Snoyaking?

Is our kayaking for 2007 done? Maybe. We leave for Sandpoint in perhaps 12 days, so paddling opportunities are vanishing. Our recent Nanaimo snow has melted, but it was cold and rainy today - which was a possible kayak day. Saturday has a mere 40% chance of 'flurries', so maybe we'll kayak mid the snowflakes. We might term that 'snoyaking'.

Here at 'home', we've been discussing kayaking in the Broken Group next summer, assuming the Sechart Lodge stays in business. Another possible scenario (lower budget) would be to camp in the Nanaimo area and start day trips selected from these familiar launch sites:
* Brechin
* Departure Bay Waterfront Park
* Piper's Lagoon
* Lantzville (Sebastion, Benwaldun)
* Schooner Cove
* Cedar by the Sea
* Blue Heron Park
* Chemainus (Rotary Park)
* Ladysmith (Government Wharf)
* Lake Cowichan
Most of these give access to multiple possible paddles and might be a good fit if we brought a caravan from Sandpoint. We'd better work on our camping skills beforehand.

I need to record my list of what to take for just a kayak trip (not even talking about camping) - you know, stuff to throw in or on the car when heading to the launch for a day trip. I have no special place to keep such a list, so this will do. Here goes (per person or per kayak):
* kayak with seat
* paddle plus spare
* pump and sponge
* throw bag or tow rope
* pfd, whistle
* compass, [chart]
* spray skirt
* tool kit
* stirrup
* deck bag for camera, sunscreen etc.
* water
* pogies and boots ( weather dependent)
* hat and sunglasses
* dry suit (if appropriate)

Richard
2007.11.28

Full Moon, November 2007

We had two great kayaking days this last week - Wednesday and Saturday. On Wednesday we launched from the Rotary Park at Chemainus. After lunch on Willy Island we headed back toward the launch. As we skirted Willy, we saw lots of bald eagles (including juveniles), which we seemed to be herding ahead of us. Once a bit away from that island we started to see many curious seals in the vicinity of a log boom. Some were sunning on the logs, but more were in the water stretching their necks to get a good look at us.

On Saturday, we launched from Blue Heron Park near Yellow Point. We again had sun and calm water. There is no way to avoid startling the various waterfowl, but one pretty harlequin duck stayed put as we paddled by on both sides. After rounding Yellow Point we hugged the shore in Kulleet Bay accompanied by aboriginal drumming from the shore. After asking permission to land and look at the petroglyphs, we stopped for lunch. The whole bay belongs to the First Nations. After lunch we continued our paddle, at first approaching the source of the drumming. Passing that location, we paddled to the fading beat of the drums. On the way back to the Blue Heron launch, we cut straight across the bay. That was quite a stretch of open water and could be intimidating in rough weather, but all was smooth. Once we landed at the end of the outing, we loaded the kayaks back on the cars and the other equipment inside the vehicles before heading to the Crow and Gate for 'debriefing'. Eli and I stayed there for dinner before heading back to Lantzville.

Our trip back to Sandpoint looms - only two weeks and two days distant. I have some travel angst, as I contemplate negotiating Snoqualmie Pass with a fully stuffed Subaru plus two kayaks on top and two bikes on the back. Fortunately, we have the schedule flexibility to watch for a good weather window.

Richard
2007.11.24

3-day weekend

It's Remembrance Day weekend here in Canada, with Sunday being the actual day of remembrance, rooted in WWI. In Lantzville, where we are house sitting, the vets from various eras were out in their uniforms, as were the Mounties in the traditional horse riding garb, and even the Knights of Columbus in their regalia. Although I am not quite a pacifist, I oppose war. It is perhaps a last resort in rare cases, but not a first resort as currently practiced. That said, the vets served with pure motivation and should be lauded for that - and aided appropriately when their days of service are over. Although a popular sentiment, it is rarely practiced by the war mongering countries.

On Saturday, we joined 10 other paddlers despite a discouraging weather forecast. It was a fortuitous decision; the forecast foul weather was delayed and we even had sun (somewhat disorienting at this time of year in Nanaimo). We paddled from the Brechin launch in Departure Bay to the Nanaimo River estuary, basically winding through the Nanaimo Harbor. With the salmon spawning, there were eagles and gulls in evidence everywhere, ready for the feast. We saw an occasional seal and were even accompanied for a few minutes by a sea lion, perhaps drawn with amorous intent toward that flashy orange sea kayak. We lunched at a landing spot in the estuary, squeezing the kayaks in among the salmon carcasses on the odiferous beach. Oddly, at a potluck in the evening, we served salmon.

In the late morning on Sunday, we hiked Mt. Benson with Eli taking photos of the vegetation, shiny and luminous from the rain. At the summit, it was blowing and snowing sideways, so we retreated quickly to avoid death. Once home, we dealt with our soggy clothing, took a hot bath, and ate leftovers from the potluck.

Today, the third of the three day weekend, it is officially stormy on the strait, one level up from 'gale'. Here on the land, the trees are frantically waving warnings to each other. A few rip up their roots and try to flee, but unused to running, fall flat and become motionless except for some wind-driven quivering. It's raining, too. We may head to the mall and find some chocolate. If the rain subsides in the afternoon (as forecast), I'll chop some firewood.

Richard
2007.11.12