[Nick Heath]

Thanks All but I now have plenty of volunteers!

[Ted Lam]

Hi Nick,

I have time on Tuesday and can come, if you don’t mind.

[Reed Clarke]

Oh what the heck, I’m going to physio on Wednesday anyways. May as well get value for my money.

Are you able to pick me up, or should I just plan on driving over?

Cheers, Reed

[Nick Heath]

UPDATE : POSITIONS FILLED (must have been the high wages!)

Looking for 1 or 2 helpers to unload and stack lumber being delivered on a trailer to BC Parks works yard on Mt Seymour Pkwy roughly mid-morning on Tues.

Nothing difficult – just need work gloves, sturdy footwear, rain gear.  This task might take about 1 -2 hour.

Subject to change – I don’t yet have confirmation of delivery time.

Lumber is for 4 tent platforms at Apodaca Prov Pk. A BC Parks grant provided the $ to SKABC for these. (BC Parks are planning to put in a toilet.)

I’ll post here when the job has been filled.

We’ll need much more help later when the actual transport to site and building starts so don;t be disappointed if you aren’t  needed yet!

Nick Heath treasurer2 at skabc dot org

[Jayne Hardy]

Forecast for Sunday is for light winds and a high of 9 degrees C in the afternoon.  Anyone interested in going for a paddle?

[Ted Lam]

Hello Everyone,

Join me if you have time. Jericho sailing center to Acadia beach, may go beyond if everybody agrees.

OTW 1:00PM, free parking at the sailing center

Back by 4:00PM. Dry suit or Wet suit needed.

Email: tedlam1011@gmail.com

Cell: 778-939-6423

———————————————–

POINT ATKINSON 2022-02-09

TIDE
1:23 AM    3.7 M
5:15 AM     3.4 M
10:35 AM   4.1 M
6:40 PM    1.5 M

WIND
WINDY.COM                    E 4-6 kt
WEATHER NETWORK  E 7-11 km
ENVIRONMENT CAN    light wind

WAVE_WIND ASSOCIATED LAST 24 HOURS
ENE 10-12 kt / 0.2 m at 2.5 second

[Kevin Hall]

Hi All, the Comox Paddlers Club have invited SKABC to join their Zoom presentations on Thursday, February 3rd at 7pm.

They’ll have a short presentation from Grey Wolf Expeditions at the start followed by a feature presentation by Viki Cirkvencic of Comox Valley Kayak & Canoe titled “Messing about in boats”. Here’s a bit more information and the Zoom link is at the bottom if you’re able to attend:

Are you buying your first boat? Upgrading? Downsizing? All questions answered from newest boat styles, products and technology, differences between kayak brands to ‘what is the chine?’ and ‘which is better – a plastic or glass boat’?

Bio: Comox Valley Kayaks and Canoes has been in operation in Courtenay since1991. We have been under the same local ownership for over 24 years, and we pride ourselves on being the Comox Valley’s local specialty paddling shop. Over the years we have evolved to become one of the premier kayaking shops on theWest Coast. Our staff of paddlers, instructors, and guides can offer first-hand advice on kayaking, canoeing, and stand up paddle boarding.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83458129540?pwd=VnZEbGtBVzB6UTE4cjNseGllTTZlUT09

Meeting ID: 834 5812 9540

Passcode: 978148

[Nick Heath]

Randy’s comments are great, Sarka. My experience is old, mostly gained from sailing, power boating or cycling here, rather than paddling.  My thoughts are that this area is lovely, but one must be always be well aware of strong currents and it is worth consulting a current atlas for their strength/direction. Lots of paddlers have come unstuck here.

I’ve stayed at several of the campsites and they are good, but often busy.  Some have overflow areas if you are not pre-booked. There are lots recreational boaters in all types of craft. In addition there are 2 ‘marine highways’ for the heavy transports. Shore facilities and ferries are mostly excellent. In some areas development (cottages, subdivisions, resorts, marinas) has run amok and there is generally more regulation about where a paddler can stop and what one can do, but the State Parks are well-managed, on the whole. Crossing the land border is simpler and likely faster than using a marine border crossing, but I haven’t used either type since the pandemic started.

[Sarka Lhotak]

Thank you, Randy, for a detailed reply, very helpful. I had already ordered the Rob Casey’s book.

Šárka

[Former Member]

There are several decent guidebooks to the area, and the two standouts are:

Rob Casey’s Kayaking Puget Sound & the San Juan Islands: 60 Trips in Northwest Inland Waters, Including the Gulf Islands, 3rd Edition Paperback – May 15, 2012

Randel Washburne’s Kayaking Puget Sound, the San Juans and Gulf Islands: 45 Trips on the Northwest’s Inland Waters (1999)

If you are adventuresome and bring your passport, you can paddle over from the Southern Gulf Islands, and thus avoid a “real” border crossing.  You are supposed to check in upon arrival with the US Coast Guard and it’s quite easy and quick, and often a radio call is all that is required.  (Check current regulations.)

A better, safer option is driving to Anacortes and either paddling from there, or hopping on a ferry, with your car or just your boat.  You can also ferry over and paddle back, or the reverse.  The 3 1/2 mile crossing of Rosario Strait (a good hour) must be done in clear and calm weather, as there is lots of large vessel cross traffic.  Once over into the San Juans, it’s all quite intimate and safe, with no big crossings and lots of lee shores to hug if winds are high.

