12.31.2020
Ended 2020 right with a nice paddle. Launched from Tracyton Boat Ramp and explored Oyster and Ostrich Bays. Paddled by a couple meaningful places along the way:
1. High school buddy's house: Lots of great memories hanging out here in high school and college
2. Oyster Bay Inn: It was here in 2014 during a lunch break at a work conference (a couple months before moving to Japan), where I saw a kayaker do a lap around Oyster Bay and decided to finally pull the trigger and buy some kayaks. One of the best decisions for sure!
Total Distance: 8.71 miles
Duration: 02:16.52
Average Speed: 3.82 mph
Max Speed: 6.2 mph
12.28.2020
Breezy and chilly morning, but always a fun paddle anyways. Launched from Olalla and paddled North in Colvos Passage.
Total Distance: 6.71 miles
Duration: 02:03.57
Average Speed: 3.25 mph
Max Speed: 8.31 mph
12.23.2020
Launched North Bay Kayak Park in Allyn and paddled south around Reach and Stretch Islands. It was a beautful, but very cold morning.
Total Distance: 10.02 miles
Duration: 02:54.03
Average Speed: 3.45 mph
Max Speed: 5.87 mph
12.20.2020
The tides were just right for this trip. Launched from Annapolis and paddled through the Port Washington Narrows to Silverdale and up Clear Creek a bit. Nice paddle, but was pretty beat at the end.
Total Distance: 17.3 miles
Duration: 04:21.27
Average Speed: 3.97 mph
Max Speed: 7.71 mph
12.17.2020
It was definately windier than I hoped, but at least there were some blue skies. Launched from Union and exlored the Skokomish river basin. It was a very tough paddle going right into the wind...at times making no progress. Good exercise though!
Total Distance: 4.98 miles
Duration: 01:59.25
Average Speed: 2.5 mph
Max Speed: 9.86 mph
12.05.2020
Had errands to run in Lynwood during the day, so brought the kayak along with me for a morning paddle in Edmonds. Launched from Brackets Landing North and paddled north from there to Picnic point before heading back. I didn't read the signs before launching and guess boating is not authorized from Brackets Landing North...someone kindly yelled at me, but only after I was already on the water.
Good paddle though, also got to watch the trains going up and down the shore.
Total Distance: 11.56 miles
Duration: 03:26.25
Average Speed: 3.36 mph
Max Speed: 6.84 mph
11.22.2020
Snuck out for a quick paddle on Sunday Afternoon. Not entirely sure why, but really enjoy paddling Sinclair Inlet towards Gorst. There's something about the mixture between urban, industrial, and nature all mixed into one. Very common to be stalked by seals, seeing bald eagles, going through swarms of jellyfish, while paddling around huge barges, abandoned washed up boats, and highway traffic. It's also really calm too.
This time I paddled up to the entrance of Anderson Creek to watch the salmon struggling to go up the creek to spawn...pretty cool.
Total Distance: 5.25 miles
Duration: 01:25.21
Average Speed: 3.69 mph
Max Speed: 8.17 mph
11.11.2020
Launched from Brownsville again on Veteran's Day, but this time paddled North toward Kingston. Nice calm, but grey paddling day.
Total Distance: 7.59 miles
Duration: 02:27.53
Average Speed: 3.08 mph
Max Speed: 6.03 mph
11.01.2020
Paddled from Brownsville Marina to Illahee State Park and back on Sunday AM. Very slight breeze, but nice paddle overall. Pretty uneventful, just saw some seals, sea lions and bald eagles.
Total Distance: 9.15 miles
Duration: 02:34.39
Average Speed: 3.55 mph
Max Speed: 6.03 mph
10.25.2020
Awesome paddle with Arlyn as we explored Lake Kokanee near Lake Cushman. Really beautiful lake with a nice waterfall at the end. It was windy day in the Sound, however was pretty protected on the lake. It was crazy peaceful and quiet on the lake....
