IMG_1784.jpeg

Trip Report    

Sea Kayak - Chuckanut Bay

Beautiful day for a paddle on the bay!

  • Road suitable for all vehicles
  • Sun and fun all the way, albeit a tad on the warm side. Winds started out mild and built just enough to give us some mild conditions for the planned practice rescues at the end.

We launched from Wild Cat Cove in the morning, heading out under calm conditions toward Governors Point. This spot is known for being rough when winds pick up, but today the water was glassy, so we rounded the point without any difficulty.

Our first destination was Chuckanut Island, where we stopped for lunch. We found some much-needed shade under the eroded bluff on the island’s southern beach, a welcome break from the summer sun.

While we were relaxing, one of the oceanographers in the group spotted a small, slow-moving creature at the water’s surface. Initially, I thought it might be a type of nudibranch, though it seemed larger than what I’ve seen around here. After a bit of research, we confirmed it was a Hooded Nudibranch (Melibe leonina), about 4 inches long—an unusual sight.

After lunch, we paddled to Clarke’s Point, where we explored the unique geological formations, including the striking concretions. In the sheltered inlet on the south side of the point, we were pleased to find a healthy number of Pisaster ochraceus starfish, a positive sign given their population decline in recent years. We also spotted a Leather Star resting among the rocks.

Our next stop was Teddy Bear Cove, where we took a brief land break. On the return to Wild Cat Cove, the wind had picked up slightly, which gave us a chance to practice self and assisted rescues while being pushed by the light breeze. It added just enough challenge to make the drills interesting.

Afterward, we landed back at Wild Cat Cove, packed up, and reflected on what had been a fantastic day of paddling, wildlife sightings, and skill-building on the water.