[Former Member]

Hi Randy, This sounds very interesting to me, having never done a tropical trip.  I’d love to escape around January/February/March.  My vote would be for self-guided, camping, low cost, 7-10 days.  Probably makes sense to meet to discuss once a group of interested people is established.  Cheers, Em.

[Former Member]

It was suggested to me by more than one SKABC member after October’s inspirational presentation that a coordinated group from our ranks might want to plan a trip down to Belize with Island Expeditions this winter.  So, I’d like to begin that discussion.

Timing?  The season is November to roughly April, with the peak in February and March (both due to the coldest rainy weather here and the driest conditions there).  When might people want, or be able, to go? It seems a “week” (9-10 days) might be the core of a trip with some going earlier or staying longer to do side trips on the mainland.

Type of trip?  Guided, semi-guided, loose and dispersed or with a commitment by at least some to stay together, more distance or more snorkeling?   All these are details to hash out or become the grist for a hybrid trip with some time together an the advantage of coordinating/sharing some aspects of the logistics.

One other advantage of getting a group together is cost.  We might be able arrange a group discount, or at least share some common costs, such as water taxis.

And finally there is the advantage of going with others you already know and might actually want to spend more time with, both down here and back here in BC afterwards.

Ideas, thoughts, plans?  Just post them here in reply to this.  No commitment is interpreted from a response, and no doubt only a tiny percentage of those interested will be able to make a finally agreed week for a consensus program.  The discussion alone might also inspire individual trips.

This year SKABC has to organize MORE TRIPS.  Why not Belize?

[Former Member]

Current Designs Infinity kayak 17’9″x22″ approx. 50 lbs. Great skeg boat. Fore, aft and day hatches. Very good condition. Will fit a larger paddler. This was my backup boat so it didn’t get used much. $2,000.

[Former Member]

Sent to SKABC by Egon Speneder.

egonspen@hotmail.com

(I am sending this to most Kayaking Outfits I can find on the Lower Mainland)

Last Sunday (Oct. 2nd) I was driving over the Abbotsford Bridge into Mission when I saw an interesting item on the Highway about a 100 yards before the Mission turnoff. I stopped my car quite a ways from there because it was impossible to stop on the Bridge and I walked back and picked up this neoprene “Brooks” made (what I thought at first was a diver’s suit) KAYAKING SPRAY SKIRT.

Anyway, if anyone of your members complains about losing an item on the Abbotsford Bridge then please have them contact me. I have it here at home in Mission.

 

[Lorraine Sharpsteen]

I have a single kayak to loan. All I ask is for help in loading/unloading onto my car and carpool to the event. The kayak is fully equipped but you need your own life jacket.

[Nick Heath]

I launched there. It is the bay (WellburyBay?) directly opposite the ferry dock across the isthmus. The concrete ramps/stairs negotiated with wheels and hand carry was a bit awkward. Need boats mostly unloaded first.  Not much beach below – likely none at high water so time your launch and retrieve times accordingly. Otherwise, super convenient for a car-free tour! Start here and end, say, at Village Bay, Nanaimo or Sidney.  There are other nearby launches, too as shown on the BCMTNA web map, but I’ve not used them. Despite some shortcomings I’d definitely use this one again.

[Mick Allen]

Here is some discussion and a few photos:

http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/community/viewtopic.php?p=66364#p66364

I didn’t realize the photos weren’t on the marine trails [http://www.bcmarinetrails.org] map: a few more have been added now.

 

 

[Former Member]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="533"] Screenshot[/caption]

 

Hi Emily

I’ve launched from there before and although I don’t know if it’s the same site as Joan used I do remember there being a fair amount of boulders to climb over.

The launch site is not in the same bay as the ferry comes into. We wheeled our kayaks up the ramp and straight across the road to the opposite junction of Long Harbour Rd and Scott Point Drive where there are a couple of picnic tables at the front of the vehicle line-up area. There is an access point to the beach on that side of the headland. You can see it if you zoom into Street View on Google Maps. I’ve tried to include a photo but I’m not sure if it attached.

All the best.

Peter

[Former Member]

Hi Emily

I have launched from Salt Spring and it was very difficult.  There is a steep set of stairs going down to the water.  Depending on the wind direction, the waves can really roll in.  Also when we landed, it was at high tide, and we had to stand in the water almost up to our waist to unload the boats.  This was a few years ago, perhaps things have changed, or another member knows of something better.

Joan

[Former Member]

Hey,

Has anyone experienced rolling onto the ferry (without car) and launching at Long Harbour, Saltspring?  BC Marine Trails says the launch is close to the ferry but I wondered how easy or difficult this particular one is.

We plan to paddle over to Galliano.

Thanks! Em

[Nick Heath]

For the past couple of  weeks, the “GarBarge” has been picking up by helicopter bags, strings and piles of previously collected plastic flotsam from Vancouver Island beaches and it is being unleaded today. On Saturday 1 Oct and maybe into Sun 2 Oct  volunteers will be sorting this stuff for recycling.

This is a concerted effort by several marine conservation and land management groups, including BCMTNA.

If you can spare some time on Sat, please help out.
To register, please go to the Living Oceans Society (chief event organizers)  Facebook page
  https://www.facebook.com/events/1107389392686607/
The event will take place at
River Road Barge and Transfer, 8761 River Road, DELTA  not at Steveston as previously announced.

Bring lunch, mug, gloves and, I would guess, rain gear
Starts at 10 am.
Hope to see you there.
/n

[Former Member]

Thanks Karin, I’m in.

 

[Nick Heath]

In my view, the trickiest place locally  for ferry traffic plus other boat traffic is Swartz Bay.  There are 3 separate passages, E.W and N to watch for.  The sprint for safety (taking a perpendicular course to the direction of the channel) only applies to the deep-water channels between the red/green marker buoys. Once you are clear of a channel you’re home safe because the biggies will never go there.

[Nick Heath]

Like Maureen, my experience is limited, too.  It seems that the better/more experienced companies have equipped their boats with cradles specifically for kayaks. Canoes will go well on standard flat bar racks like a roof rack and SUPs usually stack up on their sides or on top, with skegs removed.  I would maybe ask and bring along with you whatever you think you need to protect the boat’s finish. Stacking kayaks on top of each other sounds like a bad idea.  The taxi boats will pound if the water is at all rough.  The taxi operators prefer to do all the lashing themselves (I don;t blame them) but they are interested primarily in the security of their load .

[Karin Hartner]

Meet at 10 am for a 10:30 launch at Captain’s Cove Marina at 6100 Ferry Road, Delta.

This is a scenic paddle on the South Arm of the Fraser River and around the Ladner Marshes. It is suitable for newer paddlers as long as the winds are moderate.  The tide will be flooding for much of our time on the water. We will stop for a break so bring a lunch.

There is no kayak rental available in the area, so please rent the evening before if you plan to attend and do not own a kayak.

If you wish to join in, please contact Karin at    karinhartner@gmail.com

 

[Author]

Replies