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Join us for an adventure you don’t want to miss!!! A cancelled course (Navigation) has left us a group reservation–without a group–at Montague Harbour Marine Park on Galiano Island next Saturday night (April 16th).
Galiano Island is the second largest and one of the most sought after destinations for kayakers in the Southern Gulf Islands. It’s an attractive getaway location where we’ll enjoy spectacular views, sandy beaches, access to islets, islands and the rich wildlife. With some luck we’ll see some eagles, double-crested cormorants and their unique nests, seals, sea lions, otters – and if we’re particularly lucky, some whales (fingers crossed) and much more.
The trip wouldn’t be complete without a feast on Saturday night and again on Sunday morning. Randy will delight our palates with an array of delicious food; a wonderful salmon dinner on the grill. Paddlers are asked to kindly contribute a side dish for dinner. Then the feast continues the next morning with pigs-in-a-blanket, made-to-order omelettes, French toast, grapefruit, espresso and other goodies. (And yes, you will be hand-grinding your own coffee beans on the spot.)
As we make our way to the Island, we’d like to have a huddle somewhere on the ferry to discuss our plans for the weekend. We want to make sure that everyone gets as much out of the weekend as possible. Some of us are keen to practice rescues, exits and rolls; it’ll a great opportunity to practice and learn (for those who are less familiar with these). We want to reach a consensus prior to setting up camp so that we can maximize our time on the water.
Apparently the group campsite is a nice flat, covered surface up on a hill close to the water with a great view. There is a sink for washing up, toilets and a fire pit. Saturday night could be a bit chilly so bring some warm clothes and let’s hang out by a nice cozy fire.
We will leave the Tsawwassen ferry terminal at 8:35am on Saturday, April 16<sup>th</sup> and will leave from Sturdies Bay at 5:05pm on Sunday, April 17<sup>th</sup>. The cost for this trip consist of splitting the expense of the ferry and $10 per person for the campsite, depending on carpooling arrangements – overall cost could be as low as $75 to $95 per person excluding gas which would be at the discretion of the drivers. For more information please don’t hesitate to contact Chantal at chantalethier@msn.com or Randy at rchat@me.com
Info about camping gear and kayak rental:
For those of you who might be lacking in the camping gear department, Randy has kindly volunteered some of his gear – first come first serve. If you don’t own a kayak, you can rent one right in Montague Harbour. After a brief search I found that Galiano Kayaks seems to offer one of the best deals for 2-day rentals ($100 for singles and $145 for doubles), they can be reached at 250.539.2442. Please note that you are responsible to make arrangements for the rental of your kayak. You are also responsible to ensure you have the camping gear you require for your comfort. At this time of year and depending on the weather conditions, you may need a wet or dry suit; wet suits are available for rental at Deep Cove at a cost of $40 for 2 days. If you choose not to bring along a wet or dry suit, please be sure to bring additional clothing just in case. Lastly, you are asked to contribute a side dish to the dinner on Saturday night and bring your lunch for Sunday as well as snacks and beverages for the weekend.
