Kayaking on the Puget Sound - Eld Inlet! (Olympia)

NOTE: I will have 19 extra kayaks, paddles, and life vests available to borrow. My kayaks have a weight limit of 250 lbs per person including gear. Please comment below if interested.

NOTE: this meetup is cross-posted in the Seattle Sea Kayaking Meetup and the Seattle Paddleboard Club Meetup, neither of which have an age limit.

NOTE : I created a WhatsApp group / channel to facilitate communication between the three meetup groups for this specific event, since the meetup app doesn't always work well. You can join here:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/FrdXxzXlCYY8gxK1WJzzRP

Join us for a pleasant weekend paddle through calm bays and inlets of the Puget Sound!

Paddlers of all experience levels are welcome! That being said, if you are bringing your own paddleboard, oru kayak, or inflatable kayak, I require that you have prior experience paddling several miles with your gear! Sometimes it gets windy on these larger bodies of water, and those particular watercraft can struggle. If you are borrowing a kayak from me or have a hard plastic kayak, you are fine!

We will be paddling approximately 8 miles, which is a medium-long length trip for us. It would probably be a bit tough and draining for most beginners, but still doable. It involves 2.5 to 3.5 hours of paddling. You will have time to eat a packed lunch before the paddle and we will also stop to eat snacks during the paddle, so be sure to bring snacks and water to consume before, during, and after the paddle! Kayaking can be more draining than hiking, especially for beginners, and you will need energy!

Please bring clothes and especially SHOES that can get wet! I recommend close-toed shoes like beach shoes or maybe crocs. Sandals or flip flops can leave your feet exposed to injuries from rocky terrain if we encounter it. Don't forget SUNGLASSES and SUNSCREEN either! For the rest of your outfit, I recommend SYNTHETIC or wool fabrics that will dry quickly. Swimsuits and polyester running shirts are great for warm weather. For colder or rainy weather, I recommend a fleece or wool sweater, a rainproof shell, and hardshell pants.

For those who are bringing their own kayak or paddleboard, we'll meet at the Keyes Boat Launch at 11:15, and we'll try to be ready to paddle by 11:30. We'll spend 15 to 30 minutes eating lunch or snacks before departing. If you are borrowing a kayak from me and meeting me at the launch, please arrive a bit earlier at 10:45 instead since I need to take a headcount and I need more time than other paddlers to set up.

We'll plan on paddling to the south end of the inlet. I estimate that we will get back to the launch spot at 3:45 PM, finish packing up by 4:30 PM, and be back in Seattle by 6 PM.

Here's the location of the launch:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FodUiJWAJJXF6xvT8

Attendees are required to complete the waiver :

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBr6y8g_WG6TBaHauUk--QOF9IIjyMz-sRFeKG3UodI7VRtQ/viewform

The waiver also contains safety information that may impact your preparation, so please complete the waiver BEFORE you depart for the activity. You only need to fill it out once, ever.

Everything below relates to carpooling:

We'll meet at the Starbucks at 1200 Westlake Ave N at 9 AM and split into our carpools at around 9:15! Let us know before 9 AM if you are on your way. We generally wait 15 minutes for people to arrive. If you are arriving with your own car, be sure to park in a spot marked "ALL DAY" parking (in case you end up not driving)! Please coordinate carpools in the comments or better yet, the google doc!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RlvZOiLpGxzcAgOSqXeHMLGacOgu-P-uT5AAoSwvPt4/edit?usp=sharing

Please post if you can drive or if you need a ride!

If you are going to arrange your carpool to meet somewhere OTHER THAN the Starbucks on Lake Union, I suggest a park and ride such as Greenlake, Northgate, Eastgate, or Tukwila/SouthCenter. Passengers, please do not ask to be picked up at your home; drivers, please don't offer to do so. It usually creates problems and makes the timing and logistics much more complicated, since people often aren't ready on time, cancel last minute, or just plain don't show up. On the other hand, dropping people off at their home after the hike is much easier.