Chuckanut Bay

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Chuckanut Bay
Kayak’n’Klean

22 April 2007
Report from Ana

 Rising at 5 a.m. is not usually the way I like to spend my Sunday mornings, but to spend a beautiful day on the water in an area I had yet to explore, I knew it would be well worth the early hour.

We gathered our things together, loaded boats on the car, and then Gary and I headed to the boathouse to meet the rest of the folks making the journey to Chuckanut Bay, near Bellingham.  We met up with Ken, Marc, Paul, Colleen, Andrea and Alan. After loading the van and getting a coffee for the road we headed north. Needless to say the trip was a quick one for me, as I was able to catch a few winks on the way.

On arrival at Chuckanut bay, the weather was overcast and there was a crisp breeze with a bit of a bite in the air. We were met at the put-in by four more fellow kayak’n’klean paddlers. We loaded our kayaks with equipment and garbage bags, made our introductions, had a paddle talk and launched into bay. As we paddled out into the larger part of the bay we were able to get very close to the amazing sandstone shore. It always amazes me how being in a kayak allows you to get so close to whatever it is you want to see. For this trip, my boat took me close enough to see the fine details and intricate designs carved into the jagged shore by weather and time.

After paddling under a railroad trestle and out into the broader expanse of the bay, the day began to clear and the wind died down almost completely. We paddled onward, catching glimpses of birds and wondering how on earth the madronas and other trees remained attached to the rocks at such strange and precarious angles. As we rounded the corner and entered a small cove, several members of our group noticed some trash on shore. Upon further investigation, they discovered two tires surrounding a chunk of Styrofoam. Since picking up trash was the reason for our being here in the first place, they decided they had to take it with them. We continued on our way, searching for more trash to pick up along the way.

We headed for Chuckanut Island, in the center of the bay. The water was so calm; we made it to the island in no time at all and, once there, we decided to go ashore.  he small beach was covered with tiny bits and pieces of smooth shells. Halfway through our break Kari and Noah (late arrivals from Tacoma), paddled up and joined us. It was a nice spot to stretch out and the sunshine felt wonderful. We had lunch and did some exploring. There were small tide pools to take a look at and Paul walked almost all the way around the island via the rocks at the water’s edge. As another group of paddlers approached, we were on the water once again.

We meandered our way back to the starting point only to discover that the tide had gone out with no sign of return any time soon. It made for a muddy yet amusing trek back to van. The tires even made their way to the shore as Gary and Ken took turns rolling them, getting quite muddy along the way. We collected a few bags of garbage, and old life preserver, a rusty chain and a rotting hammer. Not bad for a day on the water, and since it was Earth Day, it felt good to do our part to help keep our waters a little bit cleaner.

Aside from some homes on the bluffs, a lone passenger train and another group of paddlers, we had the entire bay and cozy Chuckanut Island all to ourselves for the entire length of our trip. All in all, it was a perfect day. So, if you find yourself in the area, I recommend stopping by Chuckanut Bay to see what you can find. Then, at the end of the day,  make your way to Bellingham to enjoy a snack and a beverage at the Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro: a great spot, offering yet another beautiful view of the water.

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Kayak'n'Klean paddles are scheduled every month. Cost is kept low to encourage maximum participation and all proceeds go to support the Azimuth Discovery Grant program. Details are available on the Events page or by calling 253.474.8155.