Paddling the Salish Sea 80 Trips

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2025-12-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

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Touring Surf Skis – Not All About Racing and Surfing

2021-02-08T15:21:00.006-08:00

Surf skis have a reputation for being all about racing and downwinding but there are stable touring surf skis with storage hatches which are ideal for day trips, overnights and performance paddling.

I turned to surf skis as an alternative to sea kayaking.

After a near drowning stuck upside down in a closed deck skirted surf kayak 18yrs ago, I began to look for smarter sit-down and open cockpit kayak options.

And I was tired of hauling around 60lb kayaks and having a special hydraulic lift to get my kayak on the car.

There are a few stable surf skis like the Carbonology Cruze, Epic V6 and Stellar Sit on Tops (also surf ski’s) with storage hatches for day trips and overnights. But are still 2x faster than sea kayaks and are also great for touring, casual paddling, downwinding and surfing.

The stable 22" wide Carbonology
Sport Cruze has 2 hatches.

Advantage of a Surf Ski over a Sea Kayak for Trips?

Skis have super light weight options making it easier to carry by yourself thus also go faster with less weight to glide.
Open deck means you don’t have to have specialized skills for wet exits and re-entries.
Like a SUP, you can throw your legs over the side, sit in the cockpit sideways and pop out anytime.
2x as fast as sea kayaks! Better for up-winding.

Tip: Super light skis are not tough like a heavy sea kayak. Strengthen with a keel strip under the hull.

Check out my video showing the details for the Carbonology Cruze.

The stable 22" wide Carbonology
Sport Cruze has 2 hatches.

What to Look for for Touring Surf Skis?

Not all surf skis are tippy. Look for 21-23" wide, same width as many sea kayaks. Stable means you’ll you'll have more fun on flat water or while surfing and downwinding without the feeling of being tippy.
1-2 storage water tight hatches that can carry overnight gear.
Older Fenn Mako 19' touring on the
Strait of Juan de Fuca in WA State.
There are plastic cheaper skis but they’re heavier often as much as 50-60 pounds. Can you carry this solo and car-top it?
You can use a kayak paddle with a ski. You’re not required to use a wing paddle. Even a canoe paddle works!
Try before you buy if you can.
Cruze cockpit

Surf Skis for Bigger Folks..

Tall folks like me (6'-5") have less skis to choose from if you want to do the leg drive common in surf ski paddling.

The Carbonology. Cruze does fit my 32" inseam and could do 33".

Stellar Kayak's ‘Sit on Tops’ which are stable surf ski’s with hatches that do fit tall folks. Check them out..

I found the Epic V6 too short for me and tight on the hips.

Are Surf Skis Wet?

Surf skis have scuppers in the cockpit that drains water while moving. Surf ski scuppers have 'ventruli's that stick out the hull and create an eddy and suction when moving.

Yes the ride is wetter but you're not stuck in a cockpit requiring a wet exit and/or roll. You can easily get out and it's fairly easy to get back in.

Like a sup, you can sit sideways with your legs over the side. Fun for wildlife viewing

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Get Carbonology surf skis from Sitontoppros.com in Bellingham, WA. Mention I referred you for 5% off.

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Check out my year round surf ski, kayak and SUP classes in the Pacific Northwest – www.salmonbaypaddle.com

New Kayaking Puget Sound Facebook Group!

2020-05-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

I've just started a new Kayaking Puget Sound Facebook Group so you all can post trip ideas, trip reports, boat or board reviews or for sale items and any other related paddling questions.

Open to all human powered paddling craft - SUP, rowers, kayaks, canoe and prone.

Ask to Join here..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1322209787977756/

Deception Pass

4 Puget Sound Webcams

2020-03-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of webcams over looking Puget Sound for checking tide levels, to track incoming freighters to surf, ship spotting and to see how the Sound looks in different conditions.

Here' s a few of my favorites:

Ballard Elks Sunset Cam - I helped install this one as our Elks Paddling Club was looking for a way to see Shilshole Bay for all of the above purposes. We even saw Poulsbo's 4th of July fireworks show last year! (it goes black and white at night).

Port Townsend Web Cam - You can control the direction of this cam!

Race Rocks Cam - SW of Victoria BC - You can control it and there's sound of the wildlife. Race rocks gets a ton of wind, usually blowing 50-60kts!

