Kayaking Archives - Manipulated Reality

Lake Casitas Recreation Area

Day Trip to Lake Casitas Recreation Area

Travel doesn’t always have to take you far from where you live. Staycations can be a great way to explore the surrounding areas close to where you live.

Adventure might be waiting just around the corner, and perhaps it is possible to get away from it all, if only for the day!

Lake Casitas Recreation Area is great for a day trip, and offers a variety of things to do. You can go boating, fishing, or ride down the lazy river water adventure in an inner tube!

Plan on bringing something to BBQ. Picnic areas with tables and grills are available.

If you want to stay for more than a day, reserve a campsite.

lake casitas recreation center — Drive right up to the lake!

If you don’t own a boat, stop by Casitas Boat Rentals. They have small fishing boats, pontoons, canoes, and kayaks available to rent.

Kayak and boat rentals at lake casitas recreation area — Lake Casitas Boat Rentals

Lake Casitas recreation area kayaking — Kayaking at Lake Casitas

Casitas lake kayaking — Kayaking around the lake!

If boating isn’t you thing, try fishing! Record size bass have been caught out of Lake Casitas. Remember to get a fishing license… The park rangers do check!

Lake Casitas Recreation Area — So relaxing!

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Kayaking Cachuma Lake

A friend invited to me go kayaking up at Cachuma Lake yesterday. I hesitated at first. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve been out on the lake. In fact, I’ve actually avoided going. The drought in California has impacted the lake on such a level, that it’s depressing.

Getting out in nature should never have that effect.

I decided to go anyway. I met my friend at his campground, and we headed to the lake. It was worse that I could have ever imagined. The lake was a mere fragment of it’s former self.

Drought effect on Cachuma Lake — Where did all the water go?

Wow! I felt as if I had been punched in the belly. I stood staring in disbelief. I wondered how much longer before it totally disappeared.

A pipe running through the center of Cachuma Lake was pointed out to us. It’s impossible to miss! The pipe feeds water down into Santa Barbara. This July, there are plans to drop the lake ten more feet to keep that supply running.

What happens when Cachuma Lake ceases to exist? Where will you get your water from Santa Barbara?

To see the lake disappearing, you face the reality of how important it is not to lift the water restrictions too soon. And, it makes you wonder why nothing was done sooner.

Once in the water, you can’t help but notice the beauty surrounding the lake. As we paddled around the lake, we talked about what a great loss this would be for all of us if a solution isn’t found.

Cachuma Lake Kayaking — Kayaking around Cachuma Lake

Shore of Cachuma Lake — Taking a break on the shore

Rain, of course would be the most obvious solution. That, however cannot be relied on.

So, until Mother Nature starts producing it again, what are our options?

What are we doing?

Bureau of Reclamation

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Hiking and Camping in Sedona, AZ

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

Twisty Things & Other Stuff – Sedona, AZ

I recently returned from a camping trip in Sedona, AZ. It’s one of my favorite places, and it had been far too long since my last visit. After looking forward to this trip for several weeks, a wildfire broke out in Oak Creek Canyon on May 20, 2014. Our campground was shut down, the road into the canyon was closed, and people were evacuated. After much contemplation, my friend and I decided to go anyway. We were able to find another campground that hadn’t been affected by the fire, and another route into Sedona, AZ.

It was a vacation of contrasts, to say the least… It was one of the most peaceful I’ve had in a long time, and one that ended with a traumatic injury. I slipped while hiking, tried to save my camera, and ended up plowing face first into a small boulder. Thankfully nothing was broken, however, I did end up with a concussion. It’s been three weeks since the fall, and a very slow recovery.

In the end, the fire was finally contained on June 4, 2014… 21,227 acres had burned.

We arrived at Lo Lo Mai Springs Campground and were happy to find a tent site right along Oak Creek.

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Sedona, AZ, Oak Creek, Camping, Travel — Oak Creek Campsite

After we set up camp, we headed into Sedona, AZ. This quickly put things into perspective. Signs of gratitude were everywhere.

Gratitude, Sedona, AZ, Sedona fireman — Thanks Hot Shots!

The next morning we woke up to the smell of a campfire… Not a good sign since they had been banned countywide! The wind had shifted, and smoke from the wildfire was hanging low over our campground. Air quality was poor, so we went back into town to find some sort of air masks. We ended up with bandanas and goggles!

Sedona, AZ, smoke inhalation protection, Bell Rock hike — Protection From The Smoke

The smoke was so bad, we decided to go kayaking on the Verde River. We met up with the Sedona Adventure Tours team for a three hour guided tour. These guys are awesome, and the tour was tons of fun!

Verde River Kayaking, Sedona, AZ, Sedona Adventure Tours, Kayak, Travel — Kayaking on the Verde River

Thankfully the smoke shifted and we were able to go hiking. We chose the Bell Rock Path.

hiking, Bell Rock hikes, Travel — Which Way?

The higher you climb up on Bell Rock, the more twisted the juniper trees become from the vortex energy.

Juniper Tree, Vortex. Bell Rock hike, — Vortex Twist

The views in Sedona are phenomenal.

After a four hour hike at Bell Rock, we headed over to the Airport Mesa Vortex. We wanted to grab a couple more photos, and it was a quick hike to the top.

I was just about at the bottom, when I started sliding on some loose dirt. I landed face first into a small boulder, and my faced swelled up like an inflated balloon! I also had multiple scrapes, and cuts on my legs and arms.

Thankfully the hospital was close, so I was able to get to Emergency Room quickly. By the time I got there, I couldn’t even remember my last name!

The official diagnosis was a concussion. Thankfully nothing was broken, except my sun glasses, and a camera lens.

It definitely was not a good way to end the trip!

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Day Trip to Lake Casitas Recreation Area

Kayaking Cachuma Lake

Twisty Things & Other Stuff – Sedona, AZ

Thank you!