- Wavelength Magazine

Transcription

June / July 2006
www.WaveLengthMagazine.com
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June / July 2006
ONE WITH WATER
C A R O L I N A
THE DAY TOURER THAT PIONEERED
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legends. They keep earning the title.
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Carolina 15.5
U N I T E D STAT E S A N D C A N A DA / K AYA K E R . C O M
June / July 2006
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Paddling Partners
O
ne of the great secrets of paddling is that it’s not just about ‘you and the
ocean’, the sort of image often pictured of the solo adventurer on an isolated
coastline (but who took the photo?). In fact, paddling is usually a far more social
experience. The social process begins with instruction, usually in a group, and at
some point you have your first paddling trip, usually a commercial group or club
trip, or maybe a trip with family and friends.
I remember well my first ten-day kayak expedition fifteen years ago, to legendary Haidi Gwaii, and what a social revelation it was for me. I realized along the
way that the incredible beauty of our surroundings wasn’t the main focus at all,
just part of the story. When trip leader Peter Marcus confided to me that probably
80% of a paddling trip is social, it clicked.
That particular experience had its ups and downs on the social front. On the
downside, someone went off their meds, flipped and had to be flown out. But
then there were the more romantic developments, not to mention those group
soaks on Hotspring Island, and the wonderful warmth and hospitality shown by
the Haida people—evidence of an admirably attuned social culture.
At WaveLength we always advise paddling with a partner for safety, but this
doesn’t mention the fun involved in being with others. And that’s what this issue is
all about. It begins with a focus on the minimum social unit—two people—from a
piece on how to choose a reliable paddling partner, to the pros and cons of paddling doubles. Then we move on to group paddling, including the responsibility
we have to communicate our whereabouts to our off-water companions. We also
include examples of group paddling ‘for a cause’ and the fun of working together
for something much bigger than ourselves.
We encourage you to take a look at our Paddling Partners list (online at
www.WaveLengthMagazine.com) where you can browse through over 500 people
from around North America and beyond, to find paddling partners. Perhaps you’ll
even be tempted to post your own name?
We wish you happy and safe social paddling this summer.
– 6 ISSUES
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SAFE PADDLING is an individual responsibility. We
recommend that inexperienced paddlers seek expert
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Published by
Wave-Length Communications Inc.
© 2006. Copyright is retained on all material, text and
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Printed on ancient rainforest-free paper.
4
Alan Wilson
5
Choosing a Paddling Partner
AILEEN STALKER
8
Paddling Partners-for-Life
DOUG LLOYD
10 My Paddling Partner
DIAN WEIMER
COVER PHOTO by Josh McCulloch
Husband & wife team of Alex Matthews and
Rochelle Relyea at Fisgard Lighthouse, Victoria, BC.
32 Off-Water Partners
ADAM BOLONSKY—COLUMN
34 Sculling Draw
ALEX MATTHEWS—COLUMN
37 Lasso Security
ALEX MATTHEWS—COLUMN
12 Double the Romance?
BRYAN NICHOLS—COLUMN
39 The Broughton is Alive
ALEXANDRA MORTON—COLUMN
15 Partners With Hearing Loss
44 Together for Tapas
DEBBIE LEACH—COLUMN
PAULA JOHANSON
17 Rainbow Paddling
DALLAS AND ARDITH HINTON
20 Paddling the Hudson
ALAN FELDSTEIN
23 Can Paddlers Save the World?
NEIL SCHULMAN
27 Paddling to Dinner
ALAN WILSON—COLUMN
31 Paddle With Friends
DAN LEWIS—COLUMN
46 GREAT GEAR
47 BOOKS
DIANA MUMFORD—COLUMN
48 NEWS
51 WIN A KAYAK!
52 UNCLASSIFIED ADS
54 CALENDAR
Also see our online ‘Doubles Directory’
June / July 2006
Aileen Stalker
Meaghan Hennessy photo. www.virgamedia.com
Choosing a Paddling Partner
T
iming, weather, gear, skills—all are important to the success of any paddling trip. But don’t minimize the most
important factor of all—selecting an appropriate paddling
partner. Given sudden extreme water conditions, an unexpected capsize or an accident on the beach, your paddling
partner may be the person who has to save your life.
So let’s consider what makes a reliable, enjoyable paddling
partner—one who remains your friend long after the trip and
who you gladly include in plans for future adventures.
To begin with, there are a number of safety and equipment
issues associated with your potential partner:
• Personal safety is the biggest consideration for any trip,
even for a short, urban trip. Think about whether your potential partner owns or can help obtain the correct charts,
current and tide tables, and is able to interpret them. While
everyone needs to develop these skills, if you’re directionally
challenged, make sure your paddling partner is not.
• A good paddling partner is someone who is responsive to
your needs. If you’re an inexperienced paddler, heavy seas,
high winds or turbulence could be terrifying. It’s important
that your paddling partner respects your anxieties.
• Does one of you own or will you rent a VHF for longer
trips to listen to weather reports? Does your partner even
know what VHF means?
• Even for a day trip, you are required to have an approved
PFD, spare paddle, pump,whistle, buoyant heaving line, and
a good flashlight if paddling after dark. Does your potential
partner have all these bits and pieces?
• Beware of potential partners who are so in love with blue
jeans that they never part from them. Check if the words layering and waterproof have any meaning in their lives. Have you
ever seen them actually wear proper outdoor clothing?
June / July 2006
• Paddling is no time for bravado and macho behaviors.
Wearing a PFD is not only mandatory, it’s crucial if you capsize. Check your potential partner’s resistance factor to this
essential safety precaution, and while you’re at it, check out
swimming skills, knowledge of CPR and basic first aid. And
who is bringing the first aid kit?
• Off for just a few hours? Who is going to develop the float
plan? “For an afternoon paddle?!” might be the incredulous
response. Well yes, either you or your partner needs to at
least let someone know where you are going and when you
expect to be back. Rejecting this can foreshadow problems
for more complex decisions and safety issues in the future. é
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5
Andrew Nolan photo
Then there are the more ‘personal’ aspects of paddling
partner selection. These are discovered by experience during the first trip together when you realize, too late, that the
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amusing/unique/charming/off-beat/intense/Type-A/controlling characteristics of the person you saw on land are exaggerated or increased on a trip—even just a day trip. This can
result in awkward moments as you later try to imply that you
plan to give up paddling entirely, just so you will never have
to go on a trip with that partner again.
• Does your potential partner have a sense of humor—
about themselves and others, and about life in general? One
of my partners gamely dove into 12 feet of freezing water
to retrieve the part from my kayak wheels I inadvertently
dropped from the dock. He could have been furious but, hey,
we had to catch the ferry and he had his diving ticket. On
any trip there’s a lot to laugh about and often at least some
stuff to get mad about—better to laugh.
• Can your paddling partner listen and tell stories? Can
you learn things from him/her? Communing with nature is
one of the joys of paddling—the silence that allows you to
hear a loon’s cry, identify the squeal of a seal, and peacefully
watch the sun set. But sharing stories, natural history or the
geography of the area is also fun and adds to the memories
of your trip.
• Who is the best packer? Not a pack rat, but someone
capable of packing multiple drybags into small spaces. If
one of you has good spatial awareness, kayaks do hold an
amazing amount. A willingness to carry all those bags up
the beach for every camp without whining or commenting
is also important, especially if most of the contents were
agreed upon together… right?
• Strong also helps, but remember that it’s not fair for one
person to have to carry everything all the time, even if it
means multiple trips for the less strong person.
• Can your partner hike? When exploring remote beaches
or tangled trails, walking with company can help to keep
the wild things away. Ensure that your partner is not one of
the wild things.
• Does your partner paddle at the same pace as you or is
one of you going to have to go full speed all the time to keep
up? This is not just a gender issue—there are lots of strong
female paddlers who need to think about how fast and how
long their male partners want to paddle.
• How encouraging is your partner—especially when one
of you is tired? A useful skill is to be able to reshape the truth
into comments such as “The camp is just around a couple of
more points” or “I can see a patch of blue behind those gray
clouds,” etc. even if the result is just to laugh and respond,
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard that one before!”
• Does your potential partner know how to cook? When
you’re both paddling, there is an equality that’s different from
when one person does all the driving on a road trip and the
other all the cooking. Since camp stove cooking takes little
skill, anyone can make a good meal. Cooking also includes
sharing the effort of making or buying the sandwiches for
day trips—after all, that’s what delis are for.
• How much does your partner drink? Excessive drinking
and watersports obviously don’t mix, but also on a long,
remote trip, once that wine supply is gone, it’s gone. The
person who finishes off two bottles of wine at a dinner party
may feel it’s his/her right to do that around the campfire.
Check it out. On the other hand you want someone who
June / July 2006
WOMEN’S ADVENTURES
likes their beer or wine well enough to properly secure the
refreshments cooling in the intertidal zone. Otherwise you
may observe, as I did, an entire paddling group staring in
horror as they realized their unanchored beer had floated
away with a strong current.
• Who’s in charge? Does the person you plan to spend
time with always have to be ‘right’, the leader, the one in
control? There should be opportunities for everyone to lead
on any trip, and having a heavy-handed partner who always has to be in control can become oppressive. This will
become especially apparent if you are in a double kayak
where one of you could be subject to constant corrections
and comments on your paddling technique, your strength
and—eventually as the partnership deteriorates—the most
miniscule of events or decisions.
• Perhaps a pivotal consideration is this: does the person
you’re thinking of paddling with ever say thanks? Thanks for
all the work you did, thanks for reminding me, thanks for
bringing that, thanks for your company, your good humor,
for being you? That word alone tells a great deal about any
person’s ability to engage in an equal and respectful relationship in or out of a kayak.
With a well selected paddling partner, your relationship
may develop into a lifelong friendship of support and shared
adventure.
© Aileen Stalker is co-author with her son Andrew Nolan
(who she says is a great paddling partner) of their book
Paddling Through History: Sea Kayak Vancouver and Victoria.
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The Tsunami 120 and 125 available in Gen2, Duralite™
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1
June 06_tsunami_Wavelength.indd
/ July 2006 www.WaveLengthMagazine.com
UNITED STATES AND CANADA / www.wildernesssystems.com
3/24/2006 12:37:21 PM
7
Paddling Partners-for-Life
Doug Lloyd
T
hey say opposites attract. In the
case of my partner-for-life, who
happens also to be my closest paddling partner, that may well be an
understatement.
Our differences were evident
through the early days of dating and
have only become more apparent as
married years pass: she reads Jane
Austen novels cuddled up in a warm
blanket on stormy winter nights (trying not to worry about me) while I‘m
out solo late-night storm paddling;
she’s a penny-pincher content with a
dilapidated May West lifejacket while
I’ll buy a new PFD at the first sign of
fading cordura; she loves weekend
camping as long as a B&B is close by,
while I like to spend weeks in the wild
as far from the comforts of civilization
as possible.
It‘s only logical that two individuals
so different in our expression of life
find paddling together an exercise in
compromise, with an ongoing need
to clarify perceptions about safety,
Yvonne and Doug, partners-for-life.
paddling locations and anticipated
conditions. To my credit there was a
realization early on that to introduce
one’s spouse to the life-long enjoyment of sea kayaking, the early experiences should probably be good ones.
The stern visage of my mother-in-law
warning me of how many relatives of
my wife-to-be had perished due to
small-boating/cold-water accidents left
a lasting impression.
For our honeymoon a decade and
a half ago, Meares Island would have
normally offered protection, privacy
and a panorama of unspoiled beauty.
But we arrived to atypical August
weather with whitecaps and driving
horizontal rain. The rental folks were
very understanding about the sudden
in-person cancellation. A wild, wet
honeymoon wouldn’t have made a
good first impression, so we settled into
a cozy B&B for a few days of further
acquaintance—though I cast secret,
longing glances to the open Pacific.
For the next few years we selected
early September for our yearly husband/wife paddling excursion. We
rented a double out of Sidney on
southern Vancouver Island, our home
base, and headed over to Rum Island.
The summer crowds had dispersed,
leaving unrestricted campsite selection.
She’s always cold while I’m evidently
hot-blooded, so a ‘morning sun/evening sun’ tent site was selected. Unlike
at home, where my homemaker wife
plays a traditional role, I provided cooking services, plus hot-chocolate treats
and washing-up chores. And I’ve tried
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June / July 2006
to maintain this on subsequent trips. I’m probably getting the
better deal.
The benefits of a double kayak can’t be overstated for a
hesitant paddling partner. A double helps provide a safe,
stable platform for a nervous partner when negotiating currents
and boat wake, and certainly gives greater paddling efficiency
for covering distance. And it promotes togetherness. But as the
months and years ticked by, her skills and confidence grew
incrementally until we finally took to single kayaks.
Though my most vivid kayaking memories over the last
25 years seem to center on solo trips among the wind and
waves of Vancouver Island’s wildest shorelines, the trips taken
with my ever-cheerful and committed companion provide
a counterpoint to these more self-indulgent times. Sharing
crimson-edged sunsets, lying side-by-side under a canopy
of a billion stars, listening quietly together beside lapping
shorelines, gently talking at the hushed edge of ancient rainforests, and swimming in a light rain are sensuous, earthy
experiences for couples, through which their relationship
can deepen and strengthen.
