While the need for a tsunami evacuation map is sobering – the hike called “Wi-Ne-Ma” will deliver a beach walk adventure that’s hard to beat. From Pacific City, drive toward the highway and take a right. About two miles south you’ll see the sign for Winema. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it.
Once on Winema, take the first left onto a gravel road – that soon becomes paved as it winds it’s way toward a small parking lot adjacent to the beach.
A real gem here on the Oregon coast is the Oregon Coast Trail. You will be enjoying that trail from this spot. As you walk toward the ocean be aware of timing and tides. You’ll turn right and walk about a mile past looming cliffs, well-sculpted driftwood and an endless show of salty energy delivered by “Mother Ocean.”
Always a good habit when taking a hike along the beach when every grassy dune looks the same, is to notice the landmarks that indicate where you started from.
Fall and Winter days often deliver amazing waves. Whether glistening in the sun or being defined by clouds and shadow, the scene is never the same twice.
Take your time meandering along this unique hike. No doubt you could be inspired to meditate, take way too many pictures and maybe even create your own style of “circles in the sand.
Once you reach the inlet you may see one – or dozens – of fishing boats in the Nestucca River hoping to catch the mighty salmon found in the area.
Over the past two decades Ed and I have loaded our surfboards, paddleboards and fishing gear for adventures in my favorite Oregon beach town – Pacific City. Some of our most memorable stays have been as Fall segues into Winter. Off-season the crowds diminish. Often the only footsteps in the sand will be yours. This week (mid-September) as summer once again kissed Pacific City with cloudless skies and warm temperatures, I stayed at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda. Over the decades I have enjoyed the Inn often – but this time the level of beach-elegant hospitality hit a new high.
Noble House Hotels & Resorts, the family-owned boutique hotel brand, is now part owner and operator of three properties in Pacific City: Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa, Inn at Cape Kiwanda, and Hart’s Camp, alongside founders and owners Jeff Schons and Mary Jones. No matter the season or the diversity of coastal weather, services and amenities abound at the Inn and sister properties. Your unforgettable adventures are their goal.
I am a laid back surfer used to sand between my toes and gnarly waves showing me who’s boss. But at the end of the day, loaded with sunscreen and shivering in spite of a 5/4 wetsuit, I want luxury. Yup, that’s me in the photo below.
I don’t mean to wax poetic about my bathroom at the Inn but some details must be shared. Thick, thirsty towels and shower tiles the color of the sea in late afternoon, the details of lighting and modern fixtures combine to enhance the entire experience: spa-like. Whether you have just walked the dune all sticky now with sunscreen or have pulled off your wetsuit shivering and salty- the shower is heaven. Once warm and dry it’s time to enjoy the ocean facing balcony – with ocean views from each of the 35 rooms.
Spending time in the room is as salty-good as being on the beach. In the area along the blue line in the photo I could watch a pod of whales feeding sitting on my balcony. All this while breathing in the heady scent of salty ocean air and burgers on the grill down at the Pelican Brewing – you can charge your meal to your room!
In the Gallery below you see Pelican Brewing a few steps from the Inn. While their seafood is fresh and plentiful, their burger called my name. My room was the third from the right on the third floor. Coffee in the morning was just steps away at the Stimulus coffee shop attached to the Inn. While I usually walk directly to Stimulus for my first cup of coffee, on this visit the in-room coffee (by Maud-mmmm) and the rose colored skies above the rare calm of the sea beckoned me to my private balcony where I drank in the richness of the brew, the scene and the sea.
From your balcony or after a short walk down toward Cape Kiwanda Dune the winter waves put on a show – often cascading over the point of the dune. Beach garb is not bikinis but layers – fleece, puffies and rain gear. All the better to savor the seasons.
When I was at the Inn last week the waves were lapping gently as high tide tiptoed across the sand. Winter storms bring quite a different beat- pounding shore break exploding in blues and greens frothed with white spray sparkling in the sunlight
At the end of a brisk Fall day or a clear, cold Winter afternoon, the tradition in Pacific City includes the ritual of watching the sun set. Pausing to experience every season, every phase of the day and night – it’s all part of connecting with the salty soul that brings us back again and again.
