The date is always variable – this year’s fell on Friday, July 3rd – a date corresponding to rows and rows of giant, flood-indicating arrows on Page 4 of the Washburn Tables. “On paper” it’s just the sweetest thing, almost like you could throw a piece of driftwood in next to our launch spot and it’d end up bobbing alongside us in the river-like currents all the way to Fairhaven. Ah, sweet Mother Nature’s liquid conveyor belt! Right?
Abso-freeking-lutely!!! All the way from Washington Park until you make the turn to the east for the move around Sinclair, roughly 40 minutes into the race. Then the conveyor belt becomes a Rubik’s Cube puzzle on LSD, and it’s anyone’s guess for the next 2 to 3 hours where the “line” is. Of course, this is half the fun.
Heather and I opted to paddle our OC2 to continue training for the Gorge Outrigger Races coming up in two weeks, so we were middle of the pack in what were otherwise all surfskis. We changed leads with a persistent and adventurous Jeff Hegedus SEVEN times before finishing just inches in front of him, having opted for differing lines at pretty much every possible place.
We pulled longitudinally “ahead” of Don, DJ, Kirk, and Rick and Mark in their tandem as we cruised along the northern side of Cypress while they fought a head-current ferrying directly over to Sinclair’s south coast. Then they got slung-shot so far ahead of us we lost sight of them altogether by the time we reached Eliza.
Throughout the last grind from Eliza to Marine Park, old Washburn’s arrows just gave out, and our top sprint speed didn’t climb above 6.8 mph. But after three and quarter hours or so, by Golly, we’d made it!
All in all it was brilliant, frustrating, challenging, butt-cramping and infinitely rewarding to be out on the swirling San Juan waters in our own back yard with our closest friends. Kudos to you once again, Morris, for instigating such insanity! We’ll be there next year too!!!
~In the Spirit of Compassion and Adventure~
Heather, Brandon and Hayden Storm
With each passing month his personality shines through more and more. He bounces of the walls with an endless supply of energy and curiosity, loves to laugh and make us laugh and is game for any adventure. Here are some pictures of Hayden doing his favorite things! 
