San Juan Islands Sea Kayaking from Anacortes

Although the weather man apparently didn't get the memo, summer has officially begun. We've had a few soggy days since the Solstice last week, but now it appears that the dry times have finally begun. Today was 70 degrees and beautiful.

We got 'em again!

Orca whales under Eagle Bluff, my favorite spot to see them. Today it was Mira's kayak trip out at Cypress Island that got lucky as J-Pod came down out of Georgia Strait on the tail end of an ebb tide. Apparently they were putting on a "Discovery Channel" kind of display, loads of breaches and aerial acrobatics. The kind of stuff that burns into your retina and sticks with you for years.

A few days ago it was our Deception Pass kayak tours that were the lucky ones. Jeff and his guests got a great look at both J-Pod and part of L-Pod as they foraged along near Northwest Island.

While it's always a rush to see these whales at eye level from a sea kayak, it is not the kind of event that any kayaking company out here should be actively selling. They just travel too darned far, and too darned fast. It's just good timing, and a lot of luck.

Here at Anacortes Kayak Tours we feel that to sell trips based on kayaking with whales sets the wrong tone for the whole trip. It's an overstatement that forces the guides, and the guests, to focus only on the possibility of seeing a whale. There are so many beautiful things out here that will get missed in the process. We remember when we were guides out on San Juan Island where some outfitters would simply paddle down the coast a mile or so and then just sit there, going nowhere, in hopes that the whales would swim by. So great was their need to "produce" whales that they seemed reluctant to do anything else. If the whales didn't show up, which happens more often than not, their guests would feel that the whole kayak tour was a failure. When we started Anacortes Kayak Tours we pledged that we would never create such an unreasonable expectation.... even if it cost us some business. These days it is hard to say if it cost us anything at all. On the contrary, most people comment that they appreciate our candor and honesty.

Regardless of what the flashy brochures and websites may claim, sea kayaking with whales is all about luck.

And today luck was on our side.

These last two weeks have just flown by. We've enjoyed great kayaking out there on the tours. Lots of overnight kayak trips have been getting out Cypress Island. Although the weather has been "hit and miss", everyone has had a great time. It is hard to go wrong when you are kayaking around one of the most beautiful spots in the San Juan Islands. The Burrows Island kayak trips have also been seeing all sorts of great things. Lots of seals, eagles, and porpoise have graced us with their presence. We are getting close to the pupping season now, soon the water will teem with tiny little Harbor seals. Although it seems to make their mothers anxious, the pups are curious about us and often approach fairly close. Another large marine mammal was hanging around the island last week. A male California sea lion was spotted on several tours. Once it surfaced just a few feet away from our guide Brent. It was hard to tell who was most surprised. Apparently it lifted about half of its body out of the water, bringing it literally eye-level with Brent. According to his account, the sea lion could have used a breath mint!

Our training has been amazingly intense and productive these last four weeks. We've been hitting it hard nearly every day. Last weekend was Phase 2 of our formal classes with Body Boat Blade International. We had perfect conditions to practice skills and rescues in the swift moving waters of Deception Pass. It always amuses us to see some of the overstated claims of certain San Juan Island companies in regards to training. Having been residents of the island for many years, and full time kayak guides, we know all too well that a few sessions in a warm pond (and maybe a few days learning how to identify zooplankton) is not enough to prepare a guide for the rigors involved in rescuing someone in rough conditions. Although most days in the San Juan Islands are beautiful, and rescue situations rarely arise, we feel that a kayak guide should be trained to handle levels far exceeding the usual conditions encountered on a tour. (For example, as this report is being written, several of our guides are out in some local tidal races working on rescues in the rough water- we'll never take guests out there, but our staff can handle the conditions) . Hopefully these companies will eventually follow our lead and incorporate some professional coaching into their training program. Sure, it costs money, but the investment is a good one. Our reward for making the investment is watching our team develop advanced sea kayaking skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.

Every day gets warmer and warmer out here. Summer Solstice is just around the corner, and the days are nice and long. Pretty soon we'll be into the heart of the summer kayaking season and everyone's "smile" muscles will be sore.

Oh yeah, for those of you who have been following the Reports over the last few months, our new baby is coming in just three weeks (07/07/07)! The little guy seems anxious to join us, he's kicking like crazy. Keeps his mom up at night.