San Juan Islands Sea Kayaking from Anacortes

It's hard to come to grips with the fact that the long, cold, wet, windy winter has finally released its grasp on us. But the truth is evident everywhere we go. Sea kayaking around Burrows Island is a wonderful way to see the wildflowers blooming. On a kayak tour last week we came upon an area so thick with our native Nodding Onion that we could actually smell it while sitting in our kayaks! There are some thick patches of Blue Camas, that all-important source of starch for the indigenous folks who lived here in the San Juan Islands before us. We also are seeing huge areas of Death Camas. The flower is a delicate creamy yellow, and is quite beautiful, but the plant is deadly poisonous. In fact, the natives who harvested the Blue Camas took great pains to separate the two species (which grow side by side), pulling out the Death Camas and throwing it away from the patches of edible Camas. In some areas a careful look reveals this activity, Death Camas growing heavily on the high side of a slope, Blue Camas growing in thick patches down a bit lower.

We continue to see Coyotes on nearly every kayaking trip out to Burrows Island. I'm starting to think that it must have been a very sucessful year for those coyote mommas out there. I hope the trend continues.

We've also noticed a few shoals of baitfish hiding in the new kelp forests that have just recently re-appeared. Not surprisingly, our Harbor porpoise sightings are also becoming more frequent. They tend to be where the food is.

A big "shout out" goes to Joey and Brian who joined me for a kayak trip last Friday morning. That was one of the most fun trips that I've had out there. You guys were terrific, we hope that you both will come sea kayaking with us again sometime soon. Bring your daughters next time Brian!

April is just about over and we've had the most amazing start to our season ever! We took out a lot of kayaking trips during the last six weeks, and our multi-day kayaking trips, which begin at the end of May, are already filling up. It's looking to be a busy summer.