Brush Creek, a tributary of the Kern River in CA, is one of the most incredible stretches of whitewater around. It drops about 450 feet per mile, but is suprisingly managble. Lot’s of fun drops in the 5-20 foot range. Big fast slides. It’s just so good it has to be experienced. I did a bunch of runs over a few weekends in May, and even stopped to take some pictures.

Pauley Creek is a spectacular kayak run in Northern California. Tons of fun drops, a couple technical rapids. We got a good early season run in, though it meant hiking in through snow. Several good waterfalls. Video inside.

It’s been a slow year for whitewater paddling in CA so far. just not a lot happening. Although it’s gotten better over the last few weeks, we’re looking at a potential drought this year. I’ve done a number of low water trips down the North Fork of the American river, Chamberlain Falls run.

It’s been a grim winter so far for paddling, but one of the few spots that has water is Clear Creek, located near Redding, CA. I got on it a few weeks ago. Good times.

In 2008, California hosted the US national surf kayak championships at Davenport, CA. We had amazing conditions, and a great contest.

This past weekend was the national championship for surf kayaking, held at Davenport, CA, and organized by Buck Johnson. I went down a day early to get a practice session in. Friday was super fun. I was on the water from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., one of my longest surf sessions ever, stopping only for short breaks. Super fun. Throughout the day, it was a changing cast of characters, including some really strong paddlers, some people that are brand new to the sport, …

Kim and Geoff went to Bodega Bay, north of San Francisco, for a weekend of camping, surf kayaking and crabbing.

Thanks to American Whitewater, we had releases on the NF feather this weekend. I only made it up for sunday, but had a good time paddling with my friend dan, and running into dozens of other paddling friends. Not much water for paddlers this late in a dry year, so we tend to congregate where ever there is some.

Kim and I had another fun weekend. Saturday we joined our freinds Erol and Paula for breakfast, then did a bike ride in Napa, stopping at several vineyards. Sunday I went to the Farmer’s Market, then we paddled the SF American with Jeff, Michael and Nini. M&N were in a Topo-Duo, like ours. First time we’ve ever paddled with someone else in a Topo. Monday we did a cool ride round Sacramento with Jeff B., then headed to Walnut Creek for lunch with Anuj and Shefali. Fun time.

First, let me apologize, I have no new pictures.  My camera is in recover mode, tough in the humid environment here.
When I last updated the blog, I had had an OK, but slightly  frustrating start to my trip.  To recap briefly, I’d missed my flight, spent many days waiting for the raft guide to show up, thought I did see some neat stuff, then hurt my arm-shoulder falling through a rotted out step on some stairs.   But it was day 8, I’d paddled with Andrew the guide a few times, …