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| Trip 3 Around Jetty Island 3/10/01 4 miles After launching last weekend in the calm river I was itching to get out in open water and a little harsher contitions. Jetty Island is a small sandbar just off of the Everett boat ramp and has a nice calm start, a river mouth (usually very friendly) and on the outside of the island it has a big water feel but is still very shallow and easy paddling. I figured that if I didn't feel up to the whole trip around I could beach and carry the boat across the island pretty easily. Still paddling in pretty much a shell of a boat, no seat, just a foam pad, no footpegs, no sprayskirt. Headed north against the outgoing tide and current from the snohomish river for a mile to the end of the island, after rounding the point I realize how fast the current is moving and am swept down the north end of the island nicely. On the outside I get that open water feel I was looking for, I really feel like heading out into the channel and crossing over to Hat Island but that would not be smart with the boat in its current state and especially alone. I'll save it for another safer day (It would be a 3 mile crossing). I am greeted by a bunch of shiny black heads about midway down the island, 9 seals all within 100 ft of the boat. Very Cool. Also had a bald eagle following me for a while I think he has a nest on the island and wanted to keep a close eye on me. Rounding the south end I get a taste of some fishing boat wake, 2 ft waves but are handled easily and cross over into the calmer marina and paddle with the big boats for a while then its back to the car and home for another breakfast, the rest of the family was just rolling out of bed. |
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