Destination: Cabo - 1,000 Mile Kayak Expedition

Destination: Home

2010-08-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well...I'm back and no I didn't make it to Cabo. For anyone
following my blog or this thread, you know that things
didn't go as planned.

I've read through all the posts and to the naysayers, all I can
say is this was MY trip, not yours. How I chose to go about
it was my decision. To supporters, thanks.

That being said, there were definitely some errors
in my planning. Kayak weight was a key factor.
Couple that with unfortunate timing and
things can come unraveled quickly.

Here's the gist of what went down:

From the start, I knew that I would have no ground
support. I knew that would be a crucial factor in this trip.
I spoke to several people who have done
similar type trips and they all advised against going
without ground support. The reasons are obvious (less
gear to carry, easily resupplied, medical emergencies, etc.).
I put the word out, but I couldn't find any
friends who were able to commit to the support
required for a trip like this. I'm not one to rely on others,
so I tried to figure out what I CAN do without a support team.
I knew that certain conditions would have to prevail if
I was going to succeed.

Additionally, I made a commitment to myself about what
I would do if things went wrong or if I found that I
was on a path to destruction. Being a pilot, I've been
taught that its not one thing that went wrong, but a
culmination of many mistakes that leads to most tragic
accidents. 99% of the time, its pilot error and can
be avoided. As Matt F. said in one post, I've proved
Darwin wrong many times...I did not want this trip
to be a Darwinian experiement.

The second problem was weight. My kayak was extremely
heavy, but well within the limits of the kayak.
Unfortunately, being so heavy, it was extremely
difficult for me to move on land. Each heave-ho would
only move the kayak a few inches. I'm estimated I
had about 300lbs of gear, food, and water.

Another major problem is where to land each night. The
first night was extremely difficult and I thought
about that for many months. I thought
about paddling to the Coronados and trying to hook up
with a boat, but figured that was too risky. I decided to
paddle straight to Rosarito, which I did, but since I
launched late (around noon), I didn't get there until
3:30am.

Each evening, I contemplated where I would land. Though
I did my research with maps and charts, I wasn't moving
as fast as I had hoped. My average speed was 2.2 mph.
Typically, its 3.5mph with all my fishing gear. As I
approached my initial landing candidate, I was met
with obstacles out of my control. Incorrect tides, surf,
and other factors made it so my first choice usually
didn't work out. In most cases, I searched for 3-4 hours
for a landing spot.

After arriving in La Bufadora (paddling around Punta Banda
was a trip), I realized that I was only covering half
the miles each day that I needed to in order to complete
this trip in the time I had alloted. Add to that reports
of even larger surf on the way and I began to realize
that I could end up in an uncomfortable situation.

A kayak guide (Eddy), told me that there were surf
warnings for the next several days. He is a certified
expedition kayak guide and knows the Baja coastline
very well. He and another certified guide suggested
that I wait for several days before moving on
from La Bufadora.

I knew that waiting 5 days would make my chances of
reaching Cabo even slimmer. He then suggested the Cortez
side and I thought about that. Unfortunately, though
I knew it would be warmer, I never anticipated the
heat that I experienced there. Temps were easily
over 100 degrees on the water.

Adaptation is Evolution

2010-08-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

As with any expedition, one must adapt to whatever situations arrive. To that extent, my trip has evolved in many ways.

Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful at paddling the entire Pacific Baja peninsula. Too much gear, big surf and other factors lead me to try the Cortez side. Literally out of the frying pan and into the fire. The surf won't kill me, but the heat certainly will.

So, while this certainly isn't the expedition I originally planned, it's still quite a trip. I'm moving by vehicles to choice spots in Baja to concentrate more on fishing than paddling.

Tons of large Calicos this morning at Asuncion, but water temp is 58, so the game I'm after isn't here. Heading south. Next stop: Abreojos.

Saluté

Island grouper

2010-08-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Found these guys on a rocky point after spending the night in a volcano a few nights ago. Some great starry nights and some great fishing.

