Salish Sea Journal - Rob Casey

09/07/2026

Just back from visiting another water based town - Sandpoint, Idaho. Didn’t paddle but did poke around town and went up the hill and onto the chairlift at Schweitzer Mountain. Friends say it’s a 20min drive to skiing. Anyone paddle there?

09/04/2026

My Puget Sound Ferry Guide has tips for avoiding long lines so you have a more chill start and end to your holiday weekend. Check it out on my Substack “Paddling the Salish Sea.” (Substack link in bio)

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

Just in from Paddling Magazine Not surprised, sup safety has dropped since Covid with many of the everyday recreational paddlers not wearing PFDs and/or leashes and not getting training. I’ve definitely seen a big drop in interest for training.

09/01/2026

Despite closing my biz I will still take some intermediate to advanced sup and surf ski lessons through the end of the year. This includes downwind, wake surfing and the like. Today I did a surf ski lesson in Ballard going over the basics in light winds and warm temps, beautiful day.

09/01/2026

Spicey conditions for the Ballard Elks Monday race and Monday sailing race tonight. Beautiful light too! 1-2 races left. Ballard Elks 827 Ballard Alliance

08/31/2026

South Lake Union Seattle by the waterfront Sunday night salsa dancing, goes all summer. We rarely find ourselves down that way, cool to see.

08/29/2026

One of two Titan tugs from Western Towboat leaves Seattle’s Ballard Locks to the Duwamish River downtown where they’ll pick up a barge and cruise north to Whittier, Alaska. This is a weekly run that takes 2 weeks to complete.

Why do I know this? For nearly 20 years I’ve been tracking them and surf their waves on Shilshole Bay. Often they ‘put the gas on’ for me providing a large coastal sized wake I can surf for a half mile to West Point Lighthouse.

Learn more about surfing Seattle in my SubStack post on that subject in Paddling the Salish Sea.

08/27/2026

Just back from up north in BC at Desolation Sound where we swam in warm saltwater, saw epic mountain and island views and found an Indian village site. Check out my post on SubStack “Paddling Desolation Sound” to find out where to go! Basic link in bio then search for the post.