End of 2019 Kayak Season

Looking back at the kayak season I note that my roll returned, but not as solid as two years ago. My bombproof roll needs work. I had an inadvertent capsize in Surge Narrows and didn't even attempt to roll because I was in an area of barnacle encrusted rocks. Rolling will require some attention next season.

My arthritic left shoulder significantly impacted my kayaking. I started the season with about 4 nmi. being a chore. I worked with some exercises I got from Hal Schmidt and, by season's end, could do about 8 nmi. without much pain. Yet the shoulder was more painful while attempting to sleep at night. I expect to get off the blood thinner, maybe within a week. Then I could take anti-inflammatories and would consider visiting an orthopod. If things get worse instead of better, I must reassess my kayaking hobby.

We've made no definite plans for next season, but would hope to visit Vancouver Island twice. Maybe we would kayak in the Nanaimo area and subsequently try Quadra again.

Ending trip of the 2019 Kayak Season

Our final trip was to Discovery Islands Lodge, 10 of us in all. We stayed the night of Wednesday September 11 and then for 3 more nights. Eli and I tried the 'Cabana', while everyone else stayed in the lodge. Claudia first welcomed us, but then Marissa and Miranda became the alternating breakfast cooks.

The first day, we got to the lodge by 11 AM or so. We stowed our gear and had a quick lunch, although Eli's sandwich was stolen by a raven known as Fat Tony. The day was cloudy, but not raining so I gracefully capsized in Surge Narrows to avoid staying dry. This was near the end of our paddling day, so I changed into the dry clothes stashed in my front hatch - then back to the lodge.

At breakfast each of the next two days, we saw 3 or 4 orcas swimming NW through the Narrows. Both days brought rain, but we stayed dry enough and had dry clothes at the lodge. The final day featured a more sincere rain, so we only got as far as Crescent Channel (where the seas 'outside' were semi-snotty) and then turned back.

Other wildlife we saw over the 4 days included

• sea stars and urchins, sea cucumbers
• a mink choking down a sea star
• porpoises
• Bonaparte gulls, herons, an Oyster Catcher, Surf Scoters etc.
• seals and sea lions

Despite the wet condidtions we had a good time, but never saw Doogie Dowler.

One of our group, Anna Nystrom, arrived by motorcycle, a 865cc Triumph. However the clutch lever/handle broke once she reached the lodge. However, Ben van Drimmelin came in a pickup truck, so the bike was loaded into the pickup bed at the end of our trip. The two of them subsequently drove to Victoria, where one of Ben's neighbors fixed the bike, even making a missing bushing. Anna made it back to Sandpoint after that and stated that the clutch was better than ever.

Audrey and Nelson provided occasional music, very special. Nelson also had us embark on a group poem, which might make us famous or infamous - but probably not.

Further reflections on the season will appear in a later blog entry.