Everything is fine, Great fishing

2010-08-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

Internet is sporadic, so updates have been as well. Fishing has been good. Been laying low. Fresh batteries in the SPOT. Look for new locations coming soon.

Loaded down Yak

2010-07-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot of my kayak loaded down. The kayak has over 100lbs just in food and water, plus fishing gear, solar panels, surfboard, miscellaneous gear, and 3 (8) Amp Hour batteries.

Loaded down with over 300lbs of gear inside and out.

Change of Plans

2010-07-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is the first update I've been able to make. As you can see, I've changed course somewhat. This was due to high surf and an extremely heavy kayak. After several reductions in equipment and supplies, I was still very heavy. Much too heavy to deal with surf. Unfortunately, the Sea of Cortez side has some extreme heat and its own challenges. Currently catching lots of grouper in Punta Buffeo.

Small Grouper. Early on, was catching one every cast...

T- minus 10 hours

2010-07-16T19:10:00.000-07:00

Well, the prep work is all done, now I'm just configuring my packing for the umpteenth time. Launching tomorrow morning around 5:00am from Shelter Island. Wish me luck...

Launch Date: Saturday July 17, 2010 5am

2010-07-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

Due to some electronics problems, I've delayed my launch a day. I will be launching from Shelter Island at 5am on Saturday. I'd like to launch earlier, but it may not be practical. Check back here for the latest info on launch times and click the Current Location link (in the header) to see where I am at any particular time during my expedition.

Final Countdown

2010-07-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

I just returned from my trip to Mammoth with the kids. Testing is complete on nearly all systems, with the exception of a couple of late arrival components. I'm trying to launch Friday at 5am, though I may push it to Saturday if I don't get everything done at a reasonable hour.

Trout Fitter in Mammoth

2010-07-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

As part of my prep, I took the kids camping to field test all my gear. All worked great, though I need another component for my solar panel to charge the Canon cameras. Thanks to overnight shipping, I should have that tonight.

While in Mammoth I stopped at TroutFitter fly shop (http://www.thetroutfitter.com). Cog MacNeil was great with some additional gear ideas for my trip. He's also a fly guide (cog@flyfishingwithcog.com). Look him up if you need some gear while in Mammoth.

Check-in/OK message from Dave's SPOT SPOT Messenger

2010-07-10T20:32:00.001-07:00

Dave's SPOT
Latitude:37.62975
Longitude:-119.08487
GPS location Date/Time:07/10/2010 20:32:49 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=37.62975,-119.08487&ll=37.62975,-119.08487&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Daily Check-In Msg. Here's where I am.

Raising the safety factor for millions who step into the outdoors each year, SPOT notifies friends and family or an international emergency rescue coordination center with status messages based on situation and need. Ask for Help (or SPOT Assist), Alert S.O.S., Check-In/OK and Track Progress-all with the simple push of a button.
http://www.findmespot.com

Looking for a great way to share SPOT tracks and waypoints, stories and photos? Head to http://www.spotadventures.com and see how users are creating their adventures and sharing them!

SPOT test from devil's Postpile

2010-07-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

I'm at Devil's Postpile with the kids. Going send a SPOT Messenger OK message to see how well it poststo this blog.

SPOT Messenger has arrived

2010-07-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

I've activated my SPOT Messenger, so I'll be testing that this week. I'll be using it to post my current position throughout Baja. I've signed up for the Tracking feature, but I don't think I'll let it track me 24/7 as this would require a lot of battery power and rechargeable batteries are not recommended. I'll post a link to the tracking page once that gets set up.

Stone Brewing Company hooks me up!

2010-07-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Had another meeting yesterday with Stone Brewing Co. Chris hooked me up with lots of great cycling gear that will come in handy during my long paddle. The special materials are designed to wick away moisture, so it should help me stay dry and comfy. He also threw in a case of Ruination, so I'll have to be sure I pack a few bottles for the first night on the water...Thanks Chris!

