OK ESN:0-7376388

SPOT check in. Everything's OK and here is my location. 3
ESN:0-7376388
Latitude:47.3127
Longitude:-122.5287
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/24/2009 11:52:09 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=47.3127,-122.5287&ll=47.3127,-122.5287&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Let the paddling begin!

I've mostly been on the road driving the past few days (including going past my favorite lonely mountain to the right) but I have now reached Washington and will be paddling here in the area through the weekend. I'm staying with an old friend who was one of my first kayak instructors - he use to run UCLA's kayak program before leaving that job to me when he moved to Tacoma. We plan to paddle the Tacoma narrows today, Deception Pass tomorrow and then a day or two in the San Juans. Good practice dealing with currents and navigating on the fly.

On the way up I stopped in Oregon to visit Brian Schulz of Cape Falcon Kayaks. He teaches workshops in building skin on frame boats including his own designs. He took me out surfing and let me try his latest design - a hybrid boat with a pointy sea kayak bow and the flat tail of a surf boat. The waves weren't great but the boat sure was fast once you got on one. The whole Oregon coast is an incredibly beautiful and rugged place, but hard to find a convenient launch spot.

Then on my way through Portland I got to stop and talk with my friend Dave at Alder Creek Kayak. He paddled out of Prince Rupert, BC a few weeks ago and was full of useful information. Always good to get some beta that makes it sound like your plans might not be too crazy after all.

Hopefully I'll have more paddling pics to post in the next day or two, but here are some shots from the road.