Grabbed food and drinks at Axe and Arrow downtown Bremerton to wrap up a great trip
Total Distance: 3.05 miles
Duration: 01:28.14
Average Speed: 2.08 mph
Max Speed: 5.42 mph
10.12.2020
Pretty routine paddle in Sinclair inlet on Columbus day. Paddled around one of the tied up barges which was something new and cool though...
Total Distance: 4.53 miles
Duration: 01:20.22
Average Speed: 3.39 mph
Max Speed: 5.77 mph
10.05.2020
Another great paddle day with Arlyn, I can get used to this. Awesome routine: Coffee, Kayak, Beer.
Launched from North Bay Kayak Park in Allyn (pretty cool they had a park just for kayak launching). Explored North Bay hoping to see some salmon jumping (only saw one), but still a fun trip.
Total Distance: 3.6 miles
Duration: 01:59.03
Average Speed: 1.81 mph
Max Speed: 4.7 mph
09.27.2020
Paddled Liberty Bay with Arlyn on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. A baby seal was playing hide and seek with her and then tried to climb up on her kayak...priceless
Poulsbo is a great kayaking town. We had coffee before hitting the water and then beers after at Slippery Pig Brewery. Was a pretty good day.
Total Distance: 4.08 miles
Duration: 02:13.22
Average Speed: 1.83 mph
Max Speed: 4.26 mph
09.06.2020
Took a weekend trip to Spokane with the family and managed to get the kayak out and paddled Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Big lake as I did 10 miles and felt like I only scratched the surface. I explored the northwest side of the lake near the Spokane River, would love to come back and explore more areas of the lake. It was starting to get busy with powerboats as I was leaving, but still lots of fun.
Total Distance: 10.25 miles
Duration: 02:50.19
Average Speed: 3.61 mph
Max Speed: 6.9 mph
08.29.2020
Last kayak crabbing trip of the year...could have got 20+ if I really wanted to. Nice paddle along the canal as I ended up trading crabs as I kept finding bigger ones. Also saw a couple large starry flounder I could have caught by hand if I wanted to try!
Total Distance: 9.27 miles
Duration: 03:48.24
Average Speed: 2.44 mph
Max Speed: 5.23 mph
08.23.2020
Got and unexpected free day today, so of course I took the opportunity to hit the water on a beautiful summer afternoon. Paddled from Union and explored the Skokomish River Basin. It would have been a lot better at high tide, but still fun
Had to get out a couple times and walk the kayak... Saw salmon coming down the river and lots of seals hunting.
Total Distance: 6.1 miles
Duration: 02:10.39
Average Speed: 2.8 mph
Max Speed: 6.28 mph
08.16.2020
Launched from Port Gamble and paddled the canal on a really calm morning and also did some kayak crabbing. Saw some harbor porpoises also along the way.
Total Distance: 6.81 miles
Duration: 02:29.25
Average Speed: 2.73 mph
Max Speed: 6.32 mph
08.09.2020
Paddled the Purdy Spit, explored Burley Lagoon and paddled up Burley Creek quite a bit. Pretty cool trip.
Total Distance: 7.14 miles
Duration: 02:12.07
Average Speed: 3.24 mph
Max Speed: 6.24 mph
08.08.2020
Quick day trip with the family to the Hood Canal, and Ethan and I went kayak crabbing. Pretty successful day and Ethan got to practice with smaller crabs.
Total Distance: 2.33 miles
Duration: 01:35.03
Average Speed: 1.47 mph
Max Speed: 4.5 mph
08.01.2020
Paddled to Glass Beach (aka McCurdy Point) from North Beach County Park in Port Townsend. It was a good way to get to glass beach for sure. Combed the beach for beach glass roughly 30 minutes before heading back. Paddled through pretty thick kelp beds on the way too.
Total Distance: 8.31 miles
Duration: 01:49.40
Average Speed: 4.54 mph
Max Speed: 10.21 mph
07.28.2020
OK, found the perfect launch location for my Kayak commute -> Port Orchard Boat Launch. It's about a 2mile trip to/from work, which is perfect.
Going home is definately like being in traffic. Have to cross 3 ferry lanes (Fast ferry to Seattle, Car Ferry to Seattle, and Port Orchard/Bremerton passenger ferry).
