Ellen
We usually begin the summer with a quick paddle to Cypress Island in the San Juans off the coast of Washington state. We launch from the Guemes Island ferry terminal in Anacortes and cross Guemes Channel, then Bellingham Channel over to Cypress to camp at Pelican Beach. It's a short trip, and we know its hazards, so it's a good way to test out the gear and re-remember all the little things that make a longer excursion more of a pleasure.Thus, we took our Eddyline Whisper out for its first ocean voyage.We made the crossing of Guemes Channel in no time at all, and we zipped across Bellingham Channel and past Cypress Head, arriving at Pelican before we knew it. We actually had a moment of "No, that can't be Pelican already, can it?"
We also wanted to try out a new tent, the Nemo Moki, a bullet-proof, suited for expeditions, three-person, four-season, backcountry tent.
and skylights in the ceiling.
We had a tasty dinner of an appetizer and pomegranate cocktails, green chile buffalo burgers, potato salad, and wine. We read and talked into the dusk.
We slept in until 8:00 the next morning and did something else we never do: we hiked the trail to Eagle Point. We are usually there during the closure for eagle nesting, but this time we were there a few days after, around July 17. The hike took about an hour, and we were delightfully surprised by the ruggedness of Cypress Island. Looking out over the terrain, it was steeply hilly and cloaked in trees. We returned in about 45 minutes and then had a salmon, egg, and potato scramble.
We waited for slack tide in the afternoon to make our way back to Anacortes. It turned out to be a bit of a mistake, as we had wind and rough conditions. At first, the water was like glass as we headed east up the north side of the island. The rip off Cypress was huge, though we paddle quickly around it and across a corner of it. We continued our crossing of Bellingham Channel in some chop due to the wind. However, it was Guemes Channel that really had a surprise in store for us. We had lots of boats coming down the channel, and then wind and chop, and it really made for a bit of a washing machine. It took quite a bit of time and energy to get back to the ferry terminal.
Anyway, we loved how the Whisper handled in the rough water, and we were pretty smitten with the Nemo tent as well.
Once the sun sets, Pelican Beach is in the shade. It doesn't get cold but you do miss the sun's warmth at that time. Mt. Baker always appears in shades of pink as the sun sets. It really is a beautiful sight from Pelican Beach. Dinner was wonderful. I am always amazed at how well we eat on our kayak trips, thanks to Ellen's expertise.
Behind John's shoulder is the soon-to-be pink-tinted
Once we were back on the water and headed toward Cypress Head, Ellen mentioned how flat and calm the water was. Usually in the afternoon we encounter wind. It seemed weird. I did see the two kayakers leave about an hour or so earlier. At the time I wondered why they were leaving so soon. According to our currents guide, they were too early. I kept it in the back of my mind as we paddled the north shoreline on mirror-like water.
We sighted Cypress Head and noticed kayakers had set up in the campsites there. One seemed to be waving his arms at us as if to direct us. I noticed the rip tide off the point beginning to form and soon it was extended far out and in our path. Ellen steered us around it and into the middle of Bellingham Channel. The water was rough due to the rip and a slight south wind. We continued on without problems. Things changed when we were mid channel of Guemes Channel. The waves were bigger, stronger, and occurring more often. We were not sure why it was happening although there were lots of boats passing through the channel. It was the worst condition we have ever encountered in Guemes Channel. The double handled it well and Ellen did a great job steering.
We had a tasty dinner of an appetizer and pomegranate cocktails, green chile buffalo burgers, potato salad, and wine. We read and talked into the dusk.
We slept in until 8:00 the next morning and did something else we never do: we hiked the trail to Eagle Point. We are usually there during the closure for eagle nesting, but this time we were there a few days after, around July 17. The hike took about an hour, and we were delightfully surprised by the ruggedness of Cypress Island. Looking out over the terrain, it was steeply hilly and cloaked in trees. We returned in about 45 minutes and then had a salmon, egg, and potato scramble.
We waited for slack tide in the afternoon to make our way back to Anacortes. It turned out to be a bit of a mistake, as we had wind and rough conditions. At first, the water was like glass as we headed east up the north side of the island. The rip off Cypress was huge, though we paddle quickly around it and across a corner of it. We continued our crossing of Bellingham Channel in some chop due to the wind. However, it was Guemes Channel that really had a surprise in store for us. We had lots of boats coming down the channel, and then wind and chop, and it really made for a bit of a washing machine. It took quite a bit of time and energy to get back to the ferry terminal.
