A group of four paddlers from the Washington Kayak Club launched ( 9:30 am) at Triton SP on the west side of Hood Canal for a 20 mile paddle south to Potlatch SP. A beautiful fall late October day greeted us on this journey. Calm, flat water interrupted only by the thousands of salmon heading back to the streams and rivers of their birth occasionally break the surface of the water. A number of eagles, seals and a few sea lions along with a goodly number of fisherman pay close attention to the returning salmon all vieing for a fish dinner. With a couple of short breaks and a half hour lunch stop/rest we made it to Potlatch at 4:15ish. Long day in the boat but the changing leaves in their brilliant reds and yellows along the hillsides where beautiful and well worth the trip. Potlach SP has a Washington Water Trails campground on the state park site which is where we will pitch our tents and camp for the night. No one is camping at the park this time of year so as the sun sets we have the whole park to ourselves. The bathrooms are open so we have access to (cold) water for cooking and washing off our salty gear. After the camp fire dies out the temps drop into the upper 30's it's throw on another layer of fleece and jump into the sleeping bags. Plan is to be on the water at 9-9:30 in the morning to paddle the mile and a half across the Canal then head north along the eastern shore for the 20 mile paddle back to Triton SP.
Morning breaks with overcast skies and a bit of fog. The only sound are the barking of seals who have congregated on a floating dock just off the beach. Today we will have the benefit of both the current and the wind which was blowing out of the south at 10-15 knots. The trip back to Triton was a lot faster and a much easier paddled with the aid of the water/wind pushing us in the right direction. We left Potlatch at 10 am and arrived at Triton at 3 pm share..
