:::YAKLOG_07:::
:::the paddling adventures of rick doucette:::
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yeah... here's another silly list of the the different spots i've been kayaking so far this year.
i'll toss some hikes/walks in for good measure :)

12.31.07 Lincoln Park down to Seahurst Park in Burien - was stalked by a seal for about an hour on the way back saw 3 bald eagles - 2 were perched & chillin' up in a tree
12.30.07 Golden Gardens up to Carkeek Park ...
12.28.07 Don Armeni up towards Alki Beach - the wind switched directions & went psycho for a while, then the rain started ...so i fought the elements for a while, then wimped out.
12.26.07 Marine Park to Chuckanut Bay (south of Bellingham-ish) ...
12.16.07 North Lake Union to Portage Bay to the Washington Park Arboretum - saw 1 heron + lots & lots of ducks the mallards were extra friendly today >:O)
12.09.07 Bellingham - Squalicum Beach up north to my mom's current apt. - she has to move out this week >:O( saw 3 eagles, lots of heron, and it was SNOWING!
12.08.07 Harbor Island circumnavigation - starting from Seacrest Park in West Seattle saw lots & lots of cargo boxes being loaded onto freighters, etc.
11.25.07 West Seattle (Alki Point) to Blake Island and back pretty much had the whole island to myself!
11.23.07 Semiahmoo Spit to the mouth of California Creek... over to Dakota Creek & up it about 2 miles, then back out & across Drayton Harbor to the marina... ...then back over to Semiahmoo Park (where i had launched from)
11.11.07 HIKE - North Chuckanut Mt. trail for a while with my nephew & his friend
11.10.07 Marine Park to Chuckanut Bay ...
11.04.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint down past Alki Beach 'twas very choppy
10.28.07 Everett - Langus Park to the Spencer Island Nature Refuge (again) - spent about 2 hours searching along the mudflats to try to find my camera. still lots of ducks... basically the same trip as the previous one, just at low tide.
10.27.07 Everett - Langus Park to the Spencer Island Nature Refuge - lots & lots of ducks... but dropped my camera! i actually took some great pics - too bad no one'll see'um. hadn't cleared off the memory card in over a month >:O(
10.14.07 Nisqually Delta - paddled over to Anderson Island, then over to the jetty, then along the marshyness & back saw several eagles... took some good pics, but... ^
09.11.07 West Seattle - Seacrest down to the Harbor Island Marina (last post-work paddle of the season) can't precisely recollect...
09.09.07 Samish Bay - Larabee State Park south along the shore ...
09.05.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to the end of Alki beach a quick night paddle - still illin'
09.03.07 Turtleback Mountain - short hike covering the north trail (had to complete the journey i started on 07.30.07) nice (but precariously cliffy) view of Waldron Island
09.02.07 Cascade Lake at Moran State Park (was too sick to go on any real adventures today...) saw a few eagles tho'
09.01.07 Deer Harbor to Jones Island to Yellow Island, with some of the Wasp Islands en route... back to Deer Harbor on Orcas Island (3rd camping trip there this summer - woot!) saw a bald eagle & about 30 pale-ish harbor seals on the west side of Yellow Island
08.27.07 West Seattle - Don Armeni to Alki Point another sunset paddle, yo
08.24.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to Lincoln Park ditto
08.22.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to Don Armeni sunset paddle after work
08.19.07 Orcas Island - went on a long loop hike around Moran State Park (Cascade Lake up the Cold Springs trail, up to Mount Constitution, back down via Little Summit to Mountain Lake, along Cascade Falls & the smaller falls back to Cascade Lake). was hiking for about 6.5 hours total! had to tire myself out somehow... >:O) it was drizzly, cloudy & foggy... visibility was BAD! didn't want to attempt navigating by compass/braile while i was sick, so i didn't do much kayaking this trip.
