Almost exactly one year to the day since our first Round the Cape paddle trip, four club members set out from Q-Cove to repeat the adventure. This report will therefore sound a lot like the one written last year (cut and paste…) The necessary shuttle was pretty simple with just four participants, one volunteer spouse and a two-car paddling couple! Two paddlers got to the put-in without motorized transport!

By 10:10 we were on the water just as the ferry was loading – two ferries to watch out for this time. Weather, (overcast and threatening drizzle, but no wind) tides and currents were all in our favour as we rounded Whiskey Point and headed south to Cape Mudge. We passed closely by the Village (accompanied briefly by a pair of harbour porpoises on our starboard), and then the lighthouse, working against the counter currents while the main tide continued to flood, and then rounded the Cape. One petroglyph barely revealed itself here, but one sharp-eyed paddler spotted it. These often treacherous waters were very calm, due to our timing, and we headed into the boulder strewn shallows of the south shoreline. It was interesting to be at the base of the sandy cliffs that we had hiked to the edge of last week for a view of the shoal at very low tide.

As we glided along a flock of a dozen or so Common Loons struck up a conversation about kayaking intruders, Harlequins scurried along the water’s edge to put distance between us, and the migrating coho were leaping about. Large schools of herring or sardines were seen in the shallow waters of Wilby Shoals.

By this time we were looking for a reasonable place to pull out for a “rest” and stretch, but, once again a cobbly beach was the best we could do. As it was time for lunch, our rest stop lasted nearly an hour. Back on the water and heading for our final “turn around the corner”, a nice beach was spotted and perhaps will be remembered for next year’s lunch stop! We rounded Francisco Point and headed north on a somewhat brighter and milder afternoon without notable resistance from the ebbing tide. With our destination in sight for most of the 5 km, it did feel like a long stretch as we avoided rocks and watched for whales.  (15.0 km; 4¼ hours.)

List of bird sightings – at least a dozen Common Loons (very vocal), many Harlequin ducks, a Common Merganser, numerous Bonaparte’s, Glaucous-winged, and Mew Gulls, Cormorants, a Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagles

Vic 

Thanks to Vic and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking -Paddle around Cape  Mudge – 6 Sept 2023

Four paddlers were treated to a very nice day of paddling on Kanish Bay. We started out early at Granite Bay to take advantage of the tides and headed off by 0900 on a cool morning. Last year CCW, this year we took the CW (clockwise) route around the bay. With little wind and an ebbing tide, we arrived at the tidal flats tucked in between Bodega Pt and an unnamed island. A short break here allowed us time to cross the beach and take in the view of upper Discovery Passage. Back on the water and passing between the last two islands of the Chained Islets, we headed across the western end of Kanish Bay with our sights set on Granite Point, 3.2 km away. At the point, the waters were calm and the sun much warmer so we just kept going until 15 minutes later we had a bit of a view down Okisollo Channel! Time to turn back… we meandered down the northern shore of the bay, visited the pictographs cliff and then stopped for lunch at Ashlar Creek, a rather rocky and difficult landing spot, but sunny and warm with a big view of the Passage and Vancouver Is.

The tide aided our afternoon efforts by starting to flood, and with the Chum jumping here and there we were soon at Orchard Bay and once again fantasizing about a couple of nights of camping in this very nice part of the area. (This was to have been today’s goal, but too few signed up for the planned camping trip). A family of Loons and a lone Red-necked Grebe were spotted on the bay. We explored for a few minutes and then headed back to Granite Bay and our take out. (17.8 km; 5½ hours.)

Vic 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Kanish Bay – 22 Aug 2023

Six Club members and one guest enjoyed an (almost) idyllic summer day on the Salish Sea on our July 10 paddle from Open Bay to Village Bay and beyond.

Before embarking, we reviewed  our Club’s Paddling Guidelines and discussed the proposed route, predicted weather, tide and currents . Two paddlers volunteered to take the going and returning sweep positions.

We enjoyed the easy launch from Open Bay using the beach property of a Club member and were soon perusing the islets around the Bretons. The calm, almost benign conditions encouraged us to take the outside route around the Bretons up Hoskyn Channel. We saw seals and many seabirds, including Mergansers, Oyster Catchers, Harlequins, Guillemots, and, most notably, Arctic Terns, possibly attracted by the large shoals of herring visible around the rocky reefs. Even though there were several boats apparently watching the whales who were audibly breaching and blowing south of us, disappointingly we did not see any whales during our paddle.

We arrived at Village Bay in time for a leisurely lunch, enjoying the warm sun and social time. As predicted, the wind began to rise just after 12:00, creating some visible chop. Still feeling energetic, we decided to proceed further north to paddle around Bold Island and visit the oyster and mussel farm. The aquaculture-farm was in full operation as we paddled leisurely by, to the envy of the workers. As expected, the conditions changed from benign to more challenging as we left the protection of Bold Point and came out into Hoskyn Channel. Given the wind/wave conditions we opted to head directly across to the entrance to Shellaligan Pass. The pass was a peaceful respite before the even more challenging conditions in Open Bay. A short, invigorating paddle through the rocky reef brought us back to the protected, calm waters of our launch site.  (15.1 km; 5 hours with lunch)

Once our kayaks and gear were loaded, we very much enjoyed a social hour on our Club member’s shaded and tranquil deck. We were also well entertained by the hummingbirds and swallows attracted to the many feeders, and nesting boxes on this lovely property.

With many thanks to the two volunteers who acted as sweeps on this trip, and especially to the Club member who offered us the use of their beach access, and then a social hour on their lovely deck afterwards.

Valerie van Veen

Kayaking – Open Bay to Village Bay – 10 July 2023