After a frighteningly dry summer in 2022, the rains were bounteous this year. Our multi-year drought has been declared over, our reservoirs are comfortably full, and no floods in Sebastopol or Guerneville. As the rain continued through a chilly March, we planned a paddle in the flooded laguna near Sebastopol on a cool, gray Saturday. I had paddled it a few times more than ten years ago.

Lagunsa put-in Occidental Rd

Laguna put-in gate

Justin and Kerry paddled a tandem and Justin led us under the Highway 12 bridge into the northern part of the laguna where I had never paddled before.

Justin and Kerry

Because this part the laguna is rarely visited by humans, there were many birds including the herons and egrets you would expect, but also white pelicans and we even saw a bald eagle!

Paddling over laguna fences

Such fun because it is a rare treat. We live in such a beautiful place! Afterwards, we went to Hop Monk and I dazzled Kerry with stories from Star Trek: The Next Generation.