08.18.07 Sucia Island back to Orcas Island (followed the Sucia shoreline for a while, up around Fox Cove & Little Sucia ...then back over to north beach on Orcas Island)
08.18.07 Hiked all around Sucia - to the 2 points close to my campsite, then to Snoring Bay, then all the way over to Ewing Cove... stopped by China rocks at Shallow Bay on the way back spent about 5.5 hours walking all over the island, and made myself too tired to paddle over to Patos Island (d'oh!)
08.17.07 Sucia Island to Matia Island (& around Matia) then back to camp on Sucia
08.17.07 Orcas Island - north beach to Fossil Bay on Sucia Island. hauled the gear over to my campsite on Fox Cove... not that far away... to site 16
08.16.07 Lopez Island - didn't do much, besides hang with the fam (mom, niece & nephew camped with me on Lopez) walked with my nephew & bought dinner for the fam
08.15.07 Lopez Island - Fisherman Bay - kayaked with my... ...nephew, Ryan
08.15.07 Shaw Island - Indian Cove counterclockwise along the shoreline up to Neck Point & back... halfway thru, the nephew called to say they landed on Lopez Island... saw a porpoise while i was out... woot! >:O)
08.14.07 San Juan Island - walked around Lime Kiln State Park didn't see any whales... :(
08.14.07 San Juan Island - Smallpox Bay down to Deadman Bay along Haro Strait... hoping to see an orca or 3
08.13.07 San Juan Island - Smallpox Bay up the shoreline to Garrison Bay first night o' campy goodness >:O)
08.06.07 Indianapolis(!) - rented a hokey little 'yak & paddled up the canal that runs thru town. also spent a couple hours walking around White River State Park. also saw a phun IMAX-3D flick about space travel... 'twas a hoot! >:O)
08.04.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to Seacrest Park very sunny afternoon...
08.03.07 Duwamish Waterway - South River St. ramp up to Fort Dent-ish (where it becomes the Green River) long, sad night... was pretty weepy tonight - just kept paddling & paddling...
08.03.07 Seacrest Park to Harbor Island - a "sunrise" paddle tons of boats were on the water on a VERY cloudy AM
08.01.07 Nisqually Delta - up the creek - McAllister, i think lots of birdies + a couple seals
07.30.07 Orcas Island - Westsound - got to paddle around under Turtleback Mountain & walk around on a fun little island in Massacre Bay (the north end) started from the Westsound County Dock... thing.
07.30.07 HIKE on Orcas - Turtleback Mountain Trail - took the south trail up to some gorgeous viewpoints, then was annoyed by the long, steep center loop with NO VIEWS. someday i need to go back & hike the north trail... won't do the center loop again tho'
07.30.07 Orcas Island - Cascade Lake - the lake didn't quite do it for me... ...but the lagoon is rrrrrrrad!
07.29.07 Orcas Island - Obstruction Pass launch down around Obstruction Island*, down to Blakely Island - followed the north end to the marina, then back up to Ob. Is., then stopped at the pebble-rock beach of the state park there, then back to the boat ramp *will soon be known as Self-Esteem Issues Island...
07.29.07 HIKE on Orcas - made a big loop trail starting from my campsite at Mountain Lake - down to the Southeast Boundary trail, which meets another trail at Mt. Pickett... then on up to the Twin Lakes & around both of 'em... ...then back down to Mountain Lake. was out walking around for about 5 hours around Moran S.P.
07.29.07 Orcas Island - Mountain Lake - a "sunrise paddle" - wouldn't know it tho' (the clouds were plentiful) saw a bald eagle... and got rained on just a bit.
07.28.07 Orcas Island - Eastsound (the north end--starting from the beach where they rent sit-on-top kayaks) a nice evening paddle...
07.25.07 West Seattle - Seacrest Park around Alki Point to Cormorant Cove + back 'twas a nice, hot summer night
07.15.07 Lower Dungeness trail - hiked about 4 miles to a little viewpoint & back wanted to keep going, but was just *too* tired.