The US ferries are a bargain compared with BC’s, and they serve beer!  And, all westbound travel is cost free.

For information on walking a kayak onto their ferry system: https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries/rider-information/what-you-can-bring-aboard and https://60tripskayakpugetsound.blogspot.com/2012/01/walking-your-kayak-canoe-or-sup-on.html?m=1 .

The favourite destinations are generally on the northern side of the San Juans, because that’s where the orca, dolphin, and several whale species are usually hanging out: in Boundary Pass. So Sucia and Jones islands are popular, but still quiet.  Both are really only accessible by small private boat, although water taxis can get you to either.

If you want to avoid the ferries and not go too far “out on a limb,” Cypress Island, closer to the mainland (just north of Anacortes), is also quiet and pretty.

This is not to say you shouldn’t visit the bigger islands, Orcas, San Juan, Shaw, and Lopez, and even ones as far out as Stuart.  There are campgrounds almost everywhere, private and public.  Stores and even laundries can be found.

Randy

[Sarka Lhotak]

I am starting to dream about some paddling trips in early spring. I’ve never been to San Juan islands and am quite intrigued. Could you suggest good resources, books, maps etc.

[Former Member]

This is the 2nd time I have taken the time to “reach out” and see if I couldn’t find a “compatable” paddling partner for a trip. The 1st time didn’t go so well, I had to send him down the Yukon at Ft. Yukon on that trip. I know it isn’t easy finding someone, work, wives, relationships, kids, money and time. And of course my expectations with no compromising can put a potential paddler off. Knothing out of the ordinary.

Just seems prudent, if I could find the right guy/gal to have someone along. Driving up to Hay River from Bend, Oregon about 2,000 miles, leaving by the end of the 1st week of June. I paddle a Feathercraft K2 Expidition, a tandem, plenty of room for Stormy in the front seat and gear. This is a very stable, safe and trustworthy kayak. With most of you guys/gals being from Vancouver Island and there abouts, I am sure you know of the Feathercraft. I believe these guys who built these kayaks were some of the best. Too bad they went out of business.

I have paddled about 12,000 miles, all solo, unassisted and Stormy has done about 1/2 of those miles with me.

Me: 75 years old, 100% Disabled Vet PTSD out of combat…in Vietnam 26 months/sober 25 years/great positive attitude towards life/practice the 5 P’s in every aspect of my life/divorced/father of 4 very successful kids/now adults/author of 2 books….working on 2 more/paint/practice and soon to play the piano/walk 2/3/4/5 miles every day/beat colon cancer/beating prostrate cancer and out living them all, so far.

I also have been putting off paddling the Inside Passage, but no more. I plan that trip next summer 2023, including taking in Glacier Bay National Park before paddling over and up to Skagway. Once again, be prudent to find somebody if I can, but feel confident that trip will go fine solo, as the rest of them have.  A good 90 days, no hurry.

2024 the plan is to spend the entire summer in Prince William Sound in Alaska, take the Ferry to Whittier, leave from there. I used to spend some time in the Sound when I lived in AK in the 80’s.

My website is: www.1indsob.com ….tab for Journals/pics/videos of some of my trips/tab for ordering 2 books I have written and some other information about me/my life if you get bored.

Few of the miles I have paddled:
The Snake River from Flagg Ranch down to the Columbia, that was both kayak/catamaran thru Hells Canyon. 1,000 miles or so
The Yellowstone from Gardnier, MT to the Missouri at Williston, ND to the Mississippi at St. Louis, down the Mississippi the Baton Rouge, 3,000 mile 100 days.
The Yukon from Whitehorse to Greyling, AK. 900 miles or so, had some hand issues so didn’t make it to the ocean.
Khuvosogul Lake in N. Mongolia, down the Eg, where I got into some trouble/had a herder take me out, then into the Selenga River in Siberia, thru the Selenga Delta, on to Lake Baikal, where I got to the N end of Lake Baikal, knew something was wrong health wise, got off the lake by a fluke encounter about 1,500 miles. Got back, Colon Cancer, beat it, surgery went very wrong and almost killed me twice, but here I am, almost back to being able to wrestle atleast a 100 lb Grizzley.

I am not done yet, I refuse to compitulate to the age factor. I have been accused of being too Independent, too Old and too Contakerous. Not so. I just have certain peramiters I live by and there you go, that is why I wrote the book “101 Ways to Tell the World to Kiss Your Ass”.

If anyone might be interested to the point of considering such an undertaking or know of someone who was in a position to consider it,,,, you can reach me at:

dhscott_46@hotmail.com, we could start there.

I live in Newberry National Monument in Central Oregon, at 6400 ft in a 100 year old cabin, it is pure Heaven. www.volcanoproperty.com

Thanks, Dave Scott

[Josephine Kovacs]

I would like to register for the March 19 & 20 clinics. Josephine

 

[Mike Gilbert]

Hi Everyone,

For those who may be interested in taking a clinic, Paddle Canada Course or to join a tour I am offering in 2022, please take a moment to follow the provided link to my website and scroll down to see what is being offered.

2024 Courses, Clinics & Tours

Cheers,

Mike

 

 

[Kevin Amos]

As Nick pointed out its best to do the Orientation before you go. It looks like you can do it remotely now.

 

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/visit/tarifs-fees

[Author]

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