A week on the water

[somegirl]

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.

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


Day 2: San Juan Island to Stuart Island

The harbor at Stuart Island


Campsite


Kayak parking


Day 3: Around Stuart Island (both paddling and hiking)

Cormorant Cliff


Kelp (makes the paddling more challenging)


Tiny airplane on its tiny airstrip on the island


Found a tree swing

[somegirl]

Day 4: Stuart Island to Jones Island

Paddling


Kayaks on Jones


Friendly deer


Spieden Island


Day 5: Visit to Yellow Island and Deer Harbor

Harbor seals


Sunset


By the campfire


Day 7: Float plane back to Seattle (I got to sit co-pilot  )







Rest of the pictures are here.

[somegirl]

And some videos of the float plane.

[triangleforge]

I'm very jealous! 

[River]

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?

[Statler]

looks like an awesome trip.

[Triple J]

That looks like a great trip! Did you do it through a tour company, or plan it yourself?

[zarn02]

neato.

[Howie]

No heat and air conditioning? No TV?  Sounds great

[Monsterlover]

Sweet!!

[Howie]

Looks funtastic

[IZ]

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? 

[Triple J]

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! 

[Randimus Maximus]

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 

[IZ]

Dude, you gotta live in a place for more than a couple weeks so you can see the area! WTF! 

Ahh..the life of a nomad! 

[moto]