SISKA Instructors Instructing

Over the April 9-10th weekend I participated in a couple of South Island Sea Kayaking Association (SISKA) events and both were related to being an instructor. 

On Saturday, the first SISKA Instructors "Peer Day" took place at Trial Island and as a new Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Level 1 instructor I was invited to attend. With the recent warm spell on the west coast, the morning fog has been developing and sure enough when the 6 of us arrived at the McNeill Bay beach it was a little "soupy". 

Can anyone see the Trial Island Lighthouse????
L to R: Jennie, Michael, Mike, Dorothea (sitting) and Jo

It's out there somewhere .... but where??

We went about our business preparing our kayaks and then had a discussion about heading out towards Trial which was eerily just starting to show itself. With the improving visibility, calm conditions and a few of us having GPS's on board we decided to head out across Enterprise Channel.

By the time we reached the main island where the lighthouse is located the sun had burned through enough that we were able to get down to business. The purpose of the day was to share teaching methods, skills demonstration ideas and practice any skills as a group that we might use in the future.

Jo and the Trial Island lighthouse

We were also fortunate to have a pretty decent low tide and Mike Jackson taught us a little bit about the inter-tidal zone life we were able to see.  It was great to see pisaster ochraceus, generally known as the purple sea star or ochre sea star just above the waterline. In recent months starfish around here have been dramatically reduced in numbers due to Sea Star Wasting Disease. Mike also explained the differences between surf and eel grass, black chiton and mossy/hairy/woody chiton as well as dire whelk and frilled dog winkles.

Once again the fog rolled in and the lighthouse disappeared. .... time for lunch!!

The fog again lifted as we enjoyed lunch on a small pebble beach below the high water line.

During our lunch break, Mike Jackson also gave a short lecture on the pros and cons of using a Greenland paddle and how to paddle with it effectively. I was intrigued enough that once back on the water Mike kindly let me use his carbon fiber Greenland Paddle to head back to McNeill Bay. I have to admit that crossing Enterprise Channel which was now flooding at about 3-4 knots made me feel a little uneasy as the "stick" I was using felt that I didn't have any bracing capability at all. However, once we crossed the channel I started to experiment with the paddle by doing extended paddle bracing in a small flowing channel between a couple of islets. I kinda liked it ;-)

Back in McNeill Bay we worked on the Hand of God rescue with yours truly being the victim. I have actually seen it done a couple of times when a kayaker became disorientated under water and couldn't locate the "holy *hit" strap on the spray skirt. Since that time I have been working on it with Robyn and Kari and although difficult for ladies to do, if the mechanics are correct they too can bring up a big guy like myself. 

Michael Egilson trying to hand brace. It worked pretty good!!

It was a great day of sharing ideas and trying a few things and I look forward to doing another instructors day in the future.


2016 Paddle #11 - Trial Island
Distance: 3.17 nm (5.87  km)
YTD: 77.82 nm (144.215 km)





























On Sunday morning I assisted Jennie Sutton (lead instructor for the day) on a SISKA beginner / intermediate currents clinic at Cadboro Point. To take advantage of the conditions our group of 8 students launched from Cadboro Bay (Gyro Park) at 07:30am and headed out towards a small channel that we hoped would have enough water for us to play in.

Jennie leads Janet, Willi, Dana, Wendy, Tim, Deb, Julie and Dave through a beach talk about what to expect out there.

Arriving at the channel we found a wonderful ebb flow and Jennie and I were able to demonstrate low brace turns and ferrying across the current. As the assistant instructor I located myself a little bit downstream and coached the students to exit the main flow and into the back eddy where I was located. I also was there just in case one of them happened to edge the wrong way and ended up in the water. I was pleasantly surprised that not a single one of them edged the wrong way enough to go swimming. I like to think of them as being FAT (Flexible, Available and Trainable) that day because they watched and listened to what was being taught by Jennie and myself and then simply did it for themselves. So awesome to see their progression throughout the clinic and of course to see their big ear to ear smiles!

Wendy working in the current

Then, as the conditions started to increase, the students got to explore their comfort level a bit more by hanging out in mid-current looking for little eddies that would allow their kayak to remain in place. We also taught them how to paddle upstream using eddies behind rocks as we leap-frogged against the current.