Skunk Bay Webcam - Skunk Bay is between Hansville and Cape Foulweather on the Kitsap Peninsula. Track Seventy48 racers in June!

Seattle Street Ends - Alternative Water Access

2020-03-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

With limited water access with Seattle city parks being closed due to Covid-19, you can still access the water using Street Ends.

Street Ends are not traditional parks and are often overlooked. In the past few years, the city has been improving a few street ends, such as E Allison Street and 28th Ave in Ballard.

Some are just turn-a-rounds, others don't have good water access, or lack easy parking. Scout out street ends near where you want to paddle.

Here's the list of Seattle Street Ends

Photo: 28th Ave NW street end (behind Nordic Museum). Has 3 2hr parking spots. Or park behind the Habitude building (former Fenpro building).

In Photo: Ballard Elks Paddling Club outing, Jan 2020.

Federal Maritime Quarantine Station for Puget Sound opens at Diamond Point in Nov 1893

2020-02-29T19:57:00.001-08:00

At the time of writing this, the covid-19, otherwise called Coronavirus is in the news and beginning to span to globe. With that, I remembered about the quarantine station on Diamond Point in the late 19th century. Diamond Point is Trip #37 in the book.

Diamond Point is also in the news as adjacent Miller Peninsula State Park will be expanding quite a bit fairly soon. Read more from the Wa Trails Association

Here's some words from the History Link article on the quarantine station..

This essay made possible by:
The State of Washington
Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation.

In November 1893, the Federal Marine Quarantine Station for Puget Sound opens at Diamond Point, located at the northeastern tip of Clallam County across Discovery Bay from Port Townsend. The Quarantine Station provides disinfection services for vessels wishing to enter Puget Sound, and an isolation hospital for passengers found to be suffering from or suspected of carrying infectious disease. The facility will grow from three to 27 buildings

over the course of its 43 operational years.

A "Pest House" for People

Dr. B. S. Conover, previously in charge of quarantine services at the Port Townsend Marine Hospital, was the establishing physician. After a few months he was succeeded by Dr. William G. Stimpson.

The site of the quarantine station, now Diamond Point but then known as Clallam Point, was part of a military reservation established by President Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) in 1866 and dissolved in 1870. The Diamond Point land was then privately owned until 1892, when the federal government purchased 156 acres on which to build the quarantine station.

The Quarantine Hospital was an adjunct of the Port Townsend Marine Hospital. The By Juan de

Fuca's Strait

Marine Hospital at Port Townsend was founded by Dr. Samuel M. McCurdy (1805-1865) in 1855 to provide medical services to seamen. Isolation facilities were primitive: Sailors with contagious diseases were isolated in a "pest-house." James G. McCurdy describes this isolation facility in .... READ MORE..

Rob Casey is author of Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, 60 Trips and Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers, both by Mountaineers Books. He owns Salmon Bay Paddle a SUP school in Seattle. Get in touch: rob@salmonbaypaddle.com

Paddle to Kinney Point on Marrowstone Island

2020-02-29T19:15:00.001-08:00

Two years ago while training for the SEVENTY48 I joined fellow crazy paddlers, PT resident Bandon Davis and Seattle friend Sean Nordquist in paddling in PT Canal.

Launching from the boat ramp beach at Port Hadlock, we enjoyed flying down the canal using the ebb then paddled around the south end of Marrowstone Island to Kinney Point. Trip #34

It was low tide so aside from our fins hitting sand a few times we enjoyed the marine life 2-3' below our feet. I remember over dressing for the unusually warm early Spring day.

At Kinney Point (see pics) we landed and explored the WWTA Cascadia Marine Trail site up the hill. There was a bench on a forested medium bluff overlooking the beach and a few forested tent sites. Looked like a great off the beaten path spot.

We paddled back after a bit and found enough eddies for eddy hopping our way back up the ebb current. Brandon took the west side and we both found a good options.

In the pic, Brandon and I have his 14' stitch and glue SUPs with internal storage. He has since designed 18'x26" carbon SUPs with storage, I think available only by request. Brandon is available at Turn Point Design in PT.

The currents in PT canal are tricky and not a clear ebb and flood per other flows nearby. Make sure to check local current and cruising guides to time it right. The Portage isn't bad if you have to!

