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| Saturday May 5th Everett marina to Mission Beach 8 miles RT Left the Everett Marina at 6 AM with partly cloudy skies and a storm visible across the water to the southwest. Water conditions were slightly choppy with wind waves under a foot but fairly strong current against me as I headed north along the inside of Jetty Island toward the mouth of the Snohomish river. At the northern point of the island the current swept me around the corner and thru a few good rollers to keep me alert, probably only 1-1/2 ft. An angled crossing of the mouth put me beside the row of sunken old barges that mark the shallow water area. On the very top of the bow on the last barge in the row sat a bald eagle, standing tall and looking like the stern faced captain. Wished for a camera but without a good zoom lens it wouldn't have done him justice. Another 1/2 mile got me to Priest point with the wind and waves increasing but the storm seemed to be staying well to the southeast and not gaining on me any. After rounding the point the river current was no longer an issue but the rolling waves got pretty fun. I was heading into them at a 45 degree angle most of the time and had several put water up over the spray skirt if the interval put the bow down as the next wave came through. The Guillemot handles very nicely, no problem maintaining direction and stability is good. The shoreline between Priest point and Mission beach reminds me of the San Juans and feels much farther away from the city than I really am. I was hoping to make it all the way around into Tulalip Bay but the waves and threatening storm are telling me to stop early. I also am not very experienced at handling waves from behind and it could be a very exciting trip back if I can't keep from surfing and broaching. At the turn around point a small powerboat is out checking crab traps and is getting bounced around pretty good as well. The following seas are not as bad as I thought they might be, I do surf on a few but mostly try to keep from letting them determine my direction. I decided to take a break on the beach and check out the vegetation if you know what I mean. A front zipper would be nice so I don't have to strip bare to the waist just to take a pee. A good rest, a couple of poptarts and some water looking at some of the prettiest water anywhere is my idea of a great breakfast. Looking across Possession Sound and up Saratoga passage makes me wish I could just keep going. I love seeing the open water even if I'm right along the shoreline. It makes me dream of a day when I can take a week or a month or a summer and just keep going till I don't feel like paddling anymore. While I'm sitting there the sun comes out and the wind drops off. Now I'm wishing I had pressed on to the bay but I still have to go back across the mouth of the river and against the current for about a mile. As I near Priest point the current is getting really strong, its going to be a fight but not a long one if I can help it. I bear down and get to work making pretty good speed as long as I don't stop paddling for a second. I'm probably getting about 1 knot foreword speed against a 4 knot current. Some fishing boats anchored in the mouth give me something to guage my progress and route. Passed close enough to talk with one, they obviously enjoyed watching me struggle and thought I was crazy. They were fishing for sturgeon, didn't know there were any in the Snohomish, I usually picture the Columbia River for sturgeon fishing. I make it back to the sunken barges after a tough 1/2 hr of work. The eagle is still there surveying his domain. The tide has gone out and I'm now in very shallow but still fast moving water, as I make my way alongside the barge row It keeps getting shallower and shallower until I stop paddling and start poleing. Pretty soon I give up on that and lay the paddle across my cockpit and start pushing with my hands thinking I can make it to the head of the sandbar and cross the river high. I finally run aground and looking around realize that even the seagulls are standing up around me. Pop the skirt and climb out to drag the boat across to the other side where the water is deeper hopefully. It is and I make my way back along Jetty Island and to the boat launch in another mile. Got a few new blisters to show for the trip. Load and back home by 9:30 where everyone else has just gotten up. Even time for a quick nap before taking the boys out mountain biking for the afternoon with my brother Tim. Training for a trip to Moab Ut. at the end of May. |
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