There have been other memorable moments too, when
my planning and execution fell short of the ideal, like the
time we headed out in narrow singles just at the end of the
Labour Day weekend for the Flat Top Islands at the south end
of Gabriola Island. Assurances were given that the conditions
in Gabriola Passage were within the scope of our abilities, but
missing slack tide and encountering large luxury yachts in the
Pass translated into menacing conditions. With no time for a
contact tow and increasing signs of fearful dread, I grabbed
my naïve cohort around the waist, drawing the kayaks tightly
into a raft, and locked lips in the splashing turbulence as we
spun together before being spat out of the narrow waterway.
At least I had fun with the improvised wet-kiss raft.
There was one early fall trip to Cabbage Island when I
discovered just how trusting my long-suffering spouse could
be. As we continued the next day around the southern end
of Tumbo Island and headed for East Point, we encountered
the large back-eddy that circulates water, jetsam and all
manner of unsuspecting paddlers into deeper waters past
Boiling Reef. Flood or ebb, the effect at 5 knots is much
the same. Though I’d spent many enjoyable solo hours out
there on nasty winter days, I could see this wasn’t for her.
Hooking up my medium-length towline, I stated matter-offactly, “Honey, relax, keep your hips loose. Your job for the
next hour or so is to keep your kayak stabilized with slap
supports and sculling as we make our way back in. Do not
capsize, please. I’ll get us back to shore!” “Okay, I’ll try,”
came the reply.
We did eventually inch our way back safely, but not before locals put out in a Zodiac to offer assistance. I refused,
claiming confidence with our progress, perhaps too embarrassed and delusional about our situation. As it turned out,
the swirling waters closer to East Point only compounded
our problems. I lengthened the line sufficiently to distance
us further from each other, provoking a none-too enthusiastic
response from behind. In the absence of available flowers, a
full-course meal back at a nice restaurant washed away any
bad memories as forgiveness flowed.
June / July 2006
A fast, nimble, dynamically stable sea kayak was eventually acquired, a McNulty Huntsman designed in Scotland.
No more borrowing or renting. Finally, Yvonne had her own
kayak. One very blustery day we headed out for a very real
rough water paddle. The backup plan included the availability of a coastal trail as a bailout and a lee shore with
incoming tide. Out of the bay off the headland there was a
lively sea in the freshening breeze. As our kayaks danced
together, I looked at my wife’s face. Her beautiful brown eyes
beamed excitement. There was a huge, if slightly nervous
grin—a priceless moment together which shines out as a
highlight of my paddling experience.
© Doug Lloyd is a Victoria paddler and writer who enjoys exploring
the waters of the Pacific Northwest. He’s happily married with
two children, and they paddle as a family when they can.
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9
Lo
My Paddling Partner
H
aving been born and raised in
Vancouver, I’ve always loved the
sea, but I was unprepared for the passion that has become part of my later
life—adventure sea kayaking.
Thirteen years ago, my family was
invited to spend a weekend with my
great friend Leslie and her family at
their summer home on Bowen Island.
Leslie suggested that we take our two
older children for a kayak lesson at the
rental shop. The proprietor was an amiable young man who inspired us with
his passion for the sea’s flora and fauna,
and taught us how to trust the kayaks by
having us stand up in the boats, playing
a racing game. We were hooked.
The first few trips were taken with
our daughters, but as we expanded
our horizons, the two of us took subsequent trips on our own. Neither of
our husbands has the slightest interest
in either kayaking or camping. My
husband is extremely nervous in small
boats and actually has a reputation for
capsizing canoes and skiffs. The only
time I was ever able to entice him on
a camping trip was with the promise
of a tennis court and pub adjacent to
the campsite. He likes his creature
comforts. Nonetheless, he is very supportive of our adventures.
MEET KAYAK ADVENTURER
Hayley Shephard
Hayley will entertain and enthrall with stories and images from
her expeditions, sharing the joys, lessons and challenges of
paddling in truly extraordinary places. Four presentations
in Victoria and Nanaimo, BC sponsored by WaveLength
Magazine. $10 at the door.
Solo Circumnavigation
of Haidi Gwaii / Queen
Charlotte Islands
Fundraisers for the
Georgia Strait Alliance
NANAIMO: June 7 at Malaspina
University/College, Building 200
Room 203, 7:30 pm
VICTORIA: June 8 at the University of
Victoria, David Strong Building, C103, 7:30 pm
For info on Haida Gwaii shows:
250-753-3459 / [email protected].
Antarctica Adventure
NANAIMO: June 22 at
Malaspina University/College,
Building 200, Room 203, 7:30 pm
VICTORIA: September 28 at
UVIC Human Resource and Social
Development Building
Room A240, 7:30 pm
Dian Weimer
Leslie’s husband, while supportive,
thinks we’re slightly mad embarking
on dangerous excursions. When we
planned a paddle on the Squamish
Estuary on an exceptionally cold but
sunny day in January to see the hundreds of eagles congregated there, he
made the comment that he should take
out additional life insurance on Leslie. I
think he was only half joking. The first
thing Leslie always does at the end of
a trip is call to assure him we are alive
and well.
Our journeys have taken us to coastal
destinations where, thirteen years ago,
we would never have expected to find
ourselves. Gradually Leslie has taken
charge of charts and tide tables while I
have become the chef and meal planner. This division of labor has worked
very well for us. The self-reliance and
special ‘solitude’ experienced on our
paddling adventures is treasured—no
cell phones, emails, Blackberrys, TV or
any of the other trappings of modern
life intrude. We travel with Nature’s
rhythm.
Over the years we’ve met other
women who’ve wanted to join us, but
we’ve developed such a rhythm together that we don’t want to break that
chemistry. A sense of humor, patience
and trust in each other have been the
most important components of our
friendship as we’ve explored ever more
challenging areas on the BC coast.
One of my observations about
kayaking is how many women participate, including female tour guides.
I’ve considered why, and concluded
it’s because paddling is necessarily a
co-operative, non-competitive activity.
Paddling companions have to work
together to create all of the aspects of
a ‘home’—pitch the tent, make meals,
clean up and wash clothes. And on the
water, Mother Nature prevails. Winds,
tides, currents and weather take precedence over a paddler’s agenda, making
co-operation a necessity.
You can email Hayley at
[email protected]
10
June / July 2006
Leslie and Dian, adventuring together.
Mark Churchland photo
While kayak touring is non-competitive, I must admit that Leslie and I
have twice participated in the ‘Round
Bowen Kayak Race’ and have entered
the race again this year, June 3rd. We
are among the oldest of the competitors, but it’s a personal challenge and
a lot of fun.
© Dian Weimer is a self-employed accountant
and ESL teacher. She is presently working
on a cookbook for paddlers.
June / July 2006
Editor’s Note: To learn more about the
Bowen Race, call 1-800-60 KAYAK
or see www.roundbowenrace.org.
11
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS—Bryan Nichols
Double the Romance?
S
o you’ve been thinking about getting a double kayak.
Sure it’s a big commitment, but doubles are romantic,
right? They can only improve your love life, like bicycles
built for two.
I’ve paddled plenty of doubles and I’ve seen numerous
couples paddle them during my years of guiding. I’ve often
thought couples in doubles would make a fascinating sociological study. Thus, in the social spirit of this issue, let’s try to
decide if being joined at the hip to the one you love would
be good or not-so-good, romantically speaking.
Sea kayaking is romantic, isn’t it? Sure it is. Sunsets on
the beach. A cozy little tent in the wilderness. Bottles of fine
wine extracted from the bow of your kayak. It’s possible to
squeeze a wide assortment of romantic accoutrements into
the big hatches of a double kayak. Some have huge center
hatches that might accommodate a cooler full of deli treats,
a favorite pet or even a love child, though you’ll want to stick
to protected waters for the last two.
There are a lot of pros and cons to consider. For example,
a lot of people don’t realize it, but doubles are usually faster
than singles. I know, romantically speaking faster isn’t always
better, but nearly everyone is more satisfied with a faster
kayak. I’m talking about touring doubles here, ones with
waterproof hatches large enough to store your tent and interlocking sleeping bags. There are plenty of pudgy recreational
doubles that aren’t especially fast or even seaworthy, but let’s
assume you want a kayak that can take you on overnight trips
out to deserted beaches. That would be a touring double,
and they’re usually longer and faster than singles.
In many ways, bigger is better with boats, so doubles aren’t
just faster. The added length, width and height usually make
doubles drier, more stable and more seaworthy. Some kayak
touring companies avoid singles altogether—inexperienced
paddlers are much less likely to tip and go swimming if
they’re in a double. If the object of your affection is wary of
sea kayaking, a safe, solid double could be just the thing to
win him/her over.
How about comfort? Doubles often have bigger cockpits
and more room for your butt and legs. There are some exceptions (depending on how the boat is configured), but plenty
of people appreciate the extra space doubles usually offer.
Those bigger cockpits make getting in and out easier as well,
and because you’re always doing so at the same time, you’ll
be able to help balance each other.
www.automarine.ca
[email protected]
Average time of assembly
12
June / July 2006
and smooth forever.” If that sounds hopelessly romantic to
you, the following list might help you decide whether to take
the plunge. So how do things add up? If this list still leaves
you wondering, try renting a double, or choosing a guided
trip that uses them. You and your honey might find it’s just
the thing—or maybe you’ll end whacking each other with
paddles. Vive la romance!
See pros and cons next page.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
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Trips to...
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© Al Harvey photo: www.slidefarm.com
Finally, money can be an important issue. For couples,
one double is typically less pricey than two singles of similar
quality. Buying a double may be a way to get you both out on
the water without breaking the bank, and finding one used
double can be easier than tracking down two suitable secondhand singles. Believe me, paddling mismatched singles
can cause all kinds of romantic problems.
Are you musing marriage? Do you have concerns about
commitment? Buying a double kayak is like buying the cow,
instead of just renting it. On second thought, cows and
kayaks don’t mix, even in analogies. Let’s say that buying a
double is saying you have so much faith in the relationship
you’re willing to put it in fiberglass. Diamonds aren’t really
forever and a nine meter double sea kayak is a much more
substantial commitment to togetherness than a little hunk
of carbon. You don’t share an engagement ring, but you are
linked, literally, by the boat. Nothing says “I love you and
want to spend happy recreational time with you for the
lengthy life span of fiberglass” like a double.
A double kayak, after all, really is a commitment to togetherness. With most doubles you can’t go it alone because
you won’t be able to lift it onto your vehicle. Even if you’re
exceptionally strong, when paddled solo, most doubles don’t
handle well in any kind of wind. Some of the smaller recreational doubles are exceptions to this, especially those that
have open cockpits, but they aren’t as seaworthy and often
don’t have enough dry storage to be suitable for touring. Are
you optimistic? If the romantic thing works out, you won’t
have to lift or paddle the boat alone anyway.
Alas—for better or worse, fiberglass kayaks outlast the
average human relationship. As a result, there are more than
a few used doubles for sale. If you’re not superstitious, you
might find a great deal. Will your love life benefit from sea
kayaking togetherness, even if someone else’s didn’t? Buying
a double for you and the object of your affection is like saying “I think our relationship is so strong that the occasional
application of gel coat to the scratches will keep it shiny
We paddle mostly
single kayaks but
we bring some
doubles, and we
share responsibility
for meals.
A DV E NT U R E
[email protected]
O UT F ITT E R S
www.gck.ca
250-247-8277
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See itineraries:
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13
Some Pros and Cons of Double Kayak Romance
But... that forced togetherness means you can never escape for some time alone. As you might have noticed, not
every relationship benefits from the couple always being
within paddle-whacking distance of each other. If you’re
in a relationship where ‘time out’ is crucial to maintaining
the peace, think carefully about a double.
Couples in doubles stay close enough to converse the
entire trip. Communication is the key to a successful relationship, right? If you have a problem or see something
cool, you don’t have to call the love of your life over to
talk. They’re right there with you the whole time.
But... a lot of the time, the person in the back can’t really
hear the person in the bow, who has to twist mightily to
point their mouth in the right direction. This is especially
true in any sort of wind. This can occasionally be a blessing, but most of the time it’s frustrating.
In a double your bodies are connected by the boat itself,
the very thing that’s keeping you afloat and alive. This is
a unique physical connection, and can help bring you
together, especially if you’re both busy and rarely get to
feel connected.
But... in many doubles you’re not actually close enough
to touch each other. The solid deck between you creates
an odd sort of barrier, especially as it points one person
away from the other. In singles, one kayaker can pull up
beside the other, lean over and smooch away. You’d need
exceptional balance and contortionist skills to smooch
in most doubles.
Doubles tend to have larger hatches and spaces for coolers,
wine bottles, bulky double sleeping bags, etc. All that is
good news for shorter, luxurious trips that lend themselves
to romantic interludes.
But... two singles might end up having more overall
storage room than one double, which is probably only
important if you’re planning longer expeditions.
Working together to pilot your own vessel built-for-two
across the mighty ocean brings you together in a way that
dinner and a movie just can’t.
But... the person in the front usually has little control
over where the kayak goes. This can trigger a frustrating
feeling of helplessness and/or complaints about incompetent steering. If you’re a control freak, you’re probably
not going to like the front of a double. Hey—you’re not
dating a control freak are you?
When you’re paddling in synch, your rhythmic strokes look
and feel very ‘together’. It’s great to physically experience
what it’s like to be a coordinated, connected couple.
But... when you’re not paddling in synch, you keep
bashing your paddles together, a jarring reminder of…
well, you decide the appropriate symbolism for your
relationship here.
Meaghan Hennessy photo, www.virgamedia.com
In a double, the stronger paddler can’t get too far ahead,
which can nip many a potential conflict in the bud. Also,
the weaker paddler will never have to feel bad about keeping up. This pair of benefits is especially helpful for couples
that include one impatient, aggressive paddler, and one
‘stop and fish or photograph’ sort of paddler.
