Roz Running for Nat Geo People's Choice Adventurer of the year

The informaition that I have accumulated over the years, I have been happy to keep to myself. The sole reason to begin this blog was to promote two things that are important for me. Preserving the beautiful outdoors and promoting my fellow adventurer and dear friend Roz Savage. (She can scream louder than me).

I believe that if people do not enjoy natural beauty and be in awe of some of the spectacular things that happen on any given day outside, that it will become unimportant. Once set aside, the outdoors will perish to people who pollute, poach, encroach, landfill, drill, hunt and net in our name due to our lack of awareness of where it comes from and where it goes to. Something pretty short sighted for a "intelligent" culture.

She is currently making much headway in making the 2012 London Olympics Plastic Bag Free.

see www.messageinthewaves.com for more information about our plastic pollution.

Roz has an international acclaim and a pretty sweet record being the first solo woman to row across that Pacific Ocean. Please read the link below and vote for her.

I plan on keeping this blog filled with lots more information about enjoying the great, yet pivotal times that we live in, and hope that you will return the gesture by being aware that we collectively have a price and a carbon footprint.

Please vote for my friend Roz. It would make her message of inspiration and ecology so much easier to spread. It costs nothing and no information from you is needed. Thanks, Happy Holidays


http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/roz-savage-2010/

National Geographic encourages you to visit and vote daily.

Heading Indoors...

Heading Indoors:

November and December are times when I start to plan for the year ahead. The days are shorter and I try to get up early, to get as much sunlight into my day as possible. By getting an ealy start, I can get back to home base and enjoy the evening properly. This allows a lot of room for error just in case my original plan does not go well. I plan ahead for an ealy nightfall (flashlight/spare batteries) and have plenty of things to do when it gets dark or I get stuck in a white-out(book/pen/survival equipment).

 

I like to calendar all my yearly to-do items such as cleaning out the gutters from fallen leaves and making photocopies of the cards in my wallet just in case I lose it or get it stolen. Quick errands that I have saved up all year to do, I do this time of the year. I accumulate a lot of gear and leave gear in people's car all the time... so I spend times in November/December/January not only returning gear or retaining gear, l but can often be caught enjoying a beverage or dinner with above similar minded gear-hound.

 

I also spend some time refreshing rescue skills such as knots and wilderness medicine techniques.

If at all possible, I time my recertifications this time of year, when I am more likely to be able to focus on bookwork.

 

Remember if you are heading outdoors, especially if for more than a day, let someone know when you are expected back and what kind of contingency plan you have... It allows the rescuers a lot of knowledge and they are more likely to find you if they know ... about where you are(leave a map in the car seat), are you ready to spend the night(rescues often start the next day) how prepared are you (spare batteries for radio or cell phone) (beacon/shovel/avalanche/orienteering skills)(overnight and warmth/food skills)(are you likely to look for a helicopter clearing and seek a signaling device). I like to ask myself, toward the end of any adventure "If I all of a sudden stopped having fun right now... can I survive the next 12 hours?"

 

Bears are more likely to forrage for hibernation this time of the year so be very careful in the back-country and mind your rubbish in the front-country. Other migratory things are happening so please be cognicent of what you tramp on.

 

The list below are some of my favorite things to do.

Trip planning: The year in review always lends ideas for trips and adventures ahead 

I highly reccomend this free website for skiing and snowboarding:

http://www.slidingonthecheap.com/

 

gear overhaul (clean/label and review usefullness and proficiency)

winterizing you car (keep gas tank patially/mostly full during winter outings)

lights and signals
proper eyewear(snow) and

paperwork

Jump Sky High
Monster Mini Golf
Granite Arches/Pipeworks (indoor climbing)
Swimstitute (indoor pool/ indoor kayaking)

Leadership and Ropes courses
Bounce towns
Indoor skydiving (Union City)

Rollerskating

Volunteering at a community shelter (animals too)

Quick Outdoors:
Fish Hatchery
Ice Rinks
Aquatic Center (Boating/Biking)
Soil Born Farms
Skate Parks

Snow shoe trips

American River:
William B Pond
River Bend Park
Hagan Oaks
Ancil Hoffman

Fair Oaks
Folsom

City Water Intake Facility
Old Town

Museums
Ca State Rail Road
AeroSpace
Discovery Science/space
Crocker
Towe Auto

Sac Theater museum
B street theater

 

Libraries

Drive in Movies! (bring camping mat, radio, flashlight and blankets:)
Dowtown and City Hikes and outings

Festivals

Farmers Market

Online recipe searching (cooking/baking)

 

If you do not live in the greater Sacramento Area, a quick online search will produce similar activities in your neck of the woods.

 

Feel free to email me and help me add to next years list...

 

Have a wonderful season!