Eglon Beach to Point No Point - Trip #20

2020-02-11T17:17:00.000-08:00

Views of Point No Point and the beach between the PNP Lighthouse and Eglon Beach. Trip #20 in the book.

The point is a glimpse of what West Point and other low points around the Sound looked like prior to being developed. Lots of history there.

I paddled it during the Seventy48 Race last year. Beautiful mostly undeveloped beach worth checking out. Fun tide-rips off PNP.

I ended my Seventy48 race at the point realizing I'd rather be enjoying the beach vs trudging on for last 20 miles (had already done 50 in less than 24hrs).

Access via Eglon Beach or PNP. No legal camping in there but lots of great guerilla spots.

Get a burger and shake at Hansgrille at Hansville just beyond the point. Fun local scene there.

Photos from the web.

Shipwreck Point - Mukilteo

2019-12-25T23:42:00.002-08:00

A friend reminded me of the abandoned ship south of Mukilteo. Looking at it’s location, it’s at Shipwreck Point (also called Franzen Beach), once used to burn 26 old ships. Richmond Beach also had active ship building activity, something families would come out and have picnics to watch.

A mill was once at the point followed by a family who resided at Shipwreck Point since the 1920's. They later operated the ship breaking business.

The ship at the point is the Pacific Queen, a minesweeper from WW2. Great info here about the vessel.

The Mukilteo Historical Society has an informative article on the family that lived there since the 1920’s. Read more

The screenshot Google Earth aerial here shows some other ship remains.

Read about access info from Picnic Point Note that beach access is off limits, maybe aim for a high tide to float in without touching bottom.

Seattle's Salmon Bay Historical Photo

2019-10-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

View of Seattle's Salmon Bay looking north from Magnolia, about 1880.

Note the shoreline reaching out on both sides in the middle. Both were dredged to make shipping easier entering the Locks above. On the left, the last of the Shilshole people, Salmon Bay Charlie has his native Salish style house near the tree.

The bay's mouth known as sHulsHoolootSeed was described as 'like shoving thread through a needle'. It had to be accessed at high tide for shipping.

Chutqeedud is the sand spit on the right or Ballard side translated as 'lying curled up,' was known for great clamming.

Read more about this area in Coll Thrush's book Native Seattle.

Strait of Juan de Fuca Coastal Exploring

2019-10-09T18:41:00.003-07:00

One of my all time favorite paddles is the cliff section between Freshwater Bay and Salt Creek Recreation Area, on the Olympic Peninsula.

20 minutes west of Port Angeles, you can access this section from either the Freshwater Bay Boat Ramp (Freshwater Bay Road) or via Salt Creek Rec Area (Crescent Beach).

The route takes you under 300' tall rock cliffs and through protected pocket beaches each with their own personality. Whether at low or high tide there's always something to see.

There's quite a bit of current off shore, so tuck in around the rocks when exploring, then take the outer water, about 50' out back to your car providing the current and/or wind is running in that direction.

For sups, I recommend a waist quick release leash (on PFD) as you feet will be caught in thick kelp beds or under rocks if you fall. Quick release is a good thing if needed.

Helmets are an option if the swell is up. Unless you're planning on rock gardening, avoid a W or NW swell over 5'. Launching from Salt Creek, a popular surfing spot, can be tricky if you don't have surf skills.

I can provide surf and coastal paddling training for both kayak and sup if needed.

Available all year. Trip #41 in the book.

My clients exploring a cave

Humpback in Crescent Bay

Me exploring a pocket beach cliff

Paddling the Port Washington Narrows - Bremerton

2019-09-15T23:08:00.000-07:00

I was excited when a former Ballard resident and friend, now living in the Manette neighborhood in Bremerton, asked me to teach a SUP class there. I hadn't paddled the Port Washington Narrows since writing Kayaking Puget Sound in 2011.

The Port Washington Narrows is a tidal stream that connects Dyes Inlet with Puget Sound. For each tidal cycle, water runs through the narrow channel up to 4 knots, sometimes higher.

My class was a beginning SUP class with five students. My goal was to teach them the basics in a protected area, free of current, then take them up and/or down the current.

We launched at Lions Park, covered the basics in an eddy, then paddled south against the flood, but in a protected eddy, towards downtown Manette and Bremerton. At the Warren Ave Bridge, we played in some boils and light eddy lines behind the bridge supports, and showed them how to ferry across current.

