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[Need a picture of Duwamish here....] Trip Description The Duwamish might not be your first choice for a kayak paddle, but we found it to be a very interesting exploration. The Duwamish River flows into Elliot Bay is Seattle. It is use primarily as an industrial (working) area. You'll see barges, old ship, new ferries being built, geese raising their young, and piers to paddle in and out of. As you approach Elliot Bay you will have a choice: which way to go around Harbor Island. We go one way as we approach Seattle; then the other coming back. To the West, you'll discover Todd Ship yards. To the East, you'll discover large container ships being actively loaded and unloaded -- 24 hours a day (kayaks are pretty small paddling along side these container ships). In Elliot Bay, we can paddle to the public dock on Pier XX at the base of Washington Street (May through September). This can be used as a lunch stop, but the kayaks should be guarded full time. The Ferry Terminal's McDonalds is quit close. Another alternative is to paddle to the public moorage at Pier XX (docking fee is about $3.00 per kayak). The kayaks will be safe, so you can find many lunch alternatives (like the Pike Place Public Market -- just a short walk). Trip Leaders Eric & Kim Bjron (ebjorn@hotmail.com) Directions Take I-5 north to exit XXX, take the East Marginal Way exit onto West Duwamish; turn left onto East Marginal Way; stay on East Marginal for a few miles. Turn left onto South River Street; follow it to the end. The Boat Launch is located under the First Ave Street Bridge. Currents & Tides & Weather This trip is within the river's tidal zone, so tides and current are a consideration. However, we don't worry much about the tides; our primary concern is with the winds on Elliot Bay. Elliot Bay can get rough at times. Map Here is a "topo map" of the Duwamish Explorer. It can be a 10 mile paddle.
[Caution: These topographic maps are large files -- they can take up to xxx minutes to load using a 56KB modem.]
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For more information about the Gig Harbor Kayak Club send us an e-mail -- Gig Harbor Kayak Club. To return to the Gig Harbor Kayak Club home page, click here.
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