 

OutSideJay~

California style one day road trip!

link to California Autumn Foliage

http://www.weather.com/outlook/driving/fallfoliage/regiondetail/ca1


link to Haley's Comet (Orionid Meteor Showers)

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/comet-halley-meteor-shower-101020.html


 
 
link to Northern California Hot Springs
 
http://www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=13828
 
 
put them all together...
 
High Sierra autumn foliage road trip followed by a Haley's comet meteor night hike or paddle with cheese cake and wine for dessert/ or how about vietnamese noodle soup (from a thermos) ...at a natural hot spring... hmmm ... you guessed it... right now in northern california!
 
cheers!
email me for specific locations...
 
outsidejay~

Learning how to surf: a lifestyle, not an activity

Learning to surf:




The best time to surf is the November thru January time of the year

The best time to learn to surf is October and November

(warmer and good swells)



Learning in Bolinas: *The Best Place to Learn to Surf!*

www.2milesurf.com

Almost all of the west coast's beaches face due west. This creates a "beach" break. Waves pop up anywhere at any time. A few beaches face north or south Like Santa Cruz and Bolinas. Waves tend to hit the outer most point and "get in line" and "slow down". The opposite is a "fast break". In Bolinas there is an outer reef that adds to the protection and there is also an even rise of the shallow beach. The opposite is a "reef" break as in Pipeline and Mavericks when a sudden incline brings waves immediately onto the surface. A point break is less likely to cause "riptide". And a shallow rise is less likely to cause an "undertow"

The sandy "bottom" of Bolinas is much kinder on mammalian skin than that of Hawaii's coral "bottom" or Mavrick's rocky bottom.



There are two types of storms in CA. A southern storm comes from Hawaii and Tahiti. Nicknamed Pinapple Express their warmth packs a wallop of humidity and large drops. These guys bring in Humungous swells(research Mavericks). The Northerlys are arid and cold. Best to ski or snowboard on the "light and fluffie" that these guys bring in. Watch the weather and choose your ride!



Wind- An "offshore" wind is blowing out to sea and will "hold up" a wave making a better than average "curl". An "onshore" wind will knock down a wave also called being "blown-down" and is in your face when looking for the right "set". Winds travel in circles so traveling north or south on the beach will eventually get you to the place you want to be. (Picture the arms of a hurricane with backdrafts at the end of each arm)

Gusty wind is less fun than a smooth consistent wind but affects kite and wind surfers much more.





The "head" of a wave- the part of the wave that begins to fall onto itself

The "swell" is a wave that has not surfaced

The "shoulder(s)" is the part of the wave that begins to break to one or both sides of the "head".

right of way- the person closest to the head in a position to "catch" a wave

"dropping in"- taking the right of way away from someone (usually a friend)

"sharking" - taking the right of way from someone- to be a Jerk

The surfer's "line-up" usually found at a point break, the vague line of surfers waiting for a "set".(not to be confused with the waves "lining" up)

Waves come in clusters of six to eight mostly. This order forms a "set" of waves. Sitting out small sets is easy when you are "waiting for your set to come in".

Face- the smooth, rideable part of a wave

Falls- the front, top crashing part of a wave(goin over the falls- BAD)

Pearl- to almost die while discovering the "bottom" up close and personal like. (non-surfing term= drill bit)

Soup- the foam left after a wave crashes, hard to ride cos u are not bouyant in it

Bonk- when there is no swell or rideable wave. "surfs up" v "surf's bonk"

Book- something to bring when the surf is bonk. real surfers will change out and read in ...

Civi's or Peds... civilian clothing or pedestrian outfits. (use not as common as the above)





rip tides and under tows---the pathophys-

Waves are energy dissipation. In the river the wave stays still the water moves. In the ocean the waves move the water stays in place. A wave uses gravity and then friction (on the bottom) and then itself as a wave courses back to sea after the crash. Sometimes these outgoing streams "line-up" and create a rip tide. In Three D, with the"bottom", it can create an undertow.



Google how to avoid either prior to your first session especially if you are prone to "Freaking Out"- which is coming out of the soup without smoothing your hair back or worse coming up for air with your mouth first, blowing out audibly, and inhaling. Really cool surfers will float lazily to the top. Forehead, eyes, nose then have exhaled on the way up and inhale only when the chin exits the water. Just like on Baywatch.



Dude- any one who can surf or trick other surfers to think they can surf

Dudette-THIS IS NOT A SURF LINGO- someone from Texas brought it thinking he was a Dude and he was NOT. He was "sketch".



Yes surfers use wax. A very good and funny wax is Mr Zog's Sex wax. Yes you can chew it as gum but chiklets are better. Hockey players, kayakers, drummers also use sex wax. "best for your stick" was banned in many parts of US giving rise to it's popularity.



First rule of surfing- If you snooze you lose

Second rule- (albeit losing ground on this one)- best to be happy than right or "let it go, dude"

Third rule- if it'll matter in a hundred years than it outta matter now. refer to rule two for the reverse. or "better hold on"

Bohdi- someone who can practice all three rules at the same time: Timing, enthusiasm and discipline.



