Blake Island

06/27-28/15 -SAT –III—BLAKE ISLAND OVERNIGHT. APPROX 8 NM.
LEADER: LISA A JOHNSON
PADDLERS: TIM BEVER, KAREN HOOK
CONDITIONS: 0-1’, N 0-5 KTS, CLEAR AND SUNNY, TEMPS 50S-80S, VISABILITY EXCELLENT
SIGHTED: SEALS, RACCOONS, DEER, EAGLES, CORMORANTS, SCOTERS, GREAT BLUE HERONS

DAY 1: Karen and I car pooled to discover a lot of construction and blocked parking spaces at the Lohman Beach where we planned to launch. Tim was already there and we pulled into the side street adjacent to the south side to unload before I moved my car up the street.

We launched about 1045 and took an hour to cross the channel, stopping to alert Seattle Vessel Traffic. There was a slight and welcome breeze from the north that created some slight chop as we approached the island. We opted to head straight for the WWTA site on the northwest side by the spit. We landed to find one campsite set up, another single empty tent on the largest middle site and the last western spot empty. However, there was a commercial group who had just arrived before we did although I already had my PFD and spray skirt on the table first. After a conference with the guide we agreed to take the western spot and they spread their multiple tents in the middle.

The bathrooms are still closed so the nice and clean non flushing facility at the top of the trail on the left side is the only one available. There is a broken water line that has left this side of the island dry although water is available at the marina on the east side.

I paddled and Tim and Karen walked to Tillicum Village to find it closing for the day. The schedules seem to be based on the foot traffic from the Argosy tours and is there erratic. Nobody had opted to go to dinner there anyway. I returned to the campsite while Tim and Karen hiked around the island. We turned in close to 11 pm after post dinner cleanup, conversation, Karen’s brownies and visits from deer and raccoons.

DAY 2: I waited until fairly late in the morning to launch as the tide was out. There were quite a few raccoons down along the shoreline as we headed to Tillicum Village. This time they were open and we visited the giftshop and got some ice cream before heading across the channel. This time Tim worked the radio and again we were all clear for our crossing. Took about an hour and we thankfully found the tide higher than where we had left it the day before. Didn’t take too long to load up and we had a brief post paddle huddle. Everybody survived with no complaints. Tim opted out to join Karen and I for lunch at the Mexican restaurant by the Fauntleroy ferry before heading south.

Both paddlers performed well with excellent group dynamics.