Total Distance to Work: 2.15 miles
Duration: 00:29.48
Average Speed: 4.34 mph
Max Speed: 5.95 mph
Total Distance Home: 2.12 miles
Duration: 00:34.13
Average Speed: 3.72 mph
Max Speed: 7.1 mph
07.24.2020
Finally tried Kayak Commuting to work... Lauched from Pomeroy Park in Manchester and paddled 7 miles to the Bremerton. Tied up at the Bremerton Marina for free and went to work! The paddle home was much tougher as I had to fight a pretty strong tide all the way back.
It was a little long for a commute, going to try and launch somewhere close in Port Orchard next time.
Total Distance to Work: 7.02 miles
Duration: 01:34.38
Average Speed: 4.45 mph
Max Speed: 7.86 mph
Total Distance Home: 7.73 miles
Duration: 02:09.58
Average Speed: 3.57 mph
Max Speed: 6.7 mph
07.12.2020
Launched from the Allyn Boat Ramp off of the Hood Canal and explored the end of the Canal in Belfair. It was during a moderate low tide, so still made it a decent way into Lynch cover before heading back. Lots of oyster beds and bald eagles flying around.
Total Distance: 6.43 miles
Duration: 01:57.20
Average Speed: 3.29 mph
Max Speed: 5.46 mph
07.04.2020
Happy 4th of July! Spent the day on Indian Island with the family and threw the heavy Riot Polarity double kayak on the car. Got both kids in the kayak, and it was also Mia's first time ever. She really did well and looked like she had fun. The tide came in, so had to ferry Ethan and our stuff back to the car.
Total Distance (combined): 3.3 miles
Duration: 01:29.02
Max Speed: 6.56 mph
07.03.2020
Crabbing season is open! I caught my limit of red rock crab in about 20 minutes.... It was so fast, that it really made for a short paddle as I needed to get back to shore to get the crabs on ice.
Total Distance: 1.21 miles
Duration: 00:46.55
Average Speed: 1.55 mph
Max Speed: 5.89 mph
06.25.2020
Lauched from the Seabeck Boat Lauch off of Mystery Point and explored the Hood Canal around Seabeck on a really calm morning. Paddled through Seabeck Bay, Little Beef Creek, Big Beef Harbor before crossing the Hood Canal into Fisherman Harbor before heading back.
Total Distance: 13.09 miles
Duration: 03:55.31
Average Speed: 3.34 mph
Max Speed: 5.63 mph
06.24.2020
A routine paddle from Pomeroy Park in Manchester, but this time went around the Orchard Rocks off of Bainbridge Island during low tide. Man were there a lot of seals out there!
Total Distance: 4.1 miles
Duration: 01:06.58
Average Speed: 3.68 mph
Max Speed: 5.41 mph
06.22.2020
Day trip with the family to Crescent Lake near Port Angelas, man what a beautiful lake. Big lake surrounded by mountains with clear blue waters.
Snuck out a couple quick trips on the lake, one of them with Ethan on my lap like old times.
Total Distance (all trips): 4.04 miles
Duration: 01:07.55
Max Speed: 3.74 mph
06.21.2020
Nice father's day escape morning paddle. Launched from Termination Point near the Hood Canal Bridge and explored the hood canal shorline and of course crossed the canal. It was a gray misty morning, but still good paddling.
Total Distance: 11.89 miles
Duration: 04:09.35
Average Speed: 2.86 mph
Max Speed: 7.47 mph
06.07.2020
Launched from Brownsville Marina and paddled into Burke Bay before heading back out to Bainbridge Island and Manzanita Bay. Nice paddle as the water was glassy in the AM and just a slight breeze on the way back.
Total Distance: 11.22 miles
Duration: 03:10.58
Average Speed: 3.52 mph
Max Speed: 5.32 mph
05.16.2020
Poor planning on my part at it's finest, but still fun trip. I woke up and on the spur of the moment decided I was going to kayak from Indian Island instead of Belfair. The night before I checked the winds and there was essentially nothing in the forecast. I assumed the same would be for Indian Island (mistake #1). I also on the whim decided I was going to paddle around the island without actually checking the distance (mistake #2)
Lets just say that all the bodies of water I passed on the drive (Manchester, Sinclair Inlet, Hood Canal) were all glassy waters. When I got to Indian Island it was a different story...10-15 constant winds, choppy water, and a light rain.
