks

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Again, we are leaving pictures of the previous Monterey trips we did here.

See photos of the May 15, 2022 trip at Monterey kayak trip May 2022

See photos of the Oct. 17, 2021 trip at Monterey kayak trip October 2021

Below: an Egret standing on a section of kelp, with otters floating on the kelp and Canada Geese paddling by

Egret otters and Canada Geese: an Egret standing on a section of kelp, with otters floating on it and Canada Geese paddling by

We’ve always seen sea lions and usually see otters and seals.

The marine mammals we see (and hear barking loudly) on the rocks at the jetty alongside the harbor launch ramp are sea lions.

sea lions:

otter:

Sometimes seals get curious and swim among us or close under us.

seal:

In Monterey bay, one way to tell the difference between harbor seals and sea lions is that the seals have spotted fur, no visible ears and crawl on their bellies; the sea lions have visible ears, can walk on land and bark. Bark loudly.