Tsunamis: Wins an Emmy

2010-06-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

I won an Emmy tonight for my work on an animation I did with a buddy of mine (Chris Neuhahn) for the County of San Diego. I'm so stoked!
If you'd like to view the animation, it can be found here:

Recycled Lint

2010-06-26T14:08:00.001-07:00

Thinking about my fire starting options, I experimented with dryer lint. It seems to work pretty well, so I've been collecting it to bring along. I guess if it doesn't work, I can always knit a hoodie.

Talking the Talk

2010-06-23T07:49:00.000-07:00

Went to TJ last night to get my Tourist Card for Mexico. I really need to pick up the pace on my Spanish studies. Getting the Tourist card was easy. Trying to communicate in Spanish: worthless. LOL.

My Baja Tackle Box

2010-06-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick overview of my tackle for my trip. It includes over 65 lures, 120 swimbaits, and 11 spools of line. Way too much to list here. Here's a pic:

New Werner Paddle Arrives

2010-06-15T23:29:00.001-07:00

I received a new Corryvrecken carbon fiber paddle today from Werner.
The new paddle has a redesigned ferrule (compared to my 2007 model)
and looks great. The new ferrule release button has a lower profile.
The blade shape looks identical. Will test it out on Saturday.

More Mods Necessary - 1 cam down

2010-06-13T21:42:00.000-07:00

Worked on some modifications over the weekend, including adding cleats to the side rails. Upon further consideration of the rudder setup, I realize now that my previous rigging for my surfboard isn't going to work with a rudder attached. I've been working on ideas for a new attachment method, though nothing concrete yet. Time is running out.

Also, one of my cameras started malfunctioning on Saturday. Not quite sure what happened, but during the time lapse recording of the cleat installation, the camera locked up. No digital images, and now it won't turn off. Need to get it exchanged quickly or the new one will arrive after I leave...

Stone Meeting Update

2010-06-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

Had a fantastic meeting with Stone Brewing Company on Friday. The bistro is unbelievable and definitely something anyone who enjoys serenity should check out. The entire area is enveloped by the most tranquil pond, plants and ambiance imaginable. Not your typical bistro, for sure. No television in sight!
Anyway, met with Chris and discussed the project. Their corporate ideals seem very much in line with my own personal beliefs. I'm stoked about that. Stone fun fact: more than 30% of their electricity usage is generated by solar panels on the roof of the facility. Amazing!

New rudder installation

2010-06-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

After a long day of horrible instructions, I finally got the rudder
installed. The deploy/retraction system seems difficult to operate.
May need to modify so it's easier to work. Took it for a quick spin
and it seems like it will help.

33 Miles Today

2010-06-05T22:35:00.000-07:00

I paddled from La Jolla Shores to the Pt. Loma lighthouse today. 33 miles in 11 hours. While 3mph may not seem like much, I also fished along the way. No fish to report. Lots of red tide. This trip was a full gear dress rehearsal with all my gear stowed, including my surfboard. Frustrating without a rudder. That gets installed tomorrow.

New Sponsor: Werner Paddles

2010-06-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

I'm honored that Werner paddles has joined my list of sponsors. They
make the highest quality paddles. I've been using their carbon fiber
paddles for years and they were very accommodating when I told them I
would need a back up paddle for my expedition. If you need a quality
paddle, check theirs out at http://www.wernerpaddles.com

Cover Shot!

2010-06-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Recently I was interviewed about my trip by local writer Jack Innis. The article was for Nautical Mile magazine, based in Florida. Well, the June issue came out and I made the cover! I'm so stoked! Not only did I get yellow fin sashimi, my photo will now be in the archives of history! You can check out the article here:

Map of Baja

2010-05-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

Some of you may not be familiar with the 900+ mile stretch of land south of San Diego, also known as Mexico's Baja Peninsula. It is an eclectic mix of abundant sea life, fertile valleys and unforgiving desolation. For those that embrace it, Baja offers some of the most beautiful places the world has to offer. Click the image below to go to a larger map page showing the entire Baja Peninsula in more detail.

