I was walking the beach on Marrowstone Island (just Southeast of Port Townsend, WA) the other day (late February 2023) and saw this kayaker out enjoying the sunny weather (but it was chilly). I had a nick view of Mt Rainier behind him, so took the photo. When I got back to my car, he was loading up his kayak and I was able to get contact information to get him a copy of the image. I was glad to get one to him … it brought back memories of being out in my kayak in mid-winter.
I have been looking through my library to find photos related to water. I found this one that shows moon jellyfish in Budd Bay in Olympia, Washington. I liked the reflection of my kayak paddle to give some sense of scale to the cloud of jellies. In the summer, the moon jelly population can explode … a result of stagnate water, I believe.
This was taken on a trip to Bowron Lake Provincial Park … sorta in the middle of B.C. It’s a great park for canoeing … not quite so much for kayaking. There is a chain of lakes that provides 70 miles of paddling with motors not allowed. Birds and wildlife abound. The several portages are the only drawback … although the portage trails are excellent and accept carts.
Oh, that is water and reflection in the background, not sky and clouds.
I was going through some older photos and seeing what I had missed. Going back and reviewing images from months or years ago is a great way to not only refresh memories, but you can see images that didn’t strike you at the time because you had preconceived ideas about the image you were expecting.
This is Ellis Cove off of Budd Bay in Olympia.
Camera: Nikon AW120
I paddle out onto the bay
Just me and the gulls, herons and ducks
There is a bit of wind from the south
A little chop on the water, but not much
A flock of bufflehead since my last visit
seasons change, birds come and go
no loons yet
They will be here when it gets cold
It’s quiet on the water and it clears your mind
You can focus on the important things
Keeping the entry splash of the paddle
As gentle as the breeze
The wind picks up…
Each boat is different
As distinctive as fine wine
The best are alive with each wave.
You move with the water
The boat and you as one
Keeping your balance, centered
Following the boat … The boat knows.