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Kayaking For Fitnessby Chuck AbbeDo you want to have some fun in the water and get a workout at the same time? Kayaking, while being great fun, can also help you get or remain fit. What you do when you go out paddling just for fun is different than what you do if you are going out strictly for a workout. Even just paddling for fun will still give you some fitness benefits. Kayak RentalsIf you don’t happen to have a kayak in your garage, or gathering dust out behind the garden shed, no worries. You can rent one from a local kayak shop and, if you are new to this, your rental agent should show you how to paddle. On the Embarcadero you will find Kayak Horizons, Sub Sea Tours, and Rock Kayak. There is also a kayak rental concession at the State Park Marina, the Morro Bay Kayak Shack. In Cambria you will find Sea For Yourself Kayak Tours and Cayucos has Good Clean Fun. During the prime tourist seasons, it is generally a good idea to call ahead to avoid disappointment. (Your rental agent should show you how.) OK, enough about that, let’s get in the water! So, grab a kayak and let’s go.
The beauty of Morro Bay is that you have options. For instance, if you just want a leisurely paddle with lots of wildlife, launch in the estuary. You need to check a tide chart while planning your outing. Try to start when the tide is high or is coming in. This makes it easier to launch and also help avoid getting hung up in 3" of water on a sand bar. (Yes, it can happen.) Also, be aware that paddling against the tide will make you work a little harder and get a better workout. You can paddle south into the estuary, observe sea lions, harbor seals, and many different shore birds - especially in the winter. You can even go under the South Bay Boulevard bridge and paddle up the river along Turri Road. Or, you can paddle directly across the bay and beach on the sand spit. Here you can have a picnic lunch or hike across the dunes to the ocean. If you want a more fitness oriented paddle, launch into the north end of the bay at Coleman Beach and travel along the causeway out towards Morro Rock. The currents will be stronger here and you will have to work a little harder. Observe the sea otters and other wildlife as you go all the way to the mouth of the bay. Cross the mouth of the bay and paddle back along the sand spit. Be aware of any boat traffic, as you will be crossing the main access channel. Also know that the currents can be very strong and the wave action at the mouth can be a little intense. This paddle is probably best avoided until you have some experience. Another good option is to launch at either the south or north end of the bay and just paddle along the Embarcadero. Check out the fishing boats, watch the sea lions at play, enjoy the pelicans as they crash dive into the water in a feeding frenzy, and paddle among the boats anchored in the middle of the bay. Just always be aware of other boat traffic. Be a good boating citizen. I have limited this column to Morro Bay because I have not yet done any kayaking from Los Osos, Cayucos, or Cambria. I intend to and will report on the experiences in a later column. Also, check back for information on an upcoming eBook that will go into more detail on the many aspects of kayaking along the Central Coast.
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