July, 2021
The word Illahee might be confusing, depending on the font used to type it. The first letter is an i, then two l’s, then there’s the last bit “ahee”. The accent is on the first syllable … ill-a-hee. It’s a Chinuk Wawa (Chinook) word that means earth or country or where one resides or, simply, home.
I have passed by the Illahee State Park beach and the dock there so many times that I won’t even hazard a guess at how many times … all by boat, in one or the other of the two boats that I’ve owned in my 29 years of boating on Puget Sound. I never stopped at the dock there with either of my boats because the dock is fairly small, and it’s open to wind and the wakes of other passing boats … and it seems I’ve always been on a mission to get somewhere else north or south to meet up with friends of mine who were also out cruising.
So I’ve seen this beach a lot of times! But I’ve never been to Illahee State Park or its beach by land, so I had to fumble around and figure out how to drive there from my boondocking spot in Bremerton. No problem, the big white truck knew exactly how to get to Illahee State Park. 🙂
Downtown Bremerton and the Navy installations are at the bottom of the image above. The RED square is where I was boondocked in quiet northern Bremerton. The RED arrow points to Illahee State Park. It was less than a ten minute drive. You might also notice that there is a small community named Illahee north of the state park.
I drove through the state park campground first. The road is narrow and the campsites are a shade too small for my truck and trailer. But it was a lovely, wooded state park. In fact, it’s reported that there are a number of acres of old-growth forest here. It is home to one of the nation’s oldest Pacific yews, which has been standing for approximately 400 years.
Then I drove down to the state park beach. What a gorgeous day and a gorgeous place!
Below … looking southeast. This is all part of Illahee State Park, including the pier and the dock out at the end of the pier.
Below … looking northeast.
I parked and went exploring. The big white truck is on the left in the photo below. The opening in the fence on the right side of the photo is a small boat ramp. I went out there first, drawn by the water.
I walked down the beach then up onto the pier and walked out to see what the folks out there were doing. People were chatting and laughing, watching the birds and the sky and the water. And there was one sailboat (in the photo below) that had a “dive” flag flying, which meant there were divers in the water. The woman on the sailboat was obviously looking at something, maybe talking with someone in the water. It was busy out here; people were having a grand day.
These two folks in the photo below paddled by.
I looked back north along the beach. The man and the boy hadn’t launched the kayaks yet. I think the kid was completely taken by the beach and the waves, not sure he really needed to go kayaking to have fun. On the other hand, there’s nothing like being out on the water and it looks like his parents are easing him into that.
Then I turned and looked to the south, down the beach. More kayaks were beached up on the sand, a few sailboats were anchored out with owners onboard enjoying the day as well.
Ah ha! Two humans surfaced out in the water … divers! They chatted quite a while, then dove again.
Then several divers surfaced. They swam towards shore and walked out of the water up onto the beach, then up onto the pier and then back out to that sailboat with the “dive” flag on it. From the talk I could hear, it appeared this was a training session and the instructor was the one on the left in the photo below.
I chatted with a few people here at the beach, but mostly I walked or stood and enjoyed the warm sunshine and watched people having fun, and breathed in the saltwater air, and listened to the water and the birds. I was about to head back to the truck when I spied the boat below cruising northbound, past the Illahee State Park beach. There was no name on the boat (usually the name is on the transom, the back end of the boat), but I swear it was Savona, a boat that was owned by a friend of mine, John, in the classic wood boat club that I belonged to. John sold the boat years ago. I haven’t seen John for many years, but I still loved seeing the boat again, seeing an old friend again.
What a perfect morning.
It DOES sound just perfect! I always want to be ON the water, though, not just looking at it. Or at least I need to be standing in it. But on it is best.
Oh I do agree! Being out on the water is pretty much the best place on the planet to be, as long as the water is peaceful. 🙂 I must get my inflatable kayak inflated this year and get out on the water … no excuses!
Sounds like so many days that I spent up in puget sound (kayaking!). I love Tucson but you can’t beat a sunny day in the PNW!
Aargh, another kayaker person who loves being on the water. Ok Anne, you and Dawn have made me move “kayaking” up to number 1 on the list for 2022’s camping experiences. I was in and around Tucson once for about a week and I really liked it there. So many choices. 🙂
I’ve been by here in my boat so many times too. And I’ve never stopped either. It was interesting to see the area from land. And what a great thing to see the boat that cruised by that used to be owned by your friend. Good memories there I bet.
Yep, good memories indeed. 🙂 I still think in all of our boating travels in Puget Sound that I’d bet we’ve crossed paths or boat wakes Rob. I like that you’re here on the blog. Thanks. 🙂
That is so pretty and peaceful. I just want to set up my lawn chair and sit and watch the world go by. 🙂
It was probably a good thing I didn’t have a chair with me or I might still be sitting there. 🙂 It was so wonderful.
This was great. Thank you.
You are welcome. 🙂
Great beach. How coincidental that that boat cruised past just then. I never wanted to dive, I want to breathe! ha! 🙂
Yes, me too Shawn. Having been a boater for so many years, I sometimes thought that I “should” want to learn to dive. But the idea frightens the heck out of me. I want to be ON the water, not IN the water. Breathing is a good thing.
Looks to me like the person on the dive boat is a woman, and the instructor in the photo (at the left side of the photo) on the beach is a woman, and maybe all of the students are women. Maybe an “LC” moment. 🙂 Did you notice this when you took the photos Ann? Maybe I’m wrong, that’s ok. It’s a wonderful beach and such a peaceful place for all.
Jamie, I think you’re correct. I didn’t notice that all of those folks might be women until you mentioned it in your comment, but I think they are. I did notice that day that the dive instructor was a woman, but I didn’t pay attention to the others. Indeed, maybe an “LC” moment. 🙂 Or maybe just women learning from women in a comfortable environment with no judgment or mis/preconceptions. Indeed, the water and the beach and the world that day was a peaceful place for everyone. Thanks. 🙂
They all looked like women to me too. Doesn’t really matter except that women are so often sidetracked, or made to feel less able than men. Though not always. Jamie’s comment, and yours back to her, were so gracious and kind, Ann. Thanks for that.
But the beach, oh the beach was wonderful, and the sky. I love the sky, the air, the clouds, they are the things I notice most.
Thanks Susan. Being kind is important. Sometimes I get cranky, but that doesn’t usually get me what I want. 🙂 The beach tho, and the sky, and a sunny day … now those things are what I want.
I thought they were women too, but why not? Guys can be so stupid and narrow minded. As a “guy” I’m so tired of everyone calling everyone a “guy”. Women aren’t guys! Just my thoughts.
I loved this beach too and if I ever get to this beach then I’m bringing a beach chair and I’m sitting right alongside everyone else here. Ann may not get “political” but we sure can. Here’s to all of us enjoying all of us.
Thanks Ann. 🙂 This is a great blog.
Hey David, I get tired of hearing women called “guys” too, but we may have to put up with it until it changes again. Language can be so inappropriate and misleading. Ok, next time I come to Illahee State Park and the beach here, I’m bringing a beach chair and I want you and everyone else who reads this blog to be there! Let’s just sit and enjoy the world and each other. 🙂
I love this blog about Ann’s travels. I’ve never thought about diving, but for me it makes me really nervous. I just love the beach, the sand, the rocks, the waves. I’d be so happy sitting on the beach, right on the sand, throwing something into the water for my dog to bring back to me. She’d love it too.
Oh Kinny, I loved that. I’ll bring a bag full of sticks for your dog. Let’s go sit on the beach. 🙂