Sea Kayak - Tacoma Narrows

SIGHTED: SEALS, SEA LION, CORMORANT,  SCOTER,  GREAT BLUE HERON.

 Everybody was ready on time and after our huddle we launched at approximately 1020 from a beach that had just enough room for all of our boats. We headed west towards mid channel, making the sharp right to then head under the midspan of the bridge. We rafted up briefly for numerous and unsuccessful attempts to adjust a paddler’s footpeg.  A stuffed dry bag was later used successfully instead but unfortunately a marine radio was lost in the process.  The water was slightly active in spots as we headed up the west side and arrived at the dock of The Tides restaurant at 1130.  We were greeted at the dock by two local friends, Ann and Greg, who had lunch with us.  After getting out of our drysuits outside we found an area had been reserved with multiple tables so for once we didn’t have to move any furniture.  The restaurant was warm and cozy as usual and I never heard any complaints about the food.  We shared birthday cookies and Gabby insisted on kindly treating me for lunch. At 1330 we were joined by Ann and Greg’s lovely dog Cayenne who watched from the dock as we got back into our soggy drysuits and boats. Once outside the Gig Harbor entrance a brief discussion had us heading straight back to Titlow Beach.  The going was a little slow at first but within 30 minutes we were picking up speed thanks to the rapidly rising current.  A southern breeze picked up slightly as we cleared the NW point of the bridge but was never an issue. One paddler left the group for a bio stop on the west side and rejoined us just before we reached the bulkheads. We arrived back to a beach that now had plenty of room at approx 1530.  We changed, loaded up and had a post paddle huddle where no complaints were made, thanks exchanged and the last of the cookies eaten. Nobody opted to go to Steamers.  All paddlers performed well with excellent group dynamics.