Editor’s note: This year’s retreat was brief but packed with action, so we decided to cover it in two posts, the first which came out in October, and this second debrief in order to give Cate her due. Deb: We agreed on the rendezvous location, “Thunder Cove”, one of the Tsunami Rangers’ favorite secret destinations on […]
California Coast sea kayaking
THE ORDEAL – Tsunami Retreat 2016
Howling wind. Choppy waves. Funky swells. Boomers. Contrary currents. This year the Tsunami Ranger retreat had it all. But we’re a team and we made it! Once again, Rangers and friends overcame all obstacles and had a great time on the annual gathering. Capt. Jim Kakuk and guest Nancy Soares share the story. Nancy: Jim […]
Baleen, Bruises, and Beer; or The Whale That Mistook my X-15 for a Large White Sardine
By Tsunami Ranger Steve El Rey King Near the end of June and during the first few weeks of July this summer large numbers of humpback whales were seen on a daily basis south of the Golden Gate Bridge, especially close to shore in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, California. National and local television stations […]
Crescent City Solo Kayak Adventure
Editor’s note: This is my second solo kayak trip ever. It was way cool. I decided to write it in the third person. It just seemed like the right thing to do. She started out on a hot, sunny morning. The drive to the coast was lovely. Cloudless blue sky and tall green forests, a […]
Greatest Hits “And Misses” of the Tsunami Rangers Part II – The Launch
By Tsunami Ranger John Lull Editor’s Note: This is Part II of a multi-part series, Greatest Hits “And Misses” of the Tsunami Rangers. In this post, TR John Lull gives us his “Greatest Hit”. Greatest Hit: On a late Summer afternoon way back in the early ‘90s, I pulled into a coastal coffee shop for a double […]
Greatest Hits “And Misses” of the Tsunami Rangers!
By Captain Jim Kakuk The following stories go along with the YouTube release of the full-length version of the Tsunami Rangers Greatest Hits. You can still buy the DVD on this website but now it’s free to download! At the end of this post click on the link and be sure to add your comments […]
The Same But Different: Advantages of Getting to Know One Place Really Well in Your Kayak
by Barbara Kossy and Nancy Soares Editor’s note: Thanks so much to Barbara Kossy for her thoughts on this topic and for the great photos of Elba. And thanks to her and to everyone I’ve paddled with at Pillar Point for all the great memories! Barbara: There’s an obsession with bucket lists, bagging peaks, hiking every […]
Kayak Resolutions 2016
I was at something of a loss as to what to do for the first blog post of the New Year. It was weird. For nearly four years I’ve managed to keep the blog going to honor Eric’s posthumous wish and it’s been fun. Searching for copy I’ve enjoyed trips to Kauai, Sardinia, and the […]
The Magic of Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary
Editor’s note: This is our last article for 2015. We hope you have enjoyed our adventures! Stay tuned for our next post in January 2016, and have safe Holidays and a wonderful New Year! Text by Steven El Rey King Photographs by Scott Becklund and Paul Hammond There are many amazing reserves, national parks […]
Sea Kayakers, We Are “Seekers of the Horizon” – A Review
Editor’s note: Will Nordby, the author of Seekers of the Horizon, began sea kayaking in 1971. He has written for Oceans, Explore, Canoe, Sea Kayaker, River Runner, Small Boat Journal, and Ocean Sports International. He was also the originator of the Sea Trek Paddle Float, a sea kayaking self-rescue device. He worked for KRON-TV in […]
Rangers’ Retreat – 30 Years On
By: Captain Jim Kakuk and Dandy Don Kiesling FIRST RETREAT In 1985 Eric and I were on our way to the Port Townsend Sea Kayaking Symposium to do our first presentation, ‘Ocean Survival Swimming‘. On the way we stopped in Southern Oregon at Boardman State Park, and went on a mini expedition to explore a […]
Reef Madness 2015 – The Madness Continues!
by Tsunami Ranger Commander Michael Powers Editor’s note: Thanks to TRs Michael Powers and Jim Kakuk for the great photos! Winter storms pretty much destroyed our beloved kayak ramp and access to Miramar Beach out front – so for a while a race this year seemed impossible… But by popular demand, the ramp was rebuilt […]
Tsunami Ranger Retreat 2014: A New Ranger!
Captain Kuk: When Eric and I first came up with the idea of a kayaking team in 1984 we wanted to have a system for rating the skills of the paddlers that we planned on inviting to join us. Eric proposed that we use naval ranking. Having been in the U.S. Navy he was familiar […]