Paddling the Waters of Vashon Island

So begins Biffle French's new book about kayaking around Vashon Island, Washington which breaks the mold of contemporary kayaking books. Although it does have 13 maps and details ten separate kayaking trips around the Island, the book is much more than a guidebook. The paddling chapters are not boring route descriptions, but rather delicious little salt water travelogues, filled with adventure and humor. The Puget Sound offers some of the very best sea kayaking opportunities in the world, and Vashon Island is at the top of the list of paddling locales for those in the know. French's book will take readers there and put them in the seat with a paddle in their hands.

This beautifully-designed book has sections about learning to kayak, all the best places to paddle on Vashon Island, and about the natural environment of the island, including the tide rips and the underwater topography that causes them. Many of the maps include current flow depictions to help paddlers understand the best routes to paddle. There is also a fascinating section about the history and culture of Vashon that explains a little about how the island became what it is. Finally, the last part of the book describes the best places for launching and recovering, which is especially important for paddlers who don't live on Vashon, and may have some surprises for those who do.

This exciting, fun-to-read book is aimed at everyone who is interested in kayaking from expert paddlers who plan a trip to Vashon to armchair paddlers who just love a good adventure story.