Switch-a-roo

I had planned to try to get a paddle in Johnstone Strait after the Brooks Peninsula trip since the Brooks trip was more important so I wanted to make sure to get it in. But with gale warnings persisting on the coast I am going to drive up to Telegraph Cove and try to get a quick paddle in in the morning. I talked to a local and he said they've been seeing lots of whales - ever since I started kayaking I really wanted to get the chance to paddle next to Orcas, so let's hope it happens. I just have to figure out if the currents are going to work - I think I may just have to fight them if I want to get out on the water early. I hope to be able to start the Brooks trip on Monday morning but we'll just have to see how the weather plays out - I think I can wait until Tuesday but anything later and I'll have to shorten the trip in order to make it up to the Queen Charlottes on schedule.

Today I attended the Filberg Festival in Comox. It's an arts and crafts and music festival in a little town on the water. Not my normal outing but it was a fun way to spend a hot and sunny day - sitting in the shade listening to live music and snacking on fried ice cream.

Good dress rehearsal

I just got off the water in Tofino and don't have much time to write, but the trip went well. I got everywhere I wanted (the Ramsey hot spring was incredible) and most things worked fine. A few things to tweak for gear and such before my next trip - Brooks Peninsula. But I may have a few days to wait since the latest weather forecast called for strong winds up there. I will drive up there tonight and just see how it looks in the morning.

Here is a link to my approximate route.

Here are some more pictures.

UPDATE: Here is the video recap of the trip:

OK ESN:0-7376388

SPOT check in. Everything's OK and here is my location:
ESN:0-7376388
Latitude:49.1539
Longitude:-125.9099
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/31/2009 11:40:24 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=49.1539,-125.9099&ll=49.1539,-125.9099&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7376388

SPOT check in. Everything's OK and here is my location:
ESN:0-7376388
Latitude:49.2603
Longitude:-126.1334
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/30/2009 16:15:26 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=49.2603,-126.1334&ll=49.2603,-126.1334&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7376388

SPOT check in. Everything's OK and here is my location:
ESN:0-7376388
Latitude:49.3519
Longitude:-126.2415
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/30/2009 06:31:25 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=49.3519,-126.2415&ll=49.3519,-126.2415&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7376388

SPOT check in. Everything's OK and here is my location:
ESN:0-7376388
Latitude:49.3175
Longitude:-126.0781
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/28/2009 17:06:42 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=49.3175,-126.0781&ll=49.3175,-126.0781&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

San Juans

On Thursday I paddled through the Tacoma Narrows at max flood around 5 knots, on Friday I hit Deception Pass (video below) topping out around 7 knots, and today I rounded Cypress Island, riding a 3 knot current on the backside. It's nice letting the water do the work for you - something we don't get that much of down in California. Pictures here.

It has also bee great to see and paddle with old and new friends and get to paddle. In Tacoma I met up with my old friend Gary who ran the UCLA kayak program which is where I learned to paddle. When he moved away several years ago he left the job to me - a significant step in my paddling career.

I'm afraid that the video from Deception Pass is low quality since I don't have access to high speed uploads at the moment...

OK ESN:0-7376388

SPOT check in. Everything's OK and here is my location:
ESN:0-7376388
Latitude:48.5779
Longitude:-122.7396
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/26/2009 10:12:25 (US/Pacific)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=48.5779,-122.7396&ll=48.5779,-122.7396&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1