Category Archives: Paddling

Kayaking – Main Lake Prov Park – 30 May 2018

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This trip has been changed to a day-trip on Wednesday.

Activity Kayaking Multi-day kayaking/camping
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 30 May 2018, Wednesday 29-31 May 2018, Tuesday-Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 2029 or leshand@gicable.com
Description The destination will be determined by the group when we depart the boat ramp.  Camping on Main Lake, probably on the north shore, with day paddling/hiking.  Possible day trips are: kayaking to Little Main Lake up Shadow Brook Creek, kayaking to the east end of the lake and hiking to Yeatman Bay, and/or kayaking to the north shore and hiking up to Clear Lake.
Meeting Place Boat launch, Mine Lake
Departure Time 10:00 10:30 a.m.  Plan to be at the launch site by 9:30.
Difficulty
 Probably easy, unless it’s windy
Costs As of 2017 there is a $5/person/night fee for camping between May 15 and Sept 15.
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Participants need to have all required safety equipment.  Here is the link to the Park information.  Everyone is responsible for their own kayaking gear, camping equipment and meals, but cooking groups would be a good idea.  I will send a list of people who have signed up a week before the event to facilitate planning, so please let me know if you are interested no later than May 15.  We’ll plan to come back after lunch on the 3rd day, so will have 2 half days and one full day to explore the park.

 

Multi-day Kayaking – Cortes Island, Shark Spit – 25-28 June 2018

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Activity Multi-day Kayaking
Destination Cortes Island, Shark Spit
Date 25-28 June 2018: three nights, four days, Monday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250-285-2393.  Please contact the coordinator by June 1st.
Description We will take the first ferry to Cortes, this can be a very busy ferry, please arrive at 8 am. We will launch kayaks in Whaletown Bay and paddle to Shark Spit, to set-up camp. This is such a beautiful camping area in the woods with many lovely sites. Weather conditions will determine our kayaking routes. Choices would be: Carrington Bay returning with a paddle in Coulter Bay; kayak around Marina at low tide, just gorgeous; Manson’s Landing, Smelt Bay and around Sutil Point. Dare we ‘do’ Gorge Harbour, all exciting. I am sure we will hear the wolves at Shark Spit either morning/evening and may even see them……lets hope.
Paddlers will bring their own breakfast, lunch, water and camping equipment. . Margot will put together ‘dinner teams’. Do not forget treats.
Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up (8:00 am)
Departure Time 9:05 am ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate to difficult
Costs Ferry cost
Trip limits Eight kayakers.  Let’s try to car-pool.
Dogs? no
Notes: Must have kayak rescue skills, sea kayak and all kayak safety equipment.
The paddle could be moderate or difficult depending on the weather conditions and the wind can soon pick-up, we must be prepared for this happening. The beauty is astounding and hopefully we will see lots of wildlife.

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 2 May 2018

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Gowlland Harbour
Date 2 May 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250-285-2393
Description We will meet, help each other to launch from Gowlland Harbour Resort.
We will kayak the islands to see the beautiful wild flowers. Kayak to May Island for our lunch.  Visiting the islands in Gowlland Harbour.  Returning to the launch area at approximately 2 p.m.
Meeting Place Gowlland Harbour Resort boat launch, 823 Gowlland Harbour Rd.
Departure Time 10:30 (unload and prepare at 10:00)
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: This trip is dependent on weather.  Bring your ocean kayak, paddle plus safety equipment. Bring your own lunch and water. I will meet you at the launch site at 10:00.  We help each other with kayak launch.
Gowlland Harbour Resort has kindly granted us permission to use their boat launch for this trip. This is not a public access.

Kayaking Training – Main Lake Provincial Park – 6 June 2018

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Activity Kayak training session
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 6 June 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell; Instructor Douglas Taylor
Contact & Registration Info mitchelldarcy51@gmail.com
Please contact Darcy no later than May 15 to receive a registration form for one or both sessions. Payment in full must accompany registration; registration deadline is May 25. Payment is non-refundable, unless you are able to find someone to take your place by the registration deadline.
Description 1) Three hour training/refresher on assisted kayak rescue and self-rescue. The session will begin with a review of basic safety and paddling skills.
2) Introduction to the Greenland Paddle (3 hours). Ever wondered about paddling with “a stick”? Paddles will be provided by the instructor for an introduction to paddling technique and when/where the Greenland paddle is most useful. Tip – the G.P. is reputed to be kind to aging shoulders….
Meeting Place Boat launch at Mine Lake
Departure Time Meet at the boat launch by 8:30 to be ready to start at 9:00 for the morning session.
The afternoon session starts at 12:30 p.m.
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs $60+GST=$63 per person for one session or $105+GST=$110.25 for both sessions
Trip limits 8 people per session
Dogs? No
Notes: All participants must provide their own kayaks and all safety equipment, including PFD, paddle float, pump, sponge, whistle. Wet suits are strongly advised (if you need a wetsuit, the trainer or other club members may have spares to loan – mention to Darcy when you register). Bring warm drinks and warm clothing as we can get pretty chilled.

Trip Report – Kanish Bay – 30 Aug 2017

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After weeks of dry weather, August 30 started out in a shower of rain, delaying, but not cancelling, the planned kayak outing to the Chained Islets in Kanish Bay. Four club members launched at the Granite Bay ramp and made our way along the south coast of the Bay to the Islets. After a short break for a snack, we ambled back, meeting rain about half an hour before returning to Granite Bay. The main benefit of the weather was the calm to light breezes from the southeast, rather than the heavy north westerlies that often blow into the Bay.  9.9 km; 3¼ without the shore break.

