Sea Kayak - Lummi Island Circumnavigation

Though bright sun was scarce, conditions were otherwise good for an early November daylong circumavigation of approximately 17.4 nautical miles.  Seven kayakers parked along the road south of the Lummi ferry pier and launched just south of the fishing pier.   There were already a number of cars along the road, but sufficient space for our six cars.  There is a large portapotty at the ferry lane.  There were a handful of crabbing and fishing boats launching and recovering in the area at the beginning and end of our trip but otherwise not a lot of boat traffic hazards.

We launched just after 7:30AM and made it back to the beach at 2:50PM.  With only a minor portion of slight current assist, it was a steady effort for most of the day, with the most difficult portion being the hour-long crossing from Lummi Rocks north to Village Point into the wind.  At least for this paddler, the effort felt equivalent to the current-assisted transit from Washington Park to Turn Island, and a long, hot shower was welcome at the end of the day.

The most scenic portion of the paddle was the southeast and southwest shores rounding Carter Point, and the view from Lummi campsite would have been stunning if the clouds had parted for the view to the Sisters and Mount Baker.  As we lunched on the lee side of Lummi Rocks we had an audience of at least twenty curious seals biding their time in the waters offshore.  All along the northern shores we heard the loud reports of kingfishers taking flight from the trees on the bluffs.  We made it back to Gooseberry Point with plenty of daylight left and didn't even have to wait for the Whatcom Chief ferry to pass.