Thanks for the great feedback. We did not have to pay or get a pass. I just called them and got permission. Alternative launch point is Deer Harbor Preserve but recommended around high tide as that area is shallow and when we wanted to launch it was a mud flat. Have a great trip. It's one of our favorites.
The usual questions: What drone and software was used? I can see now that you just made a lunch stop. I was expecting you to cover the usual South Beach area and the “Yachties” camp area on the north side. But I can understand there might be privacy issues if other visitors see a drone overhead. I was wondering about your Ocras launch point because it didn’t look like Deer Harbor to me. Deer Harbor has a plus and a minus. The plus is, you have showers and a rinse off hose at your disposal. The minus is, there are only three free parking places and there is a launch fee - but for a camper, the showers and fresh water boat rinse is worth it. Though the free parking is limited, for a daily fee, the harbor has additional spaces - usually across the street. The mud flats can be dealt with by selecting the best time to launch and return using tide tables. I like an incoming tide because it is easier to pull a floating boat back as it’s being loaded than it is to get it down to the water if you start too high. The current in Spring Passage is often not more than 1 knt. Though there are currents in the San Juans that can be substantial, I don’t think that’s the case for Spring Passage. Thank you for the video - so inspirational to those of us who must drive hundreds of miles to get there.
Thanks for your comments and questions. Aerials with Mavic drone, and video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro. Yes, we just made a quick stop on Jones Island this visit as we had limited time. Hope to tour more of the island next time. Could easily spend a day circumnavigating, exploring, and hiking the trails. Confirming that we launched from Cayou Quay Marina here goo.gl/maps/6za4nZLUD1HCzoLKA. We originally tried at Deer Harbor Preserve goo.gl/maps/j78FoQFnTYKvshL78 and tides were low and not in our favor at that particular time and there was a considerable distance over mud flats to get to the water. However, if you got there around high tide it could absolutely be a great launch point if you can find a parking spot. We got the last parking spot when we visited briefly to scout it out and that was late morning. Regarding currents the DeepZoom.com site you shared earlier is a great resource for planning this and other trips for optimal currents etc. When we paddled this trip currents were calm going out to Jones Island but on the way back the current was significant and turbulence noticeable especially around the shoreline of Jones Island and Orcas Island. I would estimate the current at just over 1 knot north through Spring Passage (against our paddle direction) but it can go higher. We didn't have time to wait for the current to subside so got a bit more exercise on the way back. Once we made it around Steep Point and into Deer Harbor the water was beautifully calm. Overall a great kayaking trip. Highly recommended.
@@PresenceVideography Thank you for mentioning Cayou Quay; that would be a new option for me. Do they charge a launch fee and/or daily parking fee? What model Mavic do you have? When I was researching Drones I saw websites of models (not DJI) that seemed a bit sketchy - Like there was no contact number and the “independent” review websites seemed too crafted. I figured it would be better to spend more and get an established brand than order an “under $200” model from a source that didn’t even post a contact phone number. Sometime you might find yourself off the west side of the San Juan Island, or at the county park overlook and see Orcas. There are restrictions for how close tourist boats can get - and we’ve seen them violate the intention by speeding ahead, then parking so the whales will pass nearby - but I don’t recall any drone restrictions. On the other hand, once you do it, I’m sure others will follow and soon the air will be filled with competitive drones. Then there will be a market for someone securing there own drone communication pipeline (digital encoding) and possibly jamming others. Though it’s not an “one the water” subject, you might find an interesting “aside”. On some of the islands (and camp areas like Posey Island off the north end of the San Juan Island) there is sort of a competition to make the nicest composting toilet. I’m taking about outfitting them with stain glass windows, newspaper/magazine rack, vase of dried flowers etc. Thank you again for sharing.
@@cougarmeat8803 thanks for your comments and questions. Cayou Quay did not charge me to launch, nor to park at the top in the parking lot across the road from their entrance although I offered to pay for both. Very nice staff. I did get the impression this was not their standard policy though, and probably depends on how busy they are. I called them ahead to check which helped, and I'd recommend doing. Drone video shot with Mavic Pro www.dji.com/mavic/info in 4K 30fps. I have always flown DJI and overall had great experience with them. Not sure about other drones. Would be great to see Orcas from kayaks, its on my bucket list! I was out this weekend west of Seattle around Blake Island and we saw sea lions, seals, and porpoises. Strange competition with the composting toilets, but if it results in better facilities on islands for kayakers I'm all for it :-) Have fun.
![EAST Sound vs. WEST Sound on Orcas Island, WA...plus a Q&A with the Freedom Crew!!! [NORDHAVN 43]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hi3-H-9J01U/mqdefault.jpg)
![EAST Sound vs. WEST Sound on Orcas Island, WA...plus a Q&A with the Freedom Crew!!! [NORDHAVN 43]](/img/tr.png)
Great video! Did you have to pay or purchase a launch pass to launch at the Cayou Quay Marina?
