Re: [Paddlewise] San Juan Outfitters

Let me add to Rob's suggestion that there is a decent campground at West
Beach Resort on Orcas Island that makes a terrific jumping-off spot for a
trip to Sucia. While there is a launch on Orcas that's due south of Sucia
the shoals and reefs between that launch (next to the airport) and
Sucia/Matia make it a difficult paddle in wind and current. Lots of paddlers
have had dicey moments here and at least one fatality in the past decade. A
launch at West Beach Resort makes for a longer paddle but you get out and
away from the shoals early.

I'm pretty sure that West Beach also rents kayaks. At least there was a
bunch of them on supports that looked like they were available as rentals.
Both singles and doubles. If you bring your own the launching there is easy
or you can drive to several launch spots around the island.

We had a nice 4-days there last summer in tents at reasonable
prices.Theyeven have cottages with the salt water only 20 to 30 feet
away across a
sandy beach (depending upon tide, of course).

I wanna go back.

Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA



On 2/9/07, Rcgibbert_at_aol.com <Rcgibbert_at_aol.com> wrote:
>
> In a message dated 2/9/2007 9:32:53 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> cramersec_at_charter.net writes:
>
> We're  thinking about a trip in the San Juans this summer and are looking
> for  outfitters. It seems to be pretty standard that they put customers
> in  doubles. Not to put too fine a point on it, but i don't play well
> with  others and would like to paddle my own boat. Any suggestions?
>
> Other  suggestions for that part of the world would be fine,  too.
>
> Steve
>
>
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> Steve,
>
> Try:
>
> _www.bodyboatblade.com_ (http://www.bodyboatblade.com)
>
> or
>
> _http://www.discoveryseakayak.com/KayakStore.html_
> (http://www.discoveryseakayak.com/KayakStore.html)
>
> BBB does a round the county trip of 5 days that is really good. BBB and
> Discovery have good boats to be put into and doubles by request. That's
> the way
> it ought to be, anyway. BBB's fleets are NDK, Necky and Impex, while
> Discovery
> is PH and Point 65 among others.
>
> Keep in mind that the northern part of the islands Sucia, Patos, Stuart
> and
> Matia are spectacular so ask if they are taking people around or to them.
> The
> book Afoot and Afloat in the San Juan Islands is a decent primer as is
> Randall  Washburne's Kayaking Puget Sound, the San Juan's and Gulf
> Islands. Have
> fun, it  is a great place to paddle.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rob G
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