Darcy Mitchell

Click on photos to enlarge

Kayaking – Kanish Bay – 30 August 2017

Trip Report – Open Bay to Breton Island – 9 Aug 2017

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Four members enjoyed an unusually calm and peaceful paddle from Len Road Beach to Open Bay. We paddled past Seal Rock at the mouth of Hyacinthe Bay to check out the seal colony then stopped briefly at Big Beach in Open Bay, where we observed a few tents at the high tide line. Enjoying the foreshore and intertidal exposed by the very low tide, we explored the caves and outcroppings of Open Bay, the extreme infolding and convolutions of the unique geological formations of this area were clearly visible. We continued over to the Breton islets, lazily watched by the seal colony draped over the exposed rocks, and a few curious Bonaparte Gulls. We were pleased to see so many sea-stars back again, and carpets of sea urchins in the more active waters between the islets. After a short lunch stop on the south Breton, we paddled back to Len Beach across the glass-still ocean, concluding the calmest paddle I have ever enjoyed on Quadra.

Valerie van Veen, Trip Coordinator

Note:   In the last photo, Len, our newest member, demonstrates the new membership requirement for carrying kayaks. Existing members are grand-fathered/mothered from this requirement. 😃 lol

(click on photos to view larger)

Kayaking  – Open Bay to Breton Island – 9 Aug 2017

Kayaking – Open Bay to Breton Island – 9 Aug 2017

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay to Breton Island
Date 9 August 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca,  or 250 285 2329; must contact coordinator 24hrs before to confirm
Description A casual half-day paddle to Open Bay and islets.
Meeting Place Len Road launch
Departure Time Arrive in time for 10:00 departure
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: No lake or recreational kayaks. Kayaks must be ocean-worthy wilth all safety equipment. Bring snack, water, appropriate clothing for a half day paddle. Cancelled if winds greater than 20 knots.

Multi-day Kayaking – Nuchatlitz Prov Park – 20-28 Aug 2017

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 This trip has been cancelled.

Activity Multi-day kayaking
Destination Nuchatlitz Provincial Park
Date 20-28 August 2017
Trip Coordinator Kathryn Manry
Contact Info 2103 or kamanry@gmail.com. Please contact the coordinator by July 1.
Description We will take a water taxi in both directions between Zeballos and Nuchatlitz Prov Park. We will spend nine days paddling and camping as conditions permit. Likely destinations are Catala Island, islets in the provincial park, and Mary Basin
Meeting Place Zeballos
Departure Time TBA
Difficulty
 Expect some challenging conditions: fog and wind are likely
Costs Transportation and one night in Zeballos
Trip limits Participants on this trip need to have been on a previous multi-day kayak trip with the Outdoor Club. Good paddling skills and good equipment are essential. Space is limited by the water taxi and by accommodation in Zeballos.
Dogs? no
Notes:

Camping, Hiking, Kayaking – Savary Island – 7-9 Aug 2017

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Activity Camping, hiking, kayaking
Destination Savary Island
Date 7-9 August 2017, Monday to Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Cyndy Chidley
Contact Info 250-285-3575; Please make arrangements with the coordinator well in advance of the trip.
Description
Savary is a jewel of an island surrounded by white sand beaches.  We will hike or kayak on Tuesday.  Cyndy’s place is off grid with two outdoor composting toilets, a wood fired sauna, and indoor propane cooking facilities.  There is a solar panel for lights and charging cell phones. Water is hand pumped.  Remember that August is the busiest time of year and Monday is a holiday.
Getting there: Your own boat (kayak, motor or sailboat).  There is no moorage on a dock; you can anchor. Other options are a water taxi from Campbell River, or a water taxi combined with truck taxi from Lund.  These can be shared.  There is also a 15 minute reasonably priced float plane ride on Coralair from Campbell River that will land you close to the cabin, weather permitting, if you reserve ahead.
Meeting Place Cyndy’s place, Savary Island
Departure Time Arrive Savary on Monday, Aug 7 and depart on Wednesday, Aug 9 on you own schedule
Difficulty
 Easy to Medium…Hiking or kayaking would take most of one day
Costs Cost of transportation to Savary Island
Trip limits 10 people
Dogs? Yes if hiking; No if kayaking.  Dogs love Savary Island, but you must pack water for them.
Notes: Please bring your own gear for camping, cooking and boating, as well as your own food.  Kayaks are not available to rent on Savary, so you need to bring your own if you want to kayak.  We ask that you take your garbage off the island when you leave with the exception of burnables and compost.

Kayaking – Open Bay and Beyond – 28 June 2017

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This trip has been postponed

Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay and Beyond
Date 28 June 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Ann Sutton
Contact Info asutton@uniserve.com or 2117;  please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description This trip will be dependent on weather. The plan is to paddle out around the Breton Islands, continue north to Village Bay, circumnavigate the island at Bold Point and head back south through Mould’s Bay.  This is a trip for paddlers with some experience with wind and comfortable sitting in kayaks for a length of time.
Meeting Place Open Bay; please park on the road
Departure Time Arrive at 10:00 for a 10:30 departure
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch and water.  Bring all necessary gear to meet the Coast Guard requirements and to ensure safety.  Don’t forget your spray skirt!