The second morning I met up with the group at North Beach on Orcas Island, and although it was still overcast at least the rain had let up. What a pleasure working with an experienced group, as they quickly got their boats packed away. As a rule, I usually allow 5 minutes per person to get a group off the beach, so with 11 people that would be close to an hour to pack and get kit on. They did it in half the time.

Launching our flotilla of boats we headed west towards Point Doughty, which is part of Washington’s DNR public land usage program but has been apparently turned over to the park system for management as well as part of the WWTA Cascadia Marine Trail. It’s a quick paddle from North Beach to the point as it’s only 2 nm, but we took our time enjoying the lack of rain as much as the camaraderie of the paddle.

The elevation quickly rises from sandy beaches to tall cliffs as you near the point, and we ducked in close to get a full sense of the scale. We were blessed with calm winds, but the twisted trees gave witness to the high winds usually felt on this point. There was a moderate tide rip at the end of the point, and I set myself and the most experienced paddler as safety boater on each side and had the group double the point one at a time.

The sun came out in all its glory just as we started hauling out our kayaks on to the beach. It wasn’t long before tents, sleeping bags and clothing where hung from every tree limb to dry out the dampness. The warmth of the sun lulled us into a post-meal stupor and everyone found a comfortable spot to stretchy out and relax. As a result of our impromptu siesta, we didn’t hit the water again until later afternoon when we took a trip around Freeman Island State Park.

That evening I was given one of the best treats I’ve ever received as a guide. The group invited me to dinner and actually cooked for me instead of the other way around! I asked some to pinch me to make sure I had passed on the Guides Valhalla. Granted just the fact that they cooked might be have made me biased, but I think their Vegetable Curry and Rice, was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Let me put it another way. I made notes on the recipe and plan to incorporate it into my meal database.

Point Doughty overlooks Vancouver Island to the west and we all watched in awe as the sunset painted the coastal mountain range of the distant island. The sunset was followed by an equally impressive full moon. Most of my experience in the San Juan Islands has been on the smaller outer islands, but I’d absolutely recommend an overnight stop here with its spectacular views.

The next morning’s paddle back was uneventful and I said my goodbyes during the trip on the ferry. I had an remarkable time with all the students and their leaders. The group was headed that afternoon for a summit of Mount Shasta.

What a remarkable program!

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