Surfing is a lifestyle, not an activity!



Most Excellent Resources:



www.surfing-waves.com

www.bask.org/surfing/

www.maverickssurf.com

Two Mile Surf Shop

www.2milesurf.com

Locking horns and not so fun body piercings August through October

many years ago, after finishing a paddle across tomales bay, I hiked up the back side of pt reyes (legal then) and encountered two bulls tangled in each other's antlers... they darted around in circles and got close enough for me to look for a place to seek cover. Soothed by their distraction (and not aided by the knee high brush fortification) I got a chance to see one of nature's wonders by chance and fancy... year's later I get a chance to share that magic with you all....

Pt Reyes is about 2.5 hrs drive and many beautiful places to stay exist... from backpacking, car camping to koa's to  hostels to bountiful bed and breakfast destinations. also see petaluma, sausalito, olema, bodega bay, san anselmo, fairfax, novato, kent, san rafael.

other attractions include birdwatching... Pt Reyes is home to 490 different species and boasts more than any other place on the continent. The light house (best for whale watching from land... see map to see how whales get "bottle-necked" close to the pt reyes light house. and the historic life boat station now a hostel.

Bo and I commando camped off our kayaks at Limantour, Coast Camp and Wild Cat Camp during our epic paddle around Marin County. Alamere falls is one of few waterfalls that dump into the sea... Do not miss seeing the rugged terrain and beautiful wildflowers when you drop by for a visit. Gas up in Petaluma and enjoy the rolling terrain and scenic landscape. September and October are by far the best months of the year to be on the coast. 

http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_tuleelk.htm

The tule elk herds had virtually disappeared by 1860, 13 years before the state awarded them complete protection. In the spring of 1978, two bulls and eight cows were brought in from the San Luis Island Wildlife Refuge near Los Banos. The elk were contained within a temporary, three acre enclosure to allow for adjustment to their new surroundings. That summer, 6 of the cows bore calves. In the fall, 17 elk were released from the enclosure on Tomales Point to 1,050 hectares (2,600 acres) of open grassland and coastal scrub. By the summer of 1988, the population was at 93 animals. The population census taken in 2000 counted over 400 elk. In 2009, over 440 were counted at Tomales Point, making the the Point Reyes herds one of the largest populations in California.


The tule elk can be found in several locations within the park but the best chance of seeing them is in the Tule Elk Preserve at Tomales Point. They graze freely and are often seen near the road as you drive into the preserve.

Tule Elk Rut Season .

Tule Elk Docents and visitors viewing tule elk through spotting scopes at Windy Gap on Tomales Point

On weekends from July through September, park volunteers will be stationed at the Tomales Point Trailhead from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and at Windy Gap (1 mile north along the Tomales Point Trail) from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to interact with visitors curious about the tule elk. This is an exciting time of year on Tomales Point where visitors will likely hear bull elk bugling and see them attempting to round up harems of females. The lucky visitor may even get to see a couple of bull elk sparring. Spotting scopes and binoculars will be available for visitors to better view elk up close.

To help you enjoy your experience, please follow these elk watching tips:
•For your own safety, always observe elk from a distance. Use binoculars and spotting scopes. If an elk becomes alert or nervous and begins to move away, you are too close.
•If viewing from your car, pull off the road or park in designated areas.
•If you are on foot, stay on the trail; do not come between a cow and calf, a bull and a group of cows, or two bulls challenging each other.
•Watch quietly; whisper. Move slowly.
•Do not feed the elk. Feeding elk or any other wildlife is unhealthy for the animals, potentially dangerous for visitors, and strictly prohibited.
•Ride your bicycle only on designated trails. Within the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve, bicycles are only permitted on the Pierce Point Road. Bicycles are prohibited on the Tomales Point and McClures Beach trails.
•Pets are prohibited in most areas where elk may be seen, including the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve.
•Do not collect or remove elk antlers. They are an important source of calcium for many wildlife species such as rodents and deer.
Discover more about the tule elk by:
•watching our 10-minute video "Tule Elk: California's Legacy of Wildness,"
•watching the 6:29-minute "Science Behind the Scenery: Tule Elk" video,
•reading "Tule Elk - Return of a Species" (366 KB PDF file - Adobe® Acrobat Reader® required to view document), or
•checking out our Tule Elk webpage.

http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_tuleelk.htm


please be mindful when on hallowed ground... it is all hallowed ground (or water:)

outsidejay@gmail.com

Avatar Kayaking and Stand Up Paddling!!!

"Avatar" Kayaking is like paddling with David Copperfield, Jerry Garcia, Steven Speilburg, Steve Irwin and Noam Chomsky (all at the same time). There is a way to do it however and a way to "allow" yourself to "see" the naturally occurring magic light show. Email me for details. Taking pictures is nearly impossible and like trying to take a picture of a glow in the dark ball in the pitch blackness of the bathroom. The flash will ruin your vision and the picture will be of the water without the "sparkles" as they are doused by the flash.

