Today, 11/19/2011, I paddled
Oso Flaco Lake on the Central Coast of California. I arrived at the parking lot at 8:40 a. m. The kiosk was unstaffed so I deposited my $5 admission fee in the deposit slot and geared up for the 300 yard portage to the boardwalk.
This was the maiden voyage for my improvised kayak dolly. I made it from two wheelbarrow wheels on a 30" steel shaft. I lashed the kayak to the axle and wheeled it down the road to the launch site. In retrospect, the dolly was nor necessary. I could have comfortably shouldered my fiberglass kayak for that short distance.
I launched in the reeds to the right of the boardwalk and began paddling. The lake is small and shallow. The shoreline is rimmed with willows, reeds and other assorted low-growing trees. Waterfowl, mainly ducks were plentiful. I was the only kayaker on the lake. I did see several photographers walking on the boardwalk but they quickly walked beyond my view.
I've posted images of the trip on line. See my photos at
www.fullbean.com/images/photos/oso-flaco and my videos at
www.fullbean.com/images/video/ (Scroll down to near the bottom of the page.)
You will find a map to Oso Flaco Lake at
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=210557466625407355416.0004b165f3d1b821018a2Learn more about the lake and the surrounding
Guadalupe Dunes at
http://www.dunescenter.org/Ralph Sutter