Jennie keeps a close eye on Janet who really did quiet well being her first time in currents.

Deb showing that resting in the currents can be fun too!

Dave can't stop smiling. Think he likes currents??

Tim also having fun just hanging out in the currents.

A few of the students playing in edge of the Baynes Channel flow. 

Nearing the end of the clinic the ebb conditions started to decrease and many of the features that we used a few hours earlier simply vanished. However, a few of the students ventured out into the edge of the Baynes Channel flow once again pushing the envelope just a little bit further. Still, nobody went swimming!

We were off the water just before lunch and by the comments we received it seems like everyone had a really good time, learned some new skills and hopefully overcame some nerves about paddling in currents.

2016 Easter on Portland Island

Storm after storm after storm has been the weather pattern the past month or so but things were starting to look a bit better heading into the Easter long weekend. After checking the camping gear (minimizing again) we decided that we would head to Arbutus Point on Portland Island for 4 days. We really didn't care what the weather would do as long as the winds didn't stop us going or coming back home. Tarps, rain gear and multiple layers of warm clothes were packed along with what seemed like a whole fridge of food (we really need to work on that).

We meet up with Beverely (and Bella the dog), Lynn and Morley at Van Isle Marina in Sidney at 07:30am to take advantage of the predicted light winds and a slowly increasing ebb which we would be paddling against. For Robyn and I this was our first time launching at the marina and I must say what the heck were we thinking of the last 3 years launching from some of the local beaches with limited parking? Van Isle Marina has a nicely paved unloading area which allowed us to load and wheel our kayaks down the ramp with ease. And ... a great parking lot to leave the car in!

Launching out of Van Isle Marina

Leaving the ramp at 08:30am we headed towards our destination via John Passage, Pym Island and on to Shell Beach. As expected the ebb currents were starting to build and it was a bit of slog approaching Brackman Island so decided to take a rest stop at Shell Beach, which to my surprise was completely empty of campers. While stretching our legs we spotted Jo not far behind us so we waited for her to catch up to us and continued on our way to Arbutus Point.

One of the things about arriving at Arbutus Point is that you never know who might be there especially on a long weekend. To our surprise there wasn't a soul around so we had our choice of the tent pads and one of the first things I noticed was a new kiosk welcoming travelers like us.

The new welcome sign

  

The sign welcomes visitors to SXEĆOŦEN and explains that for thousands of years the Coast Salish have considered Portland Island to be part of their traditional territories. SENĆOŦEN is one of the Coast Salish languages spoken in this area and SXEĆOŦEN is the traditional name for the island which translates to "dry mouth".

Life is tough .... enjoying the sunshine

Some of the recent upgrades to the campsite include a new metal food cache, composting outhouse and each pad site has a new picnic table. The changes are a welcome sight as the last time we visited in late 2014 I thought Arbutus Point was starting to look a little run down. We went to work setting up camp which included tarps over the tents and tables since rain was in the forecast later that night. As we were relaxing after brunch, fellow paddlers Dave, Kevin and Gene arrived from Mill Bay and somewhere Reale and Jeff were still on the water.

Dave, Kevin and Gene arrive after paddling from Mill Bay

As our group number was increasing it pretty well took up all of the available tent pads except for one until a super pod (10+) of kayaks and canoes started to arrive just after noon. One by one they landed on the crescent beach behind the campground and came into the camping area surprised to find us here. As it turns out they were a nice bunch of people who had been coming to Arbutus Point at Easter for the past 10 years or so. While they were deciding what they were going to do about camping our group headed out to hike around the island. The coastline trail seems to be a ritual for us when ever we visit the island but there also is a central trail that Robyn and I have never explored.

Morley, air cast and all made the trip and catches up on some reading around camp.

Taking approximately 2 hours to complete the circumnavigation of the island, we stopped at the Shell Beach and Princess Bay campgrounds and surprise, surprise they were both completely empty (still). Shell Beach is a wonderful location to spend a weekend but can be a popular spot for power-boaters and occasionally is a party beach. Princess Bay is a grassy meadow like campsite near an old orchard but on this day it was pretty wet and 'boggy' which would make setting up camp pretty difficult.

