Dan
"Fellow Paddlers,
What an adventure! Five days and four campsites, 50 plus miles. Dan took us to Bird Paradise and beyond. Not only did I have a grin the whole time, shared good times with very special people, I learned a lot from Dan about expedition kayacking.
Please come to the next Paddlers meeting at Richard's Players Club next January 4th, 0600PM for a slideshow and lie swap to get a good laugh and share.
Never having camped from my boat and moved daily and never paddled distance in the Delta, I had some reservation as to what to do and not to do. So I am going to try to contribute some of the do s and do nots.
Do > Take as much as you feel you and your boat can handle easily. Pre-Pack all.
Don't > Pack beer unless Bob brings it.
Do > Organize Dry Bags and pack in boat in relation to the use. Food together with cook gear. Rain gear with camp shoes and towel ect.
Don't > Rely on Gear Guy to bring Tent.
Do > Bring Light weight dinning fly for extra shelter for group meals and Lie Swaps.
Don't > Let Dan screw with the camp fire after you or Bob get it perfect. Yes Joe, he is still at it.
Do > Carry your safety gear and learn were and what everyone else has and were it is in the boat.
Don't > Get carried away paddling with Bob and loose Dan and Donna in the fog. Look around. My Bad.
Do > Take light for the boat or PFD and extra headlamps. Pack them for first access from hatches.
Don't > Pack sleep pad all the way forward or aft. Thats were the screw gobblins hide. Wine bottle fits there best.
Do > Let Gear Guy Wade and Apoxy Bob fix Hole in sleep pad. Thanks guys, sleep well.
Don't > Let Dan take you to a premier perfect island camp spot without checking tides for high ground.
Do > Have dry suit in tent when water raises. "Lie Swap" at meeting. Be there.
Don't > Follow Dan off Biker Bar dock {"The Rusty Porthole" no less} with forward half gainer to water over three boats .
Do > Keep camera rolling for next jump. After bar owner and patrons said something about "you crazy ____".
Do > Bring " Pleasure Foods " and share. Thanks again Guys. Amazing how good chocolate is. I know the girls already know.
Don't > Ask Bob "Where's the smoked cheese?" He will not get the humor. Sorry Bob.
Do > Do take extra Quarters if the showers are not free.
Don't > Let anyone know you took a Girly Shower for 20 minutes. Donna's terminology, not mine. It is MAVulous after a day on the water.
Do > Learn fifty new ways to use your Greenland Stick. Tent fly post, dryer rack, emergincy firewood, pointer for all the birds and wildlife.
Don't > Let Dan near large floating tule Island. He will find new use for Greenland stick. Bow rudder, root side edgeing comes to mind.
Do > Let Bob and Wade share tent in 30 knot rain storm.
Don't > Tell anyone they did. What happens on the Delta stays on the Delta. ooops
Do > Let those leading , lead.
Don't > Worry about each turn and where you are going. Get the general idea and map review for emergency but relax, Dan knows his stuff.
This was a novel new thing for me, being compulsevly in charge. I loved letting this go and enjoyed the view. Chilln.
Do > Bring a compass and know your general position and heading. {check deck compass headings after packing> metal cook gear.}
Don't > Rush to your destination. Dan"s schedule led to tons of time to easy paddling, head turning scenery. Enjoy the moment. Not a compitition.
Do > Be flexable. Mentally {go to bar for football and beef, no freeze dry} and physically { limber and warm up before climging in}.
Don't > Forget to tell Ashley, Joe and Ethan " Thanks for the pizza, beer and football." { again No freeze dry } .
Do > If Dan says to you after you are nicely settled in camp, "Who's up for more paddling" GO! Those are the best times on the water and the boats lighter.
Wow, what a sunset! Photo op by Dona.
Don't > Camp in the whitewash.
Do > If you camp in the whitewash be prepared to say whoo whoow , and find new uses for the Greenland stick. The Comerants roost at sunset. Nasty.
Don't > Overpack
Do > Use layering for clothes. Bring multi use items. Improvise, adapt, succeed. A little inventiveness and imagination is fun and useful. ie. Greenland Stick.
Don't > Over think the packing. Keep it simple and the same each day. Routines helps in the rain, dark and tired.
Do > Finally found my knit cap Guys. Over thought it and put it so I might get it more easily. Promptly forgot it was in my cockpit, dry and ready for cold use. Again,Routines Help.
Don't > Let Dan zip the back of your Dry suit.
Do > Take out the hearing aids and jump in! Film to follow at meeting I hope. Brrrrisk.
Don't > Forget a thermas.
Do > Raft up on the last day, in the rain, birds everywhere,No boats but your bud's in sight. Last leg home, share in a last hot cup of poormans mocka.
Remember: $X,xxx.00 for boat> $xxx.00 for paddles, $xxx.00 Camp gear, Miles of smiles with wonderful friends in paridise, Priceless.
I hope everyone can sample the Headwaters Delta Expo 2 and more to come. Like the Nike adds say "Just Do It !".
Thank You Dan, Donna, Bob, Wade and all the ground support for the fond memories."
What an adventure! Five days and four campsites, 50 plus miles. Dan took us to Bird Paradise and beyond. Not only did I have a grin the whole time, shared good times with very special people, I learned a lot from Dan about expedition kayacking.
Please come to the next Paddlers meeting at Richard's Players Club next January 4th, 0600PM for a slideshow and lie swap to get a good laugh and share.
Never having camped from my boat and moved daily and never paddled distance in the Delta, I had some reservation as to what to do and not to do. So I am going to try to contribute some of the do s and do nots.
Do > Take as much as you feel you and your boat can handle easily. Pre-Pack all.
Don't > Pack beer unless Bob brings it.
