Lake Union

Jan 27, 2012

I finally get to paddle Lake Union to check out the famous house boats!  Everyone paddles Lake Union and I understand why it's a mecca for Seattle paddlers.  Lots of things to see, famous Seattle landmarks, unique one of a kind houses, mild water conditions.  Check it out.

Need I say more?

Snow Day

January 23, 2012

Back out at American Lake.  I'm paddling this lake almost every day since it's so close to home and the weather still is fairly mild for winter.  This was the morning after yesterday's snow storm.  That's the thing about snow in Western Washington.   It lasts long enough for us to enjoy it and then melts away without creating too much havoc.

Christmas Eve Day paddle

Dec 31, 2011

Back to Lake Kapowsin!  This time the SSAKers are with me!

Another gorgeous day in the Pacific Northwest

Kayakers exploring the nooks and crannies of Kapowsin.

Holiday Paddling

Dec 17, 2011

A crisp, clear beautiful morning.  About 55 degrees out.  Zero wind, zero rain, zero boat traffic - sounds like time to me.  I'm determined to be a year round paddler.  So far so good :-)

Ho Ho Ho

 

 

Yet another kayak??

Dec 16, 2011

Now that I've had more nautical miles under my skirt, I've decided that I need a kayak that will allow me to advance my paddling skills.  My delta was wide, I couldn't put it on edge, the cockpit was too big and I was getting really spoiled using the rudder.  I realized I never adjusted my stroke or leaned my kayak because I depended too much on the rudder.  So again, more research and this time it led me to an Eddyline Nighthawk 16.  My first skeg.

There's my Eddy.  Has really nice primary stability.  Doesn't feel tippy at all like I thought it would seeing how I was moving from 24" beam to 22". 

Sunset paddling on American Lake with the Eddy.

Alder Lake

Dec 3, 2011

Alder Lake gets drawn down in the winter months so what used to be a boat launch is now just mudd.  It's worth carrying the kayak through the muck to enjoy this gorgeous lake this time of year.  Not a single boat to be seen.  The water remains crystal clear, transitioning from blue green to torquoise.  Just lovely.

I was able to paddle through a barrier meant for bigger boats to reach this deserted spot to enjoy lunch.  This is why I kayak!

Sammamish River Slough

Nov 6, 2011

The Sammamish River slough connects two large lakes - Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish.   Everyone says the Slough is a paddle you should do at least once so...here goes.  Launched out of Kenmore boat launch which isn't too busy this time of year.  I really didn't know what to expect from the Slough except to know that it's an easy paddle but very long if you want to do the whole thing - 14 miles one way.  I'll tell you right now that's not going to happen.

It always scares me whenever I'm about to paddle a river because I always equate that with whitewater kayaking which is NOT something I aspire to do.  Not today or any time during this lifetime.  Fortunately the Sammamish River slough is a LAZY river, meandering through a combination of urban paddling and nature viewing. 

The changing colors were spectacular.

This is where the road ended for me.  I couldn't make it past the rushing downstream current.  I paddled my darndest.  And lost.  So I decided this was as good a place as any to have a snack break.

That's my kayak over there.  Lovely setting don't you think?

 

This is a great paddle.  It's perfect for when the weather is foul but you still want to get some time on the water without worrying about tides and wind waves. 

Bremerton to Ilahee park

Oct 29, 2011

Heading out to Illahee park with SSAKers (my paddle group - South Sound Area Kayakers).  Launched from Lions field in Bremerton.  Fall is certainly here as there is a little chill in the air. 

Paddling by the Bremerton ship yards. 

We're not to get too close to the naval base - they're a little antsy these days.

But some of us couldn't resist.  Haven't seen or heard from this paddler since...

Heading further out further into Puget Sound towards the park

Saw lots of seals lounging around the rocks.  This is all the close-up you're going to get.  Those guys are bigger and scarier in real life.  Not to mention stinkier.

 

 

Don't know what I'm looking at but it looked cool.

Getting closer to the park.  Look how calm the water is.  Was like this all day for us.

 

yummm....Anthony's.  We may be a little overdressed to dine here.

This is more our style.  Beached at Illahee park. 

Look at all those pretty colors.  Oh yes, on the trees as well.

Lunch break

View from our dining room

 

Awesome day - chilly in the morning, warmed up nicely in the afternoon. Chocolate chip cookies and coffee was shared.  All is good.

Circumnavigating Mercer Island

So I decided to get really ambitious and paddle around Mercer Island which sits in the middle of Lake Washington.  I packed a lunch and launched from Enatai Beach.  Crossing from the beach to the shoreline of the island was a little treacherous as you had to play Frogger between the huge boats that share the lake with you. 

 

This is my crossing from the beach to reach the island.  Looks tame enough right?  riiiight

 

Crossing under the I90 floating bridge

 

Finally stopped at Clark Beach park for lunch.

Not a soul in site. Had time to sit and enjoy the view.  It didn't even bother me (that much) that my arms felt like they were ready to fall off.   How much further?

 

Turns out I only had about another mile or so to go before I completed my circumnavigation.  Guess I could have brought a map and planned my stop better.  I think this is a once a year trip - nice scenery, beautiful homes, gorgeous views, relatively calm paddle (minus some boat wakes). 

Mayfield Lake

Sep 24, 2011

My first paddle with the cool kids!  We headed to Mayfield lake and paddled to the Cowlitz river.  First time experiencing eddys.  Didn't know if I liked them not.  Let's say I liked them after I was through them.  It was about a 14 mile paddle I think - maybe it just felt like it. 

                                                        Here's some of the crew launching

Nice little layer of fog hovering over the water

Like a rain forest

Another bridge to go under.  Nice calm waters here.  I wasn't able to unwrap my white knuckles from my paddle to take pics of the eddies or the fast moving currents from the river.

Found a grassy spot for lunch.  First time I got out of my kayak in front of the group and guess who fell into the water?  Yup.

 

 

All in all, it was a pretty terrific first time paddling as a group.  Great paddle, great company.  Can't wait for next time!

American Lake paddle

Sept 13, 2011

Went out to American Lake which is only about 20 minutes from home.  It's about 8 miles long if you paddle the shoreline.  I like it because the water conditions are always changing.  From glassy waters in the morning to really choppy in the afternoon due to the winds.  It's also nice because the northern half of the lake is populated with million dollar homes.  The southern half is very natural with protected landscaping due to it being government owned - Ft McCord is there.  It's two very different paddling experiences. 

                                                 This is looking from the north of the lake.  Nicely treed horizon.

                                     
 This is Thornewood Castle which was the haunted mansion in Stephen King's Rose Red miniseries and the Dennis Quaid movie Cold Creek Manor.  Used today as the site of many private parties and weddings.

Something I don't get to see everyday.  My own little airshow. 

Yummmmm...ripe blackberries - only accessible by kayak

See what I mean about American Lake taking on the scenery of two different lakes?   Here we have a family of deer out for a dip.