Now You See It, Now You Don't: Ashby Shoals
In this week's episode of What Did You Find While Paddling, Michael Richards reports on a rare discovery in between the raindrops:
"On Friday, January 12, Ohana members Chris Spencer, Michael Richards, Annie Meyers, Erin Middleton, and Anne Spencer paddled out from the Emeryville Marina at sunset to join a couple dozen other water adventurers at the Ashby Shoal. The Ashby Shoal is a long, submerged sand bar that becomes a low island for a few hours each year at the lowest point of the lowest tides. There was a spirit of gratitude and joy as the revelers gathered around several bonfires, munching on roasted hotdogs and marshmallows, and sharing stories. As the tide gradually rose to swallow the shoal, the paddlers glided quietly back to the Marina under a moonless sky."
The newsletter cover photo show some of the reveling going on around a bonfire. Until the next lowest of low tides!
More Bay Adventures
Ashby Shoal is not the only island in the SF Bay, of course. Coach Mike Wang undertook a lengthy trip some years back and paddled the entire Bay, averaging 10 miles a day regardless of the weather. He has helpfully listed the dozen islands and dozen bridges he paddled around and under and where to set out from in a blog post on the Mike's Paddle website (https://www.mikespaddle.com/blogs/paddling-bridges-and-islands-of-san-francisco-bay/bridges-and-islands).
More importantly for the Ohana Paddle Club, Coach Mike will be leading out trips to some of the islands in the upcoming months. We are all likely familiar with the 2-mile Ballena Isle and the Ballena Bridge loop, but if you want to paddle in ever larger circles under ever higher bridges, check out the new Bridge and Island series (weather permitting). These include circumnavigation of:
Coast Guard Island (3 miles) - February 24
Treasure and Yerba Buena Island (5 miles) - March 16
Brooks Island (7 miles) - April 27
More details to follow.
Take Care of Your Gear and It Will Take Care of You
Jo W. reminds those of us with inflatable PFDs to check them out on a regular basis (AKA "ever") and give that cartridge a little fresh water bath. Keep it clean and clear, otherwise you're just wearing a funky-looking belt.
SUP Around the World
Jo and Joey K. along with Tanya and several other lucky paddlers soaked up some sunshine and much warmer water in Costa Rica. No word on the amount of refuse and/or rainbows discovered, but fun times were definitely detected!
Other Ohana Events - The Return of Fitness and Race League!
The Ohana FRL offers a series of fun training paddles to work on skills and fitness. To elevate all members that attend, we try to stick together as a large group, but sometimes split off into different groups for different skills, paces or to have sessions with a visiting coach. All levels are welcome, but highly recommend taking the Level Up Clinics if you are a newer paddler. The first FRL of 2024 has been rescheduled to Saturday, January 27, at 9:30am - 11:30am at Mike's (arrival time 9:00am).
Tuesday Evenings from 5:30pm to 7:00pm (arrival time: 5:00pm) - Mike’s Dock. Please sign up on TeamSnap. First 2024 meeting is April 23.
Sunday Mornings - See upcoming events below or Ohana Paddle Club calendar events for dates and locations. Please sign up on TeamSnap.
Other Upcoming Events!
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER: King Tide on the Petaluma River
Originally scheduled for Sunday, January 21
Weather permitting:
2024's First Fitness and Race League
Saturday, January 27, 9:30am - 11:30am
Coach Shirley "The Beast" Heinemann
Meet in the courtyard of Mike's at 9:00am
1120 Ballena Blvd, #200, Alameda 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap.
2024's First Tuesday Fitness and Race League
Tuesday, April 23, 5:30pm (Arrive at 5pm)
Coach Mike
Mike's Paddle
1120 Ballena Blvd, #200, Alameda 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap.
Bridge & Island Series
Circumnavigate Coast Guard Island
Saturday, February 24, 10am
Coach Mike
Meet at Grand Street Boat Ramp
2094 Grand Street, #2090, Alameda 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap
Circumnavigate Treasure and Yerba Buena Island
Saturday, March 16, 10am
Coach Mike
Meet at Treasure Island Boat Ramp
2094 Grand Street, #2090, Alameda 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap
Circumnavigate Brooks Island
Saturday, April 27, 10am
Coach Mike
Meet at Ahn's Restaurant
1950 Esplanade Dr., Richmond, 94804
Please sign up on TeamSnap