Noble House Hotels & Resorts are fostering a strong connection within the Pacific City community. When you visit the Inn at Cape Kiwanda this Fall or Winter you will feel exactly what that means.
One of the first places we visited upon arriving in beautiful Idlamorada in early November was a local shop called, literally, Paddle the Florida Keys. Tucked conveniently along Tavernier Creek this well-stocked shop is bustling daily with eager paddlers ready to kayak and SUP some of local routes bursting with natural beauty, flora and fauna.
Not only is the equipment top-notch, the guides have a vast knowledge of local lore, along with a keen eye for noticing a manatee cruising by or an egret fishing in the mangroves. From wide open bays to shaded mangrove “tunnels,” you will be happy you added a stop at Paddle the Florida Keys to your vacation itinerary.
But wait! There’s more. Besides the Mangroves and Manatees Guided Eco Tour, you can rent kayaks or paddleboards to take off on your own. The savvy and helpful staff will show you maps and explain the best way to enjoy all the sights.
Who wouldn’t love a mangrove trail?
Their flat rates mean that you can paddle as long as you want. And once you learn about a nearby island boasting a sparkling white sand sand bar – you just may stay out all day.
Not staying in Islamorada? No problem! Paddle the Florida Keys will deliver kayaks, paddleboards and bikes to any residence or resort from Key Largo to Islamorada or you can use your own vehicle to take a kayak, SUP board or bikes anywhere you’d like to adventure.
The weather report rarely gets it right. That’s fine as long as you have a quiver of options that cross conditions as easily as switching a paddle for a wing. This winter we have been staying at a condo with a weather-report worthy view right from the living room window. From checking the wind on the water, the pace of sailboats in the distance or the rippling roll of dolphin on mirror calm, we predict the day’s weather ourselves. Except for torrential rain or lightning, we always have fun options on the water.
It’s tough to beat a paddle when the glassy calm water is so enticing you could stay out all day. My favorite times include the early morning paddles watching the dolphin feed and play. Other times, crossing a wide bay and coming upon a lonely little island with a lone tree and a sandy beach is the treasure. Discovering a cove sparkling with crystal clear water just a stone’s throw from touristy civilization is serenity at its best.
Then there are those days when you head out for a paddle and the wind is kicking up side chop and gusts that blast forward progress to a slow crawl? Those are the days that eventually inspired me to research the Starboard FreeWing AIR. After consulting with the team at Big Winds in Hood River, I gifted myself a fine trio of wings and opened up a challenging learning situation – and a ton of fun! Now, whether I end up with a paddle in my hand or a wing leashed to my wrist I am ready for good times on the water.
I started out with some instincts about how to move across the water with wind power from various experiences under sail – from big boats to playful little Hobie cats to windsurfing fun. Moving under wing-power is not a direct translation from a sail, but wind awareness does help. When I took my first lesson in Hood River, OR, I wasn’t totally inept.
Over time I have learned to toss more than one wing in the car. It’s brutal to underestimate the wind and head out knowing you’re over powered and in for a killer adventure. If the wind settles more than expected it’s always nice to be able to size up a level and get the speed and ride that’s adrenaline-laced enough. I have a LOT of skill development to go, but that’s half the fun of picking up a new sport.
I am looking my 75th birthday in the eye in a couple of months – maybe this time the gift should be a couple more lessons!
Thursday morning dawned foggy, the first fog we’ve had this winter in Clearwater Beach. The weather report had mentioned brisk breezes but at 8 am the wind was dead calm. The mystical aura to the water was a powerful invitation to take an extra long adventure paddle. (Photo credit: Ed Shasek)
The day before, Ed and I had hiked along the beach from Clearwater Beach to Caladesi Island State Park. The isolated beaches, the mangrove forests and the many trees decorated with shells was a far cry from the bustling tourist center just a few miles south. We discovered a 50 yard “land bridge that connected the inland waterway to the Gulf of Mexico. My thought was to paddle inland from Sand Key Inlet then walk my board across the land bridge (4 miles north) and do the 4.6 mile return paddle in the Gulf.
