SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED ARE A FEW PIECES OF GEAR AND A RUGGED LANDSCAPE TO ESCAPE and sometimes all you need is a sea kayak on the open water.  Some of the most beautiful places on Earth are best seen from the quiet solitude of a kayak.  

Whether it’s discovering a hidden cove, a secluded trailhead, or a secret river canyon, exploring by paddle can take you into areas that are often times inaccessible by land, and can offer you a true calmness that one finds only after a few disconnected days in the great outdoors.

Imagine yourself here…

You’ve just flown into some remote part of the world, or perhaps one of the most impressive National Parks known to man.  You packed up everything you’d bring on a backpacking trip, but instead of throwing everything on your back and heading out on foot, you toss the gear into a boat so you can make your mileage by water.  

Day one on the open water is spent unwinding.  Yes, your arms have to work to move you along, but each stroke of the paddle takes you further and further into a meditative place where the burn doesn’t exist.  Your arms quickly become a part of the boat and your mind begins to escape to the place where your body has already arrived. You’re finally away from it all.

By day two, the sunrise is on your mind, not the to-do list you left behind.   As you sip your morning coffee, or maybe tea, and stare out at those pristine waters watching the sun rise, you realize that you’re finally ready to take in everything that this trip has to offer—the spectacular scenery, the quietness, the wildlife.  You’re determined to access that deep place you haven’t been able to get to lately while living on auto-pilot.  You come out of your thoughts for a moment.  Is that a moose off in the distance?  Or perhaps it was a whale?  (Depends on where you are.)

Three days in and your mind is wandering.  You just pulled the kayak onto shore for a hike to a vantage point that very few people experience each year.   When you reach the top, you can see a hundred miles around in every direction.  Now you start to daydream about leaving the rat race and finding your roots again. Remember when you had time on the weekends to go for hikes?  You need that back.  But for now, you need to remember this moment and this amazing vista that you feel lucky to be seeing.  

On day four, you’re feeling like a changed person.  Your body is stronger, and paddling takes little effort.  You could do this forever.  And that’s not all, your head is clear too.  This was exactly what was needed—deep meditation by kayak.  

Unfortunately, it’s time to head back to reality.  But not before seeing a few more rare birds and dipping into one more remote cove.  The past few days will stick with you longer than you can imagine.  And as you unload the kayak, you begin to start thinking about where you’ll head next time.

This essay was originally created for the 2012 O.A.R.S. catalog. For more compelling stories from other renowned writers, click here to request your copy today!

This time last year I managed to escape to Mexico for the holidays. As soon as my plane landed in Cabo San Lucas I made my way to La Paz and was enjoying grilled fish tacos and mojitos infused with cheap, watered-down liquor. After shaking hands with our local guides, I found myself — snorkel in mouth and mask on face — on a spontaneous 1-day tour of Isla Espiritu Santo. The skiff ride across the channel was bumpy to say the least, due to high winds and a storm heading our direction. It started to rain and soon I was left with a sore tailbone and soaked from head to toe. I was immediately regretting my seat choice when our guide suddenly proclaimed, "Mira!" It was a small pod of bottle-nosed dolphins. They rode our bow waves for the next 15 minutes while the captain allowed me to sit up front. Seeing the dolphins shifted my mood instantly, and I became a giddy five year-old on Christmas morning.

This year, it's those special moments I'm thankful for; those short-lived minutes of sheer happiness in between the grunt work, paying bills and routine errands. Such joyous experiences happen when you lose yourself for just a second or two. We try so hard  to have fun, and the reality is "they" come when we least expect it. We barely have time to acknowledge the fact that we are happy when, before we know it, it's gone.

I came to work for O.A.R.S. because I love the unanticipated adventures of life, which leads me to the example of why we use non-motorized boats on our trips. We like to take our time through the rapids, enjoy the ride and lose ourselves in the natural surroundings; in hopes we'll heighten our chances for the unexpected to occur. I associate a motorized boat to putting our lives on autopilot; we're going so fast we take the risk of speeding past those special moments. For me, reaching take-out is the saddest part of the trip because I never want to shorten the experience. It means the adventure has come to an end.

