Alternate Destination...Brentwood Bay & Tod Inlet

Robyn and I headed down to Ocean River this morning looking forward to spending the afternoon paddling around the Victoria Inner Harbor but were surprised to find our that there was some sort of kayak race happening. Funny, we called OR yesterday and there was no mention of the race weekend but Dan at OR today was very apologetic and offered to get us into boats if we didn't mind the congestion at the dock. After taking a walk down to see the action on the dock we decided to take a pass on the Inner Harbor today and look for an alternate paddling site to rent our equipment.

Robyn suggested that we head out to Brentwood Bay so after searching the internet for the local "yak" shop and stopping off for a Starbucks recharge we were on our way. The day was shaping up to be spectacular with the warm autumn sun working hard to take the morning chill out of the air. After parking close by the Mill Bay ferry ramp we followed the signs to Pacifica Paddle Sports where Sandra  set us up for a couple of hours of paddling. It was another opportunity to try out a couple different designs and I got my hands on 18'.3" Nimbus Telkwa and Robyn got a 16' Necky Arluk IV. Getting to be pros at setting the cockpit and safety gear up, we were on our way in a short amount of time after testing the boats for feel and turning capabilities. 

Robyn paddles by the BC Ferries Klitsa. For many years this ferry serviced the Chemainus to Thetis Island route where Robyn's Dad lived. Many times we traveled on the Klitsa and it was nice to see her once again after so many years.

It's been years since I was last on the waters of Brentwood Bay and boy it has developed a lot with condos looking like they run all the way down to the water line and pleasure craft of all shapes and sizes. Right in the heart of the bay,  BC Ferries operates the Klitsa between Brentwood Bay and Mill Bay. This has been a much debated service over the years but it's what makes this part of Vancouver Island lifestyle what it is.

We paddled our way clockwise from Pacifica to check out the busy marina and some of the vessels moored at the docks or in the bay itself. One of the largest ships in the marina is the MV Sea Lion that was built in 1905 to tow huge log booms down the BC Coastline. Her massive 33-metre keel was carved out of a single old-growth Douglas fir and 10 cm planks were cut from forests that no longer exist around Vancouver today.

In later years she served as floating hotel for kayakers and Eco-tourism operators and certainly is showing the wear and tear of 106 years on the rugged BC Coast.

Gecko Paddler nestles up to the MV Sea Lion..... she's an amazing piece of  the BC maritime history.

No sooner had we past the last jetty than we were paddling into a special place known as Tod Inlet. Robyn was being watched closely on the rocky shoreline by a mother raccoon and her two young cubs and even from where I was about 100 feet away I could see their "bandit" masks in the sunshine. We paddled into a small cove that is home to the world famous Butchart Gardens which backs onto Tod Inlet and where boaters can view the magical fireworks show every Saturday night in July and August. It is such a peaceful place to visit by water and you can even visit the gardens by paddling up to their private dock. The thought of Robyn and I walking up to the Tea Room in our wet suits would be a sight to see for the tourists. LOL

The Bucthart Gardens dock with the Eco-friendly electric tour boats. I just love the sign for different types of water craft.

We continued our way deeper into the inlet and came to the old cement factory dock and pilings that are now home to the Purple Martin nesting boxes. We came across a number of kayakers near the end of the inlet including a group of students from Ocean River Paddlesports learning basic paddling strokes.

Purple Martin nesting boxes, Ocean River Paddlesports training and me (Gecko Paddler) near the cement factory piles.

Robyn passes a couple of paddle tourists from Scotland

A tandem Necky heading out of Tod Inlet

At this point we had been on the water for just over an hour and we were thoroughly enjoying trying out these kayaks. Both had features that we liked and some that we didn't but I really think that to get the perfect kayak you would have to build it yourself. One thing I did notice was the plastic blade paddle that I had seemed to flex during my stroke and even Robyn noticed it too when she tried it. Maybe we were spoiled last weekend using a composite blade that seem more efficient. Things you learn trying different equipment go a long way in getting the right equipment when it comes time to purchase your own stuff.

We completed our paddle back to Pacifica by going straight across Brentwood Bay with a slight breeze in our face. A few powered pleasure craft crossed our paths and we waived hello back and forth respecting each others place on the water. During our transit we discussed the possibility of moving our kayak acquisition date up if the opportunity came around so we will see...... maybe Santa will come early this year!

Next up: Navigation 101 Course at Ocean River Paddlesports

Up The Creek Without Paddles...... or Kayaks

Well, the past month of kayaking has been an amazing adventure so far for Robyn and I. Starting this new recreational pastime is taking on it's own Otaku (Thanks Brett) in our lives. Both of us can't stop thinking about getting out there to work on skills and explore the jewel in our backyard (Vancouver Island & The Pacific Northwest) but of course one needs a kayak to do this. We have been fortunate to try out a few different types of kayaks and we have decided after many hours of internet research / reviews as well as first hand test paddling to order a couple of Delta Fifteen 5 Expeditions from Ocean River Paddlesports

We based our decision on stability, durability, comfort, cost and of course.... like anything it has to be pleasing to look at. The Delta kayaks just simply met all our our criteria and the Fifteen5 is perfect for day trips or a few nights camping on the beach. Delta offers a few top deck colors to choose from and I have selected red and Robyn will get a yellow one and no doubt we will swap the hatch covers to accent our boats a bit.

