[Reed Clarke]

If you plan on visiting a national park this summer, check out the free Discovery Passes they are handing out at Parks Canada. They are doing this as part of Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations in 2017.

Here’s a CBC story on this: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/parks-canada-free-discovery-passes-website-1.2752894

As the story points out, this is not a time limited offer.

That’s a good thing. The section of the Parks Canada website where you order a pass has crashed and burned, due to the heavy demand.

[Former Member]

Three tix for sale ($20.00 per, the original cost) for tonight’s sold-out screening of the BMFF @ Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale, North Vancouver.  Doors open @ 630pm, show starts @ 730pm, open seating.

Rose

siroisrose@gmail.com or

604-368-7052

[Reed Clarke]

There have been some changes in our dates and itinerary as we’ve worked through everyone’s schedules.

February 6-9, we are doing the Wild South extension. We’ll be paddling inflatable kayaks down the Moho River, visiting several villages along the way.

February 9-15, we are doing the Paradise Islands paddle, lodge to lodge sea kayaking in the Southwater Caye Marine Reserve. Along with the kayaking, kayak sailing and snorkeling, we’ll be visiting the Smithsonian Institute at Carrie Bow Caye.

For more details on these trips, have a look at the Island Expeditions website. (www.islandexpeditions.com)

There is plenty of room for additional paddlers. You’re welcome to join us in shaking off the winter blues!

If you are thinking about joining this trip, it’s best to get in soon. As time goes by, lodging and airplane bookings become the limiting factor.

Saludos Cordiales, Reed

[Former Member]

The stands have a new home.

Barry

[Former Member]

Pair of kayak stands for cleaning,repairs etc.  Made of wood with a nylon support strap. 33 in. high x 22 in. wide
If you want a picture let me know. dut@infinet.net

Barry

 

 

[Nancy More]

I did a lot of research about 2 years ago with the same criteria as you, plus the need to fit in the pocket of my PFD and the ability to power it with an extra set of AA batteries.  I ended up with the Standard Horizon HX870.  I am very happy with it.

[Maureen Benzon]

At 14.5′, this is a fun little boat for recreation, great for the lake, but probably not a serious ocean going boat. I imagine you will have a hard time keeping up with the group.

[Maureen Benzon]

Hi Dermot,

I have had good use out of my Std horizon. I have thoroughly tested it for it being waterproof. I have no experience of the others.

Cheers,

Maureen

[Dermot Shane]

We were in Amosphere Sports in Park Royal,  and noticed they have a new Riot 14.5, a rudder boat with bulkheads, hatches etc,  pretty much a real kayak, and they have it marked down to $550

Not my cup of tea, but it could be for someone, on paper it should be pretty novice friendly, and seems reasonably priced for a new boat…

 

 

[Dermot Shane]

Black Friday is approaching, and we thought we’d get the hosuehold a gift of a pair of new radio’s with DCS, GPS and floatable…

Amazon has three that fit the bill under $200 USD, from Standard Horizion, Uniden, and Lowrance

Does anyone have any advice for us?

Thanks!

Dermot

[Nick Heath]

Thanks bob,

That’s what I hoped to hear. I wonder how the reservations work and if that would be a good way to organize a club trip? It is only about 4.5 NM from Village Bay on Mayne I, so one could start and finish from this site and maybe go to one or two others in the following days in a circular tour around this super area, without any need bringing over cars. Unfortunately, there is no suitable launch at Otter Bay, which is much closer.

[Bob Salo]

Easy access from the water landing or launching.  The beach is protected by a rocky headland.  The campsite is accessible by car and can be busy on weekends.  Designated campsites have gravel tent pads and are reservable.  Lots of grass between sites.  New clean outhouse on site.  Great views to the west – Saltspring island and Vancouver island.

[Nick Heath]

Parks Canada opened this site in 2015, but so far I have not stayed there or even set foot on it.  I’d be interested to hear from members who have been there.  Parks Canada might also like any feedback.  Sometimes park planners get it wrong when they put in kayak-access sites (e.g. Sandstone Ledge on Galiano I, Bold Head in Desolation Sd)  but, from the photos I’ve seen,  this one seems like it should work well.

[Nick Heath]

RMSAR seems like a good cause and running boats that cost $0.75M apiece can’t come cheaply, but my preference is to apply our funds specifically to the pursuit of kayak touring and ocean-based coastal recreation by small boat users. I’m talking, of course, of marine-access campsites.  We have many needs for modest funding to set up sites so that they are acceptable for short-stay camping.  For instance, Howe Sound has 7 overnight sites that lack any toilet at all. Apodaca Provincial Park on Bowen I remains virtually unused because there are no tent pads and no toilet there. We can fix this and benefit our sport! I think this could also be a draw for new members, particularly if the club also agrees to take on some active stewardship role for the sites in Howe Sound. Both BC Parks and MFLNRO are crying out for this kind of assistance from partner groups.  Other sports enthusiasts (e.g. mountain bike community) do this stuff all the time.

[Reed Clarke]

Great meeting today. Thanks to Leif and everyone who came out.

I decided to create a new thread on the Belize trip. We’re now starting to finalize some details, so it’s important that this doesn’t get lost in the previous clutter.

We have decided to go on a guided trip. With the experience we gain on this outing, we could look at a self-guided trip in the future.

The core of our trip will be the Paradise Islands ‘classic trip’. This is one of the highlighted trips on the opening page of the Island Expeditions’ website.

We are planning to combine this with the Wild South extension, where we’ll be riding inflatable kayaks down the Moho River and visiting small Mayan villages. To see details on this, check Our Trips/Getaways and Extensions/Getaways and Extensions Summary/Getaways on the Island Expeditions’ website.

We have set Saturday, February 4 as ‘Day 0’ for the Paradise Islands portion of the trip. This is the day Island Expeditions would pick us up at the airport, although some may choose to go earlier than this date and rendezvous with the group.

Leif is going to come back to us with a price. Booking as a group should give us a slight discount on the rates shown in the IE website.

Cheers, Reed

[Author]

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