Tacoma Narrows

03/07/15 -SAT –III—TITLOW BEACH TO GIG HARBOR AND RETURN. APPROX 14 NM.
LEADER: LISA A JOHNSON
PADDLERS: STEPHEN BAO, TIM BURKE, LARRY COWAN, STEVE ROWE
TIDES/CURRENTS: NARROWS CURRENTS: -3.24 @ 0958, s @ 1311, +3.98 @ 1559
CONDITIONS: SEA CALM TO RIPPLED, LITTLE OR NO BREEZE, SUNNY , TEMPS 40-50S, VISABILITY GOOD
SIGHTED: SEALS, CORMORANTS, SCOTERS, EAGLES, LOONS, MERGANSERS

We launched slightly late about 1015. We headed west straight across the channel before turning north and passed halfway along underneath the bridge. We continued up the west side of the channel, taking advantage of the currents to reach the dock with no breaks at The Tides in Gig Harbor at 1230. Beth Owen was there with a crew doing the Triple Cross and we said hello. We packed up and left there about 1400. We paddled up the west side along the peninsula for about a mile with a short shore visit before heading south mid-channel. Larry, Tim and I stopped to play a bit in the 5.5 knot current around the west bulkhead as the others continued on. We got a little more spread out than I would have liked but the conditions were easy and all the paddlers experienced so no harm done. In future I will be more communicative before stopping. We all arrived together with the water level pretty much where we left it at Titlow at 1545. Tim, Larry, Steve and I opted to go to Steamers for a short and pleasant happy hour before heading home. An unbelievably almost summer-like day for the first weekend of March! All paddlers performed well with excellent group dynamics.