Kayak Carkeek Park to Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

The Northern end of Richmond Beach

   Let the summer adventures begin! First trip: Carkeek Park in North Seattle to Richmond Beach in Shoreline. The trip took about 2 hours (one-way) in my inflatable kayak (leisurely...very leisurely). It was pretty still on the water (at the beginning at least) and high/slack tide when I left. I saw a small pod of harbor porpoises and a few trains (the train tracks run along the shore).
   Richmond Beach is the next beach from Carkeek heading North. You'll know you're close when you notice some old pier pilings South of the park, out in the water, these are from the early 20th century! Workers once tied barges up to these pilings to haul sand a gravel from Richmond Beach. Some of the early buildings in Seattle are made of concrete made from this very sand and gravel (I read all of that on a sign at the park).

The beach at Carkeek facing North

Canada that way.

Old-school pilings from the early 20th century

Richmond Beach looking South

   You'll know you're back at Carkeek when you see the railroad pedestrian overpass.  It was a pretty easy paddle, if you go just check the tides and wind. I wore my new drysuit - you won't last long if you fall in and can't get back in your boat. I actually went back to Carkeek later that night and got the pics below...purdy.
   ~Paul   ETC