Sunset on Blake Island

February 18th, 2006

By Adrienne Sherred

February was filled with icy cold temperatures and crystal blue skies, a stark contrast from January's blustery grasp. The clear weather window inspired us to head out of the mountains and into the salty waters of Puget Sound, for an afternoon of lounging on the quiet shores of Blake Island.

Our paddle began from the Southworth Ferry Landing, just a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle. A cold wind blew from the north, causing us to second guess our decision to paddle in the middle of an Arctic cold snap. However, after a few minutes of paddling we were in the protected, calm waters of the southern shore, where the sun's warm rays quickly heated us back up.

Although a couple of boats sat anchored just off shore from where we landed, the beach itself was completely empty. Once our boats were unpacked, we spent the rest of the afternoon searching for beach glass, enjoying the solitude and soaking up a surprisingly warm winter day. That evening we splurged on marinated portabella mushrooms and Italian-seasoned garlic bread, cooked to perfection over a fire. As the sun began to slip away, we slowly packed up the boats while sipping a glass of hot chocolate and Peppermint Schnapps. We launched our boats into the velvety, dark water, just as the last light disappeared over the Olympic Mt's, marking the end to an exceptional winter day.

For more Blake Island info click here