Sea Kayaking the San Juan Islands
July 16-19, 2009
Trip Itinerary
Day-By-Day Overview
| Day | Activity |
| 7.16 | Arrival, Pizza and Orientation |
| 7.17 | Put In & Paddle to Reid Harbor, Stuart Island |
| 7.18 | Circumnavigating Stuart Island |
| 7.19 | Paddle back to San Juan Island |
Thursday, July 16 – Arrival, Pizza and Orientation
Arrive in San Juan Harbor. Check in at your B&B. Meet other alumni taking this trip for pizza and a brief orientation.
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Friday, July 17 – Put In & Paddle to Reid Harbor, Stuart Island
We meet our guides at 8:30 a.m. near the ferry terminal in Friday Harbor. The large group splits into two and we ride to a put-in on the west side of the island. After stowing all camping and personal gear, we have a thorough orientation covering paddling technique, safety, and boat handling. Then we put in and kayak north along the picturesque west side of San Juan Island, a prime Orca habitat.
After we cross Spieden Channel, we paddle among forested, rocky islands including Spieden, Goose and John Islands. Our destination for the night is Reid Harbor on Stuart Island, only accessible by boat. The campsite is nestled in a clump of red barked madronas, cedar and Douglas fir trees. We spend our first evening preparing and eating dinner. Our first night’s cuisine includes smoked salmon fettuccine, garlic bread, locally grown organic salad greens, bottled wine and, of course, a dynamite Dutch oven apple crisp.
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Saturday, July 18 – Circumnavigating Stuart Island
We do 'le grand' circumnavigation around Stuart Island passing many smaller uninhabited islands. We kayak past the abandoned Coast Guard lighthouse on the north side of Stuart and glide past numerous birds including great blue herons, cormorants and bald eagles. We return to our campsite on Stuart for another tastefully prepared dinner. After dinner, there is an optional evening "bioluminescence" paddle.
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Sunday, July 19 – Paddle back to San Juan Island
Our last day is spent retracing our route back to our put-in site through prime whale territory. Depending on winds, currents and the strength of the group, we should arrive at our takeout site between 1 and 4 p.m. We ride together back to Friday Harbor, with an hour or more to spend touring the town before boarding the ferry to Anacortes. Or, if you are spending the night on your own, head back to your hotel or B&B for a well deserved shower and dinner on the town.
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