/Where did you go kayaking?
Usually out of the Santa Cruz harbor kayak rental and then around to the beaches. I went to La Selva and back once - ended up in some current IIRC and nearly went to Moss Landing instead. Also, loved to go just out beyond the surf lineup towards Pleasure Point and watch. Depending on the conditions I tried to make sure the onshore breeze and tide were always in my favor for the return...Once I tried surf kayaking at Cowell’s just to see if I could make it work, ended up with so much sand in my ears it took 3 days to come out. I found that on a SUP, I could use my body as a sail and as long the chop didn’t undo me I could go quite a ways out.
Sometimes I went down to Moss Landing ( Elkhorn Slough) or Monterey and launched there instead - so lovely. Santa Cruz coast was way friendlier than San Mateo, but further from home. I lived on the Peninsula for 20 years. Some things I could have done - I regret not trying kite surfing. Also I wished I surfed more on the SUP, it’s a lot easier for micro surf. If I went back I would probably go out on a small sailing trimaran or catamaran, lot safer after 55.