Anyway, we loved how the Whisper handled in the rough water, and we were pretty smitten with the Nemo tent as well.
John
After spending two weeks at home and getting the fence around the garden finished and sorting through the gear and clothes from the Missouri trip, we decided to paddle to Pelican Beach for two days. It would be our first time in the double on salt water. It was a quick ride to Anacortes and the launch site at the Guemes ferry on the south side of Guemes Channel. We arrived at low tide and quickly packed the kayak. We headed across the channel in great weather, no wind, and somewhat flat water. It is a mere one mile crossing and because of the double we made it across in little time. We did straight-line the crossing and then headed west around Guemes Island and up Bellingham Channel.
The conditions held so we started our diagonal run toward Cypress Head keeping an eye out for the notorious rip tide off the point. We always keep in mind the death of a kayaker who got caught in that rip tide. As we passed Cypress Head we started up the north side of Cypress Island. We seemed to be making good time. The water actually flattened out more as we progressed to Pelican Beach. It was near perfect conditions. We started at the ferry around pm and arrived at Pelican Beach at pm. It seemed like a short paddle.
The conditions held so we started our diagonal run toward Cypress Head keeping an eye out for the notorious rip tide off the point. We always keep in mind the death of a kayaker who got caught in that rip tide. As we passed Cypress Head we started up the north side of Cypress Island. We seemed to be making good time. The water actually flattened out more as we progressed to Pelican Beach. It was near perfect conditions. We started at the ferry around pm and arrived at Pelican Beach at pm. It seemed like a short paddle.
There was only one campsite being used. It had a two kayaks and one Pelican boat on the beach in front of the campsite. There was one boater on shore using one of the campsite's tables for his maps. He told us he was not camping but only waiting for his friend to return from a walk. We settled in on a site of our choosing. The Moki went up easily and quickly after being in storage for over an year since our purchase. Ellen hauls it in her cockpit where it fits nicely without being in the way of her rudder controls. We needed to try the tent out for preparation of an upcoming trip to Vargas Island off of Vancouver Island. It is a four-season, three-person tent without a fly. It is supported by two poles inside as well as two poles outside. It is a castle. http://www.nemoequipment.com/product/?p=Moki+3P
Once the sun sets, Pelican Beach is in the shade. It doesn't get cold but you do miss the sun's warmth at that time. Mt. Baker always appears in shades of pink as the sun sets. It really is a beautiful sight from Pelican Beach. Dinner was wonderful. I am always amazed at how well we eat on our kayak trips, thanks to Ellen's expertise.
Mt. Baker.
I slept well that night. There was no morning dew and we climbed out of our sleeping bags mid morning knowing we would ride the afternoon tide to Anacortes. We were barely awake when we headed up to Eagle Point via a well maintained trail. The views from the point were of the island and west toward Orcas Island. It was worth the effort. We promised ourselves that we would run the lower trail to a bay next time. Breakfast was served when we arrived back to our campsite and then we settled in for some reading time. We had a very relaxed morning, something we seldom do while kayaking. It seems we are always up early and packing the boat in order to catch the current.
Once we were back on the water and headed toward Cypress Head, Ellen mentioned how flat and calm the water was. Usually in the afternoon we encounter wind. It seemed weird. I did see the two kayakers leave about an hour or so earlier. At the time I wondered why they were leaving so soon. According to our currents guide, they were too early. I kept it in the back of my mind as we paddled the north shoreline on mirror-like water.
We sighted Cypress Head and noticed kayakers had set up in the campsites there. One seemed to be waving his arms at us as if to direct us. I noticed the rip tide off the point beginning to form and soon it was extended far out and in our path. Ellen steered us around it and into the middle of Bellingham Channel. The water was rough due to the rip and a slight south wind. We continued on without problems. Things changed when we were mid channel of Guemes Channel. The waves were bigger, stronger, and occurring more often. We were not sure why it was happening although there were lots of boats passing through the channel. It was the worst condition we have ever encountered in Guemes Channel. The double handled it well and Ellen did a great job steering.
I was glad to be off the water, out of the channel, and on shore. What a way to end a great paddle. Did we miss the timing of the currents? I kept thinking about the kayakers who left early. It bothered me that we ran into such horrible conditions in the channel and the rip tide off the point. What is it that we don't understand? We better find out before our Vargas trip.
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