Christmas Paddle

The small community of Gig Harbor can rightfully boost to being one of the most picturesque harbors in the Northwest, and it’s never as apparent as during the Christmas holiday season. The community takes great pride in decorating both their homes and boats. A night paddle through the harbor is a sure fire way to capture the beauty and magic of the season.

I had been contacted by some former clients, who over the years have become good friends, and whose children love an excuse to get on the water, and asked about the possibility of our family’s getting together to enjoy a paddle together. An evening paddle through the harbor seemed just the ticket.

We’ve suffered some rather wild and wet weather here in the Pacific Northwest lately, but the weather turned out to be exceptional for the night of the paddle. As we unloaded the boats, the clouds started to part revealing a beautiful 1st quarter moon hanging just over the harbor. By the time we where ready to launch, the stars were adding their illumination to the concert of lights strung around the marina. You could feel the excitement and anticipation building in the kids and it was certainly contagious.

We took a quick break near the harbor entrance light for cookies and hot chocolate. Gig Harbor was named by Captain Charles Wilkes during his command of the United States Exploring Expedition. During a heavy storm, the captain brought his Gig (small boat) into the harbor for protection. Later, Captain Wilkes named the sheltered bay Gig Harbor. Sipping the chocolate I tried imagining what that night would have looked like, and what the men where thinking as the sought shelter.

Out of the boats it didn’t take us long to start to feel the chill of the evening, so once the refreshments where done, it was back to the relative warmth of the cockpits. As is usually the case when paddling with friends in such an enchanting setting the end of the evening came all to so, but then, you could see that the kids where counting the minutes to Christmas morning.