© Biologist Bryan
Nichols has owned
at least four singles
over the years
but is seriously
considering a
folding double, all
the better to mix
romance and travel.
Be sure and visit our hotlinked Doubles Directory at www.WaveLengthMagazine.com.
14
June / July 2006
Partners With Hearing Loss
Paula Johanson
H
John Wilcox Herbert photo
ave you ever capsized on a calm day, for no obvious
reason? The quirks of my inner ears make me stumble
on linoleum, fall off a bicycle or tilt a kayak past the tipping
point. So now I wear non-skid shoes, own a second-hand
three-wheel bike, and take precautions when paddling.
I’ve been canoeing for years, but I took up kayaking since
losing almost half my hearing seven years ago. My boat is a
rotomolded plastic kayak with an extra-large cockpit. Since
I have little or no sense of balance, I want easy entry and
exit, especially if the kayak flips over. It’s short and wide,
but then, so am I.
Never met a deaf paddler? Guess again. If you see three
grey-haired people out in boats this Sunday, odds are at least
one has age-related or work-related hearing loss. The friend
who paddles off from your group may not be grumpy, just
hard of hearing. Get your own ears tested. If you live long
enough, you too will probably have some hearing loss.
Communication is always important with a group of
paddlers and even more so if some of them don’t hear well.
Voices carry well over calm water, but in moving water, like
surf or river currents, the background noise can mask voices.
On moving water, don’t count on a hard-of-hearing paddler
to hear anything other than “Hey!”—if that.
My partner hollers across the bay to get my attention, but
that doesn’t always work. A small air-horn works better, and é My husband dripping water down my neck!
It’s unlikely your
children w i l l e v e r s a y,
“Remember when we mowed
the yard together?”
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15
fits in a life jacket pocket. We have
whistles on our life jackets as well.
Remember that conversation usually happens when people see each
other’s faces. You’d be surprised how
much lip-reading everyone does. Turning your face away from people who
are hard of hearing not only aims your
voice away, it means they can’t see if
you just said you’re ready to “go far”
or “go to the bar”—and whether you’re
laughing or scared.
When paddling double, someone
who is hard of hearing will want to
be bow paddler, so the stern paddler’s
voice will carry forward. But someone
who is deaf and uses sign language may
prefer to be stern paddler, to see what
the bow paddler is signing. My partner
prefers to put me in the bow, and assures me that he’ll smack me with his
paddle to get my attention.
The first time we rented a double
kayak, my partner received special
instructions from the clerk. It was
only later that I found out these were
not safety instructions, but a detailed
explanation of how to scoop up a
few drops of water on a paddle blade
and carefully tip them down the bow
paddler’s neck—and then to get the
paddle back in the water before being
caught in the act.
People who use sign language will
definitely need a paddle tether, even
in calm water, to avoid losing their
paddle. I’ve never actually used more
than minimal signs when kayaking,
as paddling gloves definitely limit the
expressiveness of your fingers!
As for rough water, check out the
conditions and make sure everyone
knows the plan—and how to change
it if necessary. This is especially important when relying on sign language. In
rivers, paddlers usually go single file
through the best path, but when at sea
or on a rough lake, paddlers should go
side-by-side or two-by-two so they can
see each other.
Communication is the biggest issue,
but awareness of conditions is also
important, especially for solo paddlers.
What if the weather changes? What if
the fog rolls in? Not being able to hear
a foghorn is bad enough, but in suddenly reduced visibility, a paddler who
can’t hear echoes off a cliff may wander
down a fjord or out to sea. Plan ahead,
casually but consistently: where would
you pull ashore? And make a study of
weather in general.
In some places, traffic is the major
concern and you need to be aware of
boat movements. Don’t count on other
boats, large or small, to avoid you.
Balance issues can provoke nausea.
Since my hearing loss, I can’t handle
rollercoasters (or even watch a video
taken with a hand-held camera), so I
was very careful the first few times sea
kayaking. To my delight, swells and a
little chop didn’t make me seasick or
dizzy. Perhaps the full-body sensation
of muscle movement helps my brain
cope with the inner-ear signals.
Now my partner wants to go kayak
surfing on the exposed west coast.
But first I think I’ll sign up for a Surf
Kayaking course at the local paddling
store. If I’m going outside my comfort
zone, I want some training from an
expert!
© Paula Johanson is a Victoria, BC freelance
writer of books and articles. This summer her
paddle group is touring waterside marina pubs.
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16
June / July 2006
Rainbow Paddling
Photos and story by Dallas and Ardith Hinton
O
ur daughter Nora, born with
Down’s Syndrome, has for some
years been known as Rainbow—she
chose that name because she loves
nature and it seemed to suit her. At the
end of Grade 10 she had a hemiplegic
stroke leaving one side paralyzed.
Since then she’s been working hard
to regain the ability to walk and to
carry out many other daily tasks. We’ve
discovered many sports activities we
might never have tried before and find
that most can be adapted quite well
to accommodate people with special
needs. Kayaking is one of the adapted
sports Rainbow has enjoyed the most
and has had the most success with.
A couple of years ago we heard
about the Vancouver Parks Board Access Services Outdoor Adapted Program which offers disabled people opportunities to experience a number of
sports, including kayaking. We signed
up on the theory that Rainbow might
like some of the activities and, in any
case, it was all good experience. When
it came time for the kayaking segment
we were a bit uncertain as to how she
could ever be safe, let alone enjoy herself. We were certainly surprised!
We discovered that some of the kayaks had been modified with pontoons
or outriggers to prevent them from
tipping over. That was a great relief for
us, since we knew if she did tip over
she’d be in a lot of trouble. For her first
time out she went in a double with her
companion. This was only partially successful, since she really couldn’t paddle
herself and said she felt like a passenger. She had a short excursion and then
came back to shore. A little while later
she was offered a chance to try a solo
ride in a kayak that was fitted with an
OAR as well as pontoons. “An OAR,”
I wondered. “How is she going to use
that?” It seems that an OAR is actually a
One Armed Rig, wonderfully designed
and built by Nanaimo’s Bruce Fuoco,
himself a hemiplegic kayaker.
This attempt was a complete success—Rainbow paddled for a long
time, getting coaching from both Bruce
and Mercia Sixta (with boats generJune / July 2006
Rainbow paddling her adapted kayak.
ously donated by Western Canoeing
& Kayaking of Abbotsford, BC). The
whole time she was out on the water
she was grinning from ear to ear, and
eventually was so exhausted she had
to be towed back to shore. For the rest
of the summer all we heard was “when
can I go paddling again?”
After some discussion (read, “pressure from Rainbow”), we decided
to take her and her companion to
Mercia’s adapted kayaking weekend
in September. She had some pool
training and then went to nearby Alice
Lake where Bruce gave Rainbow more
coaching. The weather cooperated and
the people were marvelous—Rainbow
had a wonderful time and my wife
and I were becoming increasingly
jealous of all the fun she was having.
We were particularly impressed with
the incredibly supportive atmosphere,
with everyone sharing ideas and helping when needed—a rare treat for us!
The weekend was marvelous and we
went back to Vancouver thinking and
talking about possibilities.
Over the winter we did a lot of
reading (WaveLength inspired us) and
I took a course at one of our local
pools, eventually achieving the lofty
title of ‘Flatwater Kayaker’ and being
declared capable of rescuing myself
(‘Solo Capsize Recovery’)—the hardest
part of the course was getting up the
courage to capsize!
We decided to get our own boats,
so we talked to Mercia who recommended the Necky Santa Cruze (with
which we’re very happy). Bruce not
only supplied the parts for pontoons
and an OAR, but also came over to the
house and fitted them. We modified
our old motor home so we could carry
the kayaks on the roof (we couldn’t pull
a trailer because of the wheelchair lift
on the back) and although it was a bit
of a challenge, it’s worked well.é
17
Leading her mom and dad.
Sunshine Kayaking
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Since then, we’ve been twice to Hayward Lake as well as
Trout Lake, and twice to kayaking camps in Squamish. Now
we’re increasingly able to go out independently as a family.
Each time Rainbow’s skills and confidence have improved
and she stays out for longer and longer. You’ve only to look
at her face to see the joy she’s experiencing!
We’ve discovered a new hobby with great new friends
who understand disabilities and can see the person behind
them. We’ve discovered a new way to enjoy the outdoors
as well as an activity that will help our daughter with her
mobility, increase her independence, and help her develop
her social skills.
If you’d like to know more about the community of paddlers with disabilities, here are a couple of links to get you
started:
• Bonnie Friesen c/o Vancouver Parks Board:
http://vancouver.ca/parks/rec/access/adapted.
htm#outdoor
• CORK (Creative Options for Recreational Kayaking), c/o
www.pikakayak.com/
Featuring
© Dallas and Ardith are retired teachers. They have been avid RVers for
many years and are becoming more confident kayakers
following in the wake of their daughter Rainbow.
A beautiful 40 min. ferry ride from Vancouver to the Gateway of the Sunshine Coast
Molly’s Lane, Gibsons, BC
Tel: 604-886-9760
www.sunshinekayaking.com
Editor’s Note: Mercia Sixta won a Volunteer of the Year award in
1998 from the Vancouver Parks Board for her work with disabled
paddlers. In May this year she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement
Award from the Vancouver Island Paddlefest in Ladysmith. See
News, page 48.
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18
June / July 2006
June / July 2006
19
Paddling the Hudson
Story and photos by Alan Feldstein
I
am in Manhattan and I arrived by
kayak—how many people can say
that? Probably not many, except those
like me, who have participated in the
annual Great Hudson River Paddle
(GHRP).
The GHRP is a group experience
like no other, a 10-day, 150-mile kayak
trip down the Hudson, from Albany to
downtown Manhattan, to promote the
Hudson River Valley Greenway as a
scenic waterway. In the 70s and 80s the
Hudson was a virtual sewer with toxins,
industrial waste and other polluting
substances dumped untreated from
its banks. Over the years, great efforts
have been made to clean up the river,
and in April 2001, Governor George
E. Pataki provided a $1 million grant
to establish a Hudson River Greenway
Water Trail.
While the GHRP is not a beginner’s
paddle, with daily paddles averaging
about 16 miles, it can be enjoyed by
just about everyone who has reasonable skills, endurance and a commitment to have a good time with a
diverse group of people—in our case
27 paddlers plus six guides.
We had teachers, doctors, computer
programmers, one lawyer (by day I am
a Los Angeles attorney), a professional
20
Our group at the George Washington Bridge.
photographer and one father/son team
who made the trip in a double kayak.
Prior to my arrival in Albany, the
organizers sent me a large red duffle
bag which I was told I could fill with
whatever I wanted. Our basic camping and paddling gear would go in the
boats but Johnny Miller and his team
would take all the red duffle bags, our
snacks and any tired kayakers who
needed a day off from paddling, and
drive down the NY thruway to the next
stop. Johnny is the classic New York
organizer whose favorite phrase is “I
can hook you up with that.” When we
arrived, there would be cold drinks,
fruit, snacks and music, with Mark the
DJ playing everything from the Beatles
to Marley to Miles.
Each night, we would be taken by
van, first to a school, army base, YMCA,
hockey rink, wherever there was hot
water to shower, and then off to dinner. Dinners were often at the homes
of gracious people, and in some cases
the entire community came out to feed
us barbecued chicken, homemade ice
cream and all sorts of other delicacies.
What all this means is that although we
camped for 10 days, you couldn’t say
we were roughing it!
The first day, we pulled out of Albany
under threatening skies, but it didn’t
rain till we got to our campsite at New
Baltimore. The next day we arose at 6,
and under gray skies and light rain, ate,
packed up, did some yoga and were on
the water by 8, which was the schedule
most days. Known as ‘the river that
flows both ways’, the Hudson’s early
morning tide was flowing toward Manhattan so we left early to paddle with
the current.
We had a few days of rain and only
one bad day of wind. When it got really
hot, we took off our hats, filled them
with water and poured them over our
heads. And if that was not sufficient,
any one of our fellow paddlers was
happy to give us a blast of the Hudson
June / July 2006
Saugerties •
• Wappinger Falls
• Cold Spring
• Annsville
• Yonkers
New York
underestimate a pod of water tested,
hungry, tired kayakers. Despite some
serious firepower from their cleverly
rigged fire extinguisher, we vanquished
the locals and paddled to camp victori-é
Georgia Strait Alliance’s 2006
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www.atlantiskayaks.com. Value $3,614.95
2nd Kayak Trip for Two (all-inclusive multiday trip,
fall 2006 or 2007, based on availability).
Donated by Pacific Northwest Expeditions
www.seakayakbc.com. Value $1,000
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River with a large water cannon.
After New Baltimore we were off to
Athens, where our landing coincided
with their community festival. In the
evening we were treated to fireworks,
but for me the fireflies were an even
more amazing sight—something you
don’t see in California. They were better
than any fireworks show.
The next day we were off to Saugerties, which has a beautiful lighthouse that is now a bed and breakfast.
It was there that we honed our water
fighting skills. I learned that women
tend to stick together and aquit themselves well when it comes to water
fights.
The next two days were the long
ones: 17 miles to beautiful Norrie Point
State Park and then 21 miles to Wappinger Falls. While the sites along the
river are beautiful, including the old ruins of Bannerman’s Arsenal, those days
with wind, heat, humidity, delayed jet
lag and paddling against the current
wiped me out.