Get all equipment ready and prepare the return equipment so that a flashlight is ready upon your return. (many hints for what you should have for the take out cooler) be mindful of the residence and how sound carries over water. Put-in after dusk and wait about an hour. The best time is from 10pm to 4am.

Turn off your headlights once you are afloat, paddle in serenity for a few minutes until your pupils begin to dilate to full. You will soon see the faint glow of your bow wake, then the glow as you paddle disturbs the water, then the iridescent vortex that each paddle stroke makes. soon after, the individual drops of water from you paddle become visible as it makes a plunge into the sea ... and then the reverberating micro splash becomes visible too! ... then the splashing begins and then you will notice the quiet ooooh-ing and ahhhh-ing that surrounds you as if you were in some spiritual theater on a exclusive viewing on hallowed waters :) enjoy~


###

I was camping there last week and two distant lines of bow wake on either side of our kayaks were lit up blue green as well as each paddle stroke. If we put our hands in the water and shook them it lit up brightly as well. splashing ourselves with water resulted in sparkles and when i rolled, i sculled repeatedly and erractically while under water to watch the effect which was spectacular in the otherwise darkness.
gregg :o)

###

I have to admit that my expectations for this tour were very low.
BUT, this is a "Must See" experience!!  We set out for ### Island. There is a stretch called "Pine Flat" where it is easy to land.  After grabbing a snack and a sip of water the
darkness was beginning to settle in.  Norma was the first to notice
that there were "sparkles" in the sand when it was disturbed.

We returned to our boats, and it was as if the rangers at ###
had flipped on the electricity!  Every paddle stroke through the eel
grass was a light show!  It was absolutely incredible!  As we cleared
the grass and headed south toward White Gulch, our bow wave was
aglow!  Fish darting  from beneath our canoe left trails of light; the
bat rays flew away as a balls of luminescence!  The group sounded like
a bunch of kids as we "Ooooed" and "Wowed!"  It was surreal!

We crossed over to the West side of ### Island and listened to the
grunts and croaks of the double-crested cormorants roosting in the
trees. After paddling around the south side of "Piglet" islet we
crossed back guided by the amber lights of ###.  The group
returned to the boat launch at about 10:30pm.

Arriving home ### at midnight--we had time to get some sleep,
switch boats and join John D and crew for a Sunday Gorge run.
California--what a great state!

If you want to self-guide, I think a small group could easily do
this.  Your IKs and hardshells would be fine out on ### Bay on a
calm night.  I've been out on the bay many times in a canoe.  Bring a
headlamp, water and snack. A GPS is a good idea too.  Red lights allow
paddlers to keep track of one another, and don't ruin one's night
vision.  Periodic "count offs" are a must to make sure the group is
intact.

The display is usually visible ###
###but the experience is not to be missed!

Evan
######

In order to protect the pristine nature of this trip you must email me and get specifics... please do not "broadcast" this experience as I have been there several times and not once has any crazy rave parties have been going off... once you have experienced this, you will see how simple my prediction of such a party could take place.

I have removed the above specifics in order to protect the lands and waters that they exist in. email me for them and they are yours on two key terms. 1) you treat the world as if we were borrowing her from our children 2) help me by looking at my very first post on this blog

Thanks

Jay GOsuiCo
outsidejay@gmail.com
2010-

September 4/5/6
  sunphase 0640-1933
  moonphase 0204-1701

October 8/9
  sunphase0709-0839
  new moon

rent boats from California Canoe and Kayak tell them Jay sent you.

meteors and starfire, asteroids and satellites

Tuesday through Saturday August 10 to August 14 10pm to 0400am
2010




NO moon night on Tuesday August 10, 2010

Persied Meteor showers Peak on Thursday August 12, 2010

They will be visible anytime August 10 thru the Saturday the 14

Best from 10 pm to 4 am (from 12-60 shoots per hour)

Best from lake side in foot hills or sierra granite (no trees) summit

Kayak or Hike under StarFire!

Bring warm clothes.

http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy_calendar_2010.html



The Earth in its orbit travels through two large asteroid belts every

year. We are currently traveling thru near center of the largest one

The Persieds, coupled with the NO moon night, producing more shooting stars than ever! (well every

300yrs or so)



I believe finding a kayak in campground like the ones in Lake Sonoma

and Cherry Lake, Wright's lake, Echo Lake and Fallen Leaf Lake are

best for this but any area clear of trees and lights can make this an

unforgettable show. Maybe a fire look out station for those who don't

like water. We use satellites now so many of them have turned into

remote camping destinations. Airstrips or Observatories.





