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Bettyboarder
Since 18 Mar 2005
1823 Posts
PDX/ White Salmon
XTreme Poster
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 Mon Sep 13, 10 8:31 am Road Trip PDX to Newport Beach, CA - Suggestions? |
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So PKH and I are loading the new rig up and road tripping down to visit some family in Newport Beach, CA.
Any suggestion on must see's along the way? Good campground? So far thinking of heading to Floras day 1 and then cruz down from there. We have 2 weeks.
Bringing our kites of course and keeping our fingers crossed. Any good beginner surf spots on the way?
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kitemare
Since 23 Mar 2010
265 Posts
Seattle, wa
Obsessed
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| Mon Sep 13, 10 9:02 am |
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My top 3:
crater lake
the redwood forrest
the coastal highway.
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Respect the kite, respect the beaches |
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jaksavage
Since 02 Dec 2009
216 Posts
hood river
Stoked
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| Mon Sep 13, 10 9:35 am trip tip |
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| Granzella's deli @ marysville if your on the super slab. Crescent city has a decent town break for surfin. Hwy 1 anywhere. Santa Barbara coastal area. Oops out of time.
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2619 Posts
The 503
METAL
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| Mon Sep 13, 10 2:09 pm |
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Here's my trip report that I posted last year...
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-13892.html&highlight=norcal
It's a lot of driving so you may want to consider jamming straight down to Crescent City. That'll get you right in the Redwoods and Crescent can be epic. I would really play it by the forecasts...if the Norcal coast is fogged in then there probably won't be wind and you can't see anything - so better off inland.
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boardrider
Since 05 Apr 2006
1034 Posts
Ventura, CA
XTreme Poster
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| Mon Sep 13, 10 5:16 pm |
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Road trippin the west coast - Can't go wrong.
Central Cali coast is one of my favorite coastlines.
Hit up SF (gorgeous secluded oceanside camping at Stinson primitive camp)
Waddell
Santa Cruz (good beginner surf @ Cowell's & board rentals)
Monterey & Carmel
Big Sur
San Simeon (Hurst Castle & kite)
Pismo (great camp & kite)
Jalama (great camp & kite & surf)
Santa Barbara
Ventura (kite, excellent beginner surf @ mondo's & c street w/ board rentals close)
Channel Islands National park (day trip via boat from Ventura Harbor)
Have FUN
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tonyb
Since 09 Oct 2006
973 Posts
Stevenson in the summer & SPI in the winter
Bolstad Clan
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| Tue Sep 14, 10 8:37 am |
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We did this trip a few years ago and will be going again mid October. Besides all the usual spots between PDX and Floras make sure to stop at Pistol River. We spent the night on the side of the road in the RV there. Fun to play in the mouth of the river on a twin tip or ride a surf board out in the waves.
We found a really nice campground at Harris Beach State Park just north of Brookings, OR. The OR state parks a nicer than the CA parks and most of them have electricity where many of the CA parks don't.
Further south you can kite at Bodega Bay, CA then all the other places on the coast that have been mentioned if the forecast is good.
If the weather isn't good on the coast go down I-5 and check out Black Butte Lake in northern CA. Take a look here to see more places in southern OR and northern CA: http://www.kitezombies.com/airwaves/kiteguide_nav.htm.
If Sherman Island area is going off and you're not on the coast it's definitely worth a stop and has good camping.
Have fun and post some pics!
Tony
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| Pistol River, OR |
Pistol River.jpg |
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wjb
Since 14 Aug 2007
223 Posts
Nor Cal
Stoked
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| Tue Sep 28, 10 1:09 pm |
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| When are you guys leaving? Could be a good weekend for wind in the Bay Area coming up
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Bettyboarder
Since 18 Mar 2005
1823 Posts
PDX/ White Salmon
XTreme Poster
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| Tue Sep 28, 10 1:45 pm |
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We head out Friday after work...plan right now is to drive to Flora's Friday.
Keeping our fingers crossed for some good wind
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barfly
Since 31 Mar 2005
1214 Posts
Portland
BRACKISH
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| Wed Sep 29, 10 6:21 am |
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| Wind Slither wrote: | Here's my trip report that I posted last year...
