[Sue Johnson]

Planning to park your car in Deep Cove this summer? Options for visitors are about to become fewer and farther between.

District staff say there are about 910 total street parking spaces within the neighbourhood, 770 of which have no restrictions on them today. Under the new rules, 350 will be for residents only with a $35-per vehicle, per year permit (limit of two per household with extra available for guests). Another 280 will have time limits for visitors that residents are exempt from, and 110 will be open to anyone but time limited.

Generally speaking, the new seasonal rules will be in effect for the streets west of Deep Cove Road past Cliffmont Road, Mt. Seymour Parkway and Strathcona Road to Strathcona Lookout Park, and the streets around Cliffmont Road and Covecliff Road as far as Roxbury Place. Year-round resident only parking will remain for Panorama Drive, Caledonia Avenue, Eastleigh Lane and Banbury Road.

The rules are expected to be in place before peak season arrives in 2024.

[Nick Heath]

My opinion is that for non-rollers, a good tandem kayak in skilled hands is safer than a single kayak and about equivalent or superior to two singles, in similarly capable hands.  There are many factors involved  including speed, ability to make headway in wind,  general stability and the opportunity of relief for an injured or disabled paddler.

But I don’t expect many to agree with me – there is a significant prejudice against tandem kayaks, probably because they are often associated with less skilled paddlers and families.

[Randy Chatterjee]

We had a perfect trip with Mar Y Aventuras (Sea & Adventures): https://www.kayakbaja.com/ . They have a permanent camp on Espiritu Santo island (correct spelling) and so many varieties of supported, less supported, or unsupported trips (boat rentals) that you’ll likely find what you want.  They also run a nice, clean, simple hotel in La Paz as a base for your trip, where you can arrive, clean up and stay the night before you leave, and store things while out paddling.  That makes the whole trip easy and no stress.

The owner, Mary Harter, is from Montana and lives down there part year.  She hires almost entirely locally, and her team of paddling leaders, marine biologists, cooks, fishing experts, launch operators, etc are professional and inspirational.

La Paz is one of the best paddling areas with many local attractions, including snorkeling among a colony of friendly and playful sea lions.  (They are not aggressive and territorial as our sea lions in BC.)  There is a chain of accessible islands to paddle around or along, or to pick from as a destination.  This touring company has launches (called panga) that are their kayak taxi service to get you closer to where you want to go without any large crossings.  They will also pick you up if the weather turns bad.

We also made a side trip with their help to Magdalena Bay on the west coast to observe the “whale nursery” there.  Most of the grey whales that ply our coast are born in this bay and live their first few months there before heading north in the summer.  Baby whales are docile and friendly, and you can ride a launch, paddle, or swim right with them.  They are still 6-10 meters long, so caution is advised.  One sneezed on me.

[Cynthia Kennedy]

In April 24 just returned from 3 island circumnavigation out of Loreto MX with Sea Kayak Baja Mexico.

great equipment and guides. West jet flies Vancouver To Calgary to Loreto on Fridays November to April .

not cheap but worth it. Ratio guides to participate 1:4. Safety will not kayak if marine forecast greater than 15 kn.

I think we’re kayak together to Nootka Sound.

[Andrea Kovits]

In 2019 my friends and I circumnavigated Isla Espirito Santos. We went with Baja Outdoor Adventures out of La Paz and had an excellent experience.

[Don Froese]

Looking for recommendations for Baja tour operators. Considering doing a guided trip next spring.

Thanks.

[Quirine Schuyff]

Ah, thanks for the correction! Good thing I didn’t drive out tomorrow! I may wait until May for the one here.

 

 

[John Halliday]

FYI Paddle Expo at Cultus Lake is on Sunday April 28. Not tomorrow.

Same long drive though:)

[Yekaterina Yushmanova]

A person who can reliably roll in heavy seas in a single would also be typically quite proficient in paddling in such rough water and not require a lot of rolling. I have also read stories of Greenlanders surviving heavy storms by continually rolling.

[Quirine Schuyff]

Is anyone planning to go tomorrow?
I was just pondering it but it’s a long drive.
It may be better to wait until the Burnaby one.

[JD]

Port Moody is so slammed with traffic during peak season I’m not sure I’d want to wrestle with Murray Street traffic at all.

I hope the full day rates at the municipal parks implementing pay parking are reasonable. Makes this new hobby a bit pricier. Wish I could buy a season pass for places like Whytecliff.

[JD]

There is some discussion on the VictoriaBC subreddit about the wind storm they would have been caught in.

For those of you that have experience in gnarly sea state. If someone in single gets caught in such a wind storm with waves causing the vessel to capsize, could this hypothetical person “wait out” the wind storm by performing rolls to right themselves anytime they get caught and turned over by a wave?

Not considering stamina and endurance. If one could perform recovery rolls for 30 – 60 mins could they use that skill alone until the sea state returns to something more tame?

[JD]

Thanks Vincent.

1) Interesting idea for larger wheels to have the boat rest on the axle. I may consider this for a rebuild.

2) When I make a second version, I will hitch it to the rear axle using a deconstructed children’s trailer. My current version serves the purpose for a quick run to Rocky Point from near Suter Brook but felt a bit awkward when I attempted a ride to Marine Barnett.

With a children’s trailer I think I could tackle hills better and maybe hop on the ferry/bomb around some Gulf Islands (maybe with an electric bike). As is, if I load the kayak with gear it makes my bike’s front wheel want to lift off the ground.

The one benefit of my current trailer configuration is that it takes up much less space than an extended bar with child’s trailer would (especially for an apartment dweller).

3) Skid guard is a solid suggestion

4) The metal post is shaving some plastic off my yak’s nose so I’m thinking of using a carabiner to lower the nose a bit away from the post. Or put some foam around the metal dumb-stick itself.

[JD]

Thanks for this, I may look to Colin’s builds for inspiration on updated version or upgrades I make.

[Bob Maher]

Damn, do they offer Seniors Discounts ??? 🤪

[Author]

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