SUP scouting report 10.27.08

Took DM (Dive Master) Angel to explore the uncharted water ways of the Mekong Delta (aka Pescadero Creek) with the SUP boards. Before we even got our feet wet, Angel's agent orange started acting up as he had visions of black hawk helicopters hovering above while we were under the rain of 50 cal shells     and men in black pajamas     were running for cover. I had to give him a man hug      to calm his nerves     down...

So we slowly unpacked and gathered our gear at the LZ (Hwy. 1 launch spot)...

The purpose of this expedition was to find proof of life at the mysterious Mekong Delta....

...so we searched...

Finally, Dive Master spots a mysterious crab like creature and goes down for a closer look....unfortunately, Angel forgot the fact that he was not wearing his proper dive gear 

Here's DM Angel leading the way...just like the "charger" that he is....

(As you can see, he carried his Goverment Issued back pack...just like a true soldier would)

...as the water ways got narrower...Special Forces Angel goes into combat mode and instructs me to "get down" and "shut up"...."I can smell Charlie just around this corner".....

He then gives me the "OK...coast is clear...proceed"

....as we paddled on...we managed to come across this bridge...and of course, Commando Angel insists that we blow up the bridge to cut off enemy supplies from reaching their destination  Once again, I had to give my decorated war hero buddy a man hug 

Mooch - why don't he use a kayak to explore this area instead of surf board? some purpose? I bet you sit on a kayak and took these pics.

Looks pretty cool, do you fish off of it? Sight-fish for sure.

About 3 miles later, we found another water way leading to.....I don't really know....coz it was our first trip here Since we were in unfamiliar territory, my commander ordered me on point as he followed closely (he explained later on the enemy snipers usually target officers and so he wanted to stay alive so he could collect his Purple Heart if and when the war finally ends....

I decided to play a trick on my Vet buddy....so I yelled "    granade!!!".....and sure enough, the soldier in him reacts and instantly drops on the deck for cover... a sign of a true warrior 

...mile 4 and we decided to turn back. Mission sort of accomplished....we did see many signs of life....ducks, heron, cormorants and we also discovered a rare indigenous crab now aptly named crab chippino (scientific name) Angel has some photos...

Angel, thanks for keeping me company on this discovery channel moment 

Mooch - why don't he use a kayak to explore this area instead of surf board? some purpose? I bet you sit on a kayak and took these pics.

 Angel and I needed a full body work out, so we decided to go with the SUP boards instead. Besides, the water was clear and shallow enough to see bottom + you can see better when your standing up. Our hopes was to maybe see some land locked steelhead -  but we did not see any at all. (by the way, we never planned on fishing this area - the steelhead here a protected - you can only fish on certain days during the season)

Mooch, you went the wrong way at the hiway pull-off.......the surf is the other way.  Man I want to get one of those things.

Actually primo, it was 5.3 miles according to the GPS Track...



For me, the day started off in a not so good way right from the start...After carrying the boards down to the launch spot, while Mooch parked the man van, I decided to take a test paddle to get my balance adjusted.  A few feet from shore I was feeling a bit off balance so I let myself fall thinking the water was only a couple of feet deep...it ended up being well over 6     I quickly got back on the board and went back to shore.  A few minutes later we're just paddling around the lagoon, still warming up, and again I go down.  This was starting to get a bit frustrating but on the plus side I was able to finally test that oneil shirt Mooch convinced me to buy...even though I was completely soaked it kept me very warm.

On we went, paddling into the unknown swampland of the Mekong Delta with Capt. HAC at the helm...


(can you tell which way he'll be voting on prop 8?  you know he's totally got a dog in that fight    )

My confidence in the Capn' quickly diminishes when he gets us into this...


But I remember that I'm trained to Improvise, Overcome, and Adapt so I move forward as part of the team but keeping a close eye to make sure the Capn' doesn't get us into any more trouble. Unfortunately, I failed to realize how quickly things can start to go bad and we ended up in this...



If you think it's difficult paddling through a kelpbed in a kayak that you're sitting in try paddling through a mine field of waterlogged treetrunks on a paddleboard.

After that fiasco the Capn' tried to prove himself by grabbing a crab from the water with his bare hands.



I was pretty impressed...that is until he decided that he needed to relieve himself.  He learned the hard way that pissing into the wind isn't SOP for a reason. Sorry no pic of that

After that, I decided that it was time to take command of the operation and sent the Capn' on his way. But of course he just couldn't leave without showing one more time how to measure my rice...




It was good times primo.    Thanks for letting me tag along on your expedition.

nice 5mi. adventure boyz! falling in the water right off the bat would have put a damper on the day, but you over-came it and SUP'd on!
a small pole and a few lures would do the job on one of those!
BASSinTHEspring!

hey brudah~ H2OtoRiceRatio4LIFE!