Sept 2-12 The Bowron Lakes, in Canada.

Sept 10. Friday night paddle 7:30 pm @ Gig Harbor Boat Ramp. Trip Leader: Jenny Berlin, bignewf2@aol.com

Sept. 17-19. Northwest Kayak Symposium, Port Townsend

October 1-4^th Oskar has scheduled a camp/kayak trip to Ross Lake in the North Cascades. For more info talk to Oskar Oskar.Hinz@PSS.Boeing.com

October 2. Ketron Island Day Trip. Info: Jim or Thom Davis, jim.davis@weyerhaeuser.com

October 8. Friday Night Paddle. Gig Harbor Boat Ramp, 7:30. Leader: Jenny Berlin, bignewf2@aol.com

October 23-24. Blake Island Campout. Info: Phil Lynch, philip.m.lynch@boeing.com

________________

October 19^th at 5pm we will have our autumn quarterly potluck at the kayak shop and see slides and hear the tall tales of the Bowron Lakes trip from Oskar, Phil and Jim who leave on September 2^nd for their epic journey.

________________

Yes, your kayak club is entering the modern age of the "internet". Ken Lombardi (a kayaking fool and club member) offered us Habor.Net server services for a web page; the Board is working on a web presents for the club.

A first draft of the site exists. We have provided a few members with a "sneak peek" -- their reviews have been positive. The Board is now doing the hard work -- editing content for completeness.

Our target is to publish the site mid-September. When we do, we will send an introductory e-mail to all club members that have provided us with an e-mail address.

What you can do to help:

        (1) web designers can volunteer to help -- web sites are only relevant if they are maintained over time.

        (2) provide us the kayak trip photographs

        (3) provide us with addresses of "interesting kayak web sites"

        (4) draft a "trip plan" of your favorite Puget Sound trip

                    General Description,

                    Tour Leader,

                    Directions,

                    Current & Weather,

                    Maps as appropriate, & maybe

                    One or two photos

[You will see a sample or two come mid-September…we are planning to make this a key feature of this web site]

POLICY: The Board has made the following policy decision -- no personal telephone numbers will published on the Club web site (maybe one Club number); however, e-mail addresses can and will be published. If individual club members have an issue with publication of their e-mail address name, please contact Jenny Berlin (253) 851-2968 so we can mark this fact on our Club roster.

The kayak demonstration was a great success. Mik and Jim did the narration while the rest of us frolicked in the water. We demonstrated several rescues, and wet exits much to the delight of the crowd. Several of us did Eskimo rolls for the grand finally. Mik then jumped in the water so Matt could demonstrate a swimmers rescue.

It was great fun for everyone, Many thanks to the participants: Cathy and Matt, Ken and Julia, Dave, Sue, Mike, Jim, Phil, and Mik.

________________

Led by Oskar Hinz, Jim Davis, Nora Miller, Tom & Chris Miner, son Jason and friend , and Paul & Jenny Berlin all camped three nights and paddled three days over the weekend of the 22-25 of July. We all straggled into our campground near the Tsawassen ferry at various times on the 22^nd, but we were ready to go and kayaks packed and waiting on the ferry on Friday morning. We paddled from Swartz Bay to Beaumont State Park on Pender Island against the wind and waves but it was pleasant enough. We found about the last couple tent sites and the campground was full and busy but adequate. The next morning we paddled back to Portland Island with the wind and waves at our backs and were lulled into sleepiness. We returned to our favorite point on Portland Island to set up camp and were treated to drunken foreign speaking campers briefly stumbling around our area during the night. We were also treated to Chris Miner’s most excellent Dutch oven desserts each night, and the two 16-year olds proved delightful young paddlers. We had cooler overcast weather but perfect for paddling. A great weekend we wished lasted longer.

________________

________________

Led by Marty & Liz Sebren, Scott Quinn, Oskar Hinz, Chris & Tom Miner, and Jenny Berlin all launched from Olalla at 7:30pm on June 11^th. We headed north with the just-turned tide and paddled up to Anderson Point, which Kitsap County recently bought. This looks like an ideal marine park for the Cascadia Trail system and has lots of potential. From there we paddled a little farther on to Fragaria, and then paddled back to Olalla just as it was turning dark. We were treated to the sight of a distant whale, probably a grey, on the far side of Colvos Passage and several seals. A very pleasant evening paddle.

________________

On August 7^th four paddlers fulfilled their dream of someday paddling under the Narrows Bridge. This would be Jim Davis, Jerry Aker (joining us for his first paddle with the group), and Paul & Jenny Berlin. Phil Lynch has already done this trip and lead the group. We paddled a good three hours from the Gig Harbor boat launch to the Fox Island launch with maybe a 20 minute break at the someday-to-be new addition to the Cascadia Marine Trail. This is the old Weathers’ homestead site just south of the bridge with a lot of potential. This was a great paddle with a super push from the current but we still paddled hard and had the wind in our face.

________________

The kayak club had a pretty good turn out for the dessert potluck and Alaska slideshow on Saturday evening, June 13th. Bill and Carolyn Weir gave an exciting and interesting narration of their beautiful slides from last summer’s seven week kayak trip in SE Alaska. They answered our questions and explained their gear and bear boxes and types of food they took and problems they encountered. Mik will have a copy of their gear list at the store if anyone cares to have a look at what they took with them in their Seda Tango double kayak. Desserts were pretty good too!

_________________

Paddle Rankings

A draft set of paddle rankings are available for review.  Click here.

_________________

Membership/Treasury Note:

New members and renewing members may now make their $20.00 annual membership checks out to "Gig Harbor Kayak Club." We have a savings account and a post office box. If your address label is highlighted in pink it means that your membership is due within the next quarter. Please mail your check for $20 to:

Gig Harbor Kayak Club

P.O. Box 2264

Gig Harbor, WA 98335

_________________

_________________

President: Jim Davis  jim.davis@weyerhaeuser.com

Treasurer: Paul Berlin 253-851-2968 pberlin691@aol.com

Membership: Jenny Berlin 253-851-2968 bignewf2@aol.com

_________________