The Journey out here in May of 2005.
 
                   
               
               
America has exquisite country.
Here are some of the photos shot on the cross country trip back in May 2005.
      I wish I could spend a half a year traveling, I love the outdoors in the U.S.A.
Visit my Blog for more shots in the slide shows in the upper right corner, thanks.
 
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Arrrrrhhhh, me hearty pirates.

Bringing in the New Year with the maiden voyage with my new Touring Kayak.
I set out on January 1, 2008 to celebrate the beginning of the New Year.
I chose the Sammamish Slough as a beginner and had a great day.
Here are my shaky shots in the kayak for the first time.

 
       
I have over come a fear of flipping over in a kayak and now let the fun begin!
I have a long term goal to be able to paddle out into the ocean
and be next to a whale, dolphin, sea lions, orcas and such.
Of course one thing leads to another and I suspect the next time I have a little extra cash
it will be used for a better camera so I can get into photography a bit.
I love to be close to the water. It is so good for the soul.

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Arrrrrhhhh, me hearty pirates.

Greetings on May 15,2008.

I took about a 6 mile paddle this morning from Moss Bay in Kirkland to Fair Weather Bay in Medina. On my previous paddles I paddled in and around Yarrow Bay and Cozy Cove.

I must remark on the magnificent homes, the landscaping and their personal pontoon planes and giant Yachts. What a wonderful and luxurious life they must be living. It is the opulent life styles of the rich and famous, to be sure.

But more than that is the skill set I am building as a novice Sea Kayaker. At first I was so afraid to venture out. All one's life we watch others on the TV having fun and wild exciting times. We, or at least myself, never think the day will come when we live like the adventurous do on the TV. Today I have experienced some of that excitement.

I paddled slowly as I left Moss Bay to loosen up my muscles and also warm them up inside. As I crossed the center of Lake Washington and entered choppy waters I, for some unknown reason, was exhilarated. I turned into Fairweather Bay and slowly encaged in my sightseeing tour. Slowly I hugged the perimeter near the docks, boat houses and Yachts and airplanes. At the very interior was an exquisite home facing the Bay made of glass. How I wish I had the view they have. I don't need a 20,000 sq. ft. home. A simple 1,000 sq. footer on Lake Washington would be a dream. Ah to wake up -  see and smell the lake and drop the kayak in for a paddle everyday would be Heaven to me.

Then I turned around to head back. You know, as I paddle out the wind is to my back, as it goes North to South in the a.m., so I get a little push. But when I turned around, on the Lake, the on coming waves were a blast. I paddled swift as I could in a sprint out of the Bay and into the middle of the Lake. The criss-crossing Yachts had whipped up some 6' to 8' swells. With my Sea Kayak, 14' Prijon Kodiak, I charged ahead full speed. It was easy and exciting to chop, chop, chop, into the waves and the swells - wow - you situate yourself perpendicular to the swell and ride the water like a roller coaster. It is an intoxicating natural high. Just person and the sea - so close to the water, white caps coming down on one's self as one paddles. I felt alive, very much alive. I closed my eyes and set the paddle on the deck and just enjoyed the closeness of the water and the rise and fall - which has no effect of sea sickness when you are at ground level. I drew in deep breaths of the fresh air, eyes scanning the glorious cloud movements and gazing at the fog in the distance.

Click the above map to enlarge, the click in the map to further enlarge the image. I have marked with numbers the various bays and coves I paddled into and around so far as of 5/20/2008. This can give you a bit of information about lake Washington.
More detailed information on Lake Washington.

No morning was ever better. Alive, in the Northwest, solo on the water. My heart pounded with love for the earth, the water, the air, and compassion for man. For a moment I was drunk on life and never wanted to come down.

Alas I had to go into my shop and work. How wonderful and lucky I am to use my tiny kayak for such a big thrill. Oh, how I wish to live on Lake Washington. Perhaps a miracle will help me end up living on her shores, one day.

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Arrrrrhhhh, me hearty pirates.

 
  Today (4/21/2009) was my first voyage in the sea kayak to begin the celebration of Spring for me. Finally I commanded my brain to wake up early and I was adrift on Lake Washington by 6:30 a.m. What a spectacular morning! I slithered into the water and paddled out to the middle of the lake. I watched a school of cormorants fishing and diving and doing their thing. Heading west to the "other side" I gazed to my left to see Mount Rainier in all it's morning splendor - Like a pile of white flour carved with a palette knife into a mountain. The sun to my back shone bright, so bright that if I looked back to the shore I left - it was awash in light and not even a single building was discernable. I rowed the other shore - "Sandpoint Magnuson Park, Windermere, Laurel Hurst" - gazing at the homes of the most lucky and fortunate. Splendor, foliage, architecture, landscaping, position, size, materials, just so much to see and appreciate. Some folks are living large. Yes, I do wish I had a place on the shore, but just a simple 1,000 sq.ft. studio to live, eat, sleep and paint in. If only I could stare at those clouds, sky, mountains, eagles, water, and all - what an awesome wildlife painter I would be. I really can paint any subject, just focused on figurative art because I did. I stayed out from 6:30 to 9:00 in the a.m. and then shaved, showered and came in to the tattoo shop.

I would love to start each day with a paddle if I could, sometimes I almost forgot why I moved here - to partake of the nature, wildlife, and glory of the Great Northwest. It is one thing I love to do alone.

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Arrrrrhhhh, me hearty pirates.

Some Photos from my recent one day trip
 to the Oregon Coast on July 4, 2008.

         
   

Info from Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce.

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Pictures courtesy of Lynn Butzberger, who happened to be photographing ducks at the shore, when I asked if she wouldn't mind shooting some shots for the website.
Pretty darn cool for no prior preparation and just spontaneous shooting.
As you can see - I drift into shore, get out , tie the wheels on to the kayak, and off I go.
Thanks, Lynn.

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