A couple of weeks ago, a girlfriend and I headed up to the San Juan Islands for a week of kayaking/camping, part of a small guided group tour.
We started off by taking the float plane from Seattle to Friday Harbor, spent a night on San Juan Island, then paddled from Smallpox Bay via Mosquito Pass (great names) to Stuart Island, spent 2 nights there, paddled to Jones Island, spent 2 nights there, and then back to Friday Harbor, and float plane back to Seattle.
Absolutely gorgeous scenery, lots of wildlife, and lots of fun. [thumbsup]
It was a bit of change to give my upper body a workout and let my legs rest, I did end up with a bit of tendonitis in my wrists, but definitely still worth it.
Some highlights:
Day 1: Float plane to Friday Harbor
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan02.JPG)
Day 2: San Juan Island to Stuart Island
The harbor at Stuart Island
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan07.JPG)
Campsite
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan06.JPG)
Kayak parking
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan10.JPG)
Day 3: Around Stuart Island (both paddling and hiking)
Cormorant Cliff
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan19.JPG)
Kelp (makes the paddling more challenging)
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan22.JPG)
Tiny airplane on its tiny airstrip on the island
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan17.JPG)
Found a tree swing
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/bill12.jpg)
Day 4: Stuart Island to Jones Island
Paddling
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/bill15.jpg)
Kayaks on Jones
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan24.JPG)
Friendly deer
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan28.JPG)
Spieden Island
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan26.JPG)
Day 5: Visit to Yellow Island and Deer Harbor
Harbor seals
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan36.JPG)
Sunset
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan39.JPG)
By the campfire
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/bill21.jpg)
Day 7: Float plane back to Seattle (I got to sit co-pilot ;D)
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan53.JPG)
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan55.JPG)
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/sanjuan58.JPG)
Rest of the pictures are here (http://paularickert.net/index.php?cat=33).
And some videos of the float plane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6VqTAFqEhc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e1Ln2bIrD4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa1Bg9k6-Jk
I'm very jealous! [clap]
OMG, I'm jealous too! I love that area. When I was a teenager I went up to the San Juan islands every summer and cruised around with my family. It was awesome! Looks like you saw a lot of beautiful scenery and wildlife. Any orcas around?
looks like an awesome trip.
That looks like a great trip! Did you do it through a tour company, or plan it yourself?
neato. [thumbsup]
No heat and air conditioning? No TV? Sounds great [thumbsup]
Sweet!!
Looks funtastic [thumbsup]
Nice Ms.I! I was supposed to go to the San Juans before I left Seattle to kayak with the orca. I never got to it and kicking myslef for it!
We went kayaking today on Lake Austin. Nothing like the NW though! Hmmm..maybe just a lot warmer! ;)
You see any whales?
Quote from: IZ on September 20, 2008, 08:52:02 PM
Nice Ms.I! I was supposed to go to the San Juans before I left Seattle to kayak with the orca. I never got to it and kicking myslef for it!
Dude, you gotta live in a place for more than a couple weeks so you can see the area! WTF! ;D ;D
I went on a whale watching trip in that same area back in May. We left from Anacortes and cruised up through the San Juans. Never did see any whales, unfortunately [roll]
Quote from: Triple J on September 20, 2008, 09:03:29 PM
Dude, you gotta live in a place for more than a couple weeks so you can see the area! WTF! ;D ;D
[laugh] [laugh]
Ahh..the life of a nomad!
[moto]
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on September 20, 2008, 09:10:12 PM
I went on a whale watching trip in that same area back in May. We left from Anacortes and cruised up through the San Juans. Never did see any whales, unfortunately [roll]
Isn't that when you burst a blood vessel in your eye?
Thanks guys! The trip was organized by REI Adventures, they did a great job, and our guides were fantastic. [thumbsup]
Unfortunately we missed the orcas, although it was supposedly a good year for them, did see lots of porpoises and otters though.
Quote from: msincredible on September 20, 2008, 11:11:16 PM
Thanks guys! The trip was organized by REI Adventures, they did a great job, and our guides were fantastic. [thumbsup]
Unfortunately we missed the orcas, although it was supposedly a good year for them, did see lots of porpoises and otters though.
So....you're saying otter than missing the orcas, you felt the trip served it's porpoise?
Quote from: someguy on September 20, 2008, 11:20:44 PM
So....you're saying otter than missing the orcas, you felt the trip served it's porpoise?
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
[clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]
Quote from: NAKID on September 20, 2008, 09:47:14 PM
Isn't that when you burst a blood vessel in your eye?
no.
Quote from: someguy on September 20, 2008, 11:20:44 PM
So....you're saying otter than missing the orcas, you felt the trip served it's porpoise?
[thumbsup] [laugh] [clap]
I wouldn't expect anything less from you.
looks like a great trip paula :) [thumbsup]