Sea lions basking, harbor porpoises breathing in the channels, and a shoreline Spieden Island reroute when the Posey crossing didn’t line up — Daniel Fay’s 3-day San Juan Islands sea kayak expedition through Jones, Stuart, and Spieden delivered wildlife, weather, and a textbook guide-judgment call, all in the span of one holiday weekend.
The Route We Actually Paddled
Day-by-Day: Forecast vs. What Actually Happened
Day 1 — Tuesday, June 30
The float plan launched at Jackson Beach Commercial, took a Turn Island lunch, and rode the flood tide up to Jones Island. Winds were light southerlies at 4 kts with essentially flat water — smooth crossing, on-schedule Jones arrival, and a chance for the group to explore or hike at their own pace before dinner.
Day 2 — Wednesday, July 1
Morning winds stayed low (SE ~4 kts, then 8 kts by afternoon), but the Posey Island crossing plan didn’t work — Daniel’s team ran the alternate. They rerouted to northwest beach on Spieden Island and took breakfast there instead of Posey. That’s the kind of call a guide makes on the water when the target beach or channel angle isn’t going to work: pivot to a safer, equally beautiful option.
Half of what makes a multi-day expedition safe is a solid float plan. The other half is the guide’s judgment when conditions don’t line up with the plan.
Sea Quest guide handbook
Day 3 — Thursday, July 2
Winds picked up modestly (7 kts, 0.5 ft chop) but stayed workable. The team ran the Green Point → Limestone Point crossing with Ellen and Constance leading the takeout at Rubentart — an alternate landing that fit the tides and wind angle better than the standard Jackson Beach ending.
What We Saw
- Sea lion — always a highlight, and they’ve been showing up more consistently this season
- River otter — quick shoreline sighting
- Raccoon — camp visitor at Jones
- Harbor porpoise — smaller, quieter cousin to orcas; you’ll usually hear the breath before you see the fin
- Harbor seal — the standard curious head pop
Trip at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 30 – July 2, 2026 |
| Guide | Daniel Fay (with Ellen, Constance) |
| Launch | Jackson Beach Commercial |
| Nights | 2 (Jones Island, plus alt camp) |
| Wildlife highlights | Sea lion, harbor porpoise, river otter |
| Weather | S 4 kts Day 1, SE 4–8 kts Day 2, 7 kts Day 3 |
| Plan changes | Posey crossing failed → Spieden reroute; Green Point → Limestone Point → Rubentart takeout |
Why This Format Works
Half of what makes a multi-day expedition safe is a solid float plan. The other half is the guide’s judgment when conditions don’t line up with the plan. Daniel’s Spieden Island reroute and the Rubentart takeout are textbook examples — the group got their full 3 days without pushing into a bad crossing angle.
Book Your Own San Juan Islands Expedition
Ready to paddle Jones, Stuart, or another San Juan Islands sea kayak route?