Sunday April 13, 2014 Monte Rio, CA.
I started the day working on my car some more. I took things apart and did some cleaning and checking and put it all back together. I’ll test it as I use it. This has been an on going problem and I’m not absolutely sure I’m on the right track, but one thing at a time. The throttle sensor seems to be giving me troubles, which makes the car stumble a bit.
Just after two PM, I decided to go down to Jenner to paddle for the rest of the day, so I headed down there. The car seemed to perform ok, so far.
When I got to Jenner, I could see the wind was up a bit, not real bad, but enough. I was feeling real lazy and thought it’d be nice without the wind, so I headed back to Monte Rio to paddle.
It was a bit breezy at Monte Rio, but not windy, so I headed down stream at a leisurely pace.
These Mallard ducks tried to run me over as I left Monte Rio. No, I don’t have anything to feed ya. The lead duck is a half breed I think.![]()
Then I saw something moving over in the bushes by the shoreline. A pair of wood ducks was sneaking by.![]()
This is my view just below Monte Rio, heading towards Villa Grande, down as far as you can see.![]()
Some turtles surprised me on a log by the shoreline. Surprised me, because I haven’t seen a bunch of them like this in a long time. Seems they have been scarce this last year for some reason? There are three turtles there and about three more jumped in the water as I approached.![]()
I made it down to the Villa Grande Hole where I took it easy for a bit.
This is my view down river from the Villa Grande Hole…![]()
A close up of that cormorant on the tree in the upper right of the above picture is below. The tree is rotting away and has some holes near the top.![]()
I took my time and paddled down to the Sheridan Ranch beach where I sat for awhile before turning around and working my way back up the river. Sheridan Ranch beach is about half way to Casini’s Ranch.
There was a pair of mallards on the Sheridan beach as I passed, just taking it easy, like me.![]()
I continued paddling back up the river.
It was about five thirty PM by now as I started up past the Villa Grande hole which can be seen below looking up the river towards Monte Rio.![]()
Approaching Monte Rio, there was this pair of Merganser ducks sitting on a gravel bar as I went by. The male is on the left.![]()
And another wood duck went on by.![]()
By now, the breeze was dying down as I entered the Monte Rio area, just below the bridge and launch ramp area.![]()
I hung around that area for a bit before going in for the day and went on home. The car still seems to be working OK, but sometimes this problem takes a bit to show up again?
Nice day, I always enjoy paddling in the Monte Rio area.