Just before arriving at Cold Spring we
were met by a group of local kayakers,
and a great water battle ensued. Never
3rd ‘Skedaddle’. Two person inflatable kayak.
Donated by West Marine www.westmarine.com.
Value $367.99
3,600 tickets printed: 3 for $15 or $6 each
DRAW: Sept. 12, 2006.
GSA does not sell or trade names with any other party. Winners consent to the release
of their names by the licensee. All proceeds to marine conservation efforts.
For tickets and complete rules of play
• 250-753-3459 • raffl[email protected] • www.GeorgiaStrait.org
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June / July 2006
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Never underestimate a pod of kayakers at the end of the day!
ous. Cold Spring is a delightful town
where we showered at Hudson Valley
Outfitters, a major sponsor who were
kind enough to supply me with a boat,
and we were treated to an incredible
dinner as the guest of John Cronin, the
original River Keeper who patrolled the
Hudson and helped stop the continued
pollution of the river.
The next day took us to Annsville,
where we received a history lesson
from Colonel (Ret) James Johnson,
who used to teach revolutionary war
history at West Point. Arriving in full
Revolutionary Army uniform replete
with musket, the Colonel gave a lecture on the Hudson, West Point, and
their impact on the revolutionary war.
Annsville was the end of the Highlands
part of the Hudson and we headed into
the home stretch and more urbanization, including passing a nuclear power
plant (cameras in your pocket please
or draw an armed response, we were
warned), Croton Point and then Yonkers—home to the Yonkers Paddling
and Rowing Club which has been in
existence since 1886.
From Yonkers it is about 17 miles to
the Downtown Boathouse in Manhattan. Normally that kind of trip could
take five to six hours, but because of
the fast current we made it under four.
The early-morning rush of navigating a
small, one-person craft past the island
of Manhattan and all of its landmarks
seen anew from water level—the
George Washington Bridge, Grant’s
Tomb, the Empire State Building,
churches, skyscrapers and apartment
buildings galore—is a feeling not to
be missed. We were escorted by a
police boat through the large-boat traffic of massive oil barges and elegant
yachts, and even past the QE2, with
the Statue of Liberty raising her torch in
the distance, and finally the Downtown
Boathouse where we received a heroes’
welcome.
That night it felt great to have a private shower, and to set up my tent in
my hotel room to dry (causing some
confused looks from the hotel staff).
But it was not more than a day or two
before I yearned to be back on the
water with my fellow paddlers. As everyone knows, kayakers are a friendly,
welcoming, fun-loving group. That was
especially true of the paddlers on the
Great Hudson River Paddle.
© Alan Feldstein lives in Southern California
where he is a board member of the
Adventures’ Club of Los Angeles and serves
as a sea kayak instructor through the UCLA
Aquatic Center. He has paddled extensively
from Baja to BC, and on Lake Tanganika in
Africa. He recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.
See www.in-lifeadventures.com.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to the GHRP organizer
Scott Keller for help with the map of the route.
A more detailed map with all the sites on the
Greenway Water Trail is available from him:
[email protected]. This
year’s event will be held July 13-22. See www.
hrwa.org.
Amanda Marksteiner in New York tells us that
the Downtown Boathouse provides FREE
paddling opportunities to New Yorkers to help
build support for public access on the Hudson.
www.downtownboathouse.org
(646) 613-0375.
22
June / July 2006
Can Paddlers Save the World?
Story and photos by Neil Schulman
A
bill in the Oregon State Legislature
woke a sleeping giant. Now I just
hope the giant stays awake.
The giant was Oregon’s community
of paddlers. Last summer, emails started
flying around about Senate Bill 1028.
When I saw the fine print, I realized
the bill did two things. First, it charged
a $20 registration fee for every kayak,
canoe, rowing shell or other humanpowered craft. Second—hidden in
legalese, but more insidious—it named
some Oregon waterways as “non-navigable” and for all intents and purposes
privatized and closed to fishing, boating and recreation.
The bill was on the fast track. It was
sponsored by the leadership of both
Republican and Democratic parties,
and the Governor was hedging. It
looked like a hard train to stop. In the
States, river access laws are obscure
and date back to the 19th century, so
they’re tough targets around which to
rally people. But the proponents made
a mistake by throwing in the boatregistration fee—an easy way to get
paddlers riled up.
The email flurries began, joined
by fishermen, a group with a similar
interest but who were much more
organized. Soon the ire shifted from
the boat registration issue to an understanding of the greater threat to our
right to float rivers.
A few weeks later, the Senate held
its first committee hearing on the bill.
The paddlers’ email network became a
strategy session, listing which commit-
June / July 2006
Wetlands may lack popular appeal, but paddlers are a natural constituency.
tee members to target and supplying
examples of emails sent to legislators.
At the hearing, 30 people spoke about
the bill—one in favor, 29 against. The
bill never got out of committee. As I
write this, the Oregon public still has
the right to float the state’s waterways,
regardless of who owns the shoreline.
Like our beaches, the rivers still belong
to the people.
Inspiring as that story is, it can be
relatively rare for sea kayakers to become such a force. Other groups have a
much stronger history of environmental
activism. Much of American river conservation dates from the transformation
of whitewater boaters like Martin Litton
and Tim Palmer into environmental
activists. Among their many wins were
the National Wild and Scenic River
System and stopping the damming of
the Grand Canyon. Likewise, recreational and commercial fishing have
strong lobbying and activist networks
working to protect wild salmon from
dam operations and fish farms.
But sea kayakers, for some reason I
can’t pin down, seem to be more reluctant to get involved, at least in the
States. When the topic of conservation
comes up, folks will nod, and then
the conversation shifts back to how to
initiate a bow rudder. But the tide is
turning. Here’s what you can do to be
part of the growing conservation movement among sea kayakers.
GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY
There’s a lot of work to be done, and
one way you can help is by rolling up
your sleeves. Trees need to be planted,
noxious weeds pulled, water quality samples collected, stream habitat
restored—and that’s all work done by
volunteers. Wherever you live, there’s
a group that can use your help. é
23
Do environmentally active paddlers have more fun? Ask Jodi and Gabriel.
USE YOUR VOICE
But on-the-ground volunteering isn’t
going to be enough. We all know that
environmental health also depends
on laws—until fish farms are properly
regulated and streams are protected,
our environment will be at risk. And
the only way to make that happen is to
affect the ways our governments make
decisions.
The fact is, the folks who hold the
reins and the purse strings—elected
officials, agency staff—respond to pressure. Even if they want to do the right
thing, the other side is pressuring them
too. So paddlers need to talk and write
24
letters and emails to the folks who make
the decisions, speak up at hearings and
make their voices heard.
This can be intimidating. Like many
reading this magazine, I’m more comfortable in a paddle jacket than a suit
jacket. And I’m happier in a boat than
a meeting room. But as you’ll see, it
doesn’t need to be hard or scary. And
more importantly, it works.
VOTE
Obviously, who makes the laws is a
big issue. In all probability, everyone
reading this votes, but do you know
how your elected officials vote on
June / July 2006
environmental topics? And not everyone votes in the small
local elections, like for the City Council, or the bond measure
that will acquire new parks. In the US, most elections are
decided not in the general election but in the primary, where
sometimes as little as 30% of the electorate even bothers to
vote. Take the few minutes to find out how your local representatives are voting on environmental issues.
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR PADDLE IS
We’ve all taken on a gear-intensive sport. A carbon fiber
paddle costs $375 US. A Goretex drysuit costs about $850.
And that doesn’t even include the kayak. On the other hand,
calling 2,000 voters before a local election costs about $780
here in Oregon in phone costs, voter lists, and staff time.
Make regular contributions—even if it’s a small amount—to
some conservation groups that you value.
SO THAT’S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
But it’s an intimidating mix, right? We all have day jobs,
kids to pick up at school, and we’re not independently
wealthy. And some of this stuff is hideously complex. How
we can pull this off?
Well the fact is, we can pull it off—and we can have a
heck of a good time in the process.
1. Have buddies. This issue is about paddling partners—and
the same buddies you paddle with can be your buddies when
it comes time to protecting your favorite natural places. Even
though ‘environmental advocacy’ may not sound as much
June / July 2006
fun as paddling, it can be a blast when you’re doing it with
good folks.
2. Get Local. We’re bombarded daily by messages about
‘the global environmental crisis’. Global Warming, melting
of the ice caps, the ozone hole, dying coral reefs. Forget
about that for now—think about your neighborhood, and
what’s going on where you live and paddle. Don’t give into
the gloom. Focus on the areas you love.
3. You don’t have to be an expert. To be effective at pushing a good decision through the local city council or state
or provincial legislature, you don’t need to be an expert on
‘Total Maximum Daily Loads’ or ‘Township-Range-Section
of Pesticide Use Reporting’. There are plenty of conservation groups that will happily contact you when a key issue
is coming up, boil the issues down to common English, and
tell you who to call or email. Most conservation groups have
activists’ networks you can join.
4. Numbers Matter. No elected official or key agency staffer
will listen to one person. They listen to numbers. No one letter, no matter how well-written, will matter as much as 25
or 50. The goal is to let folks know that a lot of people want
them to do something—vote this way on that bill, make sure
parks are funded in the budget cycle, and so forth. We win
when a lot us do a tiny bit, at the right time—we lose when
a handful of us try to do everything. Your best move is to get
in the habit of adding your voice regularly. é
25
5. Don’t be intimidated. Sure, talking
to public officials can be intimidating.
Sometimes they’ll ignore what you say
anyway. On the other hand, I live in a
city of 1.6 million people, but I still run
into the head of the local parks department and my Metro Councilor at the
coffee shop. Don’t let the intimidation
factor stop you. It’s simply your right as
a citizen in a democracy.
6. It’s fun. If you think conservation is
a lonely business, think again. You’ll
meet some great comrades-in-arms.
Chances are a bunch of them are paddlers, too.
ONE HOUR A PADDLE
Every time I go paddling, I’m thankful—for blue water, birds soaring overhead, wild places, and wild things that
have adapted to living side by side with
us. I figure I owe something—specifically, an hour. For every day I paddle, I
figure I should give an hour back somehow—helping plant trees, restoring
habitat, and advocating for wild places.
It’s an easy promise to keep.
WE CAN WIN
After I finish this article, I’m going to
paddle around Ross Island in the Willamette River. In the middle of urban
Portland, I’ll paddle under active Bald
Eagle and Great Blue Heron nests.
Upstream of the island is Oaks Bottom wetlands, the first Wildlife Refuge
created in Portland. It was going to
be paved to make a racetrack until a
bunch of citizens banded together and
told the city they wanted wildlife and
trails instead. The city listened. Now
they’re trying to acquire Ross Island and
add it to the refuge. And the chances
are good that it will happen. Maybe
even before this article goes to print.
© Neil Schulman is the training coordinator
for an environmental leadership development
program, and is a steering committee member
for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters.
He works and plays in Portland, Oregon.
SOME GROUPS TO CONTACT
OREGON
Oregon League of Conservation Voters:
www.olcv.org
Portland Audubon Society:
www.audubonportland.org
WASHINGTON
People for Puget Sound:
www.pugetsound.org
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Georgia Strait Alliance:
www.georgiastrait.org
Friends of Clayoquot Sound:
www.focs.ca
26
June / July 2006
MOTHERSHIP MEANDERING—Alan Wilson
Paddling to Dinner
y favorite paddling partner is
my wife Laurie, and our kayaks
of choice are usually our twin Necky
Gannets—hers blue, mine yellow.
These 11’-6” kayaks were acquired
especially for our mothership, the 1927
fishboat I featured in my Mothership
Meanderings column until we sold her
last year after eight seasons.
We were able to enjoy great paddling up and down the coast from our
boat, using her as a mobile launching
platform, seeking out isolated spots
to anchor away from the madding
crowd.
We still have the Gannets but I think
they miss their mother. They missing
us too, these days, as we’re finding so
little time to get on the water.
In the years we were taking monthlong cruising holidays, we would
almost always spend our first and last
night in Nanaimo harbor.
Nanaimo is a sprawling city of
about 75,000 lying on the east coast
of Vancouver Island, some 25 kilometers across Georgia Strait from the
metropolis of Greater Vancouver on
the continental mainland.
It’s an old coal mining town (older
than Vancouver) that grew up into a
very livable little city with a fantastic
waterfront and an incredible view
across the Strait to the snowcapped
mountains of the mainland. It’s from
Nanaimo that we catch the ferry for
the 20 minute ride to our home island,
Gabriola, and Nanaimo is where many
Gabriolans work or study or shop.
From the slopes of Mt. Benson, you
can look down from Malaspina University-College to the harbor created
by Newcastle and Protection Islands,
a shallow basin studded with boats
of all descriptions anchored between
them. Here yachters wait for rough
conditions on Georgia Strait to subside
before heading across to the mainland
and points north.
Either that or they’re waiting for the
tidal turn at nearby Dodd Narrows so
they can pass into the inner waterway
created by the chain of Gulf Islands.
Starting with Gabriola, the chain of
June / July 2006
Terry Patterson photos
M
Nanaimo’s waterfront.
elongated islands stretches south to the
US border and Washington’s San Juan
Islands. This is part of the protected
pathway most US boaters employ
to head north to Desolation Sound,
Johnstone Strait and, for some, all the
way to Alaska!
Newcastle Island is one of BC’s
renowned Marine Parks—750 acres
of forest, trails and beaches, boasting
a good dock, foot ferry access, and of
course, prime anchorage for a lot of
boats. The Park is run by Sney-neymukw First Nation, whose ancestors
lived in the vicinity for thousands of
years. It’s a great place for a picnic or
hike, and there are campsites available
with an easy landing for paddlers.
