The winter pineapple express is here! Wind, rain, flash food, and total mayhem! I'm ready though for the next 10 days as the storm is blowing south wind and luckily I'm going the same way! Per the national weather service:

"So far, little change is seen on incoming model data. Rain is expected to begin this evening, and winds are expected to ramp up as well. The initial burst of rain is only a pre-cursor and not
directly associated with the atmospheric river. Expect periods of rain on and off Saturday but generally light to moderate in intensity."

"A high wind watch has also been posted for the area hills starting at 4 am Saturday and lasting
through Sunday morning. Model data shows strong southerly winds at 925 mb in the strong warm advection pattern. Wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph in the coastal hills will be possible. Wind will likely lull for a time Saturday afternoon but then wind speeds are expected to ramp up again Saturday night and Sunday morning as the next wave moves onshore."

Saturday, we're paddling from Redwood City to Coyote Point and Sunday Coyote Point to Oyster Point. Hopefully we'll get some good waves! 1/10/17 and 1/11/17 are still undecided, I may not end up going all the way to Kirby Cove. It could be a long paddle all the way to Sausalito on 1/10 depending on the weather.

1/7/2017 101 Surf Sports in Redwood City to Coyote Point Yacht Harbor- 10 Miles

1/8/2017 Coyote Point Yacht Harbor to Oyster Point Point Marina - 7 Miles

1/9/2017 Oyster Point Marina to McCovey Cove, San Francisco - 10 Miles

1/10/2017 McCovey Cove, San Francisco to Kirby Cove - 9 Miles

1/11/2017 Kirby Cove to Bluerush, Sausalito - 5 Miles

1/12/2017 Break

I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1998. Ever since I've moved here, the water has called my name. I have paddled in many of the rivers in the sierras, up and down the Pacific Coast, and many locations around the Bay. It has always been my dream to be able to paddle around the San Francisco Bay. Because of my light work schedule at Mike's Paddle during the winter, I am finally going to able to achieve my dream! 

My personal goal is to paddle the circumference of San Francisco Bay (roughly 285 miles) within 30 days in January 2017. The paddle is intended to discover parts of the bay that I didn't know, link all of the access points on the Bay Water Trail for stand up paddle boards, and enjoy the water with family and friends. The paddling days are 21 days and non-paddling days are 10 days - I do this so that the weekend paddles are the most scenic and so people can join me!

I want to dedicate this paddle to three organizations that have made a profound impact in my life. I am funding my paddle through personal funds and hope that people will be inspired to donate to these organizations. 

Healing Waters - Since 1996, Healing Waters has been empowering inspiring and enriching the lives of people with HIV/AIDS through wilderness adventure in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Save the Bay - Save The Bay is the largest regional organization working to protect, restore and celebrate San Francisco Bay since 1961. Save The Bay engages more than 50,000 supporters, advocates, and volunteers to protect the Bay from pollution and reckless shoreline development and make it cleaner and healthier for people and wildlife.

Team in Training (TNT) and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) - LLS's Team In Training (TNT) has become the leader in endurance sports training for charity, funding significant therapies like chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, which have a significant impact on blood cancer patients.

Thank you and see you on the water!

Mike