Delta 15.5 Sport's that we used a few weeks back.

With winter setting in we are going to order the kayaks for delivery in mid February and this will give us time to check out different paddle types and other equipment that we might (LOL) want. We have already acquired a number of Scotty Paddlesports safety items and only have a few more items to pick up as well as our PFD's. Christmas is coming and I think there might be a bunch of Ocean River gift certificates for both of us under the tree this year.

In the meantime, we are taking a Introductory Navigation & Marine Weather course next week at Ocean River Adventures to get a better understanding of these skills in relation to kayaking. I have my pleasure craft operators license but being in a kayak needs a whole different knowledge base. So..... now we wait, dream, kayak the internet for about 4 months until the "twins" arrive. :-)

Going Deeper Into Pedder Bay

After a successful day of kayaking with Dave & Kelly, yesterday we had planned to do a little more kayaking exploring Pedder Bay but the winds came up pretty good. Instead we explored the Sooke Basin by vehicle looking for possible launch locations for future day trips. I kinda like pre-planning anyway so we climbed into the Reaville's truck and checked out Anderson Cove, Roche Cove, Cooper Cove and Billings Point where coho salmon were being caught right off the beach. After picking up a few groceries we headed back to camp and spent the rest of the day nibbling on bacon wrapped oysters and appetizers while watching HNIC at the sports bar around the campfires. Yeah...life is tough enjoying the outdoors!  LOL

This morning we woke to calm winds and sunny skies so Robyn and I started planning our day of kayaking when we heard a knock that the RV door. Dave and Kelly came in ready to give kayaking a try again so we suited up and were on the water just after 10:30am. We decided to head out of the bay counterclockwise and since the conditions were perfect we made it all the way up to the DND dock exploring the shoreline and sea life.

Cormorants basking in the early morning sun

Heading south out of Pedder Bay

Being this far out of the bay gave us the opportunity to experience the wash of fishing boats as they came out of Pedder Bay.  It also gradually expanded our comfort zone as rollers from Juan De Fuca were present as well.  Our paddling group followed the rocky shoreline all the way up to the DND jetty and we took a few minutes to relax and stretch the legs out a bit.

Since the conditions were so favorable, we back tracked towards the narrowest point of the bay and assessed to opportunity to cross over towards William Head. After grouping up and checking for any pleasure craft that we might come cross our path we made the transit in less than 10 minutes. Although we could have made the crossing directly from the DND jetty, I felt it was better to take the shortest distance in open water and leave our group a safety margin just in case of a wet exit.  

 

Robyn has really taken to kayaking and is even getting style points with her personal gear. The kayak that she used for this weekend is a little narrow for her liking and was a bit "tippy" but she had no issues in keeping upright or maneuvering it around. I was really proud how she adapted to the kayak and was able to take away from the experience the pro & cons of a different form and length of boat.




After crossing over to the east side of the bay we paddled south to the William Head Prison checking out the small coves and secluded passages. Many of the "hidy holes" needed to be backed into to get a good photo so it gave the group good practice backing up into a tight wedge while working against the wave surge.

Gecko Paddler and RVTraveller raft up in a small cove

Dave & Kelly sharing a laugh ;-)

By the time we arrived back at the marina we had been on the water for 2 1/2 hours and were ready for a hearty brunch. It was time to wash down our borrowed kayaks and get them loaded back onto the truck for the trip home tomorrow. A special thanks to Robin and Liz for letting us use their Current Design Solstice GT & GTS and to Dave and Kelly for joining us on the water for the weekend.

Oct 7th Pedder Paddling

Yesterday afternoon we arrived at the Pedder Bay RV Resort with our good friends Dave and Kelly Reaville ready for a fun and relaxing weekend. This was a great opportunity to check out the kayak / racks with the RV in tow to make sure we have a enough pivot clearance from the rudders and the front of the RV. 

Does it get any better than this???  LOL

After a night of rain showers we woke up to clearing skies and the winds were calm so Robyn and I decided it was a good opportunity to try our borrowed Current Designs Solstice yaks. We suited up in our new Farmer John wet suits and booties and headed over to see what Dave and Kelly's plans were for the day. Dave and Kelly were all over the idea of trying out a couple of kayaks so while Robyn and I set up our kayaks they got their rental gear sorted out. After an orientation of the safety gear they were on the water paddling out in the harbor. Robyn and I used our newly learned entry skills and headed out to see where the "newbies" were and it wasn't long before we found them exploring the mud flats while getting used to the kayaks.

 

Dave captain's  his kayak

Kelly is all smiles as she catches up with the group!

Right away I noticed that Dave and Kelly were having a great time and in particular Kelly felt totally in control of this new experience. We headed up the east side of the bay and I passed on a few paddling techniques that would assist them maneuvering their kayaks and it wasn't long before they could easily turn, stop