Last Thursday Mark and I drove up the coast to run some classes for the Friends of South Slough Reserve. We decided to take our time and enjoy the scenery, so we went a day early and stopped in Port Orford, a charming fishing town in Southern Oregon and a wonderful place to kayak when strong winds aren’t blowing from the south as they were on this particular day. We stayed at a delightful Bed and Breakfast called The Compass Rose, and enjoyed a walk on the beach, some relaxation and a fabulous breakfast before heading north to Eel Lake for a private rolling class.

A stormy sea.

A beach to ourselves.

The weather was fantastic, and after the class Mark and I went for a leisurely paddle, stopping to admire a couple of bald eagles. We had the whole place to ourselves and had a wonderful time making our way down one of the lake’s fingers while planning the weekend’s classes.

Rolling, rolling, rolling.

A leisurely paddle.

Sharing a moment of solitude.

Saturday’s class took place on the South Slough, and we worked on skills such as balance, strokes, towing and paddling in wind. That evening I did a slideshow presentation called “A Watery Summer” at the Coos Bay Boat Building Center.

Gorgeous day on the South Slough.

Learning about balance.

The following day classes continued, and we worked on rescues, towing and maneuvering strokes at Eel Lake. The weather stayed nice the entire weekend, and we look forward to returning to Oregon again soon for more classes and outdoor fun. Thanks to the Friends of South Slough Reserve for having us there!

After lunch warm-up.

Mark discusses the finer points of kayaking in wind.

Photos by Helen and Mark.