San Juan Islands Sea Kayaking from Anacortes

O.K, we're not sure what's going on here but we are getting some incredibly warm weather up here in the San Juans. Yesterday was in the mid-80's in town. Our native Washingtonian blood starts to overheat at around 75F, so we did the only sensible thing to do and headed for the water.

The weekend was great for sea kayaking. We had a couple of multi-day trips out (one which is on their way to Friday Harbor as I write), and lots of folks enjoying the amazing beauty of Cypress Island and the Cones. I guess the porpoise were out in force around Burrows Island. Large groups were seen foraging in the strong current in the passes.

Summer travel season has definitely arrived. On our way out to the kayak docks we passed huge lines of cars waiting to get on the San Juan Ferry. Make sure to plan ahead if you are thinking of going out to Friday Harbor. The wait times can exceed three hours during this time of the year. Better yet, stay here in Anacortes and maximize you San Juan Islands experience!

Well, I guess you can say that it's official. The Solstice has happened and summer is once again upon us. We've been running trips all over the place this week. Our Deception Pass kayaking trips have been out every day enjoying some of the best paddling in the area. The multi-day kayak expeditions are in full swing now, tomorrow we'll be sending one trip up to Cypress Island, and another will be exploring the islands all the way out to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

It looks like our summer weather has finally arrived as well. The temperatures are reported to reach the 80s for the next several days! It's time to pack away those sweaters, pull out the short-pants, and head out to the San Juan Islands!

As I type these words our guests on the Burrows Island trip are kayaking with Orca whales. Jeff just called me from out by the Burrows Lighthouse. It seems like the timing was perfect today.

That's about all I have to report for right now..... but it's enough!

For more information on kayaking with whales, and our take on the subject, check out our sea kayaking with whales page.

The final week of spring sea kayaking is upon us! We have just one more week until Solstice, and the longest day of the year.

Last week's multi-day trips went well. We had two trips out to Cypress Island and the weather cooperated with both of them. We even had one morning of fog which made for a beautiful experience for our guests. I love those kind of mornings, the fog weaves through the treeline giving each tree a character of it's own. Stillness prevails on these mornings as power-boats wait until it clears to leave the harbors. All we hear is the sounds of water gently lapping at the shoreline and the sharp exhalations of seals and porpoise.

Eagles have been out in force lately. We had one trip that must have seen about 15 individuals roosting in the Douglas Firs. All of the trips have been seeing porpoise, seals, and large groups of Alcids (the bird family that includes Puffins). One "lucky" group even caught a glimpse of a "rosy bottomed skinny-dipper". It is still unclear who was more surprised.

Right now we have a family out at Cypress Island for a 3 day adventure. Our guides have called in to say that they are having a blast. I should mention that this lucky family includes not one, but two sets of twins!! Talk about busy parents! Our own little boy keeps us running, I can't imagine two of him, let alone two sets of him.

All sorts of great things were seen this week on all of our trips; seals following the kayaks, eagles locking talons in flight, baby harbor porpoise swimming close to their mothers' sides, and yes....orca whales! J-Pod has been making their traditional circuit around the perimeter of the San Juan Islands and we've been lucky enough to see them on several different days. A few days ago they even swam right down through all three of our day trip routes, starting up north by Cypress Island (one of our Outer Islands favorites), right by the Burrows Island lighthouse (our 3 hour kayak trip), and finally on down to the Deception Pass area. On Monday it happened again as they swam down the east side of Cypress Island and then down by Burrows Island before heading across Rosario Strait towards Lopez Island. Tuesday was the best day by far. We had the entire family of whales swim right through us, a few even came right under our boats! Jeff Hoeben had a female swim under him just inches beneath the surface. Talk about a rush!

Right now Jeff and his guests are on their way back from a multi-day kayaking trip to Cypress Island. They've enjoyed some terrific weather so we're excited to hear the reports when he gets back. Another trip is heading out this weekend so the fun will continue.

School gets out soon and the days are getting longer and warmer. It looks like we'll have another great summer out here in the San Juan Islands!