Then we headed up the Narrows using the approx 3 knot flood getting a free ride back to Lions Park.

It was fun introducing the Bremerton residents to a new perspective in their town. The empty beaches were lined with madrone trees.

Despite a 16 knot SW wind, it was glassy in the Narrows between the bridges. A local paddler friend mentioned waves can develop in the Narrows when wind bucks current. Where to Launch below pics.

Dock at the Boat Shed for a beer and bite. Located in Manette.

Riding the flood below above the Warren Ave Bridge

Pocket view of the Narrows and Anderson Cove from Lillian Walker Park

Good Put-ins..

-Lions Park

-Lillian Walker Park (nice protected cove)

-Evergreen Park (nice protected cove)

-2nd Street, downtown Bremerton

-Bachmann Park

-Tracyton Boat Launch

Warning! Watch for swift current around bridge supports, pilings and marinas. *Paddle Boarders - wear a waist quick release leash to avoid foot entanglement.

Get Tidal / Current info from NOAA and Mobile Graphics.

Wind Predictions: iWindSurf, WindAlert, Windy

Rob Casey is author of Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, 60 Trips and Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers, both by Mountaineers Books. He owns Salmon Bay Paddle a SUP school in Seattle.

Removing Marine Debris near the Elwha River

2019-09-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

Over Labor Day weekend, a friends and I was on a beach walk along Freshwater Bay beach, west of the Elwha River mouth near Port Angeles.

We spotted a large block thing floating in the water just off shore. Looking at it with binoculars we realized it was a piece of a dock. It soon landed on the beach and with a closer look, we realized it was mostly styrofoam and lined with concrete and metal wire.

This type of styrofoam breaks up on our local beaches leaving not only small chunks but also very difficult to remove tiny bits of bead foam. I've seen this foam in kelp beds, tide pools and on many of our NW beaches.

I immediately contacted the Feiro Marine Science Center in Port Angeles to find a solution for removing the dock. After a few days, they figured a solution to cut up the foam and remove it manually.

This week, three volunteers armed with plastic bags, plastic sheeting, cutting tools and a wagon worked for a few hours to remove the foam. Here's the photos of their efforts.

View more photos and info plus comments on my Instagram page @salmonbaypaddle

Donate to Feiro Marine Science Center which runs a small aquarium and marine education programs in downtown Port Angeles.

Thanks to these volunteers at Feiro!

Indian Marker Trees on the Olympic Peninsula

2019-09-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

In a recent post, I mentioned 'Indian Marker Trees' which were used by natives to show territory boundaries or point to specific things, like a good fishing spot.

Karl Kruger turned me on to looking for these. Karl completed the Race to Alaska in 2017 on a paddle board and runs sailing charters up the Inside Passage in the summer. He learned about these and 'fire trees' during these trips.

Fire trees were hollowed out at the base to create a wind protected place for cooking clams and creating charcoal. 'The Mystery of Fire Trees in SE Alaska' is a great guide on these trees.

My fascination about marker and fire trees is finding evidence of ancient cultures in plain sight, even after years of logging and development.

Here's two possible marker trees on the Olympic Peninsula. I've sent a photo of the Elwha tree to the Burke Museum to get some sort clarification whether it's a marker tree or a just a funky tree.

This tree is near the Elwha River west of Port Angeles

This one is above the trail leading down the steep hill to
Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park. (Not sure if this one is Makah or ONP).

16 Night Paddling Tips

2019-07-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

Night paddling is an amazing and surprisingly eye opening experience. Doing so will allow you to see your local waters in a different way and allow you to use your senses differently to safely navigate.

Here's 16 Tips for Night Paddling

(With Puget Sound in mind, but ok for anywhere)..

Indian Marker Trees in the Pacific Northwest

2019-06-26T19:32:00.001-07:00

On a recent distance racing and expedition course with R2AK's Karl Kruger, Karl mentioned the Indian marker trees on Orcas Island, as well as fire trees and totem trees. He had seen each in the San Juan Islands and on the BC coast and southeast Alaska.

What are marker trees?
These are trees that were controlled by native people (pre-contact) so that the tree could grown to serve as a trail or territory marker or boundary. '

The idea sounded remote and nothing I'd ever seen before until he showed us examples. Once I saw the pictures, I realized I had seen these trees, even in Seattle and on the Olympic Peninsula in WA State.

