PORT ANGELES – Tides, wind, waves, currents and weather will slow or speed the pullers on their journey, and although canoes in the 2007 Paddle to Lummi are expected to arrive at Hollywood Beach on Saturday, nobody can predict what time that will be.
“It really depends on the weather,” said Frances Charles, tribal chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam, on Thursday.
“If it is good weather, they will arrive early, but if the weather gets bad, it could be evening before they get here.”
Prior estimates had canoes arriving at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles anywhere from about noon to 2:30 p.m., but some could be earlier and some could be later, Charles said.
As many as 35 canoes from Vancouver Island are expected to join the tribes from Western Washington at Port Angeles.
Canoes, which are expected to leave Saturday morning from Pillar Point, are expected to show up in Port Angeles throughout the day, Charles said.
The Lower Elwha will greet the pullers with songs and ceremonies and offer them a feast.
“We will have the dinner on Saturday night at the [Lower Elwha} Tribal Center and breakfast the next day before everyone goes on to the Jamestown stop,” on Sunday, Charles said.
Overnight, some of the pullers will camp on area ballfields, while others will be hosted by people at their homes