Do > Organize Dry Bags and pack in boat in relation to the use. Food together with cook gear. Rain gear with camp shoes and towel ect.
Don't > Rely on Gear Guy to bring Tent.
Do > Bring Light weight dinning fly for extra shelter for group meals and Lie Swaps.
Don't > Let Dan screw with the camp fire after you or Bob get it perfect. Yes Joe, he is still at it.
Do > Carry your safety gear and learn were and what everyone else has and were it is in the boat.
Don't > Get carried away paddling with Bob and loose Dan and Donna in the fog. Look around. My Bad.
Do > Take light for the boat or PFD and extra headlamps. Pack them for first access from hatches.
Don't > Pack sleep pad all the way forward or aft. Thats were the screw gobblins hide. Wine bottle fits there best.
Do > Let Gear Guy Wade and Apoxy Bob fix Hole in sleep pad. Thanks guys, sleep well.
Don't > Let Dan take you to a premier perfect island camp spot without checking tides for high ground.
Do > Have dry suit in tent when water raises. "Lie Swap" at meeting. Be there.
Don't > Follow Dan off Biker Bar dock {"The Rusty Porthole" no less} with forward half gainer to water over three boats .
Do > Keep camera rolling for next jump. After bar owner and patrons said something about "you crazy ____".
Do > Bring " Pleasure Foods " and share. Thanks again Guys. Amazing how good chocolate is. I know the girls already know.
Don't > Ask Bob "Where's the smoked cheese?" He will not get the humor. Sorry Bob.
Do > Do take extra Quarters if the showers are not free.
Don't > Let anyone know you took a Girly Shower for 20 minutes. Donna's terminology, not mine. It is MAVulous after a day on the water.
Do > Learn fifty new ways to use your Greenland Stick. Tent fly post, dryer rack, emergincy firewood, pointer for all the birds and wildlife.
Don't > Let Dan near large floating tule Island. He will find new use for Greenland stick. Bow rudder, root side edgeing comes to mind.
Do > Let Bob and Wade share tent in 30 knot rain storm.
Don't > Tell anyone they did. What happens on the Delta stays on the Delta. ooops
Do > Let those leading , lead.
Don't > Worry about each turn and where you are going. Get the general idea and map review for emergency but relax, Dan knows his stuff.
This was a novel new thing for me, being compulsevly in charge. I loved letting this go and enjoyed the view. Chilln.
Do > Bring a compass and know your general position and heading. {check deck compass headings after packing> metal cook gear.}
Don't > Rush to your destination. Dan"s schedule led to tons of time to easy paddling, head turning scenery. Enjoy the moment. Not a compitition.
Do > Be flexable. Mentally {go to bar for football and beef, no freeze dry} and physically { limber and warm up before climging in}.
Don't > Forget to tell Ashley, Joe and Ethan " Thanks for the pizza, beer and football." { again No freeze dry } .
Do > If Dan says to you after you are nicely settled in camp, "Who's up for more paddling" GO! Those are the best times on the water and the boats lighter.
Wow, what a sunset! Photo op by Dona.
Don't > Camp in the whitewash.
Do > If you camp in the whitewash be prepared to say whoo whoow , and find new uses for the Greenland stick. The Comerants roost at sunset. Nasty.
Don't > Overpack
Do > Use layering for clothes. Bring multi use items. Improvise, adapt, succeed. A little inventiveness and imagination is fun and useful. ie. Greenland Stick.
Don't > Over think the packing. Keep it simple and the same each day. Routines helps in the rain, dark and tired.
Do > Finally found my knit cap Guys. Over thought it and put it so I might get it more easily. Promptly forgot it was in my cockpit, dry and ready for cold use. Again,Routines Help.
Don't > Let Dan zip the back of your Dry suit.
Do > Take out the hearing aids and jump in! Film to follow at meeting I hope. Brrrrisk.
Don't > Forget a thermas.
Do > Raft up on the last day, in the rain, birds everywhere,No boats but your bud's in sight. Last leg home, share in a last hot cup of poormans mocka.
Remember: $X,xxx.00 for boat> $xxx.00 for paddles, $xxx.00 Camp gear, Miles of smiles with wonderful friends in paridise, Priceless.
I hope everyone can sample the Headwaters Delta Expo 2 and more to come. Like the Nike adds say "Just Do It !".
Thank You Dan, Donna, Bob, Wade and all the ground support for the fond memories."
Ron
After whirl wind couple of months, of losing a job, starting my own business, and building out a retail store, I decided to take a break from all the stress and do an expedition that had been years in the making. Ever since I started kayaking 4 or 5 years ago I have always been drawn to the California Delta. There was something about the vastness of the waterways that drew me to it. I was always asking myself "Whats around the next corner?" or "I wonder what that island would be like at high tide?" From my first time paddling the Delta I knew that I wanted to do a multi day trip. There are just so many places you can't access in one day. So when a fellow club paddler came to me with the idea of doing a multi day expedition in the Delta I jumped all over it. Originally we had the goal in mind of paddling from Stockton to the Golden Gate, however as the trip grew nearer and the group got larger we decided to scale back and do something a little bit lower key. Five days in the Delta, four campsites, and as many cool islands and ship wrecks that we could find. We were not disappointed. I think we would all look back in retrospect and say that the trip was more than we expected. The weather was perfect, the fall colors all around seemed to jump off a misty gray background, the symphony or migrating birds singing their songs, and some of my best paddling buddies along side. Nothing will do the magic of this trip justice, but I will let the pictures try. If you would like to hear the full story about our trip and see all the wonderful pictures, be sure to come to the slide show presentation I will be doing for EX Penguin Paddlers Club on January 4th at 6:30 at Players Sports Pub & Gril 4060 Sunrise Ave. FairOaks CA 
