Our paddle on Monday, June 6, started from a new launch site for most of us, the end of Breton Road in Open Bay; a short downhill, a short walk avoiding the nettles, a few logs and the inevitable rocks though not as big nor as steep as at the more commonly used Valdez beach launch site. Five of us were on the water by 10:30 am. The overcast soon dissipated and the weather quickly turned from warm to hot, northwest winds gusted to about 20 knots throughout the day.

We paddled east along Open Bay shores, admiring the contorted and dramatic geology, peered into one cave, then turned north into Moulds’ Bay. The rapidly dropping tide prevented us from taking the shortcuts so we paddled through Shellaligan Pass into Hoskyn Channel, past the north Breton, then into Village Bay. The snow-dappled peaks of the Coast and Vancouver Island mountain ranges provided dramatic backdrops to the north and west.

Our lunch stop, after one and a half hours of paddling was Village Bay beach where we noted the new signage posted by the We Wai Kai nation, as this is Reserve land. The very low tide revealed eel grass and its many inhabitants and the rich marine life in the intertidal zone.

After a short lunch break we were boosted on our return by a following sea pushed by the north-west winds and the flooding tide. We stayed in Hoskyn due to the very low tide, and turned west to Open Bay on the north side of the southernmost Breton. Here we stopped to admire the seals laying on their backs on rocks just above the tideline, apparently sunning their bellies. We also saw many oystercatchers and a flock of wood ducks as well as several herons, gulls, and eagles.

As we came into Breton Beach we could see sea urchins, pencil stars and bat stars on the rocks below. The very low tide meant a long haul up the rocky beach, the usual challenge of launching from Open Bay. We were off the water by about 2:45 pm after a hot but very pleasant paddle.

Valerie

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Kayaking – Open Bay – 6 June 2016

Thirteen members left Gowlland Harbour Resort on a bright, sunny, calm day for a tour around North and South Gowlland Harbour. Many thanks to resort manager Carmen for allowing us to launch there. We paddled north first toward the log dump and sorting area. There was a lone buck on one of the islands and two otters playing on a dock for entertainment. Some members had not realized how much activity goes on in the log sort. We then paddled to the old shipwreck off May Island and had lunch on the island. The snow-capped peaks of Strathcona Park were stunning against the blue sky.

Next we went to Vigilant Island and watched many seals playing. From here we traveled down the east side of Gowlland Island to the narrow opening into April Point Bay. A few of us tried our skills in the current and found it can be hard in cross current. A word of caution to anyone that does not know this area, the current is not always running the same way as it is outside in Discovery Passage and can be quite fast.

We then paddled around the south end of Gowlland Harbour and up by Stag and Fawn Island. The Sea Blush bloom was early this year, but some flowers were still to be seen. We arrived back at launch site about four hours and 6.5 nautical miles after having left. All and all, it was a stunning day.

Les

Note:  Special thanks from all of the participants to Les for the delicious prawns, smoked salmon, cheese and wine contribution to our picnic lunch.

Here is the bird list for the day:

Horned Grebe
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
California Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Mallard Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Northwest Crow
Common Raven
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Spotted Towee
Townsend’s Warbler

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Kayak – Gowlland Harbour – 2 May 2016