Dane and Lynda Kayak

Time: 3.56 hrs Distance: 7.61 miles We put in at the boat-ramp on the West end of Rooster Rock State Park. From that ramp there's a half-mile water channel to the Columbia River. We were barely able to get out and decided that was as low as the water would go. We paddled up-river against the wind until we discovered we'd paddled into a dead end. We we got out scouted then turned back. When we reached the park's entry channel we found that the water had dropped further and the channel was unnavigable. We turned back up the Columbia, paddled back up-river to an ill-advised portage to out. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda just after entering the Columbia. Dane early in the trip going into the Columbia River Gorge. On the sand bar where we turned back. The Washington side of the Columbia and the channel we should have paddled down. The trail we used to portage out (it was much worse than this looks). Lynda after we completed the out portage.

Time: 3.67 hours Distance: 11.82 miles We put in at Cathedral Park in Portland on a sunny afternoon with fairly calm waters and little river traffic. We cross the Willamette and made our way down the Western side to the Broadway Bridge before turning back. Lynda preparing to put in. Just after putting in. Lynda paddling up river. Approaching the Fremont Bridge. Dane at the turn around point. Lynda at the turn around point. A fire boat that passed on our way back down river. The fire boat testing its water cannons.

Time: 3.05 hours Distance: 10.24 miles We put into Budd Inlet in the South Puget Sound from West Bay Park in Olympia WA. Smoke from the fires across the West coast had rolled in over night making visibility and air quality fairly bad. The tide was coming in the entire trip but the return trip somehow took longer than the outgoing. Early in the trip we passed a small colony of seals who'd were lazing on a log deck and through the trip we had a number of encounters with it's members.  Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda paddling by a small colony of seals that had made their home on a log deck near the start of the trip. Dane taking a short rest on the way out. The smoke is very evident. Lynda showing off the horde of shells she found during a quick stop before turning back. Dane paddling South on the return trip. A buoy and a small tower on the way back. Lynda paddling South on the return trip. Lynda stopping to watch a seal that's watching here. You can just see his small head...

Time: 3.05 hours Distance: 8.64 miles We put into Hammersley Inlet at Walker Park in Shelton WA. The smoke from the fires on the West Coast was starting to flow into the area making the day a bit hazy (which can be seen in the pictures). We headed East towards the Puget Sound going against a strong incoming tide the entire way. Currents in the Inlet were strong making the trip fairly slow but traffic was light and the temperature was comfortable. We saw quite a few jellyfish along the way and later concluded they were Lions Mane Jellyfish which are common in the Sound. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda paddling early in the trip. Dane paddling East down Hammersley Inlet. Lynda paddling East down Hammersley Inlet. After beers at Hoh River Brewery.

Time: 4.22 hours Distance: 10.8 miles We put into the South Puget Sound at the ferry terminal in Steliacoom WA on a day when the smoke from the fires on the West Coast hadn't really reached the area. We paddled South with the incoming tides almost to the Nisqually National Wildlife Reserve, stopped and ate lunch as the tide turned then paddled back with the outgoing tide. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda on a short break near the start of the paddle. Lynda enjoying lunch. Lynda paddling back after lunch. A long train carrying hundreds of tanks and military vehicles. Dane watching the train. Dane paddling near the end of the trip. After beers at Headless Mumby in Olympia WA.