I want to see otters for my birthday. Who's with me?
For our next paddle, I really wanted to see more otters, and even closer up this time. We had taken a stroll along the town's Harborwalk before dinner harborside at the Galley restaurant, and been surprised how it easy it was to spot seals, sea lions, and even otters from shore. Still, sharing space with others trying to otter-watch wasn't ideal. So we sought out an early morning paddle that would be quieter than launching from the state park and guarantee us some otter sightings.
The boat launch past Tidelands park at the end of the Embarcadero had plentiful free parking, a bathroom, and promised us a decent paddle up through the harbor, where the otters seemed to hang out. We woke up, ate a little something in the room, and headed out so we could launch and return well before checkout time. (Side note: This route also appears to be a nice sunset paddle, as we could see a lot of kayaks and stand up paddle boards out at dusk from our Morro Rock view room at The Landing).
This route is less nature filled than the southern end of the bay, being that you paddle through a harbor full of moored sailboats on your left and waterside businesses to your right. That said, it proved to be marvelous for birdwatching, as big seabirds like herons tended to rest on the sail-swaddled masts of the various vessels, derelict and cherry alike. With a nice pair of binocs we were able to get a good look. And, thankfully, the otters showed again, doing their charming barrel rolls and lazy backstrokes.
We turned around a bit south of a big mooring dripping with sea lions, who we watched for a bit through the glasses as they snorted and showed off. The return trip south was along the shallow edge of the dunes, again with us brushing the seagrass and this time nearly running aground a time or two (two adults and one good sized 8 year old in a canoe gives us pretty shallow draft).
The most fun part of this trip might have been checking out the names on the docked boats.
What to know
Launch fee: FREE (city-run boat launch is no cost, as is parking)
Boat launch information: Tidelands park
Harbor map: NOAA Chart 18703
Nearby boat rentals: Morro Bay Paddlesports
Lodging: The Landing at Morro Bay
Dining: The Galley Seafood Grill & Bar
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