[Reed Clarke]

An update on our Belize trip.

We have lost one and gained one, so still sitting at nine paddlers. Well, okay, in a sense we have lost two. Rand isn’t coming. But, he never intended to. He just wanted to get the ball rolling.

The timing appears to be zoning in on February or March.

Contact has been established with Island Expeditions Director Leif Sverre.

We are now working on setting up a meeting with Leif to firm up a time and plan trip details. Based on comments received to date, it looks like most are leaning towards a self-guided trip.

If, like Nick, you are lurking, undecided, now would be a good time to step forward. That meeting is going to be very important for shaping our Belize adventure. If you are going to join the party, you will want to be at the meeting! Not saying we couldn’t add people later, just that we’ll be doing the heavy lifting on details at our get-together.

Cheers

Reed

[Nick Heath]

Sat 29 Oct or Sun 30 Oct – sorry not really a kayak trip but an all day recce to S Lasqueti I and S Texada I by power skiff out of Coopers Green, Halfmoon Bay. Earliest ferry to Langdale, returning late evening. Need full oilskins/dry suit, PFD, gloves, boots, lunch, ear muffs. Just landing, taking photos, notes – not rolling boulders!

We are anxious to find suitable site for the Salish Sea Marine Trail closer to Ballenas I than Jedediah and some sources suggest near Squitty Bay or Young Pt.  I’m skeptical but we need to check it out!

Total crew = 3. Day chosen will depend on crew and weather forecast. They are calling for lighter winds at the weekend. Rain doesn’t much matter.

[Nick Heath]

If January is out, then I might go separately because we’ll be in Yucatan until early Jan and would be close by, more or less.  I realize I had not expressed interest earlier (lurking) but my Mexico plans were evolving,  so the SKABC plan would be either conveniently sequential or just not feasible.

Hope the trip happens and is wonderful for all!  29C almost like bath water!

[Reed Clarke]

Welcome aboard George.

I’m going to arbitrarily drop January. That would give us:

• Rose – February
• Gaila – February
• Herb – February
• Emily – February/March
• Reed – February/March
• Brian – February/March
• Rob – February/March
• Randy – February/March
• Michelle – March
• George – March/April

Wow. Ten. I’m impressed.

Just in case anybody is curious, the water temperature in Belize (likely measured close to shore in bays) is running about 29 degrees today. That would be 29 degrees celsius, not fahrenheit. The air temperature is around 25 degrees.

According to a show I was watching last night, the average Caribbean water temperature in February is around 20 degrees. Oh ya.

Cheers

Reed

[George Prevost]

Hi, everyone.  I’m interested, too.  I’m flexible as to timing but would prefer March or April when the ski season is winding down.  My preference would be to spend at least ten days, maybe more.

[Reed Clarke]

Welcome to the party Herb.

So, let’s update the ‘time preferences’ list and change the order to give it some structure:

• Emily – January/February/March
• Reed – January/February/March
• Rose – January/February
• Gaila – February
• Herb – February
• Brian – February/March
• Rob – February/March
• Randy – February/March
• Michelle – March

It looks to me like we need info from the company on what time periods are still open and we need to discuss among ourselves how flexible we are with the above time preferences.

One suggestion I have from looking at the list is that January should come off the table.

Cheers

Reed

[Former Member]

Herb Johnston is interested in the Belize trip idea.  I do a lot of skiing and things in snow, so maybe by Feb, some of that will have been done. Flexible on type of trip, but probably self guided, but either might work.  Keep me in the loop, for info – every day should be an adventure so someone said. Thanks for Belize startup idea.  HJ

[Reed Clarke]

Let’s keep this ball rolling!

What I’m seeing is at least eight people, possibly more with spouses.