The protected harbor created by the
two islands helps to make Nanaimo a
major stop for boaters, with supplies
and repairs available from waterfront
shops and marine yards. Recreational
marinas line Newcastle Channel, full é
27
Newcastle Island
Marine Park
Protection
Island
Departure
Bay
Thanks to Primal Communications
Vancouver
Island
Nanaimo •
Victoria •
USA
of power and sailing yachts. Just beyond is Departure Bay
and the ferry terminal for mainland traffic.
Nanaimo has a lovely waterfront promenade which runs
several kilometers along the harbor—perfect for stretching
out those ‘boating legs’.
For boaters returning from a long holiday up the coast, the
city is also one of the first chances to choose from an array
of good restaurants, many no more than a few blocks from
the waterfront, including some floating ones and Canada’s
only floating pub, the Dinghy Dock Pub anchored at Protection Island.
On the last night of one of our trips, anchored just off
Newcastle, we sat bathed in evening sun on the back deck
of our boat, reviewing the choices for dinner out—perhaps
our perennial favorite, sushi at the Sake House, or maybe
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Undecided, we geared up and launched ourselves into the
bustling waters of the harbor. For the past month we’d been
keeping an eye out for whales, bears, dolphins, eagles... but
here we dodged little ferries running passengers back and
forth, local runabouts, seaplanes and expensive yachts. One
seaplane wooshed in low overhead and landed just beyond
us, giving us quite a thrill.
We made our way towards Maffeo-Sutton Park and then
began to paddle parallel to the promenade, enjoying this sudden proximity to people and all the activity. Having been all
by ourselves for the past month, it was kind of fun to watch
and be watched. (“Hey mom, look at the kayaks!”)
We paddled along, chatting through the dinner options
again, assessing our preferences as we slipped inside of the
seaplane base at the Lighthouse Bistro, under the ramp and
the overhanging shops beyond.
It’s one of the joys of kayaking to be able to float right into
the heart of a place, into shallows and narrows that even dinghies can’t navigate. And I admit, it’s also a bit of fun to give
someone on the docks a start as you glide silently past.
Reaching the floats of Nanaimo’s Boat Basin, we found
a spot no other boat could inhabit, hoisted ourselves out of
our kayaks and tied them up securely.
We stripped off our paddling gear and patted down our
‘town’ clothes which had been sitting in our clothes locker
for a month. Then we joined hands and strolled off along
the dock, feeling like tourists in our own town. This was our
last night before we would plug back into the ‘real’ world for
another year of electronically mediated intensity. But for the
moment, what we had in mind was a plate of great food and
a glass of good wine to celebrate a successful voyage.
FOR MORE INFOMATION:
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© Alan Wilson and Laurie MacBride are currently mothership-less
but expect that to change in the next few years.
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June / July 2006
FROM THE RAINFOREST—Dan Lewis
Paddle With Friends
June / July 2006
A group of environmental supporters pauses for a photo
during a paddle around Newcastle Island off Nanaimo.
ferent needs and incorporates members’ individual strengths.
Don’t we all love that stealthy pre-dawn riser who delights
in making wicked coffee?
Good paddling partners are like gold. You may even
luck out and find people to paddle with who become your
friends, people you love to hang out with even when you’re
not paddling!
© Dan Lewis and Bonny Glambeck
operate Rainforest Kayak Adventures
in Clayoquot Sound: 1-877-422-WILD.
www.rainforestkayak.com.
© Mark Hobson photo
tend to do a lot of solo paddling but not always by design.
When I first started paddling, I was new to the west coast,
and didn’t have a lot of friends. The people I did know were
certainly not paddlers. Fortunately a club had just formed
in Vancouver, and provided a great avenue for me to begin
meeting other paddlers.
There are many advantages to group paddling over solo
adventures. There are more people to help carry gear, and
the load per person can be lighter. Many hands make light
work when setting up or breaking camp. From my perspective, you can never have too many cooks in a kitchen. And
cooking-type people always seem to think of such scrumptious stuff to bring along (my menu planning short-circuits
somewhere around ‘peanut butter and crackers’).
Paddling slows us down. There is lots of time to think.
And time to talk. Touring kayakers tend to be a well-travelled, well-read bunch. On trips, away from the information
overload of our wired society, conversations tend to flow
to the most amazing places. Who needs television? Just go
paddling with friends!
Paddling partners share a special bond. Long nights driving
to distant put-ins and extended periods in remote locations
tend to be times of deep personal sharing. Life stories are
told, hopes and dreams discussed.
One sees incredible things while paddling, whether on
a week-long expedition or just out for the evening. I’ve had
some pretty amazing experiences while solo paddling, but
there is often a background sense of ‘I wish so-and-so could
see this!’
When you’re with other people, you share the joy of witnessing such wonders as an orca breaking the surface out of
nowhere, a gang of sea lions hauled out on the rocks, or an
eagle snatching a salmon from an osprey in mid-air.
And there is nothing better than the feeling of getting in
the groove together, when the group begins to flow. Words
are not needed when everyone knows what to do. Obviously, the larger the group, the harder this becomes. As
group size increases, so does the need for co-ordination
and leadership.
Paddling in groups does increase the potential for conflicts.
A lot of us tend to be individualists (why else choose a boat
of which you are the skipper, crew and only passenger?).
People have different styles, whether the topic is safety,
camp ettiquette, menu planning, paddling speed, wake-up
or bed-time.
Many conflicts can be prevented by getting to know your
paddling partners before heading out on a big trip together.
Take the time to talk about what you want to get out of the
trip, what you most want to do, and what you absolutely
do not want from the trip. Pay attention to what people are
saying.
Go for some shorter paddles together—start with evening
or day-trips, then head out camping for a couple of days.
Over time, groups can develop a touring style that blends dif-
Alan Wilson photo
I
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Seaker
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31
EYE ON THE EAST—Adam Bolonsky
Off-Water Partners
When we shove offshore, we take it as given that we paddle
with people who are actually there. But there are others with
us besides the ones wearing wetsuits—the ones we’ve left
at home.
O
ur goal is Muskeget, the low sand island held together
by Rosa rugosa and beach grass, which clings to the
outer edges of Nantucket Sound like a pale medallion. In the
brilliance of summer, Muskeget reflects a bright and piercing
glare that suggests less landmass than glowing presence.
Less than a mile long and half a mile wide, Muskeget lies
twenty-odd miles offshore of Cape Cod, surrounded by vast
sandbars and wide, fast-moving currents that keep at bay
any but the shallowest-draft boats. The overspread of shallows and shoals are miles wide, and encircle the island like
submerged hills. The desolate seclusion is compelling.
It’s a day before the paddle to Muskeget with my buddy
Mark. Yvonne and I are at my sister’s.
“I’m pretty worried about the fog,” I say. “The island’s far
away, easy to miss, nothing around it but currents.”
“So if the fog comes in?” my sister asks.
“We turn back if we don’t get a visual on the island halfway across, because that’s where we’ll lose our back ranges.
We’ve got a GPS, but only to radio our coordinates. The tides
run so hard that GPS won’t help. It’ll tell us where we are
but it won’t get us across the currents.”
“The fog,” says Yvonne. “I’ve seen how it buries the Sound.
Everything disappears.”
“We miss the island, things get difficult. We can’t just turn
on the GPS and ‘find’ it. That’s the fun, I guess”
My sister: “So that no one has to worry, why don’t you
cellphone when you land —“
“Too far offshore.”
Several years ago I took a solo offshore trip to a barrier
island off North Carolina. I was camped in a waterpine
copse minding my own business when a furious ranger on
an ATV pulled up to tell me that Yvonne, 500 miles away and
watching television, had heard about an approaching storm
and insisted that the Park Service track me down. It was very
unnecessary all around. I knew full well about the storm.
It had already made landfall and I was looking forward to
hunkering down in my tent.
“We’ll radio the Coast Guard,” I add, remembering that
incident. “At least they’ll have us logged. Beats them looking
for us when Yvonne does what she usually does, which is
call every coastal rescue installation in the western hemisphere the moment she hears that the wind has piped up
half a knot.”
So after Mark and I reach Muskeget I climb its highest
dune and turn on his radio.
“Sécurité, sécurité. This is sea kayak at Muskeget Island
requesting communications assistance.”
Coast Guard Woods Hole picks up my broadcast in an
instant.
“Sea Kayak, Coast Guard Group Woods Hole. Switch to
channel two-two alpha.”
“Roger that, sea kayak two-two alpha.”
I click up and ask if they’ll phone Yvonne to tell her we’ve
arrived safe and sound. They agree to.
“Get it done?” Mark asks when I return to water’s edge.
“Yup.”
“Then let’s do what we came for.”
We rig the fishing gear. The sun drops. We light cigars.
An hour later, under the moon, Mark lands what Muskeget
is known for: a hungry striped bass nosing around near
shore.
I saved that message from the Coast Guard on our answering machine and listen to it every once in a while—if
only to remind myself that even if on the ocean I feel free
and liberated, responsible only for myself, there are others
inland about whom I need to think... primarily Yvonne, the
most cautious trip monitor I know, who is prone to making
hasty search and rescue calls. Had SAR flown past Muskeget,
they would have seen nothing more dramatic than two guys,
shrouded in cigar smoke, trying to enjoy the
illusion that they were out on a remote island
all by themselves.
© Adam Bolonsky is based near
Gloucester, Massachusetts.
32
June / July 2006
dragonflye
Kayaking in Comfort
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June / July 2006
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33
SKILLSET—Alex Matthews
Sculling Draw
D
raw strokes help you move your
kayak sideway in the water, to
pull up to a dock or raft to another
kayak. They’re great when you want to
cuddle up with your paddling partner,
and they’re a key maneuver in almost
every assisted rescue technique. The
sculling draw is a particularly powerful stroke.
The sculling draw is set up with your
upper body rotated to the side, your
paddle shaft positioned as vertically as
possible, and your blade fully planted
in the water at 90 degrees from your
hip. To draw your boat sideways, you’ll
use something called a ‘sculling motion’. This sculling motion lets you pull
steadily on your paddle, and bypasses
any recovery phase, because your
blade remains in the water and under
load throughout the stroke.
The key to sculling is keeping your
paddle blade moving along a short path
forward and backward about a foot or
two out to the side of your kayak, with
a blade angle that opens your power
face to the oncoming water and pulls
your paddle away from your kayak.
This application of blade angle is commonly referred to as a ‘climbing angle’.
Climbing angle means that the leading
edge of your paddle blade is higher
than the trailing edge. It’s the same
as spreading jam on toast: picture the
knife’s angle as it glides over the bread’s
surface, leading edge higher than the
trailing edge.
To maintain a climbing angle on
your blade while performing the sculling draw you’ll cock your wrists slightly
Sea Kayak Association of BC
Trips, training, monthly meetings,
newsletters, paddling contacts
www.skabc.org
[email protected]
604-290-9653
Box 751, Stn. A,
Vancouver, BC V6C 2N6
34
back as you slice your blade forward.
You’ll then make a quick transition and
curl your wrists slightly forward as you
slice your blade backward. Keep in
mind that the change in blade angle is
subtle. If you open the power face of
your blade too much, you’ll be pushing your kayak forward and backward
rather than drawing it sideways.
Likewise, if you find that your boat is
turning when you use the sculling draw,
it means that your draw is pulling from
a point too far forward or too far back.
If your draw is too far forward, you’ll
pull your bow towards your paddle. If
your draw is too far back, you’ll pull
your stern towards your paddle.
Using this sculling technique, you
can apply steady drawing pressure with
your paddle blade and move your boat
laterally at a surprising speed. Don’t
forget that just like any other stroke,
the power for your sculling draw comes
from your torso rotation. This is why
it’s so important that you turn your
body aggressively into the stroke. The
forward and backward movement of
your paddle can then be driven by your
torso rotation, while your arms will stay
in a relatively fixed position.
© Alex Matthews is our Boat, Gear & Skills Editor.
© Photos by Alex’s wife, Rochelle Relyea.
Recreational Kayaking:
The Essential Skills and Safety
by Alex Matthews
and Ken Whiting
The Heliconia Press, 2006
ISBN 1-896980-23-6
$14.95 US / $16.95 Cdn
86 pp, color photos,
glossary
www.helipress.com
This guide by
WaveLength’s Alex
Matthews and world
champion paddler Ken Whiting will
introduce you to the sport of recreational
kayaking, providing basic information
about paddling equipment, skills, strokes
and safety. Small recreational kayaks are
relatively inexpensive and ideal on a
mothership or at the cottage. But you still
have to know what you’re doing and this
guide will help you paddle safely.
June / July 2006
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If entering into the draw
send to 2020 Cliffe Ave.
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Game
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in each square.
Use each number only once
in each column, row and 3 X 3
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The squares are colored,
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area must equal the number
printed in that area (e.g. the
numbers in the 4 pink squares
at the top of the puzzle must
add up to 10).
We’ve given you a head
start by filling in some of
the squares for you. Good
Luck!
Those who submit the
correct answer to this
puzzle are put into
a draw for a new
padded paddlebag
from North Water:
www.northwater.com.
Congratulations
Denise Dawson of Edmonton, for winning the
“Motion” PFD from Stohlquist.