This discovery made me realize I wanted to find more native culture evidence in plain sight that had not been paved over, cut down or covered by a house or building.

Similarly, fire trees were used to cook clams, create charcoal and as lighthouses to mark locations for canoes traveling at night. Read about a fire tree at Ilalee State Park on Puget Sound.

Totem trees are human faces or faces of spiritual beings carved into a tree vs creating a totem pole. Often these were found above the section of tree carved out for cooking.

Culturally modified trees seem to refer to stripping cedar bark for clothing, baskets and the like.

Marker Tree Examples:

Next Expedition and Long Distance Racing Class with Karl Kruger - April 26-28th

2019-02-09T00:02:00.000-08:00

Learn how to prepare for an overnight adventure or long distance race such as the Seventy48 with two of our region’s experts in long distance paddling on Puget Sound.

Karl Kruger was the first stand up paddler to complete the Race to Alaska in 2017. He Learn more about Karl

Our Feb class taking a break on Jones Island

completed the 750 mile race un-assisted on a 17′ board in 14 days. He lives with his family on their boat on Orcas Island where he offers sailing charters in Puget Sound and the Inside Passage.

Rob Casey is the author of ‘Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans, 60 Trips’ and ‘Stand Up
Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers’ both by Mountaineers Books. He has been on the board of the Washington Water Trails Association and the Paddle Sports Advisory Group with WA State Parks. See the About page on this page for more on Rob.

Dates:
April 26-28 - 2019

We'll Cover:

Hands-on Marine Navigation
Cross training for core strength, stability and balance
Nutrition and hydration basics for trips and endurance racing
Board and gear outfitting tips
Distance trip and race tactics and strategy
Night paddling skills
The mental game of paddling long distance

Rob Casey is author of Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, 60 Trips and Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers, both by Mountaineers Books. He owns Salmon Bay Paddle a SUP school in Seattle. Get in touch: rob@salmonbaypaddle.com

SUP Expedition and Long Distance Race Course with Karl Kruger and Rob Casey - Orcas Island Feb 1-3

2019-01-24T22:06:00.002-08:00

Learn how to prepare for an overnight adventure or long distance race such as the Seventy48 with two of our region’s experts in long distance paddling on Puget Sound.

Karl Kruger was the first stand up paddler to complete the Race to Alaska in 2017. He completed the 750 mile race un-assisted on a 17′ board in 14 days. He lives with his family on their boat on Orcas Island where he offers sailing charters in Puget Sound and the Inside Passage. Learn more about Karl

Rob Casey is the author of ‘Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans, 60 Trips’ and ‘Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers’ both by Mountaineers Books. He has been on the board of the Washington Water Trails Association and the Paddle Sports Advisory Group with WA State Parks. See the About page on this page for more on Rob.

Dates:
Feb 1-3 (2 spots left) and April 26-28

We’ll Cover:

Hands-on Marine Navigation
Cross training for core strength, stability and balance
Nutrition and hydration basics for trips and endurance racing
Board and gear outfitting tips
Distance trip and race tactics and strategy
Night paddling skills
* Circumnavigate Shaw Island if conditions are good
Sign-Up / More Details (You’ll sign up with the Isla Vida Group on Orcas Island)

3 Easy Labor Day Weekend Paddle Escapes

2017-08-31T16:52:00.001-07:00

Where to Paddle to Beat Crowds on 3 Day Weekends -

Side Note: How to avoid ferry lines...

Departing from Seattle - If leaving Seattle at 5pm on Friday, take the Bremerton Ferry as there's rarely a big line. I'd rather be sipping a ferry IPA coasting through Rich Passage than sitting in a parking lot. Or leave super early (7am) or super late (9pm). For the Keystone and San Juan Island ferries get a reservation.

Coming Back Monday - Arrive before peak (before 3pm) or after 9pm. Oddly, the Bainbridge Ferry is often uncrowded on Sunday evenings. Kingston gets the huge crowds from Canada and WA folks from north of Seattle. Tacoma'ans take the bridge.

