22
Galley Essentials
KAYAKS & CURRY
ON POSEY ISLAND
by Amanda Swan Neal
Posey: A small bunch of cut flowers. I’d never really given the name of tiny Posey Island in the San Juans much thought. But with the arrival of warmer weather and the need for adventure, I’d started to review local cruising guides for interesting places to explore. At one acre in size, this marine state park is close to home for me and I frequently kayak to it throughout the winter. Originally called Spit or Split Point, as you can walk to it from Pearl Island at extremely low tides, the locals called it Posey Island after the wildflowers they’d gather there. We set off from our home in Roche Harbor at 5 p.m., our kayaks loaded with firewood and a campfire dinner. Two sets of standup paddleboards passed us heading into the marina, big grins on the paddlers’ faces, while a wetsuit clad owner of a smart Fisher motorsailor surfaced from his underwater scrubbing mission. Sunlight danced on the calm water out in Spieden Channel; and on rounding the eastern point of Pearl Island, we surveyed the rocky shore with hopes of viewing otters on the scamper. It was then an open vista paddle to Posey Island Marine State Park through bull kelp strands and curious seals. 48º NORTH
At Posey Island, I gently glided ashore on the fine gravel beach and after pulling the kayak up after me, I dashed to the far side of the island to see if mother goose had hatched her goslings. She was off her nest of eggs but was nearby with her partner and their loud honking warned me to stay away. Meanwhile, back at the campsite, a fire was underway, and dinner was being warmed up. Our meal was a joint effort and preparation had been done at home: two salads with dressing, chicken jalfrezi, naan, and cookies delightfully washed down with San Juan Island cider. As the sun slid slowly towards the horizon, we expressed our gratitude to mother nature and to whoever had the foresight to include this little gem in the Cascade Marine Trail.
Amanda is currently enjoying boating adventures in the San Juan Islands and is getting set to lead sail-training expeditions in the Pacific Northwest later this summer. www.mahina.com.
22
J U LY 2 0 2 0
