Lauched from Pomeroy Park in Manchester and paddled towards Bainbridge Island. It was an awesome trip as I saw a pod of transient Orca Whales go by. I didn't get too close to them, but it was awesome to see.
Also was being stalked by a sea lion (scared the crap out of me when he popped out of the water behind me and starting barking), and of course saw several seals. Paddled around Blakely Rock off of Bainbridge island before returning. There was a bald eagle hanging out on the island along with a seal pup.
Total Distance: 9.52 miles
Duration: 02:35.53
Average Speed: 3.67 mph
Max Speed: 6.03 mph
12.15.2019
Launched from Brownsville Marina and paddled across the Sound to Bainbridge Island into Fletcher Bay. Man, those are some freaking nice houses on the island...
There was a small cross-breeze crossing the sound making for some chop, but can't complain for December. Saw quite few sea lions swimming and a couple seals on the trip.
Total Distance: 5.42 miles
Duration: 01:23.20
Average Speed: 3.91 mph
Max Speed: 6.33 mph
12.08.2019
Got my Japanese kayaks from Japan finally and went for a paddle with Dave. We launched from Harper and did a lap around Manchester on a super calm, warm December Sunday. Had the drone in the air and saw a bald eagle, harbor porpoises and seals.
Total Distance: 6.27 miles
Duration: 01:45:03
Average Speed: 3.58 mph
Max Speed: 5.93 mph
11.10.2019
Spent the weekend on the Oregon Coast and packed the kayak along. Managed a trip on Sunday morning on a foggy calm AM. Launched from Tillamook County Boat Launch and paddled the Nehalem River towards the ocean.
It was close to low tide when I launched and it became really shallow where the river opened up... I had to push with my hands for part of the way in the mud, but it was still a good trip overall. Lots of seals as I got closer to the Pacific.
Total Distance: 8.28 miles
Duration: 02:30.57
Average Speed: 3.29 mph
Max Speed: 5.65 mph
10.27.2019
Another quick paddle, but this time launched from the small sandy beach in Port Orachard near the Westbay Center. Not a great place to launch during low tide, but luckily it wasn't too low.
Paddled along the shore a bit towards Annapolis before crossing the bay toward East Bremerton, then paddled to downtown Bremerton along the USS TURNER JOY and Bremerton Marina before heading back. A little breezy, but good trip overall.
Total Distance: 3.91 miles
Duration: 01:06.08
Average Speed: 3.55 mph
Max Speed: 7.77 mph
10.24.2019
Quick paddle...launched from Harper Park and paddled towards Manchester. It was medium tide so paddled into Curley Creek. Saw a couple bald eagles and it was so calm, quiet and peaceful.
Total Distance: 4.17 miles
Duration: 01:08.19
Average Speed: 3.67 mph
Max Speed: 5.4 mph
10.15.2019
Another paddle around Blake Island and this time had the drone out. It was meant to be a quick paddle, but I guess I forgot how big the island was... Launched from Harper and it was another beautiful sunny and calm fall day.
Total Distance: 6.09 miles
Duration: 01:44:39
Average Speed: 3.49 mph
Max Speed: 5.77 mph
10.12.2019
Some pretty awesome kayaking... Launched from downtown Port Orchard and paddled around Sinclair Inlet into Gorst. The area is kind or urban, but crazy how much wildlife was out there. There were schools of jelly fish, bald eagles, and tons of seals. It was by far the closest I've ever been to a bald eagle.
The seals were definately the coolest part. There was 10-15 of them hanging out on logs and I soon as I paddled by, most of them launched into the water. I assumed it was because I scared them... Nope, they were very curious by me and stalked me all the way around the bay. All I kept seeing were seal heads popping out of the water staring at me. They even came up and were sniffing my kayak. It was a really cool experience!
Total Distance: 7.42 miles
Duration: 02:19.01
Average Speed: 3.2 mph
Max Speed: 4.95 mph
10.05.2019
Launched from Seabeck Boat Launch at Misery Point and paddled across the Hood Canal toward Brinnon, into Pleasant Harbor, and back across into Stavis Bay. Saw a baby seal in Pleasant Harbor, and Harbor Porpoises in the Canal.
Stavis Bay was pretty cool too, it had a narrow inlet where the tide really flowed through. Had to paddle my hardest to make it out as the tide was coming in.
Total Distance: 12.70 miles
Duration: 03:30.53
Average Speed: 3.62 mph
Max Speed: 7.16 mph
09.24.2019
Quick paddle after work on a calm beautiful day. Launched from Pomeroy Park and paddled to Bainbridge Island. Very relaxing with glassy water the entire trip.
Total Distance: 4.36 miles
Duration: 01:08:23
Average Speed: 3.82 mph
Max Speed: 5.63 mph
09.21.2019
Launched from the Harper area for a paddle on a really calm Saturday morning. It was very relaxing out there as the water was glass the entire time. Paddled towards Southworth, across to Vashon Island, around Blake Island and back.
Saw several seals, harbor porpoises, and even a sea lion swimming around.
Total Distance: 8.04 miles
Duration: 02:11:42
Average Speed: 3.66 mph
Max Speed: 5.56 mph
09.12.2019
Bought another kayak... this time a Necky Chatham 16 polymer kayak. I've been wanting a plastic kayak for the rockier beaches, and when this one popped up on Craigslist, I couldn't resist. $300!! I just need new hatches.
Maiden voyage was from Pomeroy Park and I paddled to Blake Island and back. There was a 10-15 knot crosswind, but the kayak did well.
