Paddle: Lopez Island West

Five of us (Rich, Vicky, Diana, Jesse and me) launched early from Spencer spit and paddled north around the north end of Lopez and then down the west side. We delayed taking on Cattle Pass until slack tide. Jesses and I made a long hike from Rock Point down to Cattle Pass to check conditions and kill time. Once we cleared Cattle Pass it was an easy paddle to Mackaye Harbor. This trip completed our circumnavigation of Lopez Island.
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Paddle: Lopez Island East

Today we launched from Hunter's Bay and paddled clockwise around the SE corner of Lopez Island. It was a beautiful, warm day with high clouds. There were 7 of us Rich, Vicky, Jesse, Diana, Dan, Karen and me. Payette had spray skirt problems and did launch with us. It was a pretty mellow paddle with lots of photo ops (see the link below). We ate lunch at McArdle Bay. There were lots of seals, birds, and kelp along the south side of the island.

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Paddle: Decatur Island

A gang of us launched from Spencer Spit at 10:00 and headed for lunch at James Island. The ferry chased us through Thatcher Pass. We went out into Rosario Straights and wrapped around the outside of James Island. We had a quick lunch on the west side of James Island and headed out for Lopez Pass before the water got too big. Lopez Pass was pretty tame when we went through and then headed north back to the Spit.

Photo Album

Vancouver to Edmonds

We were awoken by Rho's mom - Perla. She wanted us to eat a breakfast of Eggo's and bananas before power walking at the mall. After breakfast we drove over to the Westfield Vancouver for 20 laps. We were joined by one of Rudy's friends named Phil who is 80 years old. It seemed everyone was indoors as the it was raining off and on all morning.

After the hike we piled back into the Xterra and headed north to Tacoma to see my great-uncle Father Bill. It rained most of the way and I was beginning to worry about vacationing in Washington State. Father Bill was happy to see us. He lives in a house bordering Point Defiance Park. On Friday, they were getting the Taste of Tacoma into swing.

After our visit with Father Bill, we continued north to Edmonds to hook up with my sister Shannon. We were treated to a magic show by Nora and Daniel. My aunt Shelia showed with angle food cake and strawberrys (my favorite).

San Francisco to Vancouver

We left San Francisco and drove 674 miles north in 10:45 to Rho's folks in Vancouver, WA. The drive was mostly uneventful with some traffic delays near Mount Shasta for road work. We listened to The Kite Runner a novel by Khaled Hosseini. It is an excellent book if you get a chance.

Hike: Windy Hill Loop

On a windy but sunny Sunday we went for a hike with Marcy. We did hike #79 Windy Hill Loop from the 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area. We left from the parking lot on Skyline and decended down Hamms Gulch trail to Alpine Road. We followed a small stream that we could see fingerling fish swimming about. There was a 10-degree temperature difference from the top of the ridge to Alpine Road. We were happy for the shade of the trail. We climbed 1520 feet back up Razor Back Trail. Afterwards we had big hamburgers at the Mountain House Inn. The trip was 8.3 miles and took 2:52. (Click on the map for a larger image.)

Photo Album

Cycling: Strawberry Point

Beautiful summer morning ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Strawberry Point. 37 miles, 2:56, 2094 feet of climbing. I stopped by the beach at Sea Trek they were in full swing with classes and tours. The Avon breast cancer walk was going.