Solar Success

2010-05-28T18:38:00.001-07:00

Ah, I love the Sun! Tested my solar panels today with great success.
One panel puts out 14+ volts in direct sunlight. I was able to charge
my iPhone, iPod, my Canon battery, and my HD cam. The real test will
be if it's enough power for all my usage on any given day. Super stoked!

Great Chance Meeting

2010-05-28T11:05:00.001-07:00

Testing some camera equipment this morning, I met a guy named Nick at
the beach. He had some great info on Baja that will come in handy.
Thanks Nick!

Surf to Summit Joins as a Sponsor

2010-05-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

I'm super stoked to announce that Surf to Summit (www.surftosummit.com) has joined in as a sponsor to my kayak adventure. They make some great equipment and the best kayak seats on the market. I've been using the Expedition seat for over a year and its a great seat. Any of their gear can be ordered from YakTackle for great deals.

Solar Panels Arriving Today

2010-05-21T13:23:00.001-07:00

Looks like my solar panels are arriving today. Looking forward to
seeing how well they'll work on the kayak, especially when going
through surf. Surf is up today and through the weekend. Good proving
ground conditions.

Yellowtail Video

2010-05-19T23:53:00.000-07:00

I've created a new boom system that I'm very pleased with, though I have a couple of minor modifications I'm going to test this weekend. Here's the latest video of a 24lb yellowtail caught a few days ago...

I don't have the loader created yet, so give it a moment to load...

The Countdown Begins

2010-05-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

Well, here's where it all starts to come together, hopefully. I'm officially at the 60 day countdown. I still have lots to do in preparation for the trip, including many "dry" runs. Not enough time in the day to get it all done.

Stone Brewing Co. is on board

2010-05-19T00:41:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to say the makers of my favorite IPA are now on board as a sponsor. Stone Brewing has agreed to supply me with some brew for my trip. While the beer contribution is great, I'm hoping that a connection with Stone might help raise awareness with regards to ocean pollution. Even Chris, their Community liaison asked what I intended to do with the empty bottles once out to sea. I intend to save all trash until ashore and will most likely pick up trash while out at sea. Check out Stone Brewing at www.stonebrew.com or click their logo at the bottom of this page. They truly make remarkable brews.

Saturday yellowtail

2010-05-15T23:32:00.000-07:00

The water was teeming with bait and I hadn't soaked a bait for more than
15 minutes when I hooked into this guy.

Hook Up!

2010-05-14T08:20:00.001-07:00

Hooked into a nice Yellowtail and lots of barricuda. Still on the
water. Details and video to follow.

New Overhead boom

2010-05-09T22:26:00.000-07:00

Since the last boom didn't go quite as well as I hoped for, I developed one that now goes above my head and can be swiveled to the side. The PVC is bulky and primitive. Looking to develop one with composite materials. Just need to find the right hardware. Red tide and wind ruined the fishing for this weekend.

Boom is a Semi-Bust

2010-05-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

Tried out the new boom this morning, but it didn't go quite as I planned. As it turns out, the boom coming out to the side got in the way of my paddle. I came up with a new design later in the day that I think will work better. Now I need to find something stronger and lighter than PVC to make the new boom out of. Fishing was lousy today - red tide...

New Sponsor: WindPaddle Sails

2010-05-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

I spoke with Nick from WindPaddle sails this morning and he's agreed to sponsor me by providing me with a WindPaddle Cruiser sail. The reviews are very positive for the sail and it could save my arms from complete exhaustion after battling large yellow fin tuna. Look for a review after I receive and test it. Thanks for the support Nick! It's a cool design. Check it out at www.windpaddle.com

Underwater housing in the House!

