KAYAKING

4-Day Bicycle & Kayak Camping Expedition

Few people get to experience each island’s unique style the way that you will. Lopez Island (known for its friendliness and “the wave” that islanders give each other in passing) is the smallest of the major San Juan Islands. Orcas Island, with Moran State Park, the panoramic view on top of Mount Constitution, the lakes and waterfalls, is a must see when visiting. The coastline of San Juan Island’s west side will leave you breathless with the view of the snow capped Olympic Peninsula. You will get to know these islands inside and out cycling and kayaking each one.

What to See: Commonly seen flora and fauna are bald eagles, cormorants, black oystercatchers, pigeon guillemots, deer, fox, rabbits, seals, orcas , dall's porpoises, great blue herons, ochre sea stars, pacific madrones, douglas-firs, forests of bull kelp and eel grass beds.

Times & Distances
Guests paddle an average of eight to ten miles during each day which amounts to about four to five hours on the water. Crystal Seas Kayaking shuttles you from Friday Harbor at 8:30am on the first day of your trip to the launch site and has you back into Friday Harbor by no later than 4:00pm on your last day. Crystal Seas Kayaking is glad to accommodate any needs that require variation from the normal schedule, including any dietary needs or alterations in return times.

You'll bicycle an average of 20-30 miles each day with help of a support van to give you a lift if you need one. Routes run along the low-traffic country roads and you can stop when ever you like to check out the amazing views or visit a local art studio along the way.

Guides
Crystal Seas Kayaking strongly believes that an outstanding guide can make the difference between a good trip and a fabulous trip; therefore they place a lot of emphasis on using the best guides available. Crystal Seas prides themselves on their choice of guides. They choose guides who are people persons, friendly, knowledgeable, have a great attitude, are excellent leaders, great teachers and who love what they do.

Experience
Crystal Seas Kayaking begins each tour with a thorough safety/kayak lesson to familiarize you with your equipment so that you are adequately prepared for your adventure. This lesson includes paddling technique, sea kayaking safety, loading and unloading of your sea kayak, becoming familiar with safety gear and other helpful and necessary preparation for the expedition.

*Previous knowledge of bicycling is a must.

Small Personal Groups
A great trip involves many factors, including group size. A smaller group is safer on and off the water, allows for more interactions between the guides and guest and gives guests a chance to know each other. Furthermore, Crystal Seas Kayaking can also adjust and modify the trip to the individual desires and interests of the group, allowing guests to participate in various activities ranging from birding to advanced kayaking to custom bicycle routes for more mileage to photography. For all these reasons and more, Crystal Seas Kayaking keeps their regularly scheduled multi-day expedition group size to ten guests.

Guide to Guest Ratio
One guide will make your trip great, but two will make it even better. Crystal Seas Kayaking has at least two guides on all multi-day expeditions groups of six or more. This makes trips safer, more intimate and allows guides to offer guests more, such as an evening paddle or hike, additional paddling skill development and more local folklore.

Trip Details

• Ginger soy glazed king salmon served over basmati rice and topped with a fresh mango papaya salsa.
• Provincial butternut squash sweet potato soup seasoned with red pepper and herbs de Provence, and served with garlic dipping bread and sun-dried tomato chicken sausage.
• Ginger Thai peanut sauce blended with fresh broccoli, zucchini, carrots, red bell peppers, mushrooms, and your choice of beef chicken or tofu, served over basmati rice, and garnished with fresh cilantro, bean sprouts, and a squirt of fresh lime.

Day 1: Sample 4-Day Itinerary
Crystal Seas Kayaking will meet you at the ferry terminal on Orcas Island and then you’ll cycle the horseshoe highway along Orcas Island’s enchanted evergreen lined roads. Stop for lunch in Eastsound, where you can buy gifts and mingle with friendly locals. Then journey on though Moran Sate Park. Here you can go for a swim in the lake or hike through an old growth forest to a waterfall. End the day at the top of Mount Constitution where you will have a panoramic view of all the San Juan Islands, neighboring Canada, Mount Baker, Mount Rainer, the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges.

Day 2:
This morning, Crystal Seas Kayaking will serve you a delicious breakfast and then you’ll take the ferry to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Here, shuttle to the beautiful west side of San Juan Island, where you will be given a kayak safety lesson before paddling along the evergreen cloaked coastline. Enjoy fabulous views of the surrounding snowcapped mountain ranges and listen to tales of island folklore. Or taste a piece of bull kelp which serves as a home to a myriad of marine species just below the waters surface. As you journey down the coast, stop for lunch along a beach where you can search for creatures in the tide pools. After lunch, head back out on the water in search of orcas and eagles. Tonight, set up camp at Lakedale Resort where you can relax as your guides prepare a delicious meal.

Day 3:
Wake up to the sound of birds chirping overhead and then prepare to bicycle! Today, cycle along quite country roads, stopping at whale watch park for lunch and wildlife viewing. Afterwards, cycle north visiting an Alpaca Farm, an English garden at British Camp, Roche Harbor, and then head south to San Juan Vineyards. Tonight, camp at Lakedale.

Day 4:
Today, enjoy a final breakfast together and then head to the west side to paddle north near Henry Island. Follow the coastline north looking for harbor porpoise, to Posey Island where you will take a break for lunch. Afterwards, shuttle back to the ferry to say good bye.