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| Pacific Northwest Artisans Website
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| Beach Haven Resort
Orcas Island, Washington September 13-20 2008 Copyright Trub 2008  Area Paddled, Orcas Ilsand Washington Start Day One  The buds and I took the 6am Washington State ferry to Orcas Island we were treated to a spectacular sunrise from the east, a great omen for the week ahead.  We arrived on island at 6:45 with no shops open yet so we headed to Moran State Park and laid around in the early morning sun at Cascade Lake till we could go looking for a rental yak, Blevin aka- “The Constant Gardner” had hoped to rent one on island.  After going from one end of Orcas to the other and every shop and resort in between looking for a rental we could not find one. Either they where big plastic tubs or you had to have a four star BCU (British Canoe Union) certification what ever that has to do with yaking in the islands. So Blevin found a great deal on a new one at Shearwater kayaks in the village. (Those smart islanders)  Blevin practices his self-rescue with his new yak.  I tried a Eskimo role unsuccessfully so I tried a rear entry over the back of the boat unsuccessfully and ended-up using my paddle float. The yakers on the DVD make it look so easy.  Miles of virgin shorelines, patchworks of green leading to the oceans edge imagine hundreds of years ago Native Americans paddling these enchanted waters hunting as one with the Orca.  Twisted madrona trees, maidens dance naked in the sun, there green leafy capes too the wind.  I wonder how my honey and I would do in a double. Who knows this could be a couples therapy group working on there communication skills; anybody get wet yet.  Miller Time yelled “Orcas” and I was out the door and in my yak my first launch attempt did not go so well I am all wet and no wetsuit. The adrenalin was pumping I did not feel the cold and sprinted out in to the sunset to get a closer look.  The best I could do was this one photo before they swam away it was a rush. I slowly paddled back in the sunset. The neighbors in the cabin next door commented on seeing Orcas trailing me halfway back to shore and then swimming away.  We all agreed, what a great first day. Start Day Two  Day two started with the moon setting as the sun rose on another spectacular day.  Miller Time decided not to yak this year so he trailer up his trusty fishing boat and launched it at West Beach Resort on the morning high tide. The people at West Beach are great and they have a great little convenient store and marine gas.   Are two intrepid or decrepit Kayakers Blevin and Trub at Doughty Point.  Doughty Point, Orcas Island Washington one of the most productive marine environments on the Left Coast.  Doughty Point State Park is worth the visit for lunch or overnight. The campsites are a short hike up the hill from the beach, the view is worth the effort.  Miller Time aboard “The Miller Time”.  This picture says it all, as we rowed back from “The Miller Times” mooring buoy just offshore from the cabin.  Homemade lasagna with two kinds of Italian sausage, five cheeses and all the veggies were grown by “The Constant Gardner” him self. Apparently good enough to land Blevin on his hometowns tour of gardens. They were awesome veggies dude! Start Day Three  Waking to the sound of lapping waves on a pebble beach, seagull’s noisily foraging for there morning food as songbirds greet the new day. Click here Audio recording of morning sounds  "The Miller Time" at rest, Canadian Gulf Islands in the background.  Self-portraits on our way down Presidential Passage to meet up with Miller Time to pickup some cold beverages.  The homes along this desolate stretch of Orcas Island are simply breathtaking something right out of a fairytale.  We made are rendezvous and refilled are supplies for the three mile paddle back.  On our paddle back we ran across this Stellar Sea Loin he was huge and it makes me think it might have been a Pacific Walrus it was as big as a minivan. He was either really pissed off grunting and breathing hard or he was possibly ill from the warm waters.  The Jellyfish in the San Juan Islands are the size of basketballs, I really can see where renowned glassblower "Chihuly" of Seattle gets his inspiration. Underwater jellyfish Video  More underwater photos.  A lot of late night Cribbage, Dude I promise I will pay up someday. Start Day Four  A light breeze greeted us on the fourth morning and there was a threat of rain. Miller Time got an early start fishing he needed to pickup our old school buddy Scotty flyng in from San Francisco.  As we rounded Doughty Point on are way to Smugglers Cove we sew these harbor seals sunning them selves on the rocks.  Miller Time with his prize catch, a Copper Rockfish dude hold it closer to the lens it might get a little bigger.  Scotty, good to see ya buddy.  Rafting up at Smugglers Cove.  Yaking into the sunset. Start Day Five  The fifth day we spent checking out the island we had lunch at the famed Rosaria Resort only to find out it was going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. These are scary times I hope they do not tare down the resort and build condos.  We love it up here at Beach Haven Resort No phones, No TV, No Internet - the good life. Click here recording of acoustic jam on deck  Group photo outside our cabin in the sunset of the last day. Left to right: Trub, Blevin “The Constant Gardner”, Scotty, Miller Time. Start Day Six  Happy paddling till next time. |
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