Kayaking, for many people, is a solar-powered sport; If the sun's not out, neither are they. It shouldn't be that way, but there it is. Saturday, May 19th, was sunny and warm, although it had been forecast to be colder and cloudy. Sunday, however, was a monsoon. For those of you who did make the trip out to Owen Beach, you had a lot to see and do all weekend long. Demonstrations by kayak roll artist Dubside (left), and classes both on and off the water by some of the region's best paddlers made this the best symposium so far, even if the weather left something to be desired.
          (Oh, and the Waterwalker's Ball? It went great! The bands were awesome, the refreshments were perfect and the company was the finest kind. You know it was a good party when we don't get our deposit back on the hall rental!)
          See you next year!

We're headed to the Olympic Peninsula this month for the first of two surf camps we have on the schedule for the summer. This coastal skills clinic covers surf zone basics and other skills needed for paddling the open coast. We base out of Makah Bay, near the tip of the peninsula, and paddle among some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. (The food's good too!)
          Our June camp is full but there are still spaces available in the second camp, scheduled for August 17 – 20. Class sizes are small and space is limited, so give us a call and join us in August.

Backpackers Supply Demo Days are back on the calendar again… the first one of the season is coming up on June 24th. The opportunity to try out different models of kayaks side-by-side is extremely helpful for those considering a purchase and can make the difference in buying the boat that is right for you. The other dates on the calendar are July 14th, July 28th and September 8th. The events are free but pre-registration is required so call 253.472.4402 for more information and to get your name on the list.

Carey Gersten was the puzzle winner last month, correctly identifying the way two unique ropes could be burned to precisely determine elapsed time. Here's his solution to the problem:
Light both ends of rope #1 and one end of rope #2.
When the two burning portions of rope #1 meet, 30
minutes will have elapsed. Additionally, one-half of
rope #2 will have been burned, meaning that there is only thirty minutes of burning time remaining on that rope.  At this time, light the other end of rope #2. When the two burning portions of rope #2 meet, another fifteen minutes will have elapsed, giving you a forty-five minute interval.
          Well done! For his efforts and timely response, Carey won tickets to the Waterwalker's Ball on May 19th, where a great time was had by all.

Last month's K'n'K took us to Anderson Island to clear some of the trash from the beach at the Cascadia Marine Trail site on the south side of the island. The beach is now lighter by about four bags of trash, a canvas tarp and an old tire. These unique events are great opportunities to give back to the environment in a meaningful way, right where you live and paddle. There is a K'n'K scheduled every month of the year… next month we're headed to Hope Island. Check the Azimuth calendar online for other upcoming destinations.       

There are still spots available in our June classes, although many of them are filling fast. For a complete schedule, check the web site calendar… in the meantime, here are a few selected courses.