Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Yesterday, January 20th, there was a 7.2 high tide, a King Tide. King Tides are the highest of high tides. Watching the waves breaking over the sandbar of the Gualala River is exciting. And the Gualala Bluff Trail is the perfect place to be. When we first arrived there wasn't too much action but all of a sudden the waves were closer together. All at once the Pacific Ocean surged over the sandbar in multiple places. Wow!

King Tides washing over the Gualala River Sandbar 1.20.15 by Jeanne Jackson (Large)

The Gualala River is full because it is currently closed off from the ocean by the sandbar. It might take more storms to reopen it. Rain is in our forecast for next week. Here are some other photos of the event.

King Tides brought saltwater into the Gualala River by Jeanne Jackson (Large) King Tides by Jeanne Jackson (Large) Sandbar disappears under water during King Tides by Jeanne Jackson (Large) The Gulls were disturbed by the King Tides by Jeanne Jackson (Large)

In the final photo, which is washed out from the sun, you can see all the Gulls who were suddenly disturbed by the surging water.

To get to the Gualala Bluff Trail, there are two public access points. Between the Sandbar Restaurant and the Breaker's Inn there is a staircase access. And there is an access down the parking area of the Surf Motel. It seems like there is always something to see from this popular trail.

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Roger Rude wrote, "It has been a month since I have ventured into the sea, that is a long stretch for me. It seems like she has been angry, perhaps for the way we have been treating her, throwing tantrums of waves and storms. Today she was at peace, befitting of her name "Pacific", enticing me to come to her and play, explore and rejuvenate my soul.

Abalone season is closed, so I brought my new kayak, a Pedal Mirage Drive Hobie Outback Kayak, along with another for my friend Jack Likins, to test them out, explore new dive sites and perhaps spear a fish for dinner. Conditions were lovely, flat water, sunshine, a beautiful day. I could see the spouts of whales traveling south about a mile off shore. [Below is Jack Likins trying out the new kayak.]

Jack Linkins Kayaking on a pedgal Miracle Drive Hobie Outback Kayak by Rogert Rude

We launched somewhere near Gualala and pedaled our way north. Yes, I said pedal, not paddled. These kayaks are equipped with a unique pedal drive that propels them through the water nearly effortlessly at a speed faster than we could have paddled.

We arrived at the area we wanted to explore and dropped into interspace. The visibility was around 20 feet over a boulder strewed bottom. Very few fish were about probably due to the full moon and a night of feeding. I was looking for a black rock cod for dinner and I found her sleeping in a cave. Dinner provided for I began to explore. In the next fifteen minutes I found not one but two abalone measuring close to 10.5 inches.

A ten inch Abalone will have to wait by Roger Rude

I wear a GoPro camera on my head and I video record my dives so I can review them later, for posting on the Internet and for occasions like this. I surfaced and recorded landmarks above the water, as well as on the bottom, in hopes of relocating these two trophy-sized abalone in April when the season reopens.

Two ten-inch Abalone by Roger Rude

While heading back to our launch sight we were briefly surrounded by half a dozen sea lions porpoising through the water in the other direction. They were moving fast and only briefly slowed down to take a look at us as they past, too fast to get a photo of them. I had heard there was a pod of Orcas in the area and I wondered if this was the source of their frantic pace, but I saw no sign of them.

Another beautiful day in the sea off of the Mendonoma coast, another adventure experienced with the lure of a fruitful one in the future. Standing on shore I shared a beer with my buddy. Once again a terrestrial being looking out at my mistress the sea, my spirit is full and my soul is at peace."

I thank Roger for giving us this look into the world most of us will never see. And thanks also for allowing me to share his photos with you here. Here is a photo of Roger after a very successful abalone dive. The photo was taken by his buddy, Jack Likins. These are two ten+ inch Abalones.

Roger Rude with two ten-inch Abalones by Jack Likins (Small)

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Barbara Pratt was surprised to see this little bird at her feeder. It's a nearly-white Dark-eyed Junco. We used to call this partially albino, but the correct term is leucistic.

Leucistic Dark-eyed Junco 2 by Barbara Pratt Leucistic Dark-eyed Junco by Barbara Pratt (Large)

You can see in the second photo of this unusual bird that there is a normal-colored Junco on the right. Barbara said this bird seemed to be accepted by the other Juncos. It surely is a striking sight!

Thanks to Barbara for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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Robert Scarola photographed what I believe is a yellow flash.

The Double Sun by Robert Scarola

The night after I thought for sure I was going to get my first photo of a green flash but I photographed what Robert described in his photo as "two suns" or a yellow flash.

Yellow Flash by Jeanne Jackson

Andrew T. Young has a fascinating article on the web about green flashes. He wrote, “Green flashes are not always green; they can be yellow, green, blue, or even violet. But green is the hue seen most often.”

Mr. Young also has some unsolved green flash mysteries. Perhaps you can  help solve one of them. Here is the link: http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/unsolved.html

Here is one of my favorite green flash photos, taken by Craig Tooley. It shows a double green flash.

Double Green Flash JAN by Craig Tooley

One of the myths about green flashes is that it is good luck when you see one. Let's expand that to yellow flashes too!

Thanks to Robert and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, his website is: www.ruffimage.com

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Carol Bogovich was watching the Gray Whale southward migration on New Year's Day. Two whales came closer in and she was able to get these photos.

The heart-shaped blow of a Gray Whale by Carol Bogovich
The heart-shaped blow of a Gray Whale
Two Gray Whales by Carol Bogovich
Two Gray Whales spout.
The tail of a Gray Whale by Carol Bogovich
A Gray Whale's tail lifting out of the ocean.
Gray Whale tail by Carol Bogovich
And one last look before the tail disappears into the Pacific Ocean.

 

Gray Whales are being seen every day, weather-permitting. Today we had a nice, gentle storm move in, giving us a good 1/2 inch of rain. Of course that makes spotting Gray Whales impossible, at least from my vantage point.

Thanks to Carol for allowing me to share her photos with you here.