3 Epic Trips -

Trip 32 - Hood Head. 15min from the Kingston Ferry, take the first Right off the Hood Canal Bridge then immediately another Right adjacent to the bridge and follow the steep road below the bridge to Shine State Tidelands and the beach. Launching there, paddle to Hood Head (The cool island seen from the bridge). There's a few boat-in homes on the island. Approach the south side and the long extended spit called Point Hannon. There's a driftwood dragon (seriously) about 50' long worth checking out. The wwta.org has a campsite on the east side. Aim for higher tides to explore ByWater Bay inside the head.

Trip #33 - Mat Mats Bay. Less than an hour from the Kingston Ferry, Mats Mats is a very protected inlet a few minutes north of Port Ludlow. Water will be calm and the narrow entry to the Sound is interesting. The rocks offshore often have large populations of harbor seals and birdlife. Views north are of Marrowstone and Whidbey Islands, Foulweather Bluff to the south. Take the first Right off the Hood Canal Bridge to Paradise Bay Road, then north of Pt Ludlow, take a Right on Vernon Road to it's end.

Trip #15 - Staycation in Seattle below the Magnolia Bluffs. Launch from 32nd Ave W below Magnolia Village. Go east to the protected Elliott Bay Marina or west along the bluffs to explore the walk-in driftwood homes, the now closed treehouse and former foundations from the 1996 Magnolia landslide. One home is still intact but sits at a weird angle which is interesting to see. Further along check out the series of massive homes perched along Perkins Lane. There's some weird outdoor art pieces in there. At Four Mile Rock (large erratic boulder with range marker on top) the view opens up to Discovery Park and the West Point Lighthouse. Freighter waves can break nicely around the corner at lower tides. Watch for current that can push you to this point, but make it difficult to paddle back. Maybe aim for ebb going out, flood coming back.

Bunker Spelunking Along the Strait

2017-08-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

Following my interest from childhood of exploring and finding WW2 bunkers, recent research and bushwacking let me to a few more fire control stations and other oddities hidden in the North Olympic Peninsula woods.

It was interesting to see a Seattle Met article on another guy doing similar searches. But like him, I'm keeping these spots a secret for the sake of the land owners (liability) and it's rewarding to do the research and find an installment. My research has only found a few of the bunch built in WW2 along the Strait. Many are on private land, DNR land or on questionable access locations (private or not?).

These are easily found with some bushwacking around Camp Hayden. A good distraction while waiting for the tide to rise along Crescent Bay..

sketchy entry to a small fuel room

Learn more about my book Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans, 60 Trips. I also offer SUP and Kayak lessons available throughout the year at Salmon Bay Paddle. Questions about paddling on the Salish Sea, give me a holler anytime at salmonbaypaddle@gmail.com or 206-465-7167

3 NW Paddling Getaways to Escape the Weekend Crowds

2017-08-17T16:25:00.001-07:00

Looking to getaway but not sit in long ferry lines then get to your supposed remote campsite to find 30 tents already there? Here's 3 paddle-in destinations to really get away...

1. Marrowstone Island /Trips 34 and 35.
Just across the bay from Port Townsend, this off the beaten path island is one of the least visited State Parks in the State. On hot summer weekends, the Cascadia Marine Trail campsite adjacent to the standard campsite should be free of other paddlers. Then slip into the park and/or paddle it's quiet shores to escape the masses.

The park is also home to Fort Flagler, a 1890's era harbor defense fort with an extensive bunker system to explore as well as 200' cliffs overlooking Admiralty Inlet, Whidbey and Port Townsend.

Strait of Juan de Fuca

Watch for currents of Marrowstone Point by the Light House. Smart planning with the currents can make it a fun adventure. Use Starpath's Puget Sound Currents to see how current work there. The app Deep Zoom is another tool for understanding local currents.

The island can be accessed by driving there or paddling from Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, Oak Bay Park or for the hardcore, from Whidbey.

2. Burrows Island, Anacortes. Trip #29
Burrows Island is 10 minute paddle from Skyline Marina in Anacortes. The campsite at Alice Bight is about 5-10 min further. The island is undeveloped short of the historic light house on it's west side. Trails circumnavigate the island for exploring it's very uncrowded rugged shores.

The island is a 1.5hr drive from Seattle with no ferry to Anacortes, then to Skyline Marina. Park in the long term marina parking along Cabana Lane. Then access the beach on the marina's west side where the road ends (below a house perched on a embankment / across from the big boat storage facility).