The high points of happiness are very similar and almost synonymous with adventure. Happiness is a mood, not a destination. For sake of wanting the wildest ride possible — one with every weather condition imaginable — I give thanks.

Jacques Yves Cousteau spent halcyon days gliding above and beneath the ocean. He lived among the largest mammals and sea drift. He was the master educator and voice for the sea.

And so, on this, the 100th anniversary of his birth, it is a sorry state of affairs that we cannot celebrate the legacy of his ocean life, but instead it is the centennial of our own legacy with oil, plastic and associated toxins we must confront. One hundred years ago, 1910, the fossil-fuel-based plastics industry was born, as was Cousteau, and thus began the first plastic century.  

Plastic is made from oil and gas, plain and simple, yet we do not think of oil or plastic pollution when we think of Cousteau. We think mostly of how he inspired wonder in us. We wondered at life aboard the Calypso with its salty crew. And, this wonder for the sea has engendered generations of people to become oceanographers, biologists, divers and simple lovers of the sea. But, if we do not make the serious connection—now—between the legacy of Cousteau and our legacy with petroleum we will sully the memory of the man.

Yet, the memory of the ocean was hardly what Cousteau was all about: he was really about the future of the ocean. He was always looking ahead—not behind. He wanted people to have knowledge so that they could have foresight. His great genius was not that he made you want to go swimming today; it was that he inspired you to want to know deeply and explore constantly the ocean in the immediate future, and always.  

“If we were logical, the future would be bleak, indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope, and we can work,” he said.  

Right now, however, we have our thinking backwards; we are watching a reckless and inane “clean up” of the Gulf of Mexico play out in slow motion. What can we imagine he would say right now? Would we listen? Would we nod our heads with a sense of security that the great man was leading us, teaching us, telling us how to get out of this mess?  What would he do? Would we join him?  

Who knows, but a good guess is that that great lover of the sea, and great pragmatist for the environment might be furious. Enraged. Heartbroken. One can imagine at the same time, the man rallying us to demand substantial legislative changes, responsible action from the oil industry, and a global systemic shift away from oil/plastic/toxins because our very lives depend on it. His line in the sand would be deep and long.

But, he’s not here, is he? Yet, his 100th birthday is right before us. His legacy of an ocean is literally mired in the slick dependence we have on oil. So, let’s make the list that a pragmatic leader like Cousteau might offer.

Let’s do this:

• Tell someone each day what our Ocean Planet, our one and only blue marble, means to you. Describe how you love it, why you want to see it and hear it. Love is stronger than apathy, and your vision for the future of what you love can impact people. Use all of the media at your disposal to share your oceanophilia, get in on rallies, letter writing and vote for the ocean.

• Stop pouring toxins, any toxins, into the drains around you, onto your food, into your tank or into your body: you can show BP what responsibility looks like—what you don’t pour down the drain won’t get to the ocean. “Think tank,” you might say. Think about what goes in it and what comes out.

• Remember that great people leave Earth, but plastic never does. Reject straws, coffee lids, forks, or anything plastic you use once then throw away. First off, they are made of oil and gas and can make you sick. Second, when they end up in the ocean they make the ocean sick. Try as best you can to free your home, school and business of single-use disposable plastics.

The time is now for us, the lovers of the sea.  We cannot wait for a great tide to take the oil, and our need for it, away to a magical place. And, we can’t wait for the memory of great people to inspire us to change. We must honor their memory by doing something great ourselves.

Each of us must be Cousteau—we must embody his legacy with a vision for the future: one that includes a world with a healthy, thriving sea. We must embody his memory—a person who wanted a healthy, thriving future for the planet.

Ask yourself, “What would Jacques do?” Act as he would. Because we are all ocean activists now.

