Editor’s note: This is one of the topics Eric had lined up for 2012. Some of the featured pictures he picked out himself and he specifically suggested that you “Put YOURSELF in the picture”. I can’t look at a painting of a seascape without evaluating it in terms of my kayak. Could I survive in […]
California Coast Sea Kayaking
Sea Kayaking Microwave – Surfin’ Tsunami Style
By Steve King and Scott Becklund Editor’s note: The Tsunami Rangers refer to the wave at Mushroom Rock as Microwave for two reasons: it’s a mini-version of Maverick’s and there’s a naval station with radio and radar on the bluff above the break. Thanks to TR Michael Powers for all the great photos! Steve: About a […]
White Water Sea Kayaking With LiquidFusion
Editor’s note: Last October Tsunami Ranger Capt. Jim Kakuk suggested I take a white water class. To hear is to obey. I think he meant river, but it seemed auspicious to take White Water of the Sea I & II with LiquidFusion. This post is about that class. See also Take a Sea Kayaking Class and […]
Kayak Navigation Part 4: Dealing with Tidal Current by Using Eddies and Other Tactics
Editor’s note: Photography credits for this article go to June Legler. Thanks, June! by Tsunami Ranger John Lull Introduction Scroll back about 25 years: I’d paddled out the Golden Gate several times already, but this was my first voyage out on the day of a 6-knot ebb. I paddled across the Gate from Crissy Field […]
Lore, Legends, and Magic – Magical Thinking and the Tsunami Ranger Approach to Sea Kayaking
“Let me not hear facts, figures and logic; fain would I hear lore, legends and magic.” (From “Roots of Oak” by Donovan) What is magical thinking? I first encountered this phrase in an article about grief. A man had died of cancer and his 11-year old daughter thought she was responsible for her father’s death […]
Worst. Crash. Ever.
Editor’s note: Thanks to Charlie Teall for the photos of Neil and John at the slot. Eric loved autumn because it’s the start of football season. In fact, his video “The Tsunami Rangers’ Greatest Hits” was modeled after the NFL’s Greatest Hits films. One of his favorite things about watching football was a segment called […]
Steve Sinclair – Storm Sea Skier and Legendary Sea Kayaker
by Will Nordby Editor’s note: Will Nordby recently completed his career as a broadcast and print photo-journalist based in the Bay Area. He started kayaking in 1973 and has traveled along the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia in addition to the Caribbean, Central America, and South Pacific. His articles have appeared in various magazines […]
The Tsunami Ranger Retreat – August 2012
The retreat began for me by running down Eric’s recommended kayak camping list at Jim’s request. After some digging, I found it and emailed it to the Rangers and guests. Packing commenced. I went through all Eric’s camping gear, some of the bags still containing sand from last year’s Mendocino trip. I put up the […]
Kayak Pilgrim – A Sea Kayak Adventure
Life should be one adventure after another. If not, you’ve lived too long. Whenever I become too mellow, my heart yearns and yearns for adventure. You take the high road and I’ll take the high road. Okay you take the low road and I’ll take the high road. Well, if you insist, you take the […]
Moseying Down The Coast – Sea Kayaking In The Slow Lane
Tuning in to the Beauty and Magic of Sea and Land by Steve King One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Tsunami Rangers’ annual retreats or any quest (see #9 in Eric’s previous post 10 Commandments of Sea Kayaking) is meandering along the coasts of Northern California, Oregon, Washington or anywhere. One cannot truly […]
Neptune’s Rangers complete the Big Sur Challenge
Six months ago I issued the BIG SUR CHALLENGE, which entailed a paddle on the beautiful Big Sur coast to find a mysterious islet, scale it, and leave proof that you completed the quest. The Tsunami Rangers promised a boon to the first team to accomplish the deed. The quest to find Neptune’s Castle can […]
Tsunami Rangers Invade the Mendocino Coast
In late August, the Tsunami Rangers pirate tribe pounced upon the Mendocino coast, somewhere between Russian Gulch and Point Arena. It was our annual retreat, which we took the day after our rock garden class at MacKerricher State Park just north of Fort Bragg. After spending a great day playing on the water with our […]
Sea Kayaking Retreats
Sometimes you kayak solo. Other times you go out for a day paddle with buddies. Almost every paddler I know has gone on some sort of expedition—for a week, month, even a year. Today I want to discuss the benefits of going on a sea kayaking retreat with your best paddling friends. A retreat is […]