If you’re looking for West Coast kayak adventures
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June / July 2006
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Haida Gwaii / Queen Charlotte Islands
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Program design and staffing available
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www.nalaadventures.com
[email protected]
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• Aboriginal canoe eco tours available on Vancouver Island
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36
June / July 2006
GEAR LOCKER—Alex Matthews
Lasso Security
I
n an issue dedicated to ‘Paddling Partners’, I thought that
I should consider the safety of my most constant paddling
companion—my kayak! The thought of a thief making off
with my boat is enough to make my blood run cold. Enter
the Lasso security cable, a clever locking system specifically
designed for securing kayaks.
The Lasso is made from ¼” vinyl-coated galvanized steel
aircraft cable. Each end of the Lasso incorporates a fixed loop
of cable, and an integrated lock sits at the midpoint of the
system. Two lock options are available: either a keyed lock,
or the newer, 4-digit combination lock. My sample was the
combination version, which I prefer, as it precludes the need
to keep track of (or carry) a key. And since users can set the
combination of the barrel lock to any four numbers of their
choice (like their bank card PIN number for instance), it’s
very easy to remember the combination. The combination
can also be reset at any time. The Lasso comes in a nylon
stuff sack for convenient storage.
Locking a kayak to the roof of your car with the Lasso is a
quick and easy operation. With the lock open and the lasso
system in two halves, slide one of the Lasso’s looped ends
around the bow of your boat, and the other loop around the
stern, making sure that the cable is running under the rack.
Next, wrap the Lasso around the rack to tighten the cable.
Be sure to pull the large loops down your boat as far as pos- é
June / July 2006
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PHONE
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1851 WELCH STREET, NORTH VANCOUVER, BC
[email protected]
www.middletonsboats.com
37
sible before taking up the slack around
the bars of your roof rack. Secure the
lock, and your kayak is now locked to
your roof.
est.1985
GALIANO
ISLAND
KAYAKING
Obviously, if you are locking your
boat to your rack, you’ll need a rack
that in turn locks to your roof, or is
permanently attached. It’s also worth
noting that no lock can repel all thieves
every time, but the Lasso Security Cable is an excellent deterrent. Unlike my
other cable, which can only be locked
to a single point on my boat (like its
U-bolt), the Lasso cable captures the
whole boat.
I used the Lasso exclusively to lock
my boat to my car’s roof rack, but it
would be equally effective when used
with other anchors like fences, docks,
or trees.
The Lasso’s cable is surprisingly
supple, making it very easy to work
with, and its heavy vinyl coating protects a kayak from abrasion. It’s easy to
deploy, works with an extremely wide
variety of kayaks, and represents a real
deterrent to any potential thief. It also
takes up minimal space when stored.
All in all, the Lasso Security Cable is
a well thought-out product that offers
good anti-theft insurance at a reasonable price.
Price: $48.95 US
Lasso Security Cables
P.O. Box 5135
Arcata, CA 95518
(707) 444-8814
www.lassosecuritycables.com
© Alex Matthews.
Summer Kayaking!
• Instructional/ Wildlife Tours
in sheltered waters
• Challenging Current Paddles
in Active Pass & Porlier Pass
• Available all year
• Economical camping tours in
Gulf Islands, Clayoqout and
Barkley Sounds
• Only 1 hr from the Mainland
Also Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula
Weekly, December–April
Since 1988
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Used Kayaks For Sale
Daily Guided Tours
250-539-2442
www.seakayak.ca
kayak@gulfislands.com
38
June / July 2006
The Broughton is Alive
Alexandra Morton
T
he Broughton is a living organism.
It breathes. It moves. It lives. A circulatory system transports food, waste,
oxygen, salt, water... the things of life.
The sheer beauty of this life catches my
breath at unexpected intervals. But no
time in the Broughton is more divinely
perfect than spring.
Spring is spawned here in the violent
indecision of March. The long dominant southeasters do not want to back
down to the fresh young westerlies and
so they pummel us on this coast, but
the westerlies always win.
For me, however, spring begins
when my oars cause tumbling light in
a myriad of sizes and intensities that
look like galaxies. At first these new
plankton are not visible during daylight, only through their phosphoresence at night.
In early March this year, before
the plankton bloom, the water of the
Broughton was exceptionally clear.
As I traveled the coastline taking its
vital signs, I saw deep, deep down,
over 15 meters in some places. It was
a world revealed. There were walls
of the diaphanous white Plumose
Anemone. There were congregations of
translucent, pale-hooded nudibranchs
swaying in unison. Starfish standing
on their tip toes spawning. In one bay
a red rock crab was at the bottom of a
Broughton
Archipelago
Vancouver Island
cone-shaped pit. He lowered one claw
and pushed it uphill through the sand.
As he crested the rim he flung the sand
over and started again.
The Kingcome herring are always a
revelation and that day was no exception. One moment I was gazing 15
meters down at rocks edged in sand
and then I saw a tumult of life so great
it concealed the landscape. Each fish
was blue-silver and spinning in pursuit
of shrimp. The arching fish created the
effect of flickering fire in the sea. Such
congregations often press against the
leading edge of the last of the ebb tide.
Where the ebb meets the flood and
the two currents bend and slide along
each other, the water dimples with
whirlpools and boils. These tide lines
are the banquet table. If you want to get
a quick look at what is happening in
Broughton, check her tide lines. All our
garbage is there, as well as the spawn
and spore of the forest and ocean.
I caught a few of the shrimp that
escaped from the herring and put
one under the microscope when I got
home. As the animal glided into view
I whispered “wow” in awe. The beauty
of this little fellow was hard to take in.
There were huge midnight silver-edged
eyes, covered over in a multifaceted
lens as brilliant as diamonds. His legs
were beating frantically, he looked
desperate, and I realized he must be
very hot. I ran him down the rocks,
dipped the microscope slide into the
water and breathed relief.
Why is one thing beautiful and one
thing not? I have thought about this
a lot. Perhaps it has something to do
with a brainstem level of recognition
of life, or more precisely a recognition
of something that works. Like wine é
North Island Kayak Rentals & Tours
Two Locations
in British Columbia:
Telegraph Cove and the
Port Hardy Adventure Center
1-6 day Guided Trips & Rentals
Toll Free 877-949-7707
[email protected]
www.KayakBC.ca
June / July 2006
39
SKI & SURF SHOP
Over 50 kayaks in stock, ton of paddles,
pfds, paddling jackets, and other gear
as well as DEMOS and LESSONS.
Necky Elaho
www.skiandsurfshop.ca
333 5th Street
Courtenay, BC
250-338-8844
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
POPEYE’S
Marine & Kayak Center
814 13th Street, Everett WA
On the Waterfront at Everett Marina
425-339-9479 www.popeyesmarine.com
[email protected]
Maine’s Premier Paddling Shop
and Manufacturer of High
Performance Canoes and Kayaks
Ideal kayaks for women paddlers!
Quoddy Lite: 25 lbs in Kevlar, 12’ 6”
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207-865-0455
[email protected]
40
Raising Stitch-and-Glue construction
to a new level of excellence
Two new Plywood Kayak Kits by Ted Moores,
boat builder and author of Kayaks You Can Build,
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Bear Mountain Boat Shop Inc. Peterborough, ON Canada
Books • Plywood Kits • Woodstrip Canoe & Kayak Plans • Classes
www.bearmountainboats.com
Toll free 877-392-8880
June / July 2006
tasting, appreciation of beauty can
surely be refined, but I am talking about
the gut sense of awe that the natural
world causes. We can’t know energy
intimately, but I think we know it when
we see it.
The crystal clear waters of Broughton
are tinder. When touched by the spring
sun, the plankton ignites. Like a spark
on a wire this pulse of energy streaks
through every creature connected.
The salmon takes the power of the sun
through its tiny prey, and the rest is the
stuff of legends. The salmon feeds its
world: the trees, the amphibians, the
whales, us.
A smile plays across my lips just
thinking of the little pink and chum
salmon fry I track for my research. The
center of the Broughton is the hub of
a wheel with four spokes, the four
long channels leading out from here
to the sea. My life is spent watching
the salmon trickle down the legs of the
wheel to the center and seeing which
door they use to get out. The first little
fish are alone. They are the pioneers.
The crystal clear waters of
Broughton are tinder. When
touched by the spring sun, the
plankton ignites. Like a spark
on a wire this pulse of energy
streaks through every creature
connected. The salmon takes the
power of the sun through its tiny
prey, and the rest is the stuff of
legends. The salmon feeds its
world: the trees, the amphibians,
I never touch these fish. They are the
most vulnerable and precious. They are
outliers, an ace in some hole their race
might fall into. The only thing on their
side is that the predators have not yet
assembled.
This year, it began with sighting
of five to ten fry, then hundreds,
then thousands, until my deckhands,
Oline and Amy, and I came across a
school that snafued our computational
abilities. The fish were half-hidden by
darkening waters and glinting sunset,
but wherever we caught a glimpse,
we could see tiny fish streaming like a
river, with thousands more following.
We stopped, turned off the engine and
tried to take it in.
Baby fish have no experience yet
and they trust me much more than they
should. I have dipped up thousands in
small nets over the years. One strike is
all they give me—if I miss, I will never
get close to them again. But these fish
at Glacier Falls did not know me and
they surfaced and began to pirouette in
tiny half circles. I knew they are eating
something in the plankton.
This big school of salmon had been
progressing west through the spoke of the
wheel called Tribune Channel. Because
this school had few sea lice, I guessed it
was the Ahta’s fish. Ahta is a river whose
name means ‘grandmother’, arising in
the waters of the most southerly virgin
forest on this coast. These fish were her
babies. The Kakweikan River’s life was in
Tribune too. I suspected her fish were the
ones with lice a week or more old. The
lice were markers. When wild salmon go
by a salmon farm, that school becomes
marked, and doomed.
é
��
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June / July 2006
41
Both Ahta’s fish and Kakwiekan’s
must pass the Burdwood Islands where
young lice were already sprinkled
over the pioneers. In a few weeks
they would start picking a door to
sea, towards a place we have named
“Bay of the Damned”. There, young
salmon can be picked up easily from
the surface, overwhelmed by too many
parasites at too young an age.
If beauty is the energy which is life,
what do we call the thing that inter-
rupts life, causing the spark to tumble
chaotically off track, dimming all the
lights further down the line? We should
name this force because we humans
wield it.
The scent, the warmth, the emotions
that are spring come from a working,
living system. We can decide to sabotage that system, throw a wooden shoe
into its gears, or we can embrace it and
become part of it. If we are as smart as
we think we are, we should be able to
do this. And if not, then how dare we
mess with perfection?
© Alexandra Morton, R.P.Bio., is a marine
mammal researcher and author:
www.raincoastresearch.org.
Ride the Wave!
BROKEN GROUP
ISLANDS AND
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Up to 8 scheduled trips
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KAYAK RENTALS
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ACCOMMODATIONS
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Rooms & Meals from $70 / person / day
based on 2 night minimum
RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Water Taxi Service
from Toquart Bay
For pickup ph: 250-720-7358
Used Kayaks For Sale
Phone: 250-723-8313
Fax:
250-723-8314
M.V. Lady Rose & M.V. Frances Barkley
located at Argyle Pier,
5425 Argyle St., Port Alberni, BC
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42
V10 Surf Ski
Ocean River Sports
1824 Store St.
Victoria, BC
250-381-4233
www.oceanriver.com
Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak
2156 Banbury Rd.
N. Vancouver, BC
604-987-2202
www.deepcovekayak.com
Kelowna Kayak & Outdoor
2079 Enterprise Way
Kelowna, BC
250-860-3361
www.kelownakayak.com
www.epickayaks.com
June / July 2006
ANOTHER AWARD FOR ALEX!
This spring, Alexandra Morton was
awarded the prestigious Murray Newman Award for Excellence in Aquatic
Conservation, bestowed annually by
the Vancouver Aquarium to recognize
the outstanding efforts of scientists in
furthering research and conservation
of ocean ecosystems. In this case the
award was given for her tireless efforts
to study, publicize and act to protect
the health of wild salmon.
“This award is well-deserved,” said
Dr. Daniel Pauly of the University of
BC Fisheries Centre. “Alexandra’s work
to document the impacts of sea lice on
wild salmon populations has helped
to focus public, media and political
attention on this critical issue. I’m delighted she is being recognized for her
dedication to good science, integrity
and resolve.”
Kayak Repair & Refit
Structural Repairs
Vancouver Island South
Keel Line Rebuilds
Gel Coat Refinishing
Component Replacements
2072 Henry Ave. West,
Sidney BC. (250) 654-0052
Bowen Island
Sea Kayaking
• TOURS
• RENTALS
• LESSONS
CALL TO RESERVE
1-800-60-KAYAK
bowenislandkayaking.com
Advanced Designs + Great Fit = Ultimate Paddle Performance
Werner Paddles offers more than light weight paddles. We design every aspect of
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a great fitting paddle. Advanced Designs + Great Fit = Ultimate Paddle Performance.
It means you have more fun on the water.
Log on to our web site to view our assortment of paddle models and options. Be sure to
check out our NEW Interactive Guide to a Good
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www.absolutekayaks.com
Ultimate Paddle Performance
www.wernerpaddles.com
800-275-3311
June / July 2006
43
PADDLE MEALS—Debbie Leach
Together for Tapas
T
apas (Spanish for ‘tops’) are said to
have originated as a bread or flat
card set on top of a drink to protect it
from fruit flies. Today’s trendy snacks
are served on small plates and are perfect for camping and sharing at happy
hour. Here’s a sampling.