Thanks for the great feedback. We did not have to pay or get a pass. I just called them and got permission. Alternative launch point is Deer Harbor Preserve but recommended around high tide as that area is shallow and when we wanted to launch it was a mud flat. Have a great trip. It's one of our favorites.
The usual questions: What drone and software was used?
I can see now that you just made a lunch stop. I was expecting you to cover the usual South Beach area and the “Yachties” camp area on the north side. But I can understand there might be privacy issues if other visitors see a drone overhead.
I was wondering about your Ocras launch point because it didn’t look like Deer Harbor to me. Deer Harbor has a plus and a minus. The plus is, you have showers and a rinse off hose at your disposal. The minus is, there are only three free parking places and there is a launch fee - but for a camper, the showers and fresh water boat rinse is worth it. Though the free parking is limited, for a daily fee, the harbor has additional spaces - usually across the street.
The mud flats can be dealt with by selecting the best time to launch and return using tide tables. I like an incoming tide because it is easier to pull a floating boat back as it’s being loaded than it is to get it down to the water if you start too high.
The current in Spring Passage is often not more than 1 knt. Though there are currents in the San Juans that can be substantial, I don’t think that’s the case for Spring Passage.
Thank you for the video - so inspirational to those of us who must drive hundreds of miles to get there.
Thanks for your comments and questions. Aerials with Mavic drone, and video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro. Yes, we just made a quick stop on Jones Island this visit as we had limited time. Hope to tour more of the island next time. Could easily spend a day circumnavigating, exploring, and hiking the trails. Confirming that we launched from Cayou Quay Marina here goo.gl/maps/6za4nZLUD1HCzoLKA. We originally tried at Deer Harbor Preserve goo.gl/maps/j78FoQFnTYKvshL78 and tides were low and not in our favor at that particular time and there was a considerable distance over mud flats to get to the water. However, if you got there around high tide it could absolutely be a great launch point if you can find a parking spot. We got the last parking spot when we visited briefly to scout it out and that was late morning. Regarding currents the DeepZoom.com site you shared earlier is a great resource for planning this and other trips for optimal currents etc. When we paddled this trip currents were calm going out to Jones Island but on the way back the current was significant and turbulence noticeable especially around the shoreline of Jones Island and Orcas Island. I would estimate the current at just over 1 knot north through Spring Passage (against our paddle direction) but it can go higher. We didn't have time to wait for the current to subside so got a bit more exercise on the way back. Once we made it around Steep Point and into Deer Harbor the water was beautifully calm. Overall a great kayaking trip. Highly recommended.
@@PresenceVideography Thank you for mentioning Cayou Quay; that would be a new option for me. Do they charge a launch fee and/or daily parking fee?
What model Mavic do you have? When I was researching Drones I saw websites of models (not DJI) that seemed a bit sketchy - Like there was no contact number and the “independent” review websites seemed too crafted. I figured it would be better to spend more and get an established brand than order an “under $200” model from a source that didn’t even post a contact phone number.
Sometime you might find yourself off the west side of the San Juan Island, or at the county park overlook and see Orcas. There are restrictions for how close tourist boats can get - and we’ve seen them violate the intention by speeding ahead, then parking so the whales will pass nearby - but I don’t recall any drone restrictions. On the other hand, once you do it, I’m sure others will follow and soon the air will be filled with competitive drones. Then there will be a market for someone securing there own drone communication pipeline (digital encoding) and possibly jamming others.
Though it’s not an “one the water” subject, you might find an interesting “aside”. On some of the islands (and camp areas like Posey Island off the north end of the San Juan Island) there is sort of a competition to make the nicest composting toilet. I’m taking about outfitting them with stain glass windows, newspaper/magazine rack, vase of dried flowers etc.
Thank you again for sharing.
@@cougarmeat8803 thanks for your comments and questions. Cayou Quay did not charge me to launch, nor to park at the top in the parking lot across the road from their entrance although I offered to pay for both. Very nice staff. I did get the impression this was not their standard policy though, and probably depends on how busy they are. I called them ahead to check which helped, and I'd recommend doing. Drone video shot with Mavic Pro www.dji.com/mavic/info in 4K 30fps. I have always flown DJI and overall had great experience with them. Not sure about other drones. Would be great to see Orcas from kayaks, its on my bucket list! I was out this weekend west of Seattle around Blake Island and we saw sea lions, seals, and porpoises. Strange competition with the composting toilets, but if it results in better facilities on islands for kayakers I'm all for it :-) Have fun.