Sea Kayaking Central and Northern California: The Best Days Trips And Tours From The Lost Coast To Pismo Beach (Regional Sea Kayaking Series)

My first edition copy of this book is dog-eared and well-worn. As good as the first edition was, the second edition adds new routes (I suggested Alviso Slough to the author last year as he was working on this edition), and expanded sections on safety, protection of marine life, and the disasterously invasive zebra and quagga mussels that now mandate the careful inspection of all kayaks and other boats when launched into freshwater California lakes and reservoirs. Other sections have been updated and expanded as well. For this edition, Roger grouped the reservoirs together, a good move given the inspection requirements.The safety information alone is worth the price of the book. I have capsized a kayak in the cold Monterey Bay waters while I wasn't wearing a wetsuit. We tend to think of hypothermia as something that kills you when you are exposed to the cold for too long. But that is only half the story. First, it incapacitates you, and it does so quickly. Within 5 minutes I was incapable of self-rescue or swimming my kayak to shore. It also makes you titanically stupid. The only thought going through your mind is COLD. Now I always wear a wetsuit in cold water, and I took another self-rescue class in Monterey Bay where I was in the water for a good period of time in my own wetsuit and self-rescued in those conditions. Roger's advice in this area has the ring of truth to me. Roger is a well-known instructor and tour leader in the Central California area, and you can take his advice on safety and trip planning as gospel.This book is fabulous!

Talk about thorough. WOW. Especially the care that’s gone into what variables in conditions make a route more advanced. I appreciate the inclusion of easy flatwater options, along with eye popping descriptions of what it takes to explore caves (not sure I’ll ever have the cajones for that). The notes at the end of entries on where to stay and eat don’t have value to me, but I just skip all that.

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone planning to paddle in the San Francisco Bay area. All of the usual spots are covered as well as some that are less well known. Trips are listed for beginner, intermediate and advanced kayakers. I found myself wishing that the book had been expanded with a section further inland on the bay, including the delta. Both visitors and locals will get a lot of use out of this book!

Roger is very thorough on his descriptions so that you don't have any big surprises doing suggested paddles. Good coverage too

Very helpful and clear!

I wanted to know if this book had information I didn't already know, and it did, which surprised me, due to my experience in this area.

I haven't used it a lot yet, but it appears to have lots of good information, maps, etc. I'm still a beginner and am not ready for a lot of the ocean put-ins but I'm working up to it!

lots of good info. good maps and tips of where to go. lots of trips described with good info included