Shane Baker
06/03/11 #10800

I wasn't going to share this but the Subject caught my eye. You know sometimes you have an ah-ha moment. Today I launched my OC-1 at Manchester before 5:30 am and paddled 15 miles. After 42 years of getting out of bed early to get to my various construction jobs it sometimes bothers me that I still wake up with an alarm at 4:15 am. I have earnt the right to sleep later. Well, today I felt like a young man having slept through the night without interruption so decided to train before breakfast. Before I was out the driveway I saw a rabbit and a gray squirrel and numerous birds. A good sign. As I'm leaving Manchester I realised just how bright it is out. The sun had just cleared the clouds behind the Cascade Mountains and the city of Seattle. The water was mirror flat with a few catspaws. My route took me up the east side of Bainbridge Island to Blakely Rocks. On the way passed the big red navigation buoy marking the entrance to Rich Passage I saw 3 sea lions laying on the buoy. I had interrupted their sleep so the started barking at me. A course change to get me more clearance from them was in order. Having passed the buoy I noticed an eagle trying to pick something up out of the water. He wasn't having any luck and I was troubling him also so he flew off. As I approached Blakely Rocks about 20 seals scurried into the water. Apparently the slept on the warm rocks overnight. A few were inquisitive enough to approach me. It is normal to say, “Good morning, Mr seal,” isn't it? I usually turn at Blakely Rocks but decided to keep going and turn my usual 12 miles into 15. I crossed the WA State ferry lines 4 times without meeting a ferry. A big plus as I normally have a problem with them. Heading towards Blake island I couldn't believe all the plastic and styrofoam that was in the water. Worse than ever before. At Blake Island I noticed 2 deer on a rocky hillside eating as (best they could) some leaves off what was probably blackberry bushes. A bit further on I noticed a raccoon moving rocks and searching for crabs. As I paddled around the island I saw perhaps 30 more raccoons at the water's edge searching for crabs. Only a few were brave enough to stay put while I paddled past. Then out of the blue a goose yelled at me. I was too close to his babies I guess. They were very young and out for a training swim/paddle. A bit further on I was aware of a bird shadow as it went by me and looked up at a young bald eagle flying by. At the west end of the island there were two adult bald eagles sitting in an old widow-maker. My day for wildlife I guess. Part way back to Manchester from Blake I paddled a circle seeing Mount Baker to the north, Seattle and the Cascades to the east, mount Rainier to the southeast and the Olympic Mountains to the west. Ah-ha, life is good, feet are cold, muscles tired from a hard session. Back home and showered by 9 am. Yep, I'm a lucky guy.

Shane.

Morris Arthur
06/03/11 #10801

Indeed, you are a lucky guy, Shane. Thanks for sharing.
.. Now go take a nap !

Shane Baker
06/03/11 #10802

Nap, time for that when I'm dead. A winter's worth of firewood waiting to be split and stacked. Ouch.
Shane.