Squaxin Island Circumnavigation

10/24/15 -SUN–SK II+—SQUAXIN ISLAND NAVIGATION 11 NM
LEADER: LISA A JOHNSON
PADDLERS: TIM BURKE, BOB BURRESON, JOHN DUNLAP, THERESE PIZANTE, BILL SHECKET
TIDES/CURRENTS: DOFFELMEYER: 2.15 @0930, 14.94 @1544, SLACK @ NO END OF SQUAXIN AT 0945, .7 @ 1130 PICKERING PASSAGE SO END
CONDITIONS: SEA CALM, LITTLE OR NO BREEZE, CLOUDY THEN CLEARING TO MOSTLY SUNNY, TEMPS 50S-60, VISABILITY GOOD TO EXCELLENT
SIGHTED: PROPOISES, SEALS, EAGLE, CORMORANTS, COOTS, SCOTERS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, KINGFISHER, CANADA GEESE, LOONS, OSPREY

All paddlers met in time for us to launch at 1000 from Boston Harbor Marina. It took about 20 minutes to cross over under a dingy sky and then to proceed up the east side of Squaxin. We rafted up at the north end at 1145 and the group opted to continue on to Hope Island before stopping for lunch. We observed lots of tiny chum followed by bigger fish jumping along with a few fishing boats jumping along after them. We arrived at the east side of Hope Island where we got out at the boardwalk for lunch at 1300 under rapidly brightening sunshine. Passing boat wakes had us running for our boats once and after about an hour we loaded up and took off. Everybody opted to head straight back to BH rather than follow the shoreline so we finished back at the marina at a nice high tide line at 1500. A relaxing paddling with beautiful fall colors right in our own back yards! No complaints or negative comments at the post trip huddle and Tim and I were joined by his wife Nora for another great dinner at the Fish in Olympia.

All paddlers performed well with excellent group dynamics.