Ahhhhhh = First shower in 9 days. First sleep in own bed in 16 nights. First day our swollen, blistered, sunburnt, water-logged hands and/or sore shoulders get to rest since pushing each stroke of the watery way back
from the north end of Vancouver island to Fidalgo island in two very loaded, kevlar Necky Nootka Plus tandem sea kayaks.
And what now feels like a luxury most of all, the first morning without having to scramble out of a tent, over uneven rocks, driftwood, to find/ filter/ boil water for our morning coffee!
(photo credit Kathleen M.)
326 mostly sunny miles later, 4 t-shirt & sunglass-tanned Sound Rowers kayak racing friends happily return home a bit stronger and a few pounds each lighter.
After 13 islands kayak-camped on (22 this year so far for Jim & Nadja:), humpback & gray whale blows, a false killer whale, a black bear,
Steve & Greg seeing 3 wolf, Jim & Nadja a pod of white-sided dolphin, and as always lots of up close curious eagles & seals...
With only a few days of paddling/ getting swallowed by/in big seas-
fought some strong headwinds the first day in Johnstone Straits.
fought some strong headwinds the first day in Johnstone Straits.
Inspiring encounters with people and nature while pushing the limits through high mileage in loaded boats at faster-than-average-touring speeds as we navigated through the unknown,
more often than not against strong currents, through rapids, a few rainstorms, tide rips, reefs, shoals, rocks, gales, sunrises, sunsets,
to set up paradise home-for-the-night camps again and again each day at the next beautiful island destination,
which was always "just around the next point"...
What a freaking adventure!!! For 3 of us at least, Steve is currently continuing on another approx. 40 miles solo from Anacortes to Tulalip Bay. While us here at Island Paddlers have already got next summer's adventure paddle journey planned... :)