OLIVE OLÉ
Serve pitted green olives with chunks
of olive bread. This goes nicely with
a plate of thinly sliced chorizo (spicy
pork sausage) and salad leaves.
ALMOND TAPAS
Heat about a cup of whole almonds
in a frypan with a bit of olive oil. Dust
with paprika.
STICKS OF HAM WITH HONEY
1 packet of bread sticks
3 ounces honey (orange-blossom is
best)
4 ounces thinly sliced ham (Ibérico or
Serrano are traditional)
44
Cut the ham slices into strips about
one inch wide. Dip the tips of the bread
sticks into the honey (about two inches
deep) and drain. Wrap the ham around
the sticks beginning at the tip, overlapping it like a bandage.
TORTILLA ESPANOLA
4 potatoes—red or gold skinned
1 yellow onion
olive oil for frying
6 eggs
sea salt
Chop potatoes and onion into ½
inch cubes. Pour enough oil into an 8
or 10 inch frying pan to just coat the
bottom and heat over a low flame. Fry
the onions and potatoes until spuds
are just tender when poked with a
fork. Crack eggs into a mixing bowl
and whisk or stir with a fork until well
mixed. Pour the eggs into the pan with
the onions and potatoes. Cook over
low to medium heat until the edges
June / July 2006
and top are no longer liquid. To flip
the tortilla—place a lightly oiled plate
face down on top of the omelet and
turn the pan upside down. Slide the
tortilla—uncooked side down into the
pan and cook 3-5 minutes longer. Serve
hot or cooled—cut into wedges or large
cubes skewered with toothpicks.
GARLIC SHRIMP
8 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
½ cup olive oil
1 kg prawns with shells on
chopped parsley for garnish
(optional)
garlic mayonnaise for dipping
(1 clove garlic minced and mixed
into 1 cup mayo)
Yes, I do own a dog... why do you ask?
In a small bowl, marinate garlic
and oil for at least 30 minutes. Heat
a frypan over medium-high heat. Add
as many shrimp as will fit in one layer.
Sprinkle garlic/oil over shrimp and
cook for two minutes. Turn shrimp and
drizzle with more garlic/oil and cook
two minutes more. Repeat until shrimp
are cooked. Sprinkle with chopped
parley. Serve with garlic mayo.
© Debbie Leach is a
nutritionist working to
encourage healthy
eating among school
children. Right now
she’s off pedaling with
the pilgrims in the
Pyrenees to taste tapas.
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June / July 2006
45
GREAT GEAR
PRIJON UPDATES THE KODIAK
Prijon has just updated the expedition-proven Kodiak with several
functional details, including expanded
knee room for larger paddlers, a deck
box (day hatch), and spare paddle fastening loops. The deck box features a
large, stretchable neoprene sock below
a convenient 8” hatch cover located
directly in front of the cockpit. This
provides paddlers easy access to small
items while on the water without lifting
the spraydeck. For more information
see www.wildnet.com.
Prijon Kodiak
Granville Island
English Bay
Jericho
Since 1980
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604-689-7575
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REFLECTIVE LINES
BORÉALDESIGN has upgraded to
new reflective deck lines to assist your
visibility. The addition of reflective tape
and name decals on the bow and stern
of all composite models will provide a
reflective profile outlining the shape of
the kayak. www.borealdesign.com
PAGE’S RESORT MARINA
Silva Bay—Gabriola Island, BC
Cottages, Campground, Fuel, Moorage,
Laundromat, Showers, Artwork,
Charts, Books and
PRIME PADDLING!
Flat Top Islands and
Drumbeg Provincial Park.
Established 1943
Call 250-247-8931
www.pagesresort.com
46
June / July 2006
BOOKS—Diana Mumford
Kayaking the Broken Group Islands
by JF Marleau, Pacific Rim Informative
Adventures, 2006 ISBN 0-9739877-0-7
$17.99 US, $19.99 Cdn, 128 pp,
b/w photos, www.priaoutback.com
“The Broken Group Islands is one of the most
famous sea kayaking destinations in the world.
Its spectacular beauty and abundant diversity of
wildlife offer a unique wilderness adventure.”
The introduction to Kayaking the Broken Group Islands begins
with this declaration and goes on to prove it by providing a wealth
of information for those who wish to experience this famous place.
An all-in-one guide, it outlines camping and access regulations,
provides travel and accommodation information, discusses paddling
routes, tells the history of the area, and describes flora and fauna
that you are likely to encounter. This is an indispensable guide for
paddlers who plan to visit the Broken Group.
Paddling the Yukon River
and its Tributaries
by Dan Maclean, self-published, 2005
ISBN 1-59433-027-1, $19.95 US / $25.95 Cdn
192 pp, b/w photos & maps, bibliography,
glossary, index
www.publicationconsultants.com/paddle.htm
This is a very practical guide to paddling the
five longest rivers of Alaska from their headwaters
in the Yukon Territory to the Bering Sea. The author speaks from
experience, having paddled all these routes solo. This country is
not for the faint of heart, and Maclean suggests that people prepare
themselves for the isolation and lack of amenities en route, and that
they paddle shorter segments before attempting a headwaters-todelta expedition. General considerations are frankly discussed in
the introductory chapters, followed by specific guides to the Yukon,
Tanana, Porcupine, Koyukuk and Kuskokwim Rivers. If you have
excellent outdoor skills, this book could be your guide to one of
your greatest lifetime adventures.
June / July 2006
Tears, Fear & Adventure
by James Michael Dorsey, self-published, 2006
ISBN 1-59113-893-0, $21 US, 308 pp
b/w photos, www.jamesdorsey.com
James Michael Dorsey has been traveling off the
beaten track for decades—not as a tourist looking
for rest and relaxation on vacation, but to see and
learn something new and to meet new people. In
this volume he participates in the age-old storytelling tradition as he recounts adventures from his travels all over
the world. Loosely organized by the points of the compass, the
stories tell of unique experiences with wildlife, people and the
elements (including versions of the paddling stories previously
published in WaveLength). Dorsey takes his reader from Alaska to
the Baja and South America, to Europe, to Japan and Cambodia
and other Asian destinations, relating each adventure and the
lessons he learned in a casual style as if you were a close friend.
Armchair and active travelers will be entertained and inspired by
this collection of stories.
Greenland Paddles: Step by Step
by Brian Nystrom
self-published, 2005
$19.95 US, 54 pp, b/w photos
Order at:
[email protected]
After catching the “GP” bug, Brian
Nystrom wrote this detailed, illustrated
manual for creating Greenland paddles.
It lists the tools and supplies you will
need (and some extras you might want),
discusses the selection of wood suitable
for paddle building, clarifies the characteristics and variations of
Greenland paddles, and clearly outlines a step-by-step construction
process. If you too have a soft spot for GPs, this manual will help
you create your own beautiful, functional paddle.
To have your book or video reviewed,
please contact [email protected]
47
Laurie MacBride photo
NEWS
Alan presenting award to Mercia Sixta.
48
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Veteran paddler Mercia Sixta was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at
this year’s Vancouver Island Paddlefest in
May. Last year’s winner, Alan Wilson, made
the presentation to Mercia on behalf of the
Paddlefest for her outstanding volunteer
efforts over many years to promote safe
paddling within the recreational and commercial paddling communities. Mercia was
one of the founders of the Sea Kayak Association of BC where she served as president
for 14 years, before founding the Pacific
International Kayak Association, involving
BC and Washington paddlers, as well as
working tirelessly to promote training for
physically challenged paddlers (see article
page 17). For 20 years she was the key organizer of the Coast Kayak Symposium on
Thetis Island, BC, and she is undoubtedly
the person most responsible for BC’s excellent record of paddling safety.
OCEAN RIVER SPORTS OFFER
All those buying kayaks at Ocean River
Sports in Victoria are now offered a choice
of a free subscription to WaveLength, a
free membership in the Victoria Canoe and
Kayak Club, or a $25 service gift certificate
to use at ORS for a course, tour, rental or
workshop. See www.oceanriver.com.
AROUND AMERICA ADVENTURE
A young Swedish woman, Renata
Chlumska, is paddling and biking around
the continental US. See www.aroundamericaadventure.com. For the paddling portion,
she’s using a Prijon kayak.
PADDLING PROJECT IN BRAZIL
Rodrigo Cavasini has written from Brazil
to tell us about the Sail Project, a federal
government initiative to develop citizenship
and social involvement in physical and
outdoor recreation, including kayaking,
for underprivileged students aged 12 to
15. Since 2003 he’s been helping with the
project through the Rio Grande do Sul University. Classes include flatwater kayaking
skills, rescues, risk assessment and environmental education. He says the results show
that social problems among the students
have decreased and grades have increased
([email protected]).
Boys in Brazil are better with paddling!
June / July 2006
NEW TAPS BOARD
New Board Members for the Trade
Association of Paddlesports: Representing Manufacturers—Joan Barrett of Bear
Mountain Boat Shop Inc., Josh Hoopes
of Confluence Watersports. Representing
Retailers—Tom Kimmet of REI, Glenn Lush
of Cowichan Bay Kayak & Paddle-sports.
Representing Outfitters—Raymond Fusco
of Hudson Valley Outfitters, Mike Savario of
Amphibious Horizons. At Large—Mark Hall
of Delta Kayaks,Tim Rosenhan of Innova
Kayaks, Robin Thacker of Atlantis Kayaks,
Bill Walker of Seattle Raft & Kayak.
WHALE WISE GUIDELINES
This year the Be Whale Wise Marine
Wildlife Viewing Guidelines have been
revised. In summary:
• Be observant approaching areas of
known or suspected marine wildlife
activity
• Keep your speed down (less than 7
knots for boaters) when in the presence
of animals
• Keep clear of the whales’ path
• Do not approach whales from the front
or behind, always travel parallel to their
direction of travel
• Do not approach or position your vessel
closer than 100 meters to any whale
• Stay on the offshore side of the whales
when they are traveling close to shore
For the complete guidelines visit: www.
straitwatch.org or www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/
species/marinemammals/view_e.htm
Brochures can be downloaded at the
Straitwatch website, or requested in print.
THE TRUTH ABOUT OIL SPILLS
The Oil Free Coast coalition in Vancouver, BC recently hosted Dr. Riki Ott author
of Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$:
The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.
Ott said that oil cannot be cleaned from
beaches and that it has lasting impacts. She
reported that the ‘cleanup’ from the Exxon
Valdez damaged the health of thousands of
workers and may have made the ecosystem
impacts worse. The only solution, she said,
is prevention of spills. The killer ingredient
in oil, the PAHs, are getting into all of us,
from burning oil for electricity and from our
car exhausts, yet another reason to end the
Oil Age. Visit www.oilfreecoast.org.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Recognizing that global warming is
fast approaching the point of no return
and that the world cannot wait for the US
government to act, hundreds of US city
mayors have pledged to cut emissions of
greenhouse gases. By signing the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, these
mayors—representing some 44 million
Americans—have committed their cities é
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June / July 2006
49
NEWS continued
to meet or beat the US emissions reduction
target in the Kyoto Protocol, despite the
federal government’s refusal to ratify that
treaty. States and businesses also are taking part. The challenge now is to multiply
these initiatives and take them further. With
the US making up 5 percent of the global
population but responsible for 25% of the
world’s greenhouse gas emissions, there
is no substitute for leadership from the
top. Thanks to Earth Policy Institute: www.
earthpolicy.org.
FIRST NATIONS PARKS AGREEMENT
Parks Canada reports that the Gulf Islands
National Park Reserve in the southern Strait
of Georgia—BC’s newest federal Park—is
going to be co-managed with the six First
Nations of the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group
based in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island.
The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve consists of areas of land on fifteen islands plus
adjacent waters. This is part of an historic
agreement to involve First Nations in park
management in areas of their traditional
territories, including the Namgis people of
Alert Bay who will have a say in management of several federal parks on northern
Vancouver Island.
OSPREY TOURS
Sea Kayak Tours... with a difference
Paddle a Replica of 2000 year old Umiak
Located at Orcas Ferry Landing, Washington
Mothership & Kayak Shuttle
www.ospreytours.com
NEW LOCATION: Schooner Cove Marina
250 468 1859 TOLL FREE 866 468 1859
50
June / July 2006
Our Next Issue...
Aug/Sep In print: Aug. 1st
‘PADDLING PLUS...’
Featuring KAYAK FISHING,
kayak sailing and more.
Deadline: Jun. 20th
Photo Contest...
WIN A GREAT PENTAX
WATERPROOF DIGITAL CAMERA
Be sure to click on ‘Photo Contest’
at www.WaveLengthMagazine.com
for the REVISED RULES.
Let’s go paddling!
Subscribe or Renew your subscription for a chance to win a
MANITOU 14 prize package from Necky Kayaks
The Manitou 14—a longer, full-on touring version of the popular recreational Manitou—is generous with its stability and
comfort. Its user-friendly attributes are reassuring for entry-level and intermediate paddlers, yet sophisticated enough
to handle the demands of hardcore enthusiasts. The cockpit size remains accommodating for entry and exit, and the
boat’s modest weight makes transporting easy. Plus there’s a retractable skeg for enhanced tracking and trim. The prize
package includes a PFD, paddle and free delivery to your nearest Necky dealer—courtesy of Necky Kayaks!
Weight: 49 lbs
Length: 14’ 4”
Width: 24”
WWW.NECKY.COM
1 yr sub: 1 entry
2 yr sub: 2 entries
PRIZE DRAW:
October 1st, 2006
To start your subscription today call 1-800-799-5602 or subscribe online
Subscribe online with a credit card via PayPal at www.WaveLengthMagazine.com, or clip or photocopy this form and mail it with
your payment to: 2735 North Road, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada V0R 1X7. All subscription information is Privacy Protected.
