06.05-06.2022
First kayak camping trip and also last training trip before the Seventy48 race. It was an awesome experience checking both boxes.
Jon, Jeramy, and myself launched from Fay Park on the northeast tip of Bainbridge Island and paddled the west side of the island to Blake Island. It was a tough trip as we had a very strong headwind the entire trip... Good for training and also testing the Valkyrie fully loaded with camping gear for the first time.
Camping on Blake was really cool as we really had the island to ourselves (besides wildlife and the camp rangers). Good company for sure around the campfire before retiring for the night. I love the feeling of packing all your gear in a kayak and paddling it to camp.
The next day we paddled back up the east side of Bainbridge to end the trip. Weather was really good on day 2 as it was glassy all the way back.
Several important lessons: 1) Eat lots of food during long trips 2) Bringer warmer clothes for overnight.
Total Distance Day 1: 19.86 miles
Duration: 06:27.34
Average Speed: 3.1 mph
Max Speed: 7.0 mph
Total Distance Day 2: 11.50 miles
Duration: 03:06.55
Average Speed: 3.7 mph
Max Speed: 4.9 mph
06.10-11.2022
Well, I finally did it! I completed the Seventy48 race!
Absolutely awesome, and humbling experience. It dumped rain for 3 hours prior to race start, but stopped right at the start and couldn't have asked for any better weather.
First stretch was from downtown Tacoma to Blake Island. Ran into a kayaker I previously met in Colvos passage and was good company. The sun set in the middle of Colvos and started seeing amazing bio-luminescence! Definately one of the coolest things I've seen kayaking. I took it really easy during this stretch to ensure I had enough energy. When I finally landed on Blake and it was packed with racers! Since there was a nice tail-wind, and a soon approaching ebb-tide, I decided only to do a quick bathroom break and headed back out.
I quickly met up with a fellow kayaker I met while waiting for the race to start and we paddled together from here. This stretch was basically from Blake Island to Fay Park, where we both pulled out and had another pee break. Fay Park was exactly half way, 35 miles!
It was a quick stop and we both headed out again with the goal of making it to Point No Point. My company started to tire out and faded back around Kingston, but I pressed on. This was the point I realized I was still feeling really good and decided to pick up the pace. Also got to see the sunrise in this stretch. Pretty cool to see both sunset and sunrise on the same paddle.
Another bathroom break at Point No Point and the tide shifted to a flood... Only 20 miles left so I decided to press on to the finish! The water was glass on officially Day 2 which made for a great paddle. Finished at roughly 14:09 Saturday after just over 19 hours and 37th place overall.
Had a quick beer and noodles when the family showed up to take me home. The race staff also interviewed me about my trip. I brought all the camping gear and extra clothes, but didn't end up using any of it...better to be prepared though. My biggest takeaway was I was basically constantly eating for energy. My favorite ended up being peanut M&M's. Amazing event and look forward to next year! Thanks to my family for letting me do this and all the time training, and of course my kayaking buddies who helped me get ready.
Total Distance: 71.12 miles
Duration: 19:09:00
Average Speed: 3.6 mph
06.16.2022
Day off from work and Arlyn and I headed out for a kayak trip. Launched from Pomeroy Park during a near record low tide and it was Arlyn's first time paddling to Blake Island. Super lucky to have Blake Island just two miles away.
Total Distance: 5.50 miles
Duration: 02:35.07
Average Speed: 2.2 mph
Max Speed: 4.2 mph
06.18.2022
Lauched from North Bay Kayak Park in Allyn to explore more of Case Inlet. I knew there was a humpback whale (Kata) in the area so I was also secretly hoping to see her.
As I was coming out of Rocky Bay, I spotted her! So amazing to see. She was nearly under my kayak at one point, which is really freaky. I followed her at a distance out for a while, then decided to head home by crossing Case Inlet and going around Reach Island. When I came out from Reach Island, she breached behind me (at a little distance)! Felt like she was teasing me a bit... I paddled around hoping to get a good video or picture, but only managed one distant picture. Amazing time out in the kayak.
Total Distance: 12.68 miles
Duration: 03:33.11
Average Speed: 3.6 mph
Max Speed: 4.6 mph
06.25.2022
Raced in the 2nd Annual Bremerton 2 Bridges Tidal Race, which is awesome as always to have a local race. Met up with a couple repeat participants this year, so was nice to chat with them again.
Race was fun, the current wasn't as strong this time, but couldn't beat the weather as it was the first nice weekend of the year. I placed 4th overall and 1st of the "normal" kayaks.
Total Distance: 5.16 miles
Duration: 00:55:60
Average Speed: 5.4 mph
Max Speed: 8.2 mph
