I’d been paddleboarding and kayaking in the rivers, lakes, and the occasional bay for about a decade when I decided I was feeling up to what I would consider more of an adventurous kayak tour in Port Orford. The water here is mostly protected by headlands which spares you from wind and large swells most of the time, but this was still THE OCEAN. I met my guide, Marcus, up at the SCT offices where I was outfitted with a PFD, wetsuit, and booties before heading down to the beach to go over some paddling basics before getting in the water.
I was one of the first to get in, which allowed me the time to wiggle around a bit in my kayak, something I like to do to remind myself that I can move around a bit and I won’t tip over. While the rest of the tour party got in the water I just bobbed around, watching a boat get lowered into the ocean via cranes from the port as pelicans and other sea birds swooped overhead. After a few minutes the group came together and we pointed our boats at the sea stacks that make up the nearby Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve and began paddling out towards the breakwater.
Once you get around the corner, you get a much greater sense that you’re paddling in the ocean. The water itself felt more or less the same, though perhaps now I could sense the rise and fall of the sea a bit more. I was too fixated on the patches of kelp, the abundance of seabirds, the water breaking on the shore, and the scenic coves where our little floating caravan was heading. I also had my head on a swivel in the hopes of seeing a gray whale. I’ve been on at least a hundred whale watching trips on the Oregon coast, but I’d never seen one from a kayak. I was both excited and slightly terrified at the idea of paddling alongside a 40’ animal, but I also knew that it wasn’t too likely, given the time of year.
Approaching the coves, I noticed a few different types of jellyfish in the water. Some I recognized, some I didn’t. Some small and brown, others huge and purple, each one captivating me. That would end up being the primary theme of this trip. The more you observe the scenery around you, the more you’ll discover. Exploring the nearby coves yielded us amazing views of harbor seals, oystercatchers, brown pelicans, cormorants, sandpipers, ochre stars, urchin, and other coastal creatures.
The trip felt like an adventure, but at no point did I feel unsafe or unsure of myself. It’s hard to feel anything besides awe and wonder when you’re paddling among the towering rock formations with wildlife all around. The incoming tide helped gently nudge me back towards the shore where Marcus helped bring me in. The trip felt rewarding, like I had accomplished something. Now it’s an experience I can’t wait to share with everyone who makes the trip down to Port Orford with me.