Squaw Valley will be hosting an event at high camp just above the tram ride:

http://www.squaw.com/perseid-meteor-shower-mountaintop-campout



***Bonus information: when to look for satellites (an hour after sunset)

We (the earth) is in the shadow. The Satellites are still in high

orbit and reflect the suns rays down to us via their solar wings

because they are still in the sun's direct path.They will be the

opening act.



And finding constellations (often too difficult due to the shear

number of stars above) can now be done thru apps such as starwalk for iphones and google sky

maps for androids. It took me twenty years to learn what Kasey downloaded in 8 seconds for free



Vietnamese noodle soup in a thermos makes this adventure an ideal

summer adventure! :) but top ramen will do





http://www.theskyscrapers.org/me

http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/





enjoy. and thanks

angels above angels below, Fleet Week Spectacular. early October

http://www.chiff.com/articles/san-francisco-fleet-week.htm

http://www.fleetweek.us/

7-12 October 2010 with the ninth and tenth being the weekend

As mentioned in an earlier post, this is the absolute best time of the year to be on the bay.

The lack of temperature gradient means sunny beaches and mild evenings without much breeze. Find secluded beaches all along the coastal waters.

Columbus Day Holiday is the most festive celebration that the City has in store for you.

The Blue Angels overhead and Angel Island under your feet!

Take the Vallejo Ferry with your bikes and ride around fisherman’s wharf, you can visit Sausalito, Tiburon and Angel Island all in a day using bikes and ferry combinations. Discover the rich history of Tiburon and San Francisco Bay.

You are welcome to borrow any number of my books as this is all I did when the surf was bonk… learn about the history of the Bay so that I may one day become a kayak tour guide… well those days are quickly passing, but I still have the books to boot around and better even still you have youtube and google and wikipedia!

Did you know you can camp at Angel Island, underneath the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge just west of the span! You can help give breathing treatments to sick seals and even learn to teach a Harbor Seal how to swim? Camping exists at the Presidio as well as clothing optional beachesJ There is a secret town known for the towns’ people taking down the sign. So in 1968 CalTrans stopped putting up signs of how to get there. Tiburon during the prohibition was a speak~easy. Vigilante law came from the original developers of The City. It was the place to go to if you were trying to hide from the law. The prominent families divided the city into vigilance districts. Those districts still exist today (Cole, Richmond, Noe, Castro). Point Reyes as over 470 different species of birds. Tidepooling. There is a (pretty rocky place) that natural hot springs empty into the sea. Mt Biking at Mt Tam. Stargazing at Mt Diablo. Kayaking to boat in camp grounds at Lake Sonoma on a full moon night. There are even lighthouses that you can spend the night at.

Forts to protect gold ships were turned in to cannons aimed against Japanese invasion and then turned in to Nike Missle Silos aimed against the commies! All the while co-ops like REI and Whole foods started ironic grass roots movements. … And a beautiful rebuilt historic Lifeboat station complete with beneficial haunting ghosts of the heroes that once kept men from peril. I could spend years rambling on (I am at jury duty as of this writing) about the intricacies and details of the City and its surrounding lore.

IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE ALL YEAR, BE HAPPY THAT YOU GOT TO VISIT THE CITY IN OCTOBER

Travel is the enemy of bigotry, narrow-mindedness and prejudice. Mark Twain

Sedna Solo

Kokanee Salmon Festival and a river runs through it. September/ October

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X95UD0Fd8xo




Each autumn, from late September through mid-October, one of biology's

clocks sounds an irresistible alarm. Mature kokanee salmon,

transformed from a silver-blue color to a fiery vermilion, twist their

narrowing way upstream from Lake Tahoe to spawn in the gravels of

Taylor Creek, near South Lake Tahoe. The sight of the blazing salmon

draws many spectators, who can observe the fish at close range in

several places. The kokanee's commitment to its nature is compelling.

People tend to stop for a brief look, then become transfixed.





Kokanee Salmon Festival held October 2-3, 2010 by the US Forest

Service just down the street or walking path at the Stream Profile

Chamber. Discover the beauty and history of the Kokanee Salmon

spawning run.



http://www.tahoekidsguide.com/Kokanee_Salmon_in_Tahoe.html



AND BONUS!!! also in Tahoe that weekend!!!



October 2-3, 2010 Oktoberfest on-site at the resort provides fun and

laughs for the whole family. A local's favorite, this festival

features great food, music, family games & activities, and the famous

Beer and Wine Garden.



German Food & Desserts

Craft Booths

Beer & Wine Garden

Live Music featuring the “Al Gruber Band”

Pumpkin Patch

Bouncy Castle

Face Painting

Poker Run

Costume Contest for you & your dog







For information on Lake Tahoe events throughout the year, please visit

the Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority site.

http://www.ltva.org/default.aspx



http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com/


Remember that the days are getting shorter and evenings cooler so bring a torch ( I have Brit friends) and a layer or two. gloves always a good idea...  the kids really have a blast on this one.

