Island storm paddling in the PNW

Strong winds announce 

autumns arrival

here amongst our Pacific Northwest islands,

giving us great excuse lately to get out on the water, 
storm-chasing along the 
unpredictable Salish Seas 
we affectionately call home. 

Whether just after a weekend sunrise, or strategically before yet another amazing San Juan island sunset- 

Eagerly we set out searching along familiar island 

shorelines for surf-able 

& sail-able waves. 

From Whidbey island
 to Rosario Strait,

down Guemes and 
Bellingham Channels,

up Padilla & Burrows Bays-

Launching from Fidalgo island
 on fun, fall  

circumnavigation paddles

around nearby Guemes, Allan 
and Burrows islands.

 We've giggled with friends

 the past few 
blustery weekends,
 sneaking in awesome 
15 milers just hours

before the next 
big storm arrived!

~Seasons change and winds invigorate.  Adreline rushes from chasing chilly 
wind waves keeps us smiling

into the twilight much earlier each week.  As our layers get thicker,  adventurous autumn paddles

add inspiration to our expedition planning 

for next summer's

island paddling journey... 

Kayak Surfs up!

With only a few weeks left o' summer

Jim couldn't resist the calling of some bigger wave action.

So we packed up our toys (aka boats:)

and headed for the Oregon Coast.

From paddling with pelicans

under glorious sunshine,

to introducing new family vacation activities...

like SAND DUNE SURFING!

The Oregon Coast has somethin' for

paddlers of all skills & sizes!!

~Happy end o' season adventuring!~

Neah Bay Getaway

For Valentine's Day weekend, we spent 4 blissful nights

in the tiny seaside village of Seiku, WA

out on the very most NW point of the Olympic Peninsula.

...Just 2 months after requiring 2 back-to-back spinal surgeries from a paddling injury,

I was super-stoked to reach my first recovery goal-

of being able to hike (slowly & carefully but still:)

our favorite remote Olympic coastal trails~
*Which Backpacker Magazine rates among some of the top 10 trails of the United States!~On our 3rd annual Winter Neah Bay Getaway, ... we go out there to escape onto the trails

and enjoy all of the remote coastal vantage points like the Cape Flattery trail ( 1 mile r/t),
the Shi Shi Beach trail (6 mi's r/t)
and the Ozette-Cape Alava-
to Sand Point- and return to Lake Ozette (10 miles r/t)

...While Jim was super-stoked to play a bit

in the giant surf at Hoback Beach!~