Kids’ Fishing Workshop
at Cachuma Lake
By Leanne Elliott
Nearly 50 kids
gathered on July 21 for a Saturday morning fishing workshop at Cachuma Lake, sponsored by the Fish and Game
Advisory Committee of Santa Barbara and hosted by the Cachuma Lake Nature Center. Fishing instructor Neal Taylor
conducted the two-hour workshop on the lawn in front of the Nature Center,
where he educated young participants on the proper techniques of tying knots,
casting, hooking and finally, reeling in their would-be catch. The kids also
learned how to identify trout, croppy, blue gill, red ear and channel cat fish,
all of which inhabit the lake.
Neal Taylor, a
retired Cachuma Lake naturalist and retired UCLA Sport and Science fly fishing
instructor, organizes the twice-annual summer workshop along with his wife,
Linda Taylor, executive director of the Cachuma Lake Nature Center. Aided by 35 volunteer fishing
advocates from as far away as Thousand Oaks, kids and parents alike are
encourage to get outside and enjoy the activities and natural beauty that are
so readily accessible in the area.
After the
workshop, participants were given a supply bag that included a starter tackle
box, a book called “We’re Going Fishing,” a hat and other treats for young
fishing enthusiasts. Several lucky winners went home with a new rod and reel
donated by Fred Hall and Associates. For information on the August 25 workshop
call 805-693-0691 or visit www.cachuma.com.
Tailwinds Bicycle Club
Century Ride
By Leanne Elliott
Los Alamos Park was the start and finish line for the 2007 Tailwinds
Bicycle Club “Windmill Century Ride” through northern Santa Barbara County. Three routes were offered, 100-mile,
62-mile and 40-mile treks for varying levels of bike enthusiasts. The ride
started in the cool hours of Saturday morning, July 21 and headed out through
the vineyards, canyons and farmlands of Santa Maria Valley.
All the routes traversed Alisos Canyon past the famous twin windmills, for which the ride was named, and into
Santa Maria Valley where riders were treated to lunch at Pioneer Park.
For those who chose the full Century Ride, the route headed through the Casmalia
Hills for a one-mile, six-percent climb followed by a refreshing three-mile
descent. At the finish line, riders were treated to a free souvenir t-shirt,
and an all-you-can-eat barbecue lunch.
Registration fees benefited
Guadalupe Youth through the Guadalupe Police Department, American Lung
Association, American Heart Associations, Arthritis Foundation, Cancer Society
of America and Friends of Waller Park. Tailwinds also sponsor the “Win-A-Bike”
writing contest for best essay on bicycling. For more contest information, and
future event registration visit www.tailwindsbc.org.
