YEHHHH JANELLE!!!

We just found out Dr. Doolittle has passed her BOARDS and now is a licensed DOCTOR!!!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

THE LAST 5 WEEKENDS

OK Sara, I think you are the only one who reads my blog and I am going to start doing a better job at it.

Sept. 14-15th  Kayak Camping on Cypress Island in the San Juans

Janelle and I took off right after church on the way to anacortes to drop our kayaks in the water and go for a paddle.  It was a really windy day but there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  We launched around 3:30pm and the wind was in our face and creating some nice size waves.  We crossed the Guemes Channel and stopped at the Guemes General store for sun lotion as Janelle was starting to get rosey cheeks.  As we approached the bellingham channel (between Guemes and Cypress) the tide was in our favor but the wind wasn't it was a long hard paddle but we both got used to the rocky waves splashing us on the way across.  We arrive at Cypress head at about 5:15.

The Cypress head is a almost island that connects to Cypress Island, a very skinny path between the two keeps it as part of the islands.  It's beautiful, you can stand on it and look out into bays on both sides.  We scattered up the path to see what camp sites were available and out of the wind and we found a really nice site on the NE side.  Janelle started setting up the tent while I carried the gear to the site and started a fire.  I went out on the waters edge sat on a nice rock and fished a little while Mt. Bakers slowly disappeared into the night and the full moon gave me light.  I caught to Rock Fish and we added them to the dinner menu.  Off the side of the island there is a rolling current that keeps the water "boiling" and as you are camping it sounds like you are near a river, very therapeutic!!  Janelle and I roasted s'mores and sat on the bank pearing off towards the other islands and the full moon, BEAUTIFUL!!!

Janelle had a few stumbles and falls as I told her she might be a little bit clumbsy, she denied it.  The 20 minutes later she fell again and her direct quote was " I am clumbsy, dammit!!" and she rolled over laughing at herself.  I am still working on creating the perfect tinder bundle for a spark, my fire making skills only need a small flame to get going, so I am a one match man, but creating the flame with my flint and steel is still hit or miss!

The next morning (today) we got up to a magnificent sun rise over Guemes Island and next to Mt. Baker.  They created a orange red purple color along the skyline.  Janelle has been determined to be the handy camper so she volunteered to take everything down while I made breakfast.  A funny yet scary moment was when I heard Janelle yelling, I turned to see her running out of the tent chasing my matress as it was rolling towards the cliff, she stopped and there went my matress off the cliff, luckily tied was out and I just had to find a way down and around.  It was a relaxing morning for both of us and the tides required u to leave by 11:30am.  This time the wind was lighter and in our favor and we timed it so the tide changed by the second channel so they wee both going "our" direction.  This did require a 45 minutes lunch break on Guemes Island.  Oh Yah and as were leave Cypress a pod of dolphins swam within 50 feet of us, "Cool".  It was another breath taking day and a wonderful weekend!

Anniversary Weekend in Deception Pass Sept 7-8th

Janelle and I went to the Canlis Employee Party Sunday afternoon after a dissapointing Hawks game.  Where I took runner-up in the belly flop contest winning us 2 tickets to the Mariners game.  The flop was off a water-trampoline, my goals were set high but awkwardly enough I slipped on my launch flipped over and landed on my back, embarrassed as 100 friends and work mates were watching.  I came up from under water to hear a loud cheer and clapping.  I would love to tell you I planned it that way.

J and I took off for Deception Pass State park and parked at a nice sight.  I set a shoe-lace rabbit trap but had no luck.  We enjoyed walking on the beach that night and sitting on a log and enjoying jack and cokes with a nice cigar.  I brought the guitar and played for awhile and of course we had s'mores.  The next morning we went on a hike through the woods and walked the beach collecting rocks and aggots.  We then packed up and went to a near by pub to watch the Packers beat the Vikings!!  To finish our Anniversary night off we had a nice dinner at one of our favorite places to eat.  A small little restaurant called the Deception Pass Cafe and Grill.  I had the filet Mignon and J had chicken Marcelos (sp).  It is a romantic litte place off the side of the road with about 8 total tables.  It was a perfect way to celebrate a wonderful first year of marriage!!