Still a fun paddle, however the last 4 miles was straight into the wind. I haven't been sore from a kayak trip since my first Enoshima lap from Hayama. Nice island to paddle around (actually combo of Indian Island and Marrowstone Island). Nice cliffs on the ends of the island and even saw a sea otter for the first time on a paddle.
Total Distance: 17.47 miles
Duration: 04:48.46
Average Speed: 3.63 mph
Max Speed: 7.66 mph
05.09.2020
It was a summerlike weekend...Launched from Olalla and explored the bay before heading out into Colvos Passage. Paddled across to Vashon and south towards Tacoma/Gig Harbor before heading back.
Total Distance: 9.96 miles
Duration: 02:55.59
Average Speed: 3.4 mph
Max Speed: 5.37 mph
04.26.2020
Launched again from Gig Harbor, however this time paddled south to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and back. Was able to time the tides nicely so was fairly easy paddle. It's really cool seeing the bridge from underneath.
Total Distance: 15.59 miles
Duration: 03:27.15
Average Speed: 4.51 mph
Max Speed: 9.16 mph
04.19.2020
Paddled from Gig Harbor to Point Defiance and back. I didn't anticipate the tide to flow so strong through the Narrows, but it makes sense thinking about it after the fact. It was a nice calm day for a paddle.
Total Distance: 9.98 miles
Duration: 03:02.30
Average Speed: 3.28 mph
Max Speed: 8.39 mph
04.17.2020
Busted out the double kayak today and paddled with Ethan from Manchester to Blake Island. There was a slight northern breeze which created some chop, but still a good father son trip.
Total Distance: 3.82 miles
Duration: 01:11.28
Average Speed: 3.21 mph
Max Speed: 5.36 mph
04.11.2020
Knocked out one of the trips I've been wanting to do since moving to Manchester. Paddled from Manchester to Alki Beach and back! The original plan was just to Alki Point, but I kept paddling until I got to Duwamish Head with the awesome view of Downtown Seattle. This essentially pushed to the trip to 16 miles, longest trip so far.
Total Distance: 16.36 miles
Duration: 04:16.25
Average Speed: 3.83 mph
Max Speed: 8.31 mph
03.21.2020
Kayaking is a great social distancing practice...completely isolated on the water, even in Tacoma.
Launched from Thea's Park and paddled through the Foss Waterway before heading out into Commencement Bay. Paddled across the bay to Browns Point before heading back. Cloudy out, but really calm. Can't ask for a whole lot more.
Total Distance: 11.58 miles
Duration: 03:08.16
Average Speed: 3.69 mph
Max Speed: 5.54 mph
03.14.2020
It was supposed to be St Paddles Day, however the event unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19.
Met up with Jon and Chris anyways as they still stayed at Alderbrook resort. It was very breezy and cold, but a good chance to try out my new NRS gear (0.5 mil hydroskin longsleeve and paddling jacket). Jon barely made it out of the marina with his recreational kayak, and Chris (on his SUP) and I only paddled a mile along shore before heading back... As he was turning back to the marina, he unfortunately fell into the water.
After they gave up for the day, I paddled solo across the canal and up the Tahuya River. It even was snowing as I was crossing back. Bottom line, having a sea kayak kicked butt as I had no issues out there, and my new gear was awesome too as I was even sweating (still wore my Nike hoodie also).
Total Distance: 8.23 miles
Duration: 02:38.53
Average Speed: 3.11 mph
Max Speed: 8.59 mph
02.22.2020
Paddled from Illahee State Park to Manchester State Park and back. Not a bad trip going through Rich Passage and crossing the Ferry paths.
Total Distance: 6.87 miles
Duration: 01:57.39
Average Speed: 3.5 mph
Max Speed: 7.13 mph
02.17.2020
Launched from Harper Park and paddled south past the Southworth-Fauntleroy Ferry Run and along Vashon Island. Nice quick paddle on a crisp February morning.