The first 3 miles of the paddle I passed the congested hotel strip of Clearwater Beach but was buffered by the calm water and the absolute lack of any boat traffic. The next mile brought lush and grand waterside mansions with pelicans, anhinga and other seabirds observing me from the docks. Finally, all civilization gave way to mangrove islands and meandering creeks as I approached the land bridge.
On the way I shared the water with dozens of sting rays of all sizes – it must have been time for lots of new born rays as mother-offspring duos flapped gracefully alongside me. When I was about 200 yards from the land bridge to the Gulf the low tide water was just inches deep. I took the fin off my Starboard 12’6″ Zen Touring board and paddled in by hand. At times a few regal osprey winked down at me in between feasting on the plentiful bait fish.
Walking from the tannin brown waters of the inland water to the pristine beach and aqua water of the Gulf was a dramatic switch. With n o one in sight and the water mirror calm, I set my course southward and began scanning the horizon for playful dolphin. They did not disappoint!!
The absolute icing on the cake for this adventure happened when I turned in from the Gulf into Sand Key Inlet. Instead of the usual boat traffic, it was quiet. The tide was ripping IN!!!!! I barely needed to paddle as I zoomed that last mile homeward. What a terrific morning.
On the windier days I find myself trading out my paddle for a FreeWing AIR. No need to fight Mother Nature. And no need to fight with a traditional pump when you can go from deflated to perfectly inflated in a matter of minutes.
The technology evolution for kites, wings, and boards has rapidly improved to enhance your experience on the water. However, perhaps the most critical component required to get on the water -the pump- has remained unchanged since the days of flip phones. Not anymore. Gone are the times of struggling with manual pumping, thanks to the Air Box: Ride Engine’s rechargeable electric pump.
Here’s the nitty-gritty: Engineered alongside a top electric pump manufacturer, the Air Box has a powerful two-stage system that automatically switches from low-pressure, high-volume pumping to high-pressure, low-volume delivering the fastest inflation possible. Eliminate the worry of over or under inflating your gear when you set your desired air pressure on the Air Box.
No more guessing – The smart inflation technology has real-time pressure monitoring, ensuring an automatic shut-off once the pump reaches the selected pressure. Powered by a lithium-ion battery cell, it can inflate four to six kites or wings, and three SUPs on a single charge. What are you waiting for – see YOU on the water!
We are so fortunate to call the Clearwater Community Sailing Center (CCSC) our winter watersports home. It’s a fantastic place to meet new friends, sail the wide open bay for fun or for racing and to observe the commitment of staff and members to the next generation of sailors. Here’s a refreshing Polar Seltzer toast to all!
(Photo Credit: Eddie Shasek)
In spite of the unseasonably cool – and often rainy – weather today, twelve well-sailed races took place in a wide variety of wind conditions. Two things were constant: big smiles on every face and the most excellent hydration. Why the great hydration? The event was sponsored by Polar Seltzer.
Zale and Jake represented the Polar Seltzer booth with a bounty of enthusiasm. We were encouraged to sample our favorite flavors (cranberry lime and mandarin orange for me) and to explore newer flavors – you have to try orange-vanilla!! Check out the Polar Seltzer story and learn about “surprise” flavors here (hint: Mermaid Songs and Unicorn Kisses).
But Polar Seltzer provided CCSC with much more than tasty, wholesome beverages!
The Hobie Wave fleet is one of the most used and most versatile of the sailboats available there. The constant use definitely causes plenty of wear and tear on the sails. In support of CCSC and all they do (LEARN MORE HERE), Polar Seltzer has donated new sails for the entire Hobie Wave fleet. CCSC sailors are eagerly awaiting the arrival of that generous gift.
The majority of the sailors in the regatta today were adults, with many in their 60’s and above. What struck me was the hustle and bustle of a much younger group fully immersed in their Optimist Pram (IODA) lessons, skill building and technique development out on the water with no thought of the cold or the rain.
These two young sailors usually sail in their Optimist Prams but made the choice to sail in the Hobie Wave Regatta today.
They really caught my attention. From the skippers meeting at 9 am until the completion of after race reviews at 5 PM they were fully engaged. There they are right at the very front of the group hanging on to every word at the skippers meeting. And they were just as committed to the experience at the end of the day.
