GrievousAngel

I reserved a three hour tour ...<Gilligan's Island echo>a three hour tour!</Gilligan's Island echo> with Anacortes Kayaks. The time slot I booked is during a slack tide. They don't actually go into Deception Pass under the bridge because it's too dangerous. The tours go east of the bridge - in Bowman Bay - and along the coast. The webpage for their Deception trip says something like "Great for Kids". You'll love this company--they have great equipment and very competent guides, and the young couple who own the company are charming. Bowman Bay is quite safe, and you'll often be followed by seals You'll all have fun! If you're driving up from/back to Seattle and pass through Mount Vernon at mealtime, I recommend a stop at Skagit River Brewery for solid food and excellent beer.

Thanks to travisl and the others who helped. I really appreciated the bookmarks and tips from tomison and klossner and for the helpful answers to my question about tips for a first-time attendee at a CM.

Congrats on 1000 Serevanth!! And CONGRATULATIONS to YOU on your own recent 1000th, Spy!

I've never participated in a Cache Machine, and I see from the posts that there are a few others in my position. Do any of you experienced CM-ers have some words of advice for first-timers? What to do ahead of time to prepare, stuff to bring, what to do/not do once we get there... Even stuff that seems obvious to you would be helpful.

I just noticed that Serevanth has passed the 1000-find mark in just under one year of caching! Congratulations, Serevanth! :P

If you mean January 26, count me in--and who could be slower than a granny with one bad knee?

Bothell/Mill Creek area: In Tambark Creek Park there are Lego Trails (Legos) and Cretaceous Cache (dinosaurs) and two others. In the Park & Ride where Bothell-Everett Highway crosses 405 (no walking!!) there's Used Cars (Matchbox cars), and Gotta Cache 'Em All (Pokemon theme, also very little walking) is nearby. In Thrasher's Corner Regional Park (undeveloped) there are two caches: Akela's Cache and (my) Keep on Looking!, both of which had kid-type swag in them last time I was there. There's also Walt's Vault Reopened (Disney theme, also very little walking) not too far away. If you were to venture a little farther along Bothell-Everett Highway to North Creek Park, where there are several caches, you'd find Sam's North Creek Croakin' Cache, a fun puzzle with a cute container that would appeal to a little boy (no swag, though!), and 13 Steps to See Dee Cache, a mini-multi with a cute resident TB is nearby.

Sounds fun, I don't have to work , and I've never done any caching on Whidbey. That's something I want to do this summer, so this would be a great start. No hula, though! Let me know if there's room for one more in your cache group. --GrievousAngel

Just saw this question, so I don't know if you're still considering them. I've been on several kayak trips with them. (I'm not a paddler and don't have my own equipment.) I would rate them A+++++ for equipment (new, very good quality), safety, friendliness, guide training (by Blade Body Boat), everything. One of the trips I did with them was to Sucia Island--awesome! Last summer they started some multi-day trips--probably not a possibility for you, but I think I may do one this summer.

I'm a huge Gram Parsons fan--my boat (rowing shell) is named Grievous Angel, too.