Cheers~
OutsideJay

Monarch Butterfly Migration/ Big Sur - September/October

http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/monarchs.html

http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0m_rK_WpjQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG5PAzrpZ6k&feature=related

Monarchs arrive in October for their annual migration to Mexico.

In all the world, no butterflies migrate like the Monarchs of North America. They travel much farther than all other tropical butterflies, up to three thousand miles. They are the only butterflies to make such a long, two way migration every year. Amazingly, they fly in masses to the same winter roosts, often to the exact same trees. Their migration is more the type we expect from birds or whales. However, unlike birds and whales, individuals only make the round-trip once. It is their children's grandchildren that return south the following fall. The descendants often roost in the exact same tree that was somehow passed onto them through DNA.


it is also the best time of the year to be out on the coast. I highly recommend a day hike to Morro State Beach and pfiefer falls. http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=pfeiffer+falls&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=ZV9LTI6YBYrWtQOmj8RI&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDIQsAQwAw&biw=1280&bih=685

esalen institute : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNrDSxJ6h7I&feature=PlayList&p=07240BA661E319C0&playnext=1&index=2

and of coarse the Ventana Wilderness

outsidejay

It only takes one quart of oil to destroy 150,000 to 350,000 gallons of sea-water. Please know we all are stewards of our earth.

The Bats of Davis (june july august)

The Davis Causeway between Sac and Davis is home to trillions of bats. Every night, ten minutes after sunset one or two bats decide to start their hunt for mosquitoes, grass hoppers and other like insects. All the other trillion bats follow that one bat out in "ribbons" .. it is a site to see!!! don't miss out! The best months to do this is june july and august. There are tours. Do not wash your car before hand (it is very dusty there). Do bring wine and cheese or chocolate and beer (just don't show it to the cops:) pay attention to the lunar phase and catch it when the moon is rising full or sliver! Enjoy your Northern California summer evenings!

I stumbled on this phenomenon on my many motorcyle trips to that part of town. If I timed my rides wrong, My helmet's face shield would be full of bugs and insects. So now I time it so that the bats beat me to the feeding grounds first then I take that liesurely ride home though clean face screen.

also a great activity after a Davis bike ride (and farmer's market) or before hitting the city night life. 

http://daviswiki.org/bats

this is just a bonus: wilderness survival skill that I had to use one evening under that bridge waiting for better timing. Enjoy!

http://www.wimp.com/wineshoe

July 31 Berkeley Kite Festival

July 31st and August 1, 2010

22nd annual Berkeley Kite Festival 

Kites aren't just for kids!

At the Berkeley Kite Festival a awesome surprise awaits around every corner. 

In one open-air amphitheater you’ll find multi-line competitions of the Bay Area Sport Kite League. In another you’ll find events and other competitions, such as the candy drops and rokkaku battles. Look to the north and you will see the traditional kites of our special guests from the Sode-cho Kite-Flying Society of Hamamatsu, Japan. In the upper field you’ll enjoy the giant creature kite show of the Berkeley Kite Wranglers.

Just up the hill, visitors can get hands-on demonstrations of all the latest products from Ozone Kites, Revolution Kites and Prism Designs. Backing up the demo fields is the giant HighlineKites.com tent, where you can get the best kites. Behind the kite tent you’ll see hundreds of kids enjoying the free kite making and behind them, a designated area along the ridge for families and their kites. Each area of the festival will give you a different taste of what kiting has to offer.

Kite Festival Website

100 Ginourmous house size colorful kites as big as parade balloons ... !!!

The event is very near The Berkeley Marina and is easily accessible by bikes, walking, and even kayaking and of course kiting or sailing:) it's a free festival so bring the family, dogs, kids and personal kites. 

There is a host of secondary options also... including touring thru Berkeley, taking the ferry from Vallejo yada yada yada... just layer up because the Bay Area Fog is sure to chill in the evening.

as always; youtube or google any of this for up to date info and changes in their plans or to see how spectacular this event is.

OutSideJay

Comets, Asteroids and Starfire, Satellites and Constellations

Comets and asteroids leave a tail of smaller particles in space. Several times of the year the earth traveling in her orbit passes through these awaiting star shows.

This year (August 12-13 2010,) there will be a NO (August 10) moon to compete with the meteor showers. The weekend to plan out is August 13/14/15

Sunset about 7pm (and getting daytime getting shorter)

I suggest you go to non populated lakes in and around the Sacramento region and go for a night time canoe or kayak.

Alternatively, there are many granite peaks that are void of trees that are perfect theaters for the more land based people.

I would welcome the opportunity to point you in the correct direction. (did you see my first post?)