Labor Weekend Aug. 31-Sept 1st.

The two of us aren't big on camping labor day weekend, too many people!  So Sunday we invited the my parents over for dinner and s'mores.  I made a concrete fire pit that sits on our porch and we sat outside around the fire enjoying good company.  Dad and I had a few scotch's and mom said she had the best s'more she has ever tasted.  Part of the secret is cinnamon dusted graham crackers.

The next day J and I jumped on our bikes and road 8.5 miles to the edmonds ferry, mostly downhill.  We took the ferry to Kingston where we ate lunch at the main street pub.  We diddled around Kingston for awhile then took the ferry back and decided instead of riding back uphill we should learn how to take the bus with our bikes. (131, 358 future reference).  It was a very simple trip back the we did pedal a quarter mile from the bus stop.  It took us about a hour, but that i only because we came upon some HUGE blackberry bushes and we couldn't pass them by.

Kayak Camping on Saddlebag Island Aug 23-24th

It is getting harder to remember all the details as I type back weekend after weekend, I guess that is why it is easier to keep the blog up to date.  

J and I hit the guemes channel and it was pouring down rain so we decided to take the fery to guemes and paddle from there to Saddlebag.  It was a wet paddle as the rain down poured on us.  It wasn't difficult though just wet.  We arrived to this small island and were excited to see we had it all to our selves.  We quickly set up a tarp over the picknik table and I started working on starting a fire in the rain.  Once the fire was nice and large we sat under the tarp near the fire getting warm and changed into dry clothes.  The campsite was on the NE side of the Island out of the wind and after awhile the rain stopped and we didn't see it again.  Janelle and again enjoyed a jack and coke with a cigar as we relaxed into nature.  The island is full a blue herons and they make a loud yelling noise when you upset them by paddling by or walking to close.  There must of been like 15 on the Island as well as 2 eagles, 1 was young.  That night I went out to fish and caught nothing.  It was so beautiful as the sky was half full of clouds and stars with a nice moon showing.  Every paddle Phosphorus florescence would show in the water.  Making movement look magical.  A few seals dove off the rocks as I paddled near shore.  They would startle me with there large splash.  The next morning J and I hiked around the Island.  It was a great weekend and a easy paddle back.

Solo Trip to Saddlebag Island Aug. 16-17th

J was off in Wenatchee with some of our friends celebrating a 30th bday party so I took the opportunity to go spend some personal quiet time!  Since J and I were planning to kayak here the next weekend I though I would check it out.  I left from Anacortes and had a nice paddle to guemes and then Saddlebag.  There is something about being by yourself is so calming while in the outdoors.  I arrived at the Island and was the only person there.  It was me and MY island!!  I didn't bring a tent just a small tarp.  I did bring a 12 pack and of course the jack and coke with my cigars.  I wanted to practice some survival skills and so I knew I had to bring the necessities.  While I was on the island I made a spring trap, shoelace trap, changed my stuff sack into a net to catch needle fish on the surface.  I ate a few raw needle fish cooked a few and used the rest by smashing them with a rock and putting the meat under a rock as the tide was coming in to lure a few rock crabs.  I caught 3 plus one with my spear I made.  I also set a water catch out to get fresh water.  So surviving was going well!  That night it was completely calm.  The phos florescence were bright.  The moon was shining and the stars were clear and easy to see.  I spent some time reading and relaxing and everything was great.  It rained that night but my 6x4 ft tarp kept me dry.  The next day was nice but really windy.  Too windy to paddle so I missed my chance and catching the first tide, then I missed the second tide.  So I was palnning on spending another night on the Island when a group of people came to the Island to have employee party.  They brought around 50 crabs and a lot of drinks and invited me over to join them.  It was a good time.  Then one guy (Jeff Anderson) offered to give me a ride back to anacortes.  I took him up on the offer and got home late that night (3am).  It was a good thing because I had to work the next day!

Well for you readers I apologize for typing errors I just wanted to get caught up!