Blue Waters Kayaking - The Best Tomales Bay Kayaking

Full Moon, Sunset, & Bioluminiscence Paddle Tours

We do this amazing tours at two locations:
INVERNESS: on the West side of Tomales Bay at the Tomales Bay Resort
MARSHALL: on the East side of Tomales Bay- 8 miles North of Point Reyes Station

Full Moon, Sunset, and Bioluminescence Paddle Tours
Evenign is a great time to paddle on Tomales Bay. The afternoon winds have typically laid down. And a host of wildlife appears. You can experience the tranquility and magic of Sunset and Moon-rise on Tomales Bay. Snug in our kayak, we'll watch the day change to dusk, watch the sun set and the moon rise across the calm waters. We may find outselves in the company of seals, night herons, osprey, pelicans, jellyfish, bat rays and kingfishers, who may present themselves as we quietly paddle. Time seems to stand still when the full moon casts a mystical glow on the water and our kayaks glide home across the Bay, following the arc of the rising full moon. Bring a friend - this will be a tour to remember. These special three hour events will launch from our Marshall or Inverness site. Start time varies by season. In 2010, Full Moon Paddles are scheduled on July 24, August 22, September 18, and October 23. These tours fill up, so call early to reserve.

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. On dark nights on Tomales Bay, bluish flickers are visible in the water column, which come from blooms of bioluminescent "dinoflagellates". These tiny creatures emit short flashes of light when disturbed, and at certain times of the year put on quite a show for kayakers. Schools of fish in the bay create a phosphorescent trail which can look like a glowing cloud in the water. Seals chasing the fish may create a phosphorescent event which can be very exciting to watch. Night Herons are often out and about as well, chasing the same schools of fish. All this glowing activity is only visible at night when the sun and moon are both down. In 2010, this will be the case the weekends, July 31, August 7, August 28, September 4, September 1, and October 2, from sunset until the moon rises. Accordingly, we have set up evening paddles from 7 pm - 10 pm, which should afford some good viewing after sunset (the sunsets this time of year are spectacular as well). Treat yourself to an evening paddle with Blue Waters Kayaking. You will not be disappointed!

Cost: $78
Dates: See Calendar.
Time: 3 hour tour, start times vary see Calendar

INVERNESS
FULL MOON PADDLE		SUNSET PADDLE

MARSHALL
FULL MOON PADDLE		SUNSET & BIOLUM

Itinerary:

Meet us at Blue Waters Kayaking in INVERNESS. After organizing gear and going over basic kayaking instructions and safety procedures, we'll launch our boats and paddle along the bay. We'll explore along the Pt. Reyes shoreline, enjoying the wildlife, beautiful scenery and setting sun.

Meet us at Blue Waters Kayaking in MARSHALLl. After organizing gear and going over basic kayaking instructions and safety procedures, we'll launch our boats and paddle along the bay. We'll explore along the Pt. Reyes shoreline, enjoying the wildlife, beautiful scenery and setting sun.

Equipment:

Our double kayaks track well, are difficult to capsize, and are easy to maneuver. All the necessary gear such as life jackets, paddles and spray skirts is provided.

What to Bring:

Prepare for variable weather. Bring clothes that reflect your degree of sensitivity to heatand cold.

Sun screen, hat & lip balm
Wool or fleece hat (for cool evenings)
Shorts, poly-pro long underwear, nylon or baggy pants that can be rolled up to your knees.
Shoes you don't mind getting wet. Teva type river sandals, wetsuit booties, or aqua socks. Tennis shoes with wool socks or rubber boots are good in cool weather.
Windbreaker jacket
Wool, capilene, poly pro, or some other synthetic long sleeve, long underwear shirt that will keep you warm when it is wet. (Cotton or cotton blend clothing retains water and will keep you cold if it becomes wet.)
Pile or fleece pullover or a wool sweater
Change of clothes, including dry shoes
1 liter (minimum) water bottle and high-energy snacks
Flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries

Release Form:

Please print out, read, sign, and BRING the release of liability and assumption of risk form with you on our trip. You will find the release form HERE.

Directions:

Blue Waters Kayaking - INVERNESS is located on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 1 mile north of the town of Inverness on the western shore of Tomales Bay at 12944 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Our site is located next to the Tomales Bay Resort. The driveway is just past the entrance to the Tomales Bay Resort. PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT THE TOMALES BAY RESORT. NOTE: We do not recommend using Mapquest from San Francisco because it takes you on Highway 1 through Mill Valley, which is much longer than the route proposed below.

From San Francisco and southern Marin County (1.25 hours from Golden Gate Bridge):

Take the Golden Gate Bridge and go north on Highway 101 for 8.5 miles to the Sir Francis Drake Blvd exit.
Exit at Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and go 22.8 miles through Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax to Olema.
In Olema, turn right on Highway 1 and go 2 miles.
Turn left on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and go 5 miles through the towns of Inverness Park and Inverness. We are one mile past Inverness on the right side just past the Tomales Bay Resort.

*Alternate Route from the south through Central San Rafael:

Take Highway 101 to the Central San Rafael exit.
Turn slight right onto Irwin St. and go 0.1 mile.
Turn left onto 3^rdSt. and go 1 mile.

