Kayaking Trip Report – Sechelt Inlet (Aug 2025) bv Michele Filion
Participants: Jayne, Colleen, Kevin, Limor, Mackenzie, Michele
This was my very first SKABC trip, and it was such a memorable introduction. Beyond the paddling itself, I especially enjoyed hearing stories of everyone’s past kayaking adventures, as well as the shared knowledge that everyone had!
Day 1 – Thursday
We launched from Pedals and Paddles under breezy conditions, and the first leg gave us a taste of the wind Sechelt Inlet can deliver. We stopped at Tuwanek Beach to wait it out, which turned into the perfect chance for me to go for a short swim. Once the wind calmed, we carried on and made it to Nine Mile Beach, finding only one other camper already there. With rain in the forecast, we got to work: tents up, tarps up, and a communal tarp area for meals and downtime.
Day 2 – Friday
The forecast proved right—an atmospheric river arrived. Mackenzie and Limor set out for a calm (but wet) morning paddle up the shoreline, while the rest of us stayed tucked under cover. Later in the afternoon, Limor and I went for another gentle paddle down the shoreline. I was happy to try out my drysuit! Much of the day was spent either in tents or under the communal tarp area. I'm so glad we had extra tarps for this. We all managed to stay somewhat dry... unfortunately, Mackenzie’s rain poncho didn’t quite hold up. Note to self, rain ponchos from Canadian Tire will dissolve in the rain!
Day 3 – Saturday
The sun finally broke through, lifting spirits instantly. We crossed the inlet to Halfway Beach, continued to Kunechin Point, afterwards heading up the Salmon Inlet for a bit before paddling back to camp. We were able to lay out all our wet gear to dry and hang out in the sun and on the beach - a welcome change from being huddled under tarps. Jayne, Mackenzie, and I all went for a swim.
Day 4 – Sunday
Time to head home. We paddled back across the inlet, enjoying sightings of sea stars, urchins, jellyfish, and other marine life along the way. Lunch at Piper Point was a perfect pause before crossing the inlet back to Pedals and Paddles. To top it off, Mackenzie’s mention of SKABC earned us free parking—a cheerful end to a fantastic trip.
The mix of weather gave us a little bit of everything: wind, heavy rain, sun, and calm seas. It was a wonderful balance of paddling, relaxing, and sharing stories. I had a great experience on my first SKABC trip and really enjoyed the group!