Total Distance: 6.91 miles
Duration: 01:52.21
Average Speed: 3.69 mph
Max Speed: 5.69 mph
02.08-09.2020
Two kayak trips in Dyes inlet over the weekend
Trip 1 on Saturday was with Arlyn as I'm shocked I got her out on the water in February. A break from the rain always helps! Calm waters as we paddled from Silverdale Waterfront Park into Chico Bay and back. Unfortunately it did rain on us on the way back, but a good trip is always. Also grabbed some beers afterwards at Cash Brewing, which is always nice.
Trip 2 on Sunday AM was with a couple of co-workers. It was nice sunny everywhere, until we reached Silverdale... There was a thick layer of fog over Dyes inlet which made for a very different paddle. I've never been in a white-out condition paddle before and its shocking how easy it is to get disoriented. Definately a good experience, I should have brought my Necky Kayak though since it has a compass installed.
Trip 1 Total Distance: 5.85 miles
Duration: 02:21.46
Average Speed: 2.47 mph
Max Speed: 6.49 mph
Trip 2 Total Distance: 9.06 miles
Duration: 02:34.33
Average Speed: 3.52 mph
Max Speed: 6.8 mph
02.02.2020
Cold crisp morning for a paddle... Launched from Annapolis and paddled accross Sinclair Inlet, through the Port Washington Narrows, and into Mud bay and back. The tides worked out well for the trip, however had to fight a bit of a breeze coming back.
I always enjoy checking out the waterfront homes, but man there are some ghetto ones in West Bremerton for sure. It's a shame for such because the houses are sitting on some amazing propert!
Total Distance: 14.44 miles
Duration: 03:33.53
Average Speed: 4.05 mph
Max Speed: 6.29 mph
01.19.2020
Launched from the Purdy Spit and paddled Henderson Bay... around Cutts Island and Raft Island before heading back in. It was a really calm and nice paddle, however as soon as I got to Cutts Island, it started raining and never stopped. I was soaked!
Total Distance: 10.32 miles
Duration: 02:42.55
Average Speed: 3.8 mph
Max Speed: 5.83 mph
01.18.2020
Another breezy and wet Washington winter day... Decided on a quick sheltered paddle so went to Horseshoe Lake where I used to swim at growing up.
Very small lake, and had to carry the kayak a bit since I parked off the road because didn't realize the county park was open only seasonaly. It was about a mile around the lake, so decided to do a couple cross-lake sprints to wear myself out. Lake was glass though despite being breezy on the Puget Sound.
Total Distance: 2.1 miles
Duration: 00:35.56
Average Speed: 3.5 mph
Max Speed: 6.94 mph
01.12.2020
Timed the tides just right where I was able to do a quick paddle through the Port Washington Narrows. Lauched from Lions Park and had 40 minutes of the tide going out to be able to paddle out to Sinclair Inlet and back.
It was fun paddling an area where I used to fish with my dad on a rowboat growing up.
Total Distance: 5.69 miles
Duration: 01:23.56
Average Speed: 4.07 mph
Max Speed: 6.75 mph
01.11.2020
Still not great weather, but that didn't stop me for making it out on the water. Lauched from Manchester State Park and paddled to Bainbridge Island and towards Rich Passage before heading back. Saw some sea lions and a bald eagle, pretty standard for the area!
Total Distance: 5.39 miles
Duration: 01:25.56
Average Speed: 3.76 mph
Max Speed: 6.28 mph
01.05.2020
The weather has been stormy ever since returning from Colorado, however was determined to get out on the water while I still had a few days off before going back to work. Caught a break in the rain (but not the wind), and paddled on Long Lake just to be safe. It was a good workout when paddling against the wind. I've never seen the lake in the winter, didn't expect all the lilypads to be gone (although it makes sense). Water was also very brown, assuming from all the rain and wind churning up the water. Good to get out on the water however.
Total Distance: 4.38 miles
Duration: 01:22.23
Average Speed: 3.19 mph
Max Speed: 5.75 mph