07.15.07 Sequim Bay - crossed over to the east shore as the sun was rising - paddled down to the southern tip of the bay & into the shallow lagoon - then back up the west shore lots of clouds hid the sun pretty well... but it made for pink cottoncandy cloud puffs
07.14.07 Dungeness Bay - kayaked from Cline Spit to the lagoonage right at the start of the D.trail, then followed the inside of the spit & into the Gibson Spit lagoon; then back out along Gibson & crossed back over to Cline Spit wind from the south made things a bit choppy... saw an eagle tho'
07.14.07 Walked 5.5 miles along the Dungeness Spit - walked up the lighthouse for the "tour" - then back along the beach... saw lots of birdies
07.13.07 Sequim Bay - from the state park north up to the lagoon behind Gibson Spit; then out into the strait for a bit; along the south side of Travis Spit; south along the east shore of the bay... then crossed back over to John Wayne Marina "Don't worry little lady - I'll fix his marina."
07.11.07 Richey Viewpoint around Alki Beach in my oldskool sit-on-top kayak (trying to beat the heatwave) "you're coming on strong...
...setting sun..."
07.10.07 Richey Viewpoint south along West Seattle *cue the Chemical Brothers*
07.08.07 Gooseberry Point around the north end of Lummi Island; over to Clark & Barnes Island - and 8+ hour tour! walked around on Clark Island for a bit too.
07.07.07 Lake Samish - a nice, slow kayaking trip with my niece .
07.06.07 Ballard to the Arboretum + back - late @ night (started around 8pm; didn't get back until after midnight phun with headlamps =
fun spooky goodness!
07.04.07 Blake Island circumnavigation - from Richey Viewpoint even longer trip - the wind was gnarly on the way back
07.02.07 Seacrest Park to Kellogg Island (Duwamish, yo) .
07.01.07 Blake Island circumnavigation - from Richey Viewpoint long trip!
06.30.07 Edmonds - Marina Park down to Richmond Beach Anthony's Beach Cafe = yummy salmon dinner :)
06.25.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to Luna Park Alki beach, yo
06.20.07 Richey Viewpoint to Blake Island & back (longest post-work night paddle i've ever taken) - rough landing too... the wind'n'waves picked up a LOT on the way back
06.19.07 Seacrest Park up to Alki Point & back another nice sunset paddle
06.18.07 Duwamish Waterway - South River St. ramp south... .
06.16.07 North Lake Whatcom Trail - walked with the fam... up in Bellingham.
06.15.07 Golden Gardens to Carkeek Park .
06.13.07 Ballard ship canal - 14th St. ramp to Lake Union .
06.12.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to Seacrest Park watched the sun set...
06.12.07 West Seattle - Seacrest Park to Harbor Island Marina watched the sun rise...
06.03.07 Hammersley Inlet - Shelton to Hope Island & back (wind on the way back was gnarly!) - met a bunch of kayakers from SSAK (South Sound Area Kayakers[?]) - walked around Hope Island - along the beach + the trails... fun! saw a bald eagle, about a dozen harbor seals, several schools of tiny silver salmon, a fox, a raccoon, and 2 deer
06.02.07 Nisqually - paddled a ways up the river & thru some salty marshy goodness was stalked by several harbor seals - was almost scary...
05.31.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to Lincoln Park 3 nights of 3 hour tours :)
05.30.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to Seacrest Park lots of choppy goodness :)
05.29.07 Duwamish Waterway - Seacrest Park to Kellogg Island nice 3hr. paddle after work
05.28.07 Whatcom Falls Park - walked around the trails there with the fam there was a cute, fuzzy little (rabies-infested vermin!) bat on the trail. it was dead :(
05.28.07 Lummi Island - from Gooseberry Point down the east side of Lummi (a bit past Ignati Bay i believe), then crossed over to Portage Island was very windy + choppy for the first 3 hours... saw lots of eagles + 3 vultures (ugh)
05.26.07 Larrabee State Park - walked around the trails there with ma, niece + nephew
05.26.07 Samish Bay - starting from Larrabee State Park kinda cloudy + windy
05.23.07 West Seattle - Seacrest Park down to the west waterway of the Duwamish (not too far down tho') early morning paddle, yo!
