With that out of the way I bring you the next post in the adventure travel blog
It had been a while since Jim and I had got together for some overnight camping shenanigans. 3 years since we last did our last kayak trip. I told Jim to tell me a weekend in September and we are on. We had off for his birthday and so we settled on that weekend.
Two weeks before that date rolled around, Taylor gets a job in San Francisco, Jim has to help her move in the weekend of our trip. He says not to worry, if I can do the next week, he can make that happen. Its a deal.
Jim helps Taylor in SF the weather here is 80's all weekend.
The next weekend we get in the car and start the near 6 hour drive to Hayward. It rains a lot on the way up. The temps drop to the 40's.
We get to the landing in Hayward before noon and unpack. Fresh food, firewood warm clothes. We are ready for anything. I drive to the Log Cabin resort when I leave the car and they shuttle me back to Jim.
Its cold, raining on and off. Perfect.
We are doing the same 30 miles section that Joel and I did in 2016.Read about that here. It just works real well with the shuttle run ending right were the car is.
We paddle a few hours and oddly we stop at the same site Joel and I did. By this time at least the sun has come out and makes setting up a little more enjoyable.
Time for dinner we cooked Italian Sausages over the fire with some shoestring potatoes and a little triple berry crisp for desert. I know Jim has an old fashioned weakness so I brought up some booze, cherries an orange, bitters and some soda. I whittled a muddler and boom muddled drinks in the middle of national parkland.
We turn the cooking fire into a campfire, enjoy some cocktails and play some cribbage.
The next morning its a bit chilly and breezy, but again the sun is out. We make a breakfast of bacon, eggs and salsa and brewed coffee. No instant crap here.
Kayak camping can be a little more luxurious as compared to backpacking. Since the water is doing all the carrying you are only limited to the capacity of the boats. We were reaching max capacity. Loaded up with fire wood for two nights, a small soft cooler with all kinds of fresh food. Extra beverages. When we first pushed of Friday afternoon there was very little waterline left on the boats, thank goodness all the rain the week before made the water levels a bit higher so there was no scraping to be had.
We lollygag and don't get on the water until 10 AM on Saturday. The wind picked up a bit but other than that a great day. This section has a lot of riffles and small class I rapids including a nice drop and chute that is guaranteed to get you a little wet.
We made a little stop for some apples and snacks and to dry our seats (from that aforementioned chute). So far we have seen only 2 others on the river in over 24 hours. It does feel like we have the place to ourselves.
We paddle a few more hours and pull up to the next on the river campsite. The sun is out, the wind died down and we set up camp. I took a nap until it was time to make dinner.
Tonight we had a half a chicken and baked potatoes (Also more cocktails). with a full belly we stoked the fire, played some more cribbage as we watched a near full moon come over the tree line.
The next morning we stay in bed a little longer as the fog burns off the river. Another breakfast of eggs, pancakes, bacon and coffee.
We paddle a few more hours and pull up to the next on the river campsite. The sun is out, the wind died down and we set up camp. I took a nap until it was time to make dinner.
Tonight we had a half a chicken and baked potatoes (Also more cocktails). with a full belly we stoked the fire, played some more cribbage as we watched a near full moon come over the tree line.
The next morning we stay in bed a little longer as the fog burns off the river. Another breakfast of eggs, pancakes, bacon and coffee.
The sun burns through the fog and light frost and we get on the river around 10 again. I mean why hurry we only have to drive home and the longer we can postpone that, the better.
The water is slower today as it starts heading into Trego where there is a dam, so we goof around a bit going around small islands and under trees hanging over the river.
Jim tells me to split a overhang, I do it. He follows, almost. He goes a little off the side and tries to stop by grabbing the tree. Not a good move, it tips his boat and he takes on quite a bit of water. Its all good, hes wet, bails the boat and we continue on.
Eventually we come into more of the city and pass under a few bridges and finally the beach where the day will end.
We pack up, clean up get a choco-taco from the resort and start the long drive home.
Until next time....