NAME_________________________________________________________ PHONE_____________________________
ADDRESS______________________________________________________ CITY_______________________________
PROV / STATE_______________________________________ POSTAL / ZIP CODE ______________________________
DON’T MISS AN ISSUE!
$18 / 1
YEAR
– 6 ISSUES
US$ FOR USA
June / July 2006
/
$30 / 2
CDN$ FOR CANADA (WE PAY THE GST)
YEARS
– 12 ISSUES
JJ 06
51
BED & BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH
Gabriola’s south coast paradise.
Beachfront. Wildlife. Hot tub.
Gabriola Island, BC
• KAYAK RENTALS •
Ph/Fax: 250/247-9824
www.island.net/~casablan
Large, KEVLAR double touring kayak,
NIMBUS SKANA—3 hatches, 2 cockpits,
and adpated for mast and sail. Extremely
comfortable and seaworthy. Includes kayak,
mast, sail, cockpit covers, one spray skirt,
bilge pump, padded wooden floor storage
rack. This is the Mercedes of kayaks! In
excellent condition: $4500. Contact [email protected], 604-228-8079.
Ph: 250-539-5553
RENTALS, TOURS, LESSONS
[email protected]
121 Boot Cove Rd.
Saturna Island, BC V0N 2Y0
SOUTHEAST EXPOSURE
Ketchikan, Alaska
6 Day Guided Trips
Misty Fjords National Monument
907-225-8829
www.southeastexposure.com
VARGAS ISLAND INN
Affordable Wilderness Resort accommodation in
Clayoquot Sound on Vargas Island beachfront.
• 5k N.W. Tofino • Ideal for kayakers • Inn &
cabins • All self-catering • Passenger & kayak
transport from Tofino available • Lots to do!
CALL 250-725-3309
Sechelt Inlet on the Sunshine Coast
Free wilderness camping at 9 Marine Parks.
Only 2 hours from downtown Vancouver.
www.pedalspaddles.com 1-866-885-6440
Providing quality equipment and excellent
service since 1991. Certified Guides. Fully Insured.
SALTSPRING KAYAK & CYCLE
• Tours • Rentals • Sales
Located on the wharf at Fulford Harbour
next to the ferry terminal. Walk off the
ferry and step into a kayak or rental bike!
Toll Free: 866-341-0007
“Gateway to the Southern Marine Parks”
[email protected]
www.saltspringkayaking.com
SeaScape Resort
Quadra Island, BC.
Oceanfront cabins.
Kitchenette & BBQ facilities.
Boat, bike & kayak rentals. Pet friendly.
Fishing & adventure tours available. Moorage.
Toll Free: 888-893-1626
www.seascapewaterfrontresort.com
2006 is WaveLength’s
16th year serving the
paddlesports community!
Our loyal advertisers provide the resources
that allow us to bring you this magazine,
so please be sure to check out the great
products and services they have to offer.
The web’s best source for alternative
menstrual products
Eco-friendly essentials for women on the go!
Free catalogue 1.888.590.2299
or shop online at www.lunapads.com
Your home base
for Exceptional
GULF ISLANDS
Paddling!
Mayne Island, BC
Kayak Rentals, Lessons and Guided Tours.
Accommodation/Kayaking packages available.
www.bluevistaresort.com
1-877-535-2424
MAYNE ISLAND KAYAK & CANOE RENTALS INC.
KAYAKING AT ITS BEST!
Rentals / Guided Tours / Lessons
Sales / Bicycles / Scooters.
Complimentary Ferry pick-up.
Variety of accommodations
available.
250 539-5599
www.maynekayak.com
guide courses 2006
in tofino with dan lewis and bonny glambeck
assistant guide:
april 29-may 7, may 13-21, sept 9-1 7
day guide: may 26-29
call toll free
1-877-422-WILD
www.rainforestkayak.com
Whitewater Kayaking
Chilliwack
River Rafting
No experience necessary.
Inflatable kayaks on class 2 to 3. Easy skills
transfer from Ocean kayaking. Daily departures.
Call 1-800-410-7238
www.chilliwackrafting.com
FOR SALE
15.1 acres of treed waterfront near Echo
Bay (school, fuel, post office) in the
Broughton Archipelago, BC, with dock,
deep water moorage, two homes, two
cabins, workshop, fruit trees, chicken
coop, good sun exposure and lovely
view. [email protected].
52
ISLAND BUSINESS FOR SALE
Harvest Thyme Whole Foods
Popular, bustling, Gabriola Island
health food store and restaurant. Warm,
colourful decor, well situated on the
main road, with outdoor patio and great
parking. Original owner. Call Joyanne at
250-247-8824.
Never lift those boats again!
www.tonystrailers.com
June / July 2006
NORTH ISLAND KAYAK
Port Hardy & Telegraph Cove
Rentals & 1–6 Day Guided Trips
PRIME ECOTOURISM BUSINESS FOR SALE
Sea Kayak Guides
Alliance of BC
Toll Free 1-877-949-7707
www.KayakBC.ca
[email protected]
BLACKFISH SEA KAYAKING
ON THE NORTH COAST
Tired of the crowds? Try the North
Coast this year. 5 day trips to outer,
sandy islands, total isolation, catch your own salmon
& crab for dinner. Paddle in Humpback Whale feeding
grounds. Visit the most amazing archaeological site in
BC. Small groups. Prince Rupert. www.blackfish.ca
Call Paul and Gina toll-free: 1-877-638-1887.
Fall 2006
Guides Exchange
Oct. 6–8
23rd annual
West Coast Sea Kayak
Symposium
The SKGABC AGM will be held Oct. 8th
LOCATION:
HOST:
CONTACT:
See our website for details
www.skgabc.com
September 15-17 at Ft. Worden
Port Townsend, WA.
www.wcsks.org
NOVA SCOTIA
Inn-to-Inn or Island Camping Adventures
Sailboat Supported & Multisport Trips
Guides, Lessons, Outfitting
Freewheeling Adventures
www.freewheeling.ca
800-672-0775
“Downtown By The Fishing Pier”
4 Star Accommodations
571 Island Highway
Campbell River, BC V9W 2B9
www.oceanfrontbb.com
Hostess: Patty Johnson
Phone (250) 286-8385
Toll Free 1-877-604-4938
[email protected]
KAYAK & DIVING
New Log Cabin Accommodation
Next to Drumbeg Park
Gabriola Island, BC
www.HighTestDive.com
Kayak Nuchatlitz & Kyuquot: Rentals, Tours,
Transport, Water taxi to Nootka Trail.
Mason’s Lodge, a haven for
paddlers. Rooms & Restaurant.
Toll free: 866-222-2235
Ph/Fax: 250-539-2442
kayak@gulfislands.com www.seakayak.ca
Island Home & Business for Sale
‘Downtown’ Gabriola retail fish store
location and equipment, with provincially
licensed fish plant and three bedroom
house on 3.65 acres. $385,000 Cdn.
250-247-8093. By appointment only.
June / July 2006
The Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC
is a non-profit society which upholds
high standards for professional sea kayak
guides and operators in BC. Through
on-going professional development and
certification, the Alliance strives to ensure
safe practices on an industry-wide basis.
SKGABC EXECUTIVE
PRESIDENT
Blake Johnson: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENTS
Piper Harris: [email protected]
J F MarleauL [email protected]
SECRETARY
Sue Glenn: [email protected]
TREASURER
Chris Nagle: [email protected]
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Tina Walker: [email protected]
Matt Kellow: [email protected]
COORDINATING DIRECTOR
Dusty Silvester: [email protected]
SKGABC Membership
www.queencharlottekayaking.com
ANDALE KAYAKING
GALIANO ISLAND, BC KAYAKING
YEAR ROUND
COSTA RICA—OSA PENINSULA
7 days in paradise, weekly Dec–Apr since 1987
Gabriola Island, BC
Peter Marcus
Gabriola Cycle & Kayak
[email protected]
Salt Spring Island’s north end Kayaking
Connection. Sales, rentals, lessons, tours,
kids’ boats. Wallace Island Marine Park
Tours. A variety of drop-off and pick-up
sites. We make kayaking fun and safe!
250-537-0700 (Apr–Oct)
[email protected]
http://saltspring.gulfislands.com/allanmather
• Kayak Day Tours
• Camping Expeditions
• Youth Camps & School
Programmming
• Accommodation and
Kayaking Packages
Unique Outdoor Gear & Clothing Store
www.islandescapades.com 1 888 529-2567
[email protected]
To become a member of the Alliance, mail
this form and a cheque to the address below.
___ Company Membership—$100/year
___ Individual Membership—$35/year
___ Associate Membership—$25/year
Name__________________________
Address________________________
______________________________
Phone_________________________
Email__________________________
Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC
P.O. Box 1005, Station A,
Nanaimo BC, V9R 5Z2
[email protected]
53
CALENDAR
TYEE KAYAK
FISHING DERBY
September 2–4, 2006
MOUTCHA BAY RESORT
‘NOOTKA SOUND’
Visit our website for more info,
to register, or view video of Derby
www.moutchabay.com
Call Jim Davis 250-923-2908
54
June 2-4, South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayaking
Symposium, Twanoh Park, WA. www.qajaqpnw.org
June 3, 17th Paddle Sports Expo, Newport Beach,
CA. www.southwindkayaks.com
June 3, 7th Round Bowen Race, Bowen Island,
BC. www.roundbowenrace.org
June 7, Hayley Shephard’s Haida Gwaii slideshow,
Nanaimo, BC. [email protected]
June 8, Hayley Shephard’s Haida Gwaii slideshow,
Victoria, BC. [email protected]
June 10-11, Atlantic Canada Sea Kayaker Meeting,
Tangier, NS. www.coastaladventures.com
June 17-18, Sea Kayak Symposium, Steady Brook, NL.
www.explorenewfoundland.com/symposium.htm
June 17-18, CRCA Level I Course, Madawaska
Kanu Centre, Barry’s Bay, ON. www.mkc.ca
June 22, Hayley Shephard’s Antarctica Adventure
slideshow, Nanaimo, BC. [email protected]
June 23-25, 3rd DemoFest, Deerfield River, MA.
www.zoaroutdoor.com
July 7-9, 8th Howe Sound Outrigger Race,
Gibsons, BC. www.clippercanoes.com
July 7-9, Door County Sea Kayak Symposium,
Rowleys Bay, WI. www.rutabaga.com
July 9, BCMTA 16th Marathon, Jericho Beach,
Vancouver, BC. www.ecomarine.com
July 8-9, CRCA Level I Course, Madawaska Kanu
Centre, Barry’s Bay, ON. www.mkc.ca
July 9-15, Build Your Own Kayak, www.clcboats.
com/events/chesapeakeltclasswb.php
July 13-15, Assembly of Wooden Canoe Heritage
Association, Keuka Park, NY. www.wcha.org
July 13-16, 22nd Great Lakes Sea Kayak
Symposium, Grand Marais, MI. www.glsks.org
July 13-22, Great Hudson River Paddle, Albany,
NY. www.hrwa.org
July 15, Tour de Indian Arm, Deep Cove, BC.
www.deepcovekayak.com
July 16-22, Build Your Own Canoe, www.
clcboats.com/events
July 22-23, Guide Essentials Workshop with
Wayne Horodowich, Kalispell, MT. www.
silvermoonkayak.com
July 22-23, CRCA Level I Course, Madawaska
July 30, NLPA Canoe & Kayak Instructor’s Clinic,
St. John’s, NL. [email protected]
Aug 4-6, West Coast Wooden Kayak Rendezvous,
Port Townsend, WA. joe@redfishkayak.com
Aug 5-6, Paddle the Mississippi River Challenge.
www.mississippiriverchallenge.org
Aug 12-13, CRCA Level I Course, Madawaska
Aug 17-20, Canadian Whitewater Championships,
Madawaska Kanu Centre, ON. www.mkc.ca
Aug 17-20, Ladies of the Lake Sea Kayak Symposium,
St. Ignace, MI. [email protected]
Aug 19-20, Small Craft Builders Rendezvous,
Peterborough, ON. www.bearmountainboats.com
Aug 20-26, Rideau Canal Folding Kayak Flotilla II,
Chaffeys Lock. [email protected]
Aug 26-27, CRCA Level I Course, Madawaska
Sep 2-4, Tyee Kayak Fishing Derby, Moutcha Bay
Resort, BC. www.moutchabay.com
Sep 8-9, 10th Newfound Rendezvous,
Wellington State Park, Bristol, NH. www.
newfoundrendezvous.org
Sep 15-17, West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium,
Port Townsend, WA. www.wcsks.org
Sep 17, GoZero Kayak Race, Beacon, NY. www.
gozero.info
Sep 28, Hayley Shephard’s Antarctica Adventure
slideshow, Victoria, BC. [email protected]
Sep 29-Oct 1, Delmarva Paddlers Retreat. www.
qajaqusa.org
Sep 30-Oct 1, Bay Area Paddlefest, San Mateo,
CA. www.bayareapaddlefest.com
Oct 13-15, Traditional Kayak Rendezvous, Fish
Creek, WI. www.superiorkayaks.com
June / July 2006
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© Rick Matthews photo
Thermoformed
Kayak Specialists
www.deltakayaks.com
604-460-6544
June / July 2006
55
56
June / July 2006

- Wavelength Magazine

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