Brackman Island just off Shell Beach

Jo heading back home

Arriving back at Arbutus Point we found the "Easter group" of campers scattered through the trees behind the main camping area. Obviously they must have done this in past years with the number of people in their group. Reale and Jeff had also arrived while we were away but unfortunately Jo need to start heading back home to look after her sick kitty.







We spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening sharing stories and enjoying each other company before heading off to our inviting tents just near dusk. The forecast for the evening was for rain and just after we climbed into our sleeping bags it started to pour. However, it was comforting knowing that our tarps were doing their job and so were my ear plugs as I drifted off to sleep :-)

On Saturday morning we woke up to clearing skies and our group started making plans for the day after breakfast. Gene, Dave and Kevin would be heading back to Mill Bay as there was a potential for high westerly winds on Sunday. Reale, Beverely and Jeff decided they would also be heading back towards Victoria but only after paddling over to Point Fairfax on Moresby Island. Robyn, Lynn, Morley and I headed out on a circumnavigation of Moresby Island which we have never done before. I must say that it is fantastic day trip from Portland Island and it also gave us the opportunity to get a closer looker of a destination we are heading to at the end of April. Where you might be wondering? The San Juan Islands!!

Stuart Island, one of the San Juan Islands on the left and Rum Island on the right. A short paddle across Haro Straight.

Lunch stop near Point Fairfax

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

We stopped for lunch and a nap for me on a nice little crescent beach on the west side of Point Fairfax. At last reported, Moresby Island was up for sale in the neighborhood of 50 million dollars. It would be nice to see a good chunk of the island designated as a new Gulf Island park but that probably won't happen in my lifetime. Arriving back at camp our little band of travelers were now down to the four of us and the Easter group which now had a couple of additions not related to them. It seems that 2 Russian speaking fellows arrived by stand up paddle boards and they too were camped back in the woods.

Relax, relax relax ....... repeat!

The Easter group gathered on the crescent beach just behind the campsite to cook a turkey on in a portable dish like hibachi and they even came by and offered us some too but we politely declined as we had just finished our dehydrated meals. For the rest of the evening we just hung out on the bluff near our tents and simply watched life go by. :-)

I took the time to shoot some pictures of birds along the shoreline.

My first picture of an Oyster Catcher

Great Blue Heron

Sunday morning was a real lazy start to the day, no rush, two cups of coffee and I went for a full breakfast consisting of hash browns, bacon and eggs. Robyn and I decided to hike the trails inside the island while Lynn and Morley did a little hiking on their own. Morley recently got back to kayaking after suffering a skiing injury over Christmas. Even this weekend he was is still in his air cast while his torn Achilles tendon is healing. He did quite well around camp on his crutches and is happy to be able to paddle again.

The trails inside the island were a wonderful surprise of raised board walks, tall fir trees and even several large arbutus. I'm glad I brought my new Canon 70D SLR with 18-135mm lens with me on this trip and I used a lot of time to shoot over 800 pictures mostly because I was trying out different modes, shutter and aperture settings.

Raised boardwalk on the Kanaka Trail

Very quiet and beautiful on the interior trail

Dark Eyed Oregon Junco ... who sees who? 

The magic of the weather. 

Arriving back at camp we settled in for some early appetizers and as the weather forecast predicted we were graced by several rain squalls coming from the northwest. They say every cloud has a silver lining and for us it was much more colorful.

Our last sunrise before packing up and heading home

Monday morning we woke up to partly sunny skies and a building wind from the north (as predicted). After a quick breakfast we dismantled camp and headed onto the water as white caps were building in Swanson Channel. As we all expected the winds decreased to almost to nothing once we reached Shell Beach because we were now in the wind shadow of Portland Island. We made our way back to Swartz Bay in full sunshine and took the scenic route through Page Passage and into Tsehum Harbour and finally back at Van Isle Marina.

It's official ..... kayak camping season is now full on!!

2016 Paddle #8 - Van Isle Marina to Portland Island
Distance: 5.00 nm (9.26  km)
YTD: 60.77 nm (112.23 km)

2016 Paddle #9 - Arbutus Point to Moresby Island
Distance: 8.80 nm (16.30  km)
YTD: 69.57 nm (128.53 km)

2016 Paddle #10 - Portland Island to Van Isle Marina
Distance: 5.08 nm (9.40  km)
YTD: 74.65 nm (137.93 km)