Total Distance: 4.54 miles
Duration: 01:18:01
Average Speed: 3.49 mph
Max Speed: 6.33 mph
09.06.2019
Bought a used tandem kayak so I can take Ethan out kayaking more; a 16.5ft long Riot Polarity. The downside it's super heavy and very difficult to transport, especially with the catamaran style hull. I put it on the cart to walk it down to launch from Pomeroy Park, but that was painfull as it was super heavy and kept falling off the cart. I'm going to have to figure out something better in the future
It was short paddle as it ended up being pretty breezy, Ethan had fun though and we saw a couple of seals.
Total Distance: 1.57 miles
Duration: 00:42:22
Average Speed: 2.22 mph
Max Speed: 5.06 mph
08.29.2019
Still waiting for my kayaks to show up from Japan... Rented from Olympic Outdoor Center again, but this time in Port Gamble. Paddled into Port Gamble Bay on a nice day. Man the tide sure rips through the inlet of the bay. The kayak I rented was a Wilderness Systems Tempest 170, awesome kayak.
Total Distance: 6.06 miles
Duration: 01:46:55
Average Speed: 3.40 mph
Max Speed: 6.71 mph
07.19.2019
Back in Washington and rented a Kayak from Olympic Outdoor Center and went for a quick paddle in Liberty Bay of Poulsbo. Awesome to get back out on the water...tons of seals and seal pups hanging around.
Total Distance: 3.15 miles
Duration: 00:58:54
Average Speed: 3.21 mph
Max Speed: 5.63 mph
06.18.2019
My last Tori Gate lap as my kayaks got shipped back to the states today. It was a perfect morning as there was glassy waters and plenty of fish swimming around. I will miss Hayama.
Total Distance: 1.72 miles
Duration: 00:24:23
Average Speed: 4.24 mph
Max Speed: 6.70 mph
06.02.2019
Participated in the 21st Annual Matsuzaki Sea Kayak Marathon. It was a calm overcast day which were perfect conditions for the race. I struggled more than I wanted unfortunately as I wasn't sure I was going to finish 75% of the way through... Think I should have ate more before the race. I ended up finishing 72nd out of 96 total racers for the 14km course. (I really should have got 71st, but I didn't know how to finish and the guy passed me at the last second).
It was a beautiful paddle as the Izu landscape is pretty breathtaking. The first turnaround point is going through a tunnel which was pretty cool. I also met a nice English-man named Pete and Australian named Jan. The Australian makes his own kayaks Viking Kayaks
It was a 3.5 hour drive down to Matsuzaki and ended up leaving the house around 04:00... well worth it in the end!
Total Distance: 9.22 miles (including warmup and waiting for the start
Duration: 02:14:02
Average Speed: 4.13 mph
Max Speed: 7.21 mph
06.01.2019
Probably my last Enoshima Lap from Hayama... Brent and I are both leaving shortly and this was on his bucket list. It was a calm paddle to the island where we grabbed Ramen for lunch, the breeze picked up a little on the way back and fatigue was definately setting in for Brent. He did well however for only his second kayak trip!
Total Distance: 12.56 miles
Duration: 04:26:57
Average Speed: 2.82 mph
Max Speed: 8.54 mph
04.07.2019
Launched from Omori Furusato's Beach Park in Tokyo again, however this time paddled through the canals to Rainbow Bridge. It was a really calm day so decided to paddle back through Tokyo Bay instead of the canals to Haneda Airport. I was suprised as there wasn't a single ship or boat for most of the trip.
Total Distance: 14.45 miles
Duration: 03:48:53
Average Speed: 3.79 mph
Max Speed: 7.20 mph
03.30.2019
Tokyo Cherry Blossom paddle with my coworker Jeramy. It was an overcast calm day and with the cherry blossoms blooming more than I was expecting on the Ooyokogawa River.
Total Distance: 9.54 miles
Duration: 02:46:12
Average Speed: 3.44 mph
Max Speed: 8.31 mph
03.24.2019
Paddled Atami on my one day off this weekend, and luckily it was a beautiful calm day.
Launched from Nagahama Beach Resort and paddled along the shore to Atami Port. There were some decent sized rollers crashing on shore that almost made me flip a couple of times....
Total Distance: 7.92 miles
Duration: 02:06:40
Average Speed: 3.75 mph
Max Speed: 7.36 mph
02.18.2019
Kayaked a different part of Tokyo... Launched from Omori Furusato's Beach Park and essentially paddled a lap around Haneda Airport.
It was awesome getting buzzed by airliners taking off and landing, especially since one of the landing strips is all over water. It was also cool paddling under one of the taxi lanes between air strips.
Lap included paddling down the Ebitori and Tama Rivers. Was also suprised at how many schools of fish I paddled along on the Tokyo Bay side of the airport.
Total Distance: 11.92 miles
Duration: 03:19:34
Average Speed: 3.59 mph
Max Speed: 6.56 mph
01.13.2019
Got to participate in the 37th annual Matsudo Canoe Race on the Edogawa River in Chiba. It was cold morning at first, but the sun came at right in time for the beginning of the race.
It was super fun, but very chaotic as there were 324 different boats on the water starting at the same time. I even got clipped and turned sideways during the middle of the race.
I ended up finishing 171st overall with a time of 47 minutes and 50 seconds. I think I took 13th out of 24 sea kayaks.
Total Distance: 4.87 miles (including warmup and waiting for the start
Duration: 01:22:44
Average Speed: 3.44 mph
Max Speed: 7.51 mph
