Luhr Beach around Nisqually Reach

July 9

80 degrees, no wind.  Looks like a formula for playing hooky.  Went exploring Nisqually Reach with a fellow kayaker.  Launched out of Luhr Beach at low tide.  Flat water, a bit hazy but warm and beautiful.  It was a very nice place to paddle, interesting coastline, saw eagles, seals, herons, enormous starfish and anemones.  Didn't time it right and got caught at low tide, had to paddle clear out to Anderson Island in order to find enough water to lead us back to the launch site.  Note to self:  There's a reason for tide charts.

 Just a lovely day

 Packed oysters

 Oyster harvesting boat

 broken pier

Seattle Seafood boat

Winter Paddling

Feb 2, 2013

So here's the thing about winter paddling in the Pacific Northwest - it's not the rain or the cold that puts a damper on paddling - it's the friggin wind.  It can actually be very zen-like paddling in the rain.  You find yourself out on the water pretty much by yourself with nothing but the sound of raindrops falling on your hat to keep you company.  The cold isn't bad either if you dress for it.  I don't complain about the temperature much.  I don't think anyone should complain about the cold if you're not living in Wisconsin or Minnesota.  But it's the wind.  Lordy does it do a number on the waves.  Not very much fun when you can only paddle 4 mph and the wind is 10+ mph.  That's why I haven't paddled since Jan 2.  Still on track for paddling at least once a month but it get's tricky finding a day to paddle where the winds aren't going to be a battle.  Today we caught a break and winds were down to 3 mph so I grabbed the Avvy and went exploring Lake Washington. Launched at Mercer Slough and paddled the south end of the Lake towards Gene Coulin park then crossed over to Mercer Island for the return trip.

At the fill up station.  I prefer fuel by Starbucks.

Shroud of fog that never lifted the entire day.

The things rich people buy...

Lovely little big boat.

The sun is up there..somewhere...

Lunch break @ Gene Coulin park.  Nice view.  Note: bathrooms are closed in the winter :-(

Sammamish River Slough

It was bound to happen.  I started paddling about a year ago and have gone this long without paddling in the rain.  That was a pretty good run considering I live in the Pacific NW.  I went out with our kayak club to paddle the Sammamish River Slough. 

Although it looked kind of ugly, the weather turned out to be rather mild. 

 

 

There was a little drizzle and the temp was in the low 50s.

 We were treated to some nice fall colors, lots of ducks, herons, beavers and one huge salmon that jumped completely out of the water about 3 feet in front of us. 

 Parking lot

 Stopped at Brackett’s Landing for a quick lunch before heading back. 

Fall Colors

I love paddling in the Fall.  It's just a very special time as the paddling season winds down for most of us, the skiers and boaters have gone into hibernation and you have the water to yourself.  We've been having some wet and windy days lately and today the skies opened up a little for a break in the weather.  I grabbed the Avvy and we set off to enjoy the lake.

Kayakers are a funny bunch

Very well played :-)

Drowning at American Lake

For those that have been following this blog, you know that American Lake is my go-to paddle playground and I try to get out there at least 3 or 4 times a week.  Yesterday I didn't go due to an overloaded work schedule.  Yesterday a man drowned on American Lake.  He and his brother were testing a boat that had some recent repairs done.  The boat began to sink and the brothers tried to swim to shore.  They were in their 60s.  One decided he wasn't going to make it so he turned around and swam back to the boat.  The other brother was nowhere to be found.  I wonder what I would have done if I came upon this accident while on my paddle.  My husband is a dive instructor and the first thing he tells his students is not to be a victim.  Meaning, don't get caught up in a situation where you find yourself in as much danger as the person you are trying to rescue.  In panic situations, you never know what will happen out of desperation and the fight for survival.  If I did attempt a bow rescue, would my kayak be capsized?  Would I be dragged down into the water?  Or would I not have thought about it and just helped?  I wish I were out there yesterday.  I'd like to think I would have been able to help.   

They recovered his body today.  

Have kayak. Will travel.

My kayak is a perpetual accessory to my Prius for 9 months out of the year. You never know when your schedule opens up or your H20 addiction overcomes you.  The downside is you get a lot of people wanting to talk to you about your "canoe".