It’s November and getting colder, windier and rainier out here in Central Oregon. Just the same I am scanning my weather app to plan for the days that will be best for this 74-year-old to go out for a river paddle. I have become part of the Starboard team from my own hometown through a social digital currency called Blue Tiki that brings the same sense of connection, community and sustainability culture that IS Starboard. YOU can be part of that too. Just go to Blue Tiki – and explore Starboard Blue to learn more.
For several years, Ollie has been on the product development team at Starboard and has helped to create some of the best standup paddleboards in the world. Recently, Ollie has changed roles and is now the Brand Manager for Starboard SUP.
Ollie explains his affinity to Starboard and his love for what the brand represents. He believes that Starboard has the best team, the products, and in his words,“we’re always pushing. It’s just making sure our story and the foundation of the brand really underpin where we’re going to go.”
As someone with a quiver of Starboard boards and a passionate commitment to “blue Life,” I love the way Ollie answered this question posed by SUP Connect: Where do you see Starboard in five, ten years? Where do you see the brand going with how the industry is right now?
Ollie began by explaining, “Innovation and quality are always going to be our pillars on how we make decisions and the directions we’re going to go. That’s core to the brand. Sustainability and our impact is our third pillar. Quality, innovation, and sustainability, they’re the foundations that help us make our decisions on a daily basis and also longer-term planning. I think, again, just tightening the story and where we’re going. I feel like Starboard is a very encompassing brand. We have paddle boarding, we have wingboarding. There’s probably going to be something else in a few years and just making sure that when people come to Starboard, that question of ‘why Starboard’ is always clear, like always being the leaders but always being not just performance but also lifestyle, what the brand means, our impact and just having a very clear resonance to when people see the brand they know we’re a leader and pushing the boundaries of innovation, quality and sustainability.
PICK TRASH, PLANT TREES, GO PADDLE In March of 2023, Starboard created a contest in which participants entered by logging in to the Blue Tiki website. Throughout the next months until October 1 participants created a community of #FutureFighters engaging in “Blue life” choices and activities.
While the first prize was a “Zen Adventure of a Lifetime,” an all inclusive 5 nights at the exquisite Cora Cora Maldives resort, every single participant (along with their local waters and beaches) won! By logging in to Blue Tiki, joining the communities, accepting Missions and completing Activities we all connected for BIG changes while earning the Blue Tiki digital social currency.
From spring, through summer and into the fall there was no end to the fun of completing ACTIONS and MISSIONS
It was fascinating to “meet” fellow participants via their Instagram posts. Motivation to get out on the water and to make a habit of collecting rubbish along the way created many personal journeys towards a sustainable future. We all made a positive impact on the planet. By showcasing our passion for sustainability, we all made a difference while inspiring others. And the fun is not over – you can start TODAY.
Personally, I was inspired to revise my “blue life” journal for kids called The Quest for Blue Planet Super Heroes. Just as earning “Blue Tiki” currency motivated me and my choices, it’s a known fact that journal writing can also embed a person with desired habits – and the 28 day journal is designed to help young people do just that.
But that’s not all! Contained in the journal is a 10-chapter adventure led by kids that is designs a community-wide scavenger hunt and “blue life” awareness wrapped in action and fun. The Hunt to Save the Ocean provides young readers and their families or teachers with a roadmap toward making an astounding difference.
In my part of the world a palette of gorgeous fall leaves is blanketing sidewalks, river paths and backyards. We are enjoying the last days of summer-like weather before the welcomed rains of Fall quench the thirsty high desert and forests. Our paddling days will be cooler, and beautiful in their own way.
But as we tend to spend more time indoors this time of year, DIY projects sound inviting. Just in time too. October marked another phase of an opportunity to earn a digital social currency called Blue Tiki while doing what we love (paddling) and making a difference in our community (beach and waterway cleanup). If you haven’t yet participated, take a look here.
In the past seven months as I completed the regular challenge activities on Blue Tiki (thanks Starboard) I mostly cleaned up larger pieces of plastic and other litter. But a recent trip to the coast remined me on the tiny microplastic pieces that have inundated our beaches, waters and even our own bodies. I decided this was a good time to search out a some DIY directions for building a microplastic sifter.
Elder SUP 