This was a great treat on my rest day in Port Angeles. My friend Nick offered to take me sea kayaking along the Olympic Peninsula near Cresent Bay. The weather was perfect. Warm, sunny. The water was smooth as glass as we started out. It was easy paddling along the coastline lined with cliffs, wind knarled trees, and Kelp beds. I was in awe much of the day. I've never had the opportunity to kayak along the coast in this area before. It was incredible. I saw Herons, Cormorants, eagles, and baby sea lions. We paddled past Cresent Bay farther down the coast to towering cliffs that faded into the horizon along the coast. The water was calm I was able to take quite a few photos.

On the way back the wind picked up a bit and the water was a little bit rougher but nothing to be concerend with. Paddling was easy. The only mishap was I miss calculated the waves coming into a beach. As I approached and caught the incoming wave. I suddenly felt a strong pull under the boat.Uh oh, I knew what was coming and tried to get out of the boat fast. Not fast enough and a succession of 4 larger waves came in and washed over the deck of the boat and soaked me. Wheew, the water was freezing cold. So much for a stylish beach landing. I had beached in 3 to 4 foot waves before but today my timing was off. Oh well. I put on a warm dry jacket and Nick cleared the boat of water and we were off again. We ran into some locals paddling down the coast. One had a traditional native paddle (not sure of the name). Anyway we stopped while Nick talked to the guy and tried out the paddle. I talked to the couple that was also there. Its a small community of paddlers out there in Port Townsend. Seems like everyone knows everyone or knows someone who knows someone.

We paddled back to the cars. As we headed around the large cliff before the protected bay a Heron landed on a bed of Kelp with Hurricane Ridge in the back ground and the tawny cliffs in the foreground. Great end to a great day.

Next: RAW Day 4