Time preferences look something like this:

• Gaila – February
• Brian – February/March
• Michelle – March
• Rose – January/February
• Rob – seems to be angling towards February/March
• Emily – January/February/March
• Randy – seems to be angling towards February/March
• Me – totally flexible (ie. no job, no social life)

I see a couple of potential time conflicts in there. Do we want to hash out timing sitting at our computers, then get together for a meeting to discuss trip details? Or, should we just go straight to a meeting?

Do we need information from the tour company before we can establish time options?

Let’s figure out a plan and start working through it!

Cheers

Reed

[Nick Heath]

Several  SKABC members will be taking an 08;30 ferry to Nanaimo (on foot or bicycle) for the AGM and fall forum Please feel free to join us. You don’t have to be an individual BCMTNA member (you just ca’t vote if not). Free lunch! Exciting developments in the long-term quest for the Holy Grail!

bonus – This year we’re quitting early to catch the 3:00 pm return ferry, so we can also attend our own volunteer appreciation dinner in W Van..  Whoo hoo!

[Brian Pegg]

Hi Randy –

Yes I am also keen to do some warm weather paddling when I get sick of skiing….

Feb / March would be cool.  I would probably be more attracted to self-guided for cost reasons.

Snorkeling / fishing can take precedence over making miles

 

[Former Member]

See the posting in the Trip List for more details.

We have changed the paddle to Saturday when the weather is better.

Want to join? Contact Michelle V. at mich_broek@hotmail.com or 604-522-3585. Please include your most recent rescue practice date and skill level. Thanks.

[Former Member]

Hi Randy,

Fantastic idea, and I was planning on going as a winter active vacay. It would be great to connect and do some of that with club members. I thought if part of the trip was guided, it would provide a lot of information, about the history, people, culture etc, that a self-guided could not.

I am thinking February is good.  I am overdue for a vacation and would like to go sooner than later.

Yippee!

Gaila

[Former Member]

Sounds fantastic to me, more options, more adaptability (sliding).  It would also be great to have mid-week options for those of us who work schedule is variable and have week days off.

[Maureen Benzon]

Thanks to those who jumped in and emailed me. We will have a meeting in January to set up a schedule.

What I would really like is to schedule a day paddle every weekend from May to September – 5 months of summer = 20 weeks. Venue and distance would depend upon the individual leader, but most should  be “all levels” (B2 – must be comfortable with a wet exit and re-entry and able to paddle for 2 to 3 hours). If we have multiple paddles out of the same venue, it does not matter. If a paddle has to be cancelled (or slid) it would not impact the schedule.

Please give this some thought. There are many members with lots of experience and knowledge to share with newer members. Social paddles are the best way to connect with other paddlers, and find your true tripping buddies.

[Reed Clarke]

Couple of thoughts here. Hey, it’s a miserable, wet day. I’ve been out once, which was more than enough. So, I may as well hunker down over the keyboard.

Sliding. Nope, not suggesting taking kayaks to a water theme park. Talking about sliding outings from one day to the next or week to week. Karin has done it with the Harrison River trip. Why not make this more of an option?

We only have a certain number of day-outings available. The weather isn’t always going to cooperate. So, if the leader is willing, why not move weathered-out day trips to another day and post a notice in the forums? This may lose a few participants who aren’t available on the new date, but it could gain a few who are.

One night stands. Saturday night fever. Camps with a big glittering globe hanging from the tree and a light show? No, I’m talking about weekend camps. By my count, it looks like we did exactly one of those this year. Is this because no one wants to boogie on Saturday nights? I can’t believe all the working poor in the club would rather sit inside watching Star Trek re-runs than getting out for a camp under the stars.

Alouette Lake, Pitt Lake, Indian Arm, Howe Sound, Sechelt Inlet, lower Jervis Inlet and the Gulf Islands, all have weekend camping opportunities. And, again, if the weather isn’t cooperating on the designated weekend, slide it over to the next one. Seems to me, there should be any number of people wanting to do this kind of outing as a stepping stone to bigger trips.

Okay, that’s my rainy-day two bits worth.

[Author]

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