Turn slight right onto 2^ndSt.
2^ndst. becomes 4^thst after 0.4 miles.
4^thst. becomes Red Hill Ave. after 0.5 miles.
Red Hill Ave. becomes Sir Francis Drake Blvd. after 0.6 miles.

Stay on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. for 17 miles through San Anselmo, Fairfax to Olema.
In Olema, turn right on Highway 1 and go 2 miles.
Turn left on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and go 5 miles through the towns of Inverness Park and Inverness. We are one mile past Inverness on the right side just past the Tomales Bay Resort.

From Santa Rosa and other points north:

Take Highway 101 to the E Washington St. exit toward Central Petaluma.
Turn west on E Washington St. and go 0.6 miles.
Turn left on Lakeville St. and go 0.1 mile.
Turn right onto D St.
Take D St until it becomes Point Reyes/Petaluma Rd after 4.6 miles.
Stay on Point Reyes/Petaluma Rd. for 11 miles until you get to the purple bridge stop sign.
Turn right to stay on Point Reyes/Petaluma Rd. and go 3 miles.
Go left on Highway 1 and go through the town of Point Reyes Station for 0.8 miles.
Just outside of town you will go over a green bridge and take the next right on Sir Francis Drake Blvd(follow the signs for the lighthouse).
On Sir Francis Drake you will go 5 miles through the towns of Inverness Park and Inverness. We areone mile past Inverness on the right side just past the Tomales Bay Resort.

From East Bay:

Take I-580 west over Richmond/San Rafael Bridge and go west on Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
For the rest of the directions, see Sir Francis Drake route explained above in (1).

*Alternate Route From East Bay:

Take I-580 west over Richmond/San Rafael Bridge and go north on Highway 101.
For the rest of the directions, see (2) above.

From Sacramento to 101 South:

Take I-80 west to Hwy 37.
Merge onto CA-37 W toward San Rafael and go 21.3 miles.
Merge onto US-101 S via the exit on the left toward San Rafael/San Francisco and go 8.1 miles.
Take the Central San Rafael Exit and go 0.2 miles.
Stay straight to go onto Hetherton St. and go 0.2 miles.
Turn right onto 3^rdSt. and follow the directions from 3^rdSt. in route (2) above.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour begins!

Blue Waters Kayaking - MARSHALL is located at 19225 Highway 1 in Marshall – midway between Point Reyes Station and Tomales, just north of the Marshall Boat Works. Please park diagonally on the bay side (north of the Marshall Boat Works and south of Blue Waters). PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF OUR NEIGHBORS "NO PARKING" SIGNS. NOTE: We do not recommend using Mapquest from San Francisco because it takes you on Highway 1 through Mill Valley, which is much longer than the route proposed below.

From San Francisco and southern Marin County (1.25 hours from Golden Gate Bridge):

Take the Golden Gate Bridge and go north on Highway 101 for 8.5 miles to the Sir Francis Drake Blvd exit.
Exit at Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and go 22.8 miles through Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax to Olema.
In Olema, go right on Highway 1, following signs through Point Reyes Station.
You will go 11 miles on Hwy 1 to Marshall.

*Alternate Route:

Take Highway 101 to the Smith Ranch Rd/Lucas Valley Rd exit.
Go west on this road (left) 10.4 miles to the end.
Turn right on Nicasio Valley Rd and go 3.9 miles.
Turn left on Point Reyes / Petaluma Rd and go 3 miles.
Turn right at the bottom of the hill (purple bridge) and go 3 miles.
Turn right on Hwy 1 and go 8 miles north to Marshall.

From Petaluma:

Take D St until it becomes Point Reyes / Petaluma Rd.
Stay on Point Reyes / Petaluma Rd. for 11 miles until you get to the purple bridge stop sign.
Turn right to stay on Point Reyes / Petaluma Rd. and go 3 miles.
Turn right on Hwy 1 (purple bridge) and go 8 miles north to Marshall.

From Santa Rosa and Points North:

Take Highway 101 south to 116 west in Cotati.
Go west 1.2 miles to Stony Point Rd and turn left.
Go 1.9 miles to Mecham Rd and turn right on Pepper.
Go 3 miles to Bodega Hwy and turn right.
Go 0.5 miles to Tomales / Two Rock Rd and turn left (follow signs to the Coast Guard Training Center).
Go 7 miles to Hwy 1, turn left, and follow road for 7.6 miles to Marshall.

From Tomales, Dillon Beach and Bodega Bay:

Go south on Highway 1 to our launch site, 7.6 miles south of Tomales in Marshall.

From East Bay:

Take I-580 west over Richmond / San Rafael Bridge and go west on Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. 22 miles through Ross, San Anselmo, and Fairfax to Olema.
In Olema, go right on Hwy 1, following signs through Point Reyes Station. You will go 11 miles on Hwy. 1 to Marshall.

*Alternate Route:

Take I-580 west over Richmond / San Rafael Bridge and go north on Highway 101.
Take the Smith Ranch Rd / Lucas Valley Rd exit and go west (left) 10.4 miles until it ends.
Turn right on Nicasio Valley Rd and go 3 miles.
Turn left on Point Reyes / Petaluma Rd and go 3 miles.
Turn right at the bottom of the hill (purple bridge) and go 3 miles.
Turn right on Hwy 1 and go 8 miles north to Marshall.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour time!