Wallace J. Nichols, Sarah Kornfeld, Jake Dunagan, and Stuart Candy, are a hybrid art- science-futures collaboration. For more information on J. and his work on coastal and ocean issues, visit wallacejnichols.org or get involved at oceanrevolution.org.

This essay originally appeared on J's Blog and was licensed for use in the 2011 O.A.R.S. catalog. For more compelling stories from other renowned writers, click here to request your copy today!

New rules requiring passports or new high-tech documents to cross the United States’ northern and southern borders tale effect Monday, June 1, 2009.

In 2001 a driver’s license and an oral declaration of citizenship were enough to cross the Canadian and Mexican borders; Monday’s changes are the last step in a gradual ratcheting up of the rules. Now thousands of Americans are preparing by applying for passports or obtaining special driver’s licenses that can also be used to cross the border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say they’re confident the transition will be smooth.

Travelers who do not comply with the new requirements will get a warning and be allowed to enter the U.S. after a background check, said Michele James, director of field operations for the northern border that covers Washington state.

"We’re going to be very practical and flexible on June 1 and thereafter," James said.

The new rule, which also affects sea crossings, is the final implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a security measure crafted from recommendations from the 9/11 Commission.

It’s part of a gradual boost in security along the northern border that has featured millions of dollars in upgrades and the hiring of hundreds of more customs officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents.

Before the new rule, travelers only needed to show identification, such as a driver’s license, and orally declare their citizenship. In 2008, the federal government changed that rule to require proof of citizenship, such as a birth’s certificate or a passport.

He said U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue its outreach campaign through the summer to inform Americans of the new passport requirement.

Under the new rule, travelers also can use a passport card issued by the U.S. State Department to cross land borders. The card does not work for air travel. At $45 for first-time applicants, it’s a more affordable alternative to the traditional passport, which costs $100. More than 1 million passport cards have been issued since last year.

Identification documents available under the "Trusted Traveler" programs are also accepted. Those require fees ranging from $50 to more than $100. These programs, developed by the U.S, Canadian and Mexican governments, allow vetted travelers faster access to the border. In some cases, members in these programs have their own lanes at border crossings.

Enhanced driver’s licenses, which use a microchip to store a person’s information, also can be used to cross the northern and southern borders. Washington state, Vermont, New York, and Michigan are the only states that offer them so far. An application process and interview are required for these licenses.

There will be some exceptions. Children under 16 traveling with family, people under 19 traveling in youth groups, Native Americans and members of the military will be able to use different forms of identification. Also, travelers in cruises that depart from a U.S. port, sail only within the Western Hemisphere and return the same port do not have to comply.

• Espiritu Santo Island Circumnavigation
• Sea of Cortez Island Hopping
• Sea Kayaking the Baja Coast

Here is a partial suggested packing list for your Baja sea kayaking vacation: 

• 2-3 pair fast-drying shorts
• 4 t-shirts and/or tank tops
• waterproof windbreaker
• one set long-sleeved light clothes (shirt/pants)
• fleece jacket and/or sweat shirt
• swimsuit (1 or 2)
• beach towel and washcloth
• sun hat with strap
• plastic bags for wet/dirty clothing
• 1 comfortable hiking shoes and socks
• toiletries, including biodegradable soap that lathers in salt water
• one pair sport sandals or aqua socks
• snorkel gear
• sunglasses with securing strap
• sunscreen
• lip protection

• Alaska Airlines (www.alaskaair.com) (800-252-7522) flies to La Paz – from Los Angeles on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Delta (www.delta.com) (800-221-1212) flies to La Paz – from Los Angeles on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays an Sundays)
• Aero Mexico (www.aeromexico.com) (800-237-6639) flies to La Paz – from Phoenix or Tucson
• Another option is to fly into San Jose del Cabo and take a four-hour bus ride to La Paz.  Cabo is serviced by American, Continental, America West, Alaska, Delta and Frontier Airlines.

