Schooner Bay Trip

Yesterday we participated in an all day sea kayak tour starting from Schooner Bay, just east 'over the hill' from the very protected Nanoose Bay. Schooner Bay opens to the east, but has a large rock breakwater to provide a snug harbor. The 10 of us launched in 8 single kayaks and one double. Eli and I chose the double. We worked south along the coast until Wallis Point and then headed east to investigate the Winchelsea Islands. The weather started relatively calm, but the southeast wind kicked up around lunchtime. After lunch on one of the islands, we checked out a few somewhat further islands. We then paddled west through small whitecaps, back to the shelter of Vancouver Island. The final leg returning to Schooner Bay was in sheltered, calm waters.

Throughout the day we saw many seals and one sea lion, all ashore. The sea lion sat up to impress us, but did not slide into the water. We tried to give all such critters room, but did come around a corner and startle a group of seals into the water. Once in the water, they watched us from a safe distance and discussed our padding skills. We also saw a bald eagle, a heron, numerous cormorants, a domestic swan gone wild (according to a biology student), lots of Canada geese, and so on.

The weather was cloudy, then sunny, then delivered 17 drops of rain, and so on. A few got cold hands, but gloves were made available. Eli and I had pogies (kayak mitts) which kept our hands happy. We have discovered that kayaking is quite comfortable in cool fall weather, if one wears appropriate clothing. However, flipping the kayak would be a nasty event. In our 10 or so sea kayak trips (most about 2 1/3 hours in duration) no one has yet flipped - and these are mostly beginners. At the start Eli and I were raw beginners, but have moved into the 'permanent beginner' category.

This was a school sponsored beginners' trip so we knew only a few of the people. One young couple (biology majors) was from the Yukon where they ran a business taking clients into the wilderness on horseback for one, two, or three week trips. In addition to the wilderness experience, they focus on photography. Their life style sounds quite adventuresome. She was rather pretty; I don't remember what he looked like.

After landing we loaded the kayaks on the trailer and the gear in the back of the small school bus, grabbed coffee or hot chocolate from the coffee shop, and headed back to Nanaimo.

Richard
2006.11.12