Bonus: watch for satellites about an hour after sunset. Your part of earth is in shadow. However, the satellites are flying in high orbit and their panels often reflect directly down to you!

http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy_calendar_2010.html

http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/

partial list of outdoor activities to do in Northern California

air soft 
animal migration viewing (monarchs, bats, big horn elk and salmon) 
archery base jumping
art/paint/photography
body boarding
bungee jumping
camping- backpacking 
camping- car camping 
caving/spelunking
climbing (indoor) 
climbing (outdoor)
cross country 
fishing
flying
hang gliding
hiking 
horse racing 
horseback riding
hot air ballooning
innertubing 
jet ski 
kite flying
kitesurfingmotor boats/ jet skis
mountaineering 
mountain biking
OHV
paint ball
paragliding
rollerblading
rowing
running
RV-ing 
sailing
scuba diving 
sea/ tour kayaking 
skateboarding 
skimboarding
sky diving
skiing
skin diving
sky diving sledding
snorkeling
snow boarding 
snow shoeing
stand up paddling
surfing swimming 
telemark skiing 
tidepooling
wake boarding
waterfall hunting
water skiing
white water kayaking 
white water rafting 
wild flower meadows hunting
wind surfing
zip lining 

September and October

September: The Bay, Coastal Waters sunny beaches


As theses months roll around the temperature gradient plummets and mild mornings to mild evenings create the warmest and least weather laden time of the year along the coast. The lack of winds will make sports like mt biking, sight seeing and kayak touring heavenly. Kayaking to places like sausalito and Tiburon and Angel Island (if you know your tides) are very picturesque. The ferries accept bicycles. So Jump on the ferry at Vallejo and take it around Chrissy Field, up and across the Golden Gate then It is all the way down to Sausalito where a ferry awaits for your trips to Tiburon, Sausalito, Angel Island, Jack London Square or if you want to head back and spend the afternoon in The City, back to Fisherman's Wharf.

san francisco discovery tour 

bay area exploring

Perseid meteor shower

light house hostels

bilolumenescent kayaking-
monarch butterfly migration- santa cruz
thule elk rutting- pt reyes

Caves, the perfect escape

spelunking, wine cellars, bats, mines and history... all google able and easily accessible

moaning caverns
placer county website

wineries
twisted oak winery


this blog is due for massive editing

Spicy... Oh Yeah... SummerTime!

All of your equatorial countries eat spicy foods... Thailand, Africa, Middle East, India, Jamaica, Mexico, etc

None of your Norwegian Countries put black pepper on their foods.

Spicy foods is a potent vasodialator, and it makes you sweat WithOut working... therefore it is passive air conditioning and super sweet in arid hot parts of the world.

I found this out the hard way after spicing it up a notch and heading to ski patrol.... I thought i was coming down with something cos i could not get warm... sat and literally chilled all day. then I remembered what I had eaten as I was spicing it up some more at lunch.... the next day came the "doh" moment cos I was back to normal and still  scratching my head about what was all that about....go figure.

You drink because your brain (baroreceptors) tells your kidneys (not everyone is an md here) that your body is dry(remember the vasodilation part). So you pound down the glasses of water chauvanistically....

wanna jump into a long surgical procedure... eat spicy foods and limit your drinking (if you can) and you will not have to stop for a pee break... be diligent about the use of this advise :)

In the Sacramento SummerScape... eat a spicy brunch in preparation of the warm afternoons but bring a jacket in case the delta breeze makes your body shiver. It usually cools of in the evening times here so be ready for the change in your body's reaction.

Vasodilation is a good way to "tank up" and prehydrate making some of the weighty water in your pack less necessary... (don't go overboard with this knowledge).

You should still be peeing six times a day.. that means three times before lunch... if you are not... you may not be ready for the adventure you signed up for... which in turn not only endangers you, but endangers your rescuers also.

cool? yup Chill! ~
outsidejay@gmail.com

july: the winds

July: the winds 

the wind in San Francisco doesn't blow it sucks:


 When hot air rises over the desert that begins in Sacramento and ends way down in Mexico. Cold air is sucked in from the open coast.


There are two funnel spot and before the Golden Gate bridge was built Mt Tam and Twin Peaks. It funnels a blast of cold air air up the delta. 


The hotter it got in the daytime in sacramento, the colder and foggier it is in the bay. 


The great news is that after the heat of the day, we are rewarded by a predictable “Delta Breeze” and a resetting of the climates at night for superb and consistent early morning hikes to watch the sunrise.


So make sure to head to the foothills and go to the cool summit hikes, lakes and river adventures. Then head down back to Sacramento for the cool evenings out with your friends... The kids are  out of school... you have sooooo much more daylight to get further out and really explore the Northern California that I have been trying to get people to see for 20 years!
Rafting is predictable and super fun!


Remember, tv makes more money the longer they can get you to "stay tuned" ... turn it off!!!


OutSideJay

Waterfallswest.com

Waterfallswest.com is undeniably my favorite website to go to when I have a day off of work. I can pick any type of waterfall hike, get the location, how to drive there, all the beta (second hand information) that I need and even have pictures of what I will find. This year, 2010 was a phenomenal year for waterfall hunting as the %150 snowpack and now very warm temps brings cascades that have not been this big in 20 years...