Kayaking the Baja Coast begins in Loreto and ends in La Paz.  For trips between Loreto and La Paz, contact Alaska Airlines, AeroMexico or Delta.

I frequently check in with   http://itasoftware.com/   and   http://www.kayak.com/   to search for cheap airfare and discount travel deals.  Kayak.com searches 140+ travels sites at once and does not charge fees – it is completely free.
 

Field Guides:

• Baja Plant and Field Guide, Norman C. Roberts and Jeanette Coyle
• Marine Animals of Baja California, Daniel Gotshall
• Fishes of the Pacific Coast, Gar Goodson

Maps:

• Baja Almanac – detailed topographic maps

Natural History:

• Island Biogeography in the Sea of Cortez, Ted J. Case and Martin L. Cody

Adventure:

• Baja Adventure Book, Walt Peterson
• Sea Kayaking in Baja, Andromeda Romano Lax

Fiction:

• The Pearl, John Steinbeck
• The Girl of the Sea of Cortez, Peter Benchly

Fun:

• Spanish Lingo for the Savvy Gringo, Reid
• Mexican Slang Guide, Robinson

MONTH          WATER          AIR
OCT                    80               80-95
NOV                    73               70-85
DEC                    63               60-80
JAN                     60               60-80
FEB                     60               65-85
MAR                    65               70-85
APRIL                 68               75-90
MAY                     70               80-95

O.A.R.S. offers three unique sea kayaking in Baja adventures:

Espiritu Santo Island Circumnavigation

• 8 days
• Circumnavigate Espiritu Santo Island
• Camp on 3 different white sand beaches overlooking turquoise bays
• Spend days sea kayaking, snorkeling with sea lions and tropical fish, relaxing on white sand beaches, hiking, fishing and swimming.  Motorized support skiffs are used to carry heavy equipment from camp to camp

Departure Dates
2008: October 19; November 16, 23; December 20
2009: Jan 4; Mar 7, 29; April 12; Oct 10, 18, 24, 31; Nov 22; Dec 23

Sea of Cortez Island Hopping

• 9 days
• Visit more than 10 islands, camp on 5 different islands
• Days are spent sea kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, relaxing on the beach and swimming and snorkeling with dolphins and sea lions (with good luck)
• Witness whale migration on spring trips

Departure Dates
2008: October 25; November 8
2009: Mar 7, 28, Apr 18, May 2, Oct 3, 24, Nov 7

Sea Kayaking the Baja Coast

• 9 days
• Sea kayak in the area known as the “Mexican Galapagos”
• Days are spent paddling, snorkeling, hiking and exploring wild islands and coastal areas. Nights are punctuated by magnificent sunsets and happy hour, Baja-style.  A motorized support skiff accompanies the trip and carries heavy gear and supplies.

Departure Dates
2008: November 1, 15
2009: Mar 14; Apr 4, 25; May 9; Oct 10, 31; Nov 14

CHILE:
Futaleufú River Multi-Sport:  Nov 29; Dec 5, 12, 26, 28

ECUADOR:
Ecuador Multi-Sport:  November 16, 30; December 21, 28

FIJI:
Highlands-to-Islands:  December 6

Upper Navua Gorge:  Year-round Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

‘luva:  Year-round Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays

GALÁPAGOS:
Multi-Sport:  Nov 22, 29; Dec 6, 13, 20 (Last Chance for our land-based itinerary!)

Sea Kayak the Enchanted Islands; Dec 12, 26

Galapagos Naturalist Sailing:  December 19, 26 (additional dates available upon request)

MEXICO:

Sea of Cortez Island Hopping:  October 4, 25; November 8

Sea Kayaking the Baja Coast:  October 11; November 1, 15

Sea Kayaking and camping on Espiritu Santo Island:  October 19; November 16, 23; December 20

PERU:
Peru Multi-Sport:  October 7, 21; November 11, 25