05.22.07 West Seattle - Richey Viewpoint to Don Armeni park calm water + sunset = >:O)
05.19.07 Lake Washington - Stan Sayres down around Seward Park; over to Mercer Island; rode the wind waves crazy windy today... thought it best to play on the lake
05.17.07 Nisqually Delta - paddled OVER most of the salt marshes crazy high tide - like 14.6 ft.
05.13.07 Hike - Fragrance Lake too windy to paddle today...
05.12.07 Larabee State Park to Chuckanut Bay up in Bellingham this wknd
05.08.07 Seacrest Park to Jack Block Park watched the sun rise
05.07.07 Richey Viewpoint to Lincoln Park watched the sun set
05.05.07 Lincoln Park - south - almost made it to Seahurst Park feeling tired & achey...
04.29.07 Blake Island - circumnavigation, yo took the ferry to Southworth
04.28.07 Snohomish River Estuary - Spencer Island Reserve put in at Langus W.F. Park
04.28.07 Golden Gardens - only paddled about an hour too choppy & not fun enuf!
04.22.07 Nisqually - walked along the Brown Farm Dike Trail Twin Barns trail too
04.22.07 Nisqually Delta - paddled thru the salt marshes, etc. high tide, yo! crazy fun...
04.21.07 Point Defiance - around the point towards the Narrows scary tide rips on the return...
04.15.07 Crossed over from the Fisherman's cove marina & down the east side of Lummi Island, then back over to Portage Island & up the island + shoreline of the Lummi Res. saw lots of bald eagles!
04.14.07 Drayton Harbor - Semiahmoo Spit to California Creek after a picnic with the fam.
04.08.07 Everett - Langus Waterfront Park - through the Slough & out to the Jetty & ship-wreckage - at LOW tide 'twas fun to see just how extensive the mud flats are...
04.08.07 a short little trip in West Seattle - Seacrest to Jack Block - my own special "sunrise service" before church basically just to watch the sun rise above the clouds >:O)
04.07.07 Everett Harbor - Jetty Island circumnavigation - about a 4-hour trip that started early (for the high tide factor) took a detour to the wrecked ships just north of the jetty
04.06.07 Richey Viewpoint to the end of Alki Beach just a quick trip after work
04.01.07 Ballard to the Arboretum - 14th St. ramp thru the canal... all around the Arboretum
03.31.07 Duwamish Waterway - South River St. ramp & south... almost to the I-5 overpass
03.25.07 Don Armeni to Alki point first paddle in many moons...
02.17.07 Richey Viewpoint to Lincoln Park - no photos... almost forgot this one!
02.11.07 Golden Gardens along the Shilshole Marina's breakwater down to the locks... then to the lighthouse at Discovery Park, then back to Golden Gardens .
02.10.07 Eld Inlet down in Olympia - from Frye Cove County Park down past Young Cove, across to Geoduck Beach & up to Green Cove, then back to Flapjack Point & Frye Cove .
01.28.07 Don Armeni boat launch along the west side of Harbor Island & thru the H.I. marina, down to Kellogg Island & the marshiness nearby, back up the east waterway of the Duwamish, and back to Don Armeni .
01.27.07 Golden Gardens north along the shore to Carkeek Park, then back was very choppy...
01.20.07 Magnolia (the 32nd Ave. beach) down to the new Olympic Sculpture Park along the waterfront. Lingered around Elliot Bay Park a while, then back via the marina .
01.15.07 Walked around Seward Park too .
01.15.07 Walked around the Washington Park Arboretum peeps were ice skating on my paddling route & playing hockey!
01.14.07 Walked around Camp Long in the snow .
01.06.07 Lake Union (by the Sunnyside boat ramp) to Portage Bay, then thru & around the Washington Park Arbortem .

thanks for paddling by! >:O)