A Paddler's Guide to the Salish Sea.: puget sound paddling

Showing posts with label puget sound paddling. Show all posts

2/29/20

Paddle to Kinney Point on Marrowstone Island

Two years ago while training for the SEVENTY48 I joined fellow crazy paddlers, PT resident Bandon Davis and Seattle friend Sean Nordquist in paddling in PT Canal.

Launching from the boat ramp beach at Port Hadlock, we enjoyed flying down the canal using the ebb then paddled around the south end of Marrowstone Island to Kinney Point. Trip #34

It was low tide so aside from our fins hitting sand a few times we enjoyed the marine life 2-3' below our feet. I remember over dressing for the unusually warm early Spring day.

At Kinney Point (see pics) we landed and explored the WWTA Cascadia Marine Trail site up the hill. There was a bench on a forested medium bluff overlooking the beach and a few forested tent sites. Looked like a great off the beaten path spot.

We paddled back after a bit and found enough eddies for eddy hopping our way back up the ebb current. Brandon took the west side and we both found a good options.

In the pic, Brandon and I have his 14' stitch and glue SUPs with internal storage. He has since designed 18'x26" carbon SUPs with storage, I think available only by request. Brandon is available at Turn Point Design in PT.

The currents in PT canal are tricky and not a clear ebb and flood per other flows nearby. Make sure to check local current and cruising guides to time it right. The Portage isn't bad if you have to!

Rob Casey is author of Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, 60 Trips and Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers, both by Mountaineers Books. He owns Salmon Bay Paddle a SUP school in Seattle. Get in touch: rob@salmonbaypaddle.com

7/2/19

16 Night Paddling Tips

Night paddling is an amazing and surprisingly eye opening experience. Doing so will allow you to see your local waters in a different way and allow you to use your senses differently to safely navigate.

Here's 16 Tips for Night Paddling

(With Puget Sound in mind, but ok for anywhere)..

1/30/17

The Salish Sea Marine Trail

Reposted from Wild Coast Magazine...

Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and BC Marine Trails Network Association have come up with the perfect recipe for connecting Vancouver Island and the rest of Canada by trail. Just add saltwater and stir with a paddle.

The result will be the Salish Sea Marine Trail, a blueway – a saltwater route designed for paddle craft and small beachable boats – that will connect The Great Trail (the new name for the Trans Canada Trail) from Horseshoe Bay on the BC Mainland to Kilometre Zero of The Great Trail at Clover Point in Victoria.

Salish Sea Marine Trail

The 257-kilometre trail will snake north from Clover Point along Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula into the Gulf Islands, then north past Nanaimo through the Winchelsea and Ballenas islands across to Lasqueti and Texada Islands, then down the Sunshine Coast and across Howe Sound to

end at Horseshoe Bay.

From there it will connect to the Sea to Sky Marine Trail to link to Squamish by water plus connect with The Great Trail land trails in Vancouver and the rest of Canada.

The Salish Sea Marine Trail will not only provide the link, it will create an incredible new paddling route in its own right, providing a human-powered connection spanning the Canadian side of the Salish Sea.

Spearheading the Salish Sea Marine Trail is the BC Marine Trails Network Association (BCMTNA), an affiliation of British Columbia's kayaking and paddling clubs along with private members and business members. Formed in 2009, its mandate is to develop marine trails along the British Columbia coast through a network of access points and campsites developed in association with government agencies, First Nations and stakeholders.

Other partners coming on side for the Salish Sea Marine Trail include the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, which will provide the marine ecology interpretive component for the trail as it develops. Read More..

Learn more about my book Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans, 60 Trips. I also offer SUP and Kayak lessons available throughout the year at Salmon Bay Paddle. Questions about paddling on the Salish Sea, give me a holler anytime at salmonbaypaddle@gmail.com or 206-465-7167

Support the Washington Water Trails Association and the Cascadia Marine Trail. The wwta works to create and protect access for paddlers on Puget Sound as well as provide an extensive network of over 60 paddle-in camping sites - www.wwta.org

5/15/14

Paddling Eagle Harbor, Winslow - Bainbridge Island Trip 14

Eagle Harbor in Winslow - Bainbridge Island. Trip #14

Wing Pt

A great protected gunkhole with a lot of personality. I've seen surfable waves on the outside from ferries while only a few hundred yards inside it's usually super calm. Way up inside it dries out to a tide flat at low tide and is surrounded by interesting modern and some historic homes.

A great paddle if you're seeking a protected spot for windy days or fun exploring for a short day trip from Seattle.

Eagle Hbr looking west to east

3/24/14

Two Darrell Kirk Paddling Videos of Everett's Waterways - Trip 21

My neighbor and student Darrell Kirk does amazing videos of his explorations around Puget Sound and the West Coast. From the Saltine Sea to Ebey's Slough, here's two exploring the Everett, Wa waterfront.

Trip 22 -

Ship Graveyard. Many of these ships date to the 19th century and line the Snohomish River mouth in to Puget Sound.
http://vimeo.com/85328730

Adventure on Ebey & Steamboat Slough. Note to check tides here to avoid being caught high and dry in mud on lower tides.
http://vimeo.com/89457365

SUP Trip to Hat (Gedney Island) with Darrell Kirk

My student Darrell Kirk gets around and he creates fun mini documentaries of his SUP explorations.
Here, Darrell explores Hat (Gedney Island) off Everett and SE Whidbey Island. I believe he got a boat trip back to the mainland from one of the island residents.

