Sunday, February 9, 2014

Flash Flood

Point Reyes Station, north of Olema
Winter in Northern California is normally a time of cool, restoring rains. But accustomed this winter to unseasonably warm and dry weather, Hilda and I saw no reason why the fine days should not continue for the week of trailer camping we had planned. We would spend that week at Olema Campground, a favorite spot of ours for several decades. It lies at the south end of Tomales Bay, north of San Francisco. To the west is Point Reyes National Seashore with miles-long ocean beaches, hiking trails, and paddling opportunities such as Drakes Estero, a tidal estuary opening onto Drake's Bay.

It was a planned weekend paddling meetup at Drake's Estero that drew us here. The rest of the week we would spend exploring old haunts, paddling on our own, and just being away from the to-do list. There was something in the weather forecast about sprinkles on the Saturday, but in the midst of a historic drought it was hard to imagine rain.

The south end of Tamales Bay
The rain began Wednesday night, continued through Thursday, Thursday night ... by Saturday we had forgotten kayaking plans and drifted into a pleasant milieu of reading, napping, eating, napping - completely delightful and then ... but let me tell the tale through some of my journal entries ...

Rainy Saturday at Olema Campground
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At 9am Olema Creek begins to take over the campground
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An hour later the water continues to rise - time to leave
Spanish moss near White House Pond, a popular paddling put-in in the marshes at the south end of Tomales Bay

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Our two very fine travelling companions, without which nothing, and they know it.

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5 comments:

  1. Weather adventures all over the west coast.

    Love that moss!

    Your handwriting is some of the most distinctive I have ever seen. :)

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  2. Good to get the rain. We had rain here for most of the past 2 weeks. Too bad it could not be exported to where it is needed. I find camping in the rain relaxing as long as the tent or camper stays dry on high ground.
    I did not know Spanish Moss grew in N, CA.

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    1. Our frantic escape from our little flood was a distinct break from relaxation, but we are back in that mode now for a few more days. Dunno what tree the moss likes, but it does seem to prefer a particular kind. This is a generally foggy and damp area here by the Bay and ocean.

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  3. My head swells, Nick. Past comments have ranged from, "Cool, but unreadable", to, "kindergarden".

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  4. Nice escape from the creeping flood! I envy you relaxing reading days in a camper pelted by rain. Now *that*s relaxation! (:

    Also, your handwriting is at least consistent, so you have that over some of us :D

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