Gentle Giant

Took at ride today over to Seahurst Park in Burien, WA where a 65ft Fin whale which was estimated (when alive) to weigh between 100,000 to 120, 000 pounds, washed up on shore.  This gentle giant of the deep had been struck by a ship and died six days before it arrived in the Puget Sound.

Skagit River Eagle Paddle

 

Today was a beautiful day to be up in the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. I joined a group of BEWET ( Boeing rafters and kayakers) folks on a 10 mile trip down the Skagit River. This time of year thousands of Chum salmon end their life journey and the eagles, hawks, ravens and the ever present crows dine on salmon.  The paddle took two and a half hours to float down and admire the eagles as they perch along the river. 19 degrees under crystal clear blue skies, a great day to be alive!

2013 New Year's Challenge

Again this year I joined a diverse group of paddlers to race in the 4th annual New Year's Challenge, a human powered water craft race showcasing a wide variety of rowing and paddling enthusiasts of all skill levels willing to brave the cold and compete in this traditional event of the new year. 112 paddlers powering racing shells, outrigger canoes, stand up boards, prone boards, surf skies, kayaks and large dragon boats participated. The race starts at Gasworks Park on Seattle's Lake Union passes thru Montlake Cut past the University of Washington  and ends at Magnuson Park on Lake Washington a distance of 6 1/2 miles. I finished 60th overall, third in the SK-M class and improved my finish time by almost 3 minutes this year,  yeah!

60

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Bill Porter

SK-M

1:18:43.0

+30:35.6+63.6%