The Cascadia Marine Trail campsite has the best vault toilet in the region with a nice view as well! Alice Bight feels like SE Alaska, really a nice spot and a beautiful bay.

Watch for tidal currents during the crossing as well as fast moving power boats. If you like surfing standing waves and boat wakes, this can be a fun spot.

3. Skagit Island. Trip #27.
Close to Burrows Island, Skagit is on the other side of Deception Pass on Similk Bay. The Cascadia Marine Trail campsite rests on an shell midden (native garbage dump) that can be seen the embankment (shells and stuff). Enjoy views of Deception Pass, nearby Hope Island and Fidalgo Island.

Currents can run between the island and Kiket Island to the east. Use your tide/current guide to plan your trip. Walk the island and/or paddle over to Hope Island State Park for additional exploring.

Access from Fidalgo Island at Snee-oosh Point (about 1mile), or via Whidbey's Ala Spit, Cornet Bay, or run through Deception Pass on the flood for the best approach. Park at Bowman Bay.

2 Bonus Options for the adventurous...

Guerilla Camping.
This means camping in non designated spots along the banks of Puget Sound. There's hundreds of miles of undeveloped shoreline under bluffs, cliffs and remote beaches. Use Google Earth to explore the shore and/or play by ear and stop when you find a good place to end the day. Avoid backyards. Years ago, a friend while returning from Ketchikan on his kayak, camped in Carkeek Park. But that was 20+ years ago, I'm not sure I'd want to do that today!

Strait of Juan de Fuca - 2 Options..
-Launch in Port Angeles and paddle west past the Elwha River and Freshwater Bay camp at the Crescent Beach RV Park in Crescent Bay or at Salt Creek Recreational Area. Contact the RV park before landing there as they love to keep people off the beach. Landing at the county park may require portaging your gear up some rocks by Tongue Point. Check each location before going.

Crescent Bay in Salt Creek is a surf area so only enter on a small or no swell if you don't have surf skills. Tongue Point can get gnarly with waves crashing on it.

Salt Creek

-Launch from PA or from Salt Creek and paddle west to Whiskey Creek Resort in Joyce. This is a short paddle from Salt Creek but enjoy sea caves, arches, 500' cliffs and an odd metal door carved below that cliff. Epic paddle I've done a few times.

*Whiskey Creek was recently purchased by a new owner, so call to check their status and book a cabin or camping spot prior to arrival. Their cabins are right on the Strait, powered only by propane. No website, # only. 1385 Whiskey Creek Beach Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98363 / Phone: (360) 928-3567

*Guerilla camping along the Strait is possible but be ready to get up early if needed. Much of it is DNR land, some timber land.

Get my book to better plan your trip!

LRob Casey is author of Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, 60 Trips and Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers, both by Mountaineers Books. He owns Salmon Bay Paddle a SUP school in Seattle. Get in touch: rob@salmonbaypaddle.com

Boating - Mysterious Anchor Image - Deception Pass State Park

2017-06-20T17:42:00.001-07:00

During my tidal rapids SUP class last week, we came across this anchor image on a rock at the south or right entrance to Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park. In the book this is, Trip 28

I've seen it before, the question is, what does it mean? And how did it get there?

Anchor image in Deception Pass State Park

Learn more about my book Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans, 60 Trips. I also offer SUP and Kayak lessons available throughout the year at Salmon Bay Paddle. Questions about paddling on the Salish Sea, give me a holler anytime at salmonbaypaddle@gmail.com or 206-465-7167

Searching for Harbor Defense Bunkers along the Strait of Juan de Fuca

2017-05-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

My obsession for exploring harbor / coastal defense forts started during a music camp on Marrowstone Island near Port Townsend in the late 1970's. Friends and I would skip class to explore the World War 1 era emplacements of Fort Flagler, then a relatively unknown fort. We knew every nook and cranny of the extensive fort and found many additional bunkers, usually fire control stations or searchlight emplacements hidden in the woods around the park boundaries.

In recent years, my interest has been renewed out of curiosity about the many hidden bunkers along the Strait of Juan de Fuca built during WW2 to support the cannons at Fort Hayden, now Salt Creek Recreation Area. As a photographer, I'm also working on a series of images showing the less known bunkers which are mostly covered by thick foliage and off the beaten path. These are hidden in the forest and when found appear like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. I'm motivated by the search as well as the find, which feels like 19th and 20th century archaeology.

