Day 45 - Valley 'Avocet RM'

If I had to decide on one single boat to paddle the Avocet would be very high on the list of boats I'd consider. Somehow everything feels right when I'm in this boat. Very often it's the kayak I choose to take out on lessons when I want everything I demonstrate to look right. It has an excellent glide, comfortable primary stability, great secondary stability, and it carves turns very gracefully on edge. Our plastic version is the boat the staff all but fights over when we go rock gardening in Baja, the way it handles in the tight quarters around rocks is fantastic. The Avocet isn't quite the right choice for larger paddlers but folks with an average build from about 6'-2" on down to 5'-8" should fit it well, smaller people can try the low volume version.

This morning I was feeling like trying something different so I paddled north out of the jetty and up the coast (playing around in the surf zone) as far as the Belmont Park roller coaster. At the roller coaster I landed and portaged a half block inland and put in behind Miso's Sushi (the best sushi in San Diego by the way). I then paddled a mile and a half back to Aqua Adventures. I used to do ocean to intercoastal portage routes like this all the time when I lived in South Florida but I'd never done one in Mission Bay. It worked out well and I think a small set of fold down wheels to make portaging a bit easier would open up several routes up the coast and back across into Mission Bay. It's a little more work but it adds variety and doesn't require backtracking or car shuttles.

Avocet Review

Manufacturer = Valley Sea Kayaks
Brand = Valley
Model = Avocet
Material = Plastic
Length = 16'-0"
Width = 22"
Weight = 54 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay - Roller coaster loop
Time = 6:15 AM
Distance = 5.10 miles
Duration = 1:02
Avg. Speed = 4.9 mph.
Conditions = Overcast with 1' wind swell