I did not sleep well last night, waking up at two in the morning with a sore back and anxiety of the drive home later today and all the clean-up that was to follow. Perhaps the anxiety stemmed from the reality that this was my third trip to the Olympic Peninsula this summer. I had gone to bed early enough last night because I was exhausted, so I should have slept like a baby. Whatever the cause of my restlessness, I simply could not fall back asleep. I wasn’t very hungry, so I chose to simply settle for a breakfast of grapes before loading up my paddling equipment for this morning’s paddle ar ..read more

After a decent night’s rest—I never sleep great when camping—I awoke to get ready to lead my group over to Freshwater Bay. We had to stop first at Adventures Through Kayaking (ATK) so one of the participants could rent a wetsuit for the weekend. Tammy and the folks at ATK are always friendly and accommodating. From ATK, it was just a short drive to the Freshwater Bay boat ramp where we met up with another paddler in the group. The water looked calm, and weather conditions were favorable, so it looked like we were in for an easy paddle to Crescent Bay. There’s something really peaceful and cal ..read more

It’s that time of year when once again I led a small group of paddlers up the Olympic Peninsula to do some paddling in and around Sequim and Port Angeles. On this year’s trip, I planned to lead them on a trip of Sequim Bay, Freshwater Bay, and around Protection Island, which is situated one mile off the Olympic Peninsula coastline. The five-hour drive can be tiring. Thankfully, the drive along Hood Canal is very scenic as you hug the coastline and pass through the small towns of Potlatch, Hoodsport, Lilliwaup, and Brinnon before heading inland. Eventually I came upon Discovery Bay knowing my ..read more

Forget the 120 Rule, so says Moulton Avery, whose cold water safety presentation I had the pleasure of attending. Avery used the May 16, 2010 tragedy of Irina McEntee and Carissa Ireland in Casco Bay, Maine, as the driving force to start the National Center for Cold Water Safety and to start off the presentation. Nothing like a wake-up call. What’s the 120 Rule? It’s a rule paddlers use to decide when it’s safe to paddle without wearing some form of immersion wear like a dry suit or wetsuit. Basically, you add the water and air temperatures together, and when the combined total is greater tha ..read more

I have encountered many paddlers, both in person and through pictures they share on social media, enjoying time on the water in a canoe or kayak with their four-legged, furry companion. And why not? Most dogs are well suited for paddling adventures and will relish the opportunity to go paddling with their master (I use the term "master" loosely, as I consider my dog part of my family and more her dad than her master). Camping trips are much more enjoyable when your dog comes along.However, when bringing your furry friend with you on a paddle trip, whether it's just a short paddle on a lake or ..read more

When the sun comes out and temperatures start rising, there’s no better way to appreciate western Oregon’s beauty than to take out the kayak or canoe on the water! We’ve done the “hard work” for you, and are happy to present you with the top five kayaking spots I’ve found (in no particular order). Grab your paddle and meet me out there!1. Devil’s Lake, Lincoln CityLincoln City, in general, is an excellent spot for water sports, but I’ve really developed a soft spot for Devil’s Lake. You can access launch sites from Regatta Park or Devil’s Lake State Parks on the east or west side. The east sid ..read more