Some are on private land and a few are in DNR areas. The largest and most public emplacements on the Strait are at Camp Hayden (Salt Creek) where visitors can drive through Battery 131 which once employed two 16" cannons. These were fired once, but a turn of events in the Pacific War led the installments to become quickly outdated. Nearby, a battery of two 6" guns on Striped Peak can be easily accessed by a dirt road above the ranger station. Other fire control stations (slit bunkers) can be seen by the tent camping area and hidden in thick foliage on Striped Peak.

To support Battery 131, fire control stations were installed at Angeles Point, Agate Rock, Lyre, Majestic, Pillar Point and on Cape Flattery. Panama Mounts which are concrete circles were installed at Angeles Point and on a peninsula (private land) above the west side of the Elwha River which can be seen on Google Earth.

If you ask a local, many won't know of any additional emplacements beyond the public Salt Creek emplacements. A few friends have explored and found a few emplacements over the years thus motiving me to find those and others.

This link lists exact locations via Harbor Defense plans dating to the 1940's. But not all are as easily found as the maps show. Google Earth images show heavy forest over most of the sites and no sign of current or updated roads. A May 2017 search for the Agate Rock bunker was thwarted by dead end or heavily overgrown roads. It's on DNR land but bordered by private land on 3 sides. A Port Angeles local had been there and sent me a road map giving me a better idea of how to get there. Sounds like the best tool for search are a bicycle or motorcycle to more quickly access dirt roads and paths. We were on foot. In this video by RoadTrippers, motorcycles are used to search out bunkers in this area.

San Juan Islands - Planning a San Juan Islands Paddling Trip

2017-05-16T14:34:00.001-07:00

Check out my new article for Kenmore Air Magazine on Planning a San Juan Islands Paddling Trip.

A bonus addition to this article is another piece I wrote on 5 Paddle In Cafe & Stores in the San Juan's (Pg 58).

Read the Story Here

Learn:
- Where to go for your skill level
- Rent vs bringing your own boards/boats
- How to plan your trip for currents, weather, boat traffic, etc
- Who to rent and take paddling lessons from
- Going solo? What to pack, safety gear, etc
- Resources - my book, weather links, tide/current links

Thanks to various local San Juan Island's paddling business for their local paddling and travel info!

San Juan Islands - Orcas Island Paddler's Guide to Rentals

2017-05-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

Kenmore Air has been in touch with me to provide guide services to one of their charters for a summer day trip from Seattle to Orcas Island. Their group has up to 25 participants which means we need to supply the boats and boards. In planning this tour, I've had a chance to chat with many of the board/board rental operations on the island. To save you the effort, here's a list of the basic rentals and resources I found..

Cascade Lake - a wilderness lake south of East Sound in Moran State Park. You may not think of paddling a lake given the epic paddling spots on the island, but it's actually a very pretty spot and will give more wind protection and opportunities for beginning paddlers not ready for tidal currents surrounding the rest of the island. Check in with Adventure Orcas for sup, canoe, pedal boats and kayak rentals. Nice folks!

West Beach Resort - Located on the west side of the island, West Beach has a string of rustic cabins in a nice bay with a view of Waldron Island. They have a few sup and kayak rentals for guests and run a weekly SUP race Sundays and Thursdays at 5:30pm. Race winner gets an off season night's stay!

Shearwater Kayak Tours - A great shop and professional rental operation, Shearwater also offers tours and/or has a summer base in spots like Deer Harbor, West Beach, Doe Bay and Rosario Resort. They also run tours out to Sucia Island.

Body Boat Blade - If you're looking for the best in sea kayak instruction not only on Orcas but in the entire region, BBB's owners Leon and Shawna are super professional, safe but also fun folks to paddle with. They also have a shop in East Sound. From the basic to advanced paddling including rolling, tidal rapids, adventure trip training to open water classes, they cover it all. And they have a few sups for rent on the island as well.

Need to get there in a jiffy? Take a day or overnight trip there with Kenmore Air. Avoid the ferries lines and traffic.

* Learn more about paddling in the San Juan's in my article planning for a paddling trip in the SJ's for Kenmore Air Magazine.

My book, Kayaking Puget Sound also has epic trips covering the entire island and surrounding islands.

Cascade Lake, Orcas Island

From the Body Boat Blade website