12/19/13

Paddling Mats Mats Bay, Trip #33

Overview from Paradise Bay Road.

If you're looking for a mellow bay to paddle in with minimal development for all skill levels, Mats Mats bay is one of my favorites. Located a few minutes north of Port Ludlow and a few miles south of Marrowstone Island, Mats Mats is very protected but has additional options for those seeking more exploring.

Launch directly into the bay on Vernon Road off Paradise Bay Road. Lots of parking and great for big groups. The bay's opening into the Puget Sound is very narrow (for rec boaters) but ideal for paddlers. Once into the Sound, heading right or south will take you to a series of rocks with a great harbor seal population. To the left takes you north past beach homes. Views to the south include Foulweather Bluff on the Kitsap Peninsula, to the east Whidbey Island and to north Marrowstone Island. Mats Mats is Trip #33 in the book.

Tip: Paradise Bay Road is a quick and scenic route connecting Hood Canal Bridge with Port Hadlock. I prefer it to Hwy 104 or Chimacum Road.

Entry connecting Mats Mats to the Sound

12/7/13

Port Townsend Boat Haven, Trip #36

Driving into Port Townsend, the first thing you see below the hill is an expansive PT Boat Haven to your right. Boats of all kinds and sizes of all varying conditions are being restored. The town is also home to the Northwest School of Boat Building and the PT Maritime Center has a new building at the end of Water Street. I gave a talk for my SUP book there a year ago as part of their Wednesday speaker series in the Chandry.

The Boat Haven is worth taking a peek exploring the winding road taking you past all types of boat facilities and shops passing Port Townsend Brewing and the Pourhouse (like beer?). Friend Tim Nolan's shop near the Pourhouse designs commercial watercraft such as the Port Angeles pilot boats. Tim's a local SUP paddler who was instrumental in developing the use of the CNC machine for boat building.

Want to launch your boat/board? Find Haines Street in the Boat Haven for a nice sandy beach launch. Plenty of parking, open all the time. In the book, Trip #36.

12/4/13

Kayaking & SUP Circumnavigation of Indian & Marrowstone Islands

Trip Report from Laura Prendergast of Pygmy Kayaks:

Mission accomplished! Griff and I paddled approximately 19.5 miles (according to google maps) in 6.5 hours around Marrowstone and Indian Island... a great way to spend Black Friday! No lines to buy things... just sea lions eating salmon, curious seals and porpoises surfacing.

Our route was mapped from Pygmy's HQ as I left from the Point Hudson Marina in Port Townsend. We experienced strong currents by the lighthouse on marrowstone. We followed the tide around perfectly, going clockwise with high tide at 12:30.

The route could also be broken into a two day trip using the WWTA Kinney Point campsite on the south end of Marrowstone. www.wwta.org

We were both paddling Pygmy Murrelets 4PD: Greenland Style Touring Kayaks http://www.pygmyboats.com/boats/murrelet-4PD-kayak-kit.html

In the book, Trip 34 & 35.

12/2/13

Pacific Northwest Paddle Trip Planning Resources

General - Covering all aspects of planning:
- Northwest Paddling, http://www.northwestpaddling.net
- My books! This one and my SUP guide, http://www.amazon.com/Rob-Casey/e/B004N4W41M/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Tidal & Current Predictions:
- NOAA, http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html
- Saltwater Tides, http://www.saltwatertides.com
- Mobile Graphics (type in location), http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/1528.html
- http://www.dairiki.org/tides/daily.php/dec
- Tides Info, http://www.tides.info

Wind Predictions and Real Time Data:
- Sail Flow, http://www.sailflow.com
- Wind Alert, http://www.windalert.com
- NOAA, http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KSEW.html

Surf Forecasts:
- NOAA, http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KSEW.html
- WA & OR Surf Spots: http://www.surfwater.org
- Storm Surf, http://stormsurf.com
- Magic Seaweed, http://magicseaweed.com

General Weather (non marine):
- Cliff Mass Blog, http://cliffmass.blogspot.com
- National Weather Service (NOAA), http://www.weather.gov
- AccuWeather, http://www.accuweather.com
- Weather.com, http://www.weather.com

Webcams:
- West Point Lighthouse, Seattle: http://www.brichmond.com/webcam/mywebcam_loop.htm
- Edmonds, http://www.portofedmonds.org/docs/cam/portcam.htm
- Port Townsend (controllable): http://www.cityofpt.us/webcam.htm
- WA & OR Surf Spots: http://www.surfwater.org
- Big Wave Dave - British Columbia and WA State: http://www.bigwavedave.ca
- WA Dept of Transportation (State Wide): http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/cameras/

Aerial Marine Views of the NW:
- Dept of Ecology, Shoreline Photos, https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/coastalatlas/tools/ShorePhotos.aspx
- Google Earth, http://www.google.com/earth/
- NOAA, http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/geodesy/aerialphotos/#2