Go to the ocean and other escapes later in the summer. Right now, don't miss out on the waterfalls.

Many waterfalls are boat-in only finds. It is just another reason to learn to kayak, canoe, raft, or paddleboard.

OutSideJay

On Visiting Hawaii :)

• The wet season is from November thru March- more waterfalls!!
• The hurricane season is from June thru November- cheaper fares and larger discounts
• The whale migration season is from December to April.
• The “tourist season” is from December thru March- Prices increase during this “peak season” for tourists. Best times to go based on weather alone are September and October, as well as April and May...(but there are less waterfalls on the road to Hana).
• Tourists from Japan usually visit Hawaii the last week of April and the first week in May. (A cultural holiday for them…kinda like our summer break from school, called “Golden Week”).
• Waves are bigger November thru March and smaller June thru September. So it depends on how good of a surfer you are or if you are trying to learn.
• If you are from California or the mainland, watch the sunrise on the summit of the volcanoes on day one of your visit. The locals have to get up at four in the morning to drive up to the top to see the sunrise. Since you are on CA time, then it’s like waking up at seven for you! Watch the sunrise then take a nap on the beach and wake up on Hawaii time :)
• Watching the sunset from the mountain top is very sketchy as the sun warms the humidity and often forms a cloud layer to obstruct your view. But sunsets from the beach are absolutely perfect!
• Google the“Green Flash” phenomenon. It’s pretty dang cold up at the summit at sunrise so go to a thrift store here on the mainland, buy a cheap winter parka, watch the sunrise in Hawaii , then donate your cheap parka to a thrift store in Hawaii. Another tourist will buy it from there.
• Plankton follow the light (of the moon at night). On a NO moon night, they head towards the lavish hotels we have built close to shore. The hotels have many lights pointed directly into the ocean. The Kona Surf Hotel is the one I like in particular. Giant Manta Rays feed off plankton. On a no moon night, they migrate towards the hotels also (so they can scoop up food easily). Go to Jack’s Diving Locker and dive shop and shell out a whopping $145 to goto a “beach” fifty five feet under water under the silhouette of the Kona Surf Hotel. Turn on the massive flashlight that they provide for you and you will have the GREATEST underwater aerial show imaginable!!! Giant Manta Rays have wingspans between 12 and 15 feetlong!
• Enjoy!!

Trade Ya?!

Here is my pitch... and it will be the only favor I ask of you.

Log onto the link below, it is to the Oprah Winfrey show's Show Suggestion Page. Type in the required fields (I promise Oprah will not stalk you or spread your email) in the message section. Just put http://www.rozsavage.com/.

It would be cool to be able to spread her story and message of hopes, dreams, adventure, and ecology/sustainability to a greater audience than the outdoor adventure community. She is from a small town near London, and she is just now becoming aware of how powerful she is. Any help from you is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks ahead of time!
Jay

https://www.oprah.com/ownshow/plug_form.html?plug_id=216

Roz Savage

Roz Savage is the FIRST woman to row across the Pacific Ocean (3 June 2010). She has also rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 2005. She is only the SIXTH woman to gain that honor. She is an author, an inspirational speaker, as well as a proponent for ecology and sustainability. She is featured in the 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival and is a prime contender for National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Award 2010.

Her message is simple and clear... Hope, Dreams, Adventure and Ecology.

Roz will be in the San Francisco Bay Area 26 September to 3 October 2010. She will be touring to fundraise for her Indian Ocean Row.

Below are several links via YouTube that will better describe and introduce you to her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJAhkcN_PQg Roz Savage - Two min intro video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY4zS8cc0Lg Roz Savage - Ocean rower
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEE-VPm1B3M Rowing the Atlantic trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLJSQ0XbfUA Solo woman rows across the Atlantic - part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSjlhqGwaFg Solo woman rows across the Atlantic - part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXqPaHQp4Xw Roz Savage: Why I'm rowing across the Pacific

Here are a few more that can be searched on your own, respectively.

Roz Savage: Ocean Rower, Writer, Speaker.
First Woman To Row Solo Across the Pacific Ocean 2006
Solo Atlantic from Canaries to Antigua 2008
Solo Pacific I from California to Hawaii 2009
Solo Pacific II from Hawaii to Kiribati 2010
Solo Pacific III from Kiribati to Papua New Guinea

Email: roz@rozsavage.com

Web: http://www.rozsavage.com/
Twitter: rozsavage
Book: Rowing The Atlantic: Lessons Learned On The Open Ocean (Simon & Schuster, 2009)

I got captivated by this story of adventure, dreams and ecology... I started this blog so that I can support Roz while doing what I do best.

Have a wonderful time adventuring!

Please remember, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow her from our children."~Native American Translation