2010-05-06T16:48:00.001-07:00

I ordered an Ikelite housing for my Canon 7D. This thing is huge!
Wasn't expecting it to be so big or or so heavy. Might be tough to use
in my kayak, but I know my camera will be protected. Rated to 200', so
I can take it diving for some great shots.

Brainstorming and Smelling Good!

2010-05-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

Today I met with some friends who are two of the nicest people in the industry, and whom I've known personally for a few years. Michelle and Jack Innis invented De-Fishing Soap (http://www.defishingsoap.com). We talked about my upcoming adventure and both had great ideas and were genuinely excited about my trip. If you know anyone who fishes, De-Fishing soap is by far the best solution for removing fish odors. And it smells great!

New Video Page Added

2010-05-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

I've added a video page with a couple of links to some video. If you see problems, please leave a comment so I can fix it (I changed some settings so that you don't need to have an account to leave a comment). Check out the video page here...

Camera fishing

2010-05-01T15:00:00.001-07:00

Tested my waterproof HD camera to a depth of 30ft. Water was murky,
but captured some passing bait fish. Camera worked great. More fishing
and tests tomorrow.

Ragz joins as a clothing sponsor

2010-04-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

Just got off the phone with Mark from Ragz (www.ragzpullovers.com). He has agreed to hook me up with some great product. If you haven't worn one of these pullovers, they're incredibly comfortable and warm. Click their logo to visit their site and check them out. Thanks Mark!

Valuable Insight

2010-04-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

I had lunch yesterday with a guy who sailed to Cabo on a catamaran
with 2 other boats. He helped me put into perspective some of the
dangers of this trip. Great information.

Emmy nomination

2010-04-27T20:12:00.001-07:00

An animation project I worked on last year "Tsunamis: Know What to Do"
was just nominated for an Emmy

Video Tests

2010-04-24T20:42:00.000-07:00

Took the GoPro out for a test. Water was green and murky. Great for white seabass, but no love for me. Video looks good for first draft, no post production.

Got A GoPro

2010-04-23T22:35:00.000-07:00

Just received my GoPro camera. Took me 10 minutes just to get it out of the box. Totally whacked! User manual is sketchy. Going to test it tomorrow with some on the water shots and some underwater shots. Reviews to follow...

Canon 7D has arrived!

2010-04-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

My new Canon 7D has arrived. While the quality of still images is a
given, I'd like to test it's HD video capabilities this weekend.
Review & update to follow.

The Perfect Food

2010-04-22T12:37:00.001-07:00

Just found the perfect food for this trip at Fresh and Easy. It's a
1lb chocolate almond bar. Antioxidants and energy!

Slideshow Added

2010-04-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd add a few pics from past fishing. Most of these are from La Jolla, CA. I'll add some pics from Mexico soon. Too many other logistics to work on. This is more of a test so I can add pictures of the trip. Please add a comment if the slideshow doesn't work correctly on your computer. Eventually, I'll be adding trip preparation photos and ultimately, I'd like to feed in pics while I'm on my trip, if possible.

Water Gives Life

2010-04-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, the most important consideration during the planning
of this trip is securing drinkable water. I've made a couple prototype
solar stills, but they don't produce enough water to drink (just a few
drops).

Now, for a mere $999, I can get a hand operated water maker from
Katadyn. Maybe I can get them to donate one...

Paddled 18 miles in moderate winds

2010-04-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

Paddled 18 miles on Friday with winds up to 16mph. Good test. Absolutely need to install a rudder on my Trident. The Trident tends to weather vane to perpendicular to the wind. Caused heavy stress in my right forearm.

Sponsorships

2010-04-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've realized that this trip is going to cost way more than I expected. I've sent out my first set of sponsorship requests this week. Let's see what kind of response I get.

Official Blog Start

2010-04-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well, after more than a year of thinking about it, I've decided to commit to it. I made the commitment about 2 months ago and have worked out the most preliminary logistics. I've been planning offline for some time now, including my route planning and supply list. Check back soon to see what progress has been made. I expect to upload route maps soon, along with an estimated itinerary.