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-13892.html&highlight=norcal
It's a lot of driving so you may want to consider jamming straight down to Crescent City. That'll get you right in the Redwoods and Crescent can be epic. I would really play it by the forecasts...if the Norcal coast is fogged in then there probably won't be wind and you can't see anything - so better off inland.
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Crescent's surf break is protected making it a great beginner location.
Once in LA county, pick your spots well and drive right to them so you don't get into wind-chasing:
1- Leo Carillo
2- Topanga
3- San Pedro, Cabrillo Beach
These are all fair beginning surf beaches too. Not sure what you'll get wind wise but southerlies lend themselves to kiting on just about any open beach. I always liked the beaches from Santa Monica down to Playa del Rey.
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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cosmodog
Since 06 Oct 2005
204 Posts
Stoked
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| Wed Sep 29, 10 8:16 am |
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The long range forecast for the San Mateo coast (HMB/Gazos/Waddell) looks promising:
fri
nw winds 10 to 20 kt. wind waves 2 to 4 ft. w swell 5 to
7 ft and sw 3 ft. patchy fog.
sat
nw winds 15 to 25 kt. wind waves 3 to 5 ft. w swell 5 to
7 ft and sw 3 ft. patchy fog.
sun
nw winds 15 to 25 kt. wind waves 3 to 5 ft. w swell 7 to
9 ft and sw 3 ft. patchy fog.
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shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1337 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
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Aeolus
Since 20 Apr 2010
354 Posts
Gold Beach, OR
OR-SoCo-Aficionado
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| Thu Sep 30, 10 7:42 am Pistol River Details |
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| tonyb wrote: | | .............Besides all the usual spots between PDX and Floras make sure to stop at Pistol River. We spent the night on the side of the road in the RV there. Fun to play in the mouth of the river on a twin tip or ride a surf board out in the waves. |
(sorry for the long post.....might help people on their visits to the south coast in the future...)
Tonyb is right... a must visit if you're cruising through..........But folks should note a few things.......The mouth of Pistol River through the dune varies from year to year. As the flow in the river decreases throughout the summer, the foredune builds and puts a plug at the outlet wherever that happens to be. The outlet, which was about a 1/4 mile south of the spot shown in Tonyb's aerial above, is closed right now (9/30/2010) but it broke out two weeks ago with a 4 inch rain event. It plugged up again with the big swell. Bottom line.....each summer the scene is different and is always changing.
As for the ocean riding......The parking area described above is locally known as "The Rock" (big rock you park in front of ) and has been a windsurfing destination since the beginning of time. If you show up to kite during the summer (especially on the weekends) the parking lot and ocean will be packed with windsurfers. The windsurfers commonly use the ocean area from the rocks just north of The Rock
down about a 1/4 mile. The northern rocks slow the south current a little bit, and set the sand up for some nice waves sometimes. As the summer tapers off and the swell gets bigger the crowds get smaller and there's a lot more room there. In the fall you might be the only one there.
I'm just a new ocean kiter, and have elected to smooth out my game south of the windsurfing area. There are kiters that ride with the windsurfers, but you have to have your game together there. Most people riding there regularly (one kiter) know a lot of the windsurfers and the crowd is pretty tolerant and friendly, but expect a little stink eye every once in awhile if the area is busy. If you happen to be swimming with your junk show in the surf with 43 windsurfers in July in a 35 knot gale.....you might have to bring A LOT of beer to the parking lot to keep the peace 
Between the lagoon that sets up during the summer after the river plugs, and the ocean waves just on the other side...it's a perfect combo. Jump in the ocean when the conditions look good to you or stay in the lagoon and work on other skills. It's an awesome place to be. Just remember to bring some small kites. I rode my 5m (i'm 178# on a 5' mutant) 14 sessions this summer. There are many victory at sea days. 7m is the money kite here for me. The south current puts a damper on your kite range (wind same direction as rip) so make sure you have some power left in your kite when you hop on over to the ocean. Nothing worse than being underpowered in the ocean. Sometimes you need to turn and burn.
All that being said.....as of 9/30/2010...the lagoon is huge....the swell is here.....pray for some more tasty north wind.......
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