One of our most favorite big ass weekend paddling trips that we try to sneak in at least once a year is a 60 mile/ 100km round trip push from Anacortes to tiny Patos island.
At the very northern most tip of the San Juan archipelago and the end of the USA lies the ultimate remote rugged Salish Seas island of all to retreat upon.
And so with the stars, moon, tides and weather goddesses aligning in rare harmony for these notoriously disharmonious seas, we eagerly set out on one of the nicest weekends of the summer.
Leaving Anacortes on a Friday evening with strong full moon flood tides to ride we easily made it from mid Guemes Channel to the north end of Cypress island in under two hours.
Paddling 8 miles the first night we rendezvous at Pelican Beach to camp with a fellow pirate paddling friend who has launched from Bellingham.
Rising early Saturday morning *aka 4am!* to catch the last couple of hours of helpful strong flood currents to travel north,
our efforts are greatly rewarded....
Spoiled with flat calm pre-dawn seas, vibrant sunrise colors and wildlife sightings such as this young buck sleeping on a tiny ledge of a beach on Orcas island.
In near perfect conditions we arrived 20 miles later at Patos island still in the early morning, allowing plenty of time for beach naps and much to our excitement....
...lighthouse tours!
*Having visited this tiny gem of an isle many times and read all of the rich local history books including the colorful tales in The Light on the Island
going up to the top of the light tower was an extra special treat!
Sunday morning we enjoyed a 28 mile downwind paddle home using strong ebb currents to give us a helpful boost while navigating the Strait of Georgia and into Bellingham Channel.
