morning paddle

On a cloudy, somewhat windy morning Michelle's dad, Tom, and I went for a voyage towards Post Point. It was funny because we paddled into the wind for the way there... and then the wind died down when we turned home so we only got about five minutes of wind support. Here is a picture from the outing... with the super low tide we saw lots of these Pisaster ochraceus grouped together.

And as I type this, the marine layer is breaking up and the sun is peeking through the clouds :)

more Kayaking...

Not a cloud in the sky.
Sunshine all day.
Low Eighties.
Bellingham Bay.
Thirty Minutes.
Nice kayak.
High tide.
Calm water.
Calm mind.

Kayak to Post Point on 5/3

Went out for a glorious kayak yesterday afternoon. Sunny and hot, afternoon, no wind, 6pm lots of sun still in the sky. Here are some pictures:

Looking south toward the Olympic mountains and Olympic National Park, San Juan Islands to the right

Ditto.

Carolina (my boat's name) facing southwest at Orcas Island(?) One of the San Juans, in any case!

Post Point on the left, railroad track too :(

 Mt. Baker peeping up over South Hill.

The Alaska Ferry leaves at 6:10pm on Fridays. I got to paddle in front of it before it left and then watch it head south to get out of the islands. In the background are the major players of the British Colombia Coast Range

American Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) on the rock in the foreground... kinda blends in with rock crevices in the background. See its orange eye, electric neon orange beak and dainty pink legs. I also saw lots of gulls (Glaucous-winged, Western?), a Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), some Harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus), a Harbor Seal, and an interesting-looking, dark-headed gull... maybe a Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia). I also heard and saw the Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia) which are back for the summer breeding extravaganza!

Incredible weather, great paddle. So thankful... and for Michelle who helped me put my boat away and then drove me home!

from 4/16, Tuesday- Kayaking to Post Point

Got into the boat again on this sunny morning. Met up with Mike, who works at the boating center, whose partner is one my colleagues, and who came, with his partner Kelley, over to our apartment that same night for dinner. We paddled around the corner, past the US Coast Guard, past the ferry terminal and to Marine Park. We took a short break and went a little bit further south down the coast to Post Point. We came across six or so pairs of Harlequin ducks and promptly scared them. Sorry duckies!

It was lovely and sunny, and as we paddled back an hour later, the wind picked up and the storm began its approach. Indeed we had perfect timing and I rode my bike home looking over my shoulder to see the white-caps on the water....

Mike was sharing tips about successful kayaking technique. He showed me the body mechanics to consider and things to avoid so as to protect myself and my gear. It was just a nice way to get outside again.

Gone kayakin'

In the past week or two, I've been out in my kayak three times. Sunny days, COLD water, but lovely fun! Here are some pictures:

 Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) on the boom next to the public boat launch

 Looking west while paddling north

 Looking north

Met Yale on the shore (who was in a class with me during my fall 2011 on campus stint... when I actually BOUGHT this kayak!) He lives on his boat about 400 feet from the boat launch. He kayaks to shore everyday.

My new two new modes of transportation... kayak on the left and Nick's Surly bike (that he has lent me for two months) I LOVE riding my bike around town. Commuting by bike is fun... reminds me of three years in Japan commuting by bike. With Cherry Blossoms recently blooming, I was very natsukashii 懐かしい for Nihon 日本.

Another day, looking northwest, before turning west and then southwest around the ferry terminal towards Marine Park.

Looking North toward the Canadian Coastal Range... an extension of the North Cascades. Whistler is back there somewhere

Yup. This is a coal train... coal dust flying off the top of uncovered train cars. It's gross and immoral and should be illegal. And sending coal to China is downright awful. Stop this environmental and health degradation. NO to Cherry Point Terminal. NO to training Coal from Wyoming to Tacoma and then up the coast to British Colombia. NO to this nonsense.

The railroad should have to build a new line AWAY from water, the coast, people, animals, trees, and everything else... they should build an imaginary train line to send fake coal to their own homes and burn it there. Shame on BNSF, Warren Buffett, sending Coal to China, and everything about this situation. There... that is out of my mind now.

I leave you with one last picture:

Taylor Dock and Downtown Bellingham, from my launch point at the Community Boating Center in Fairhaven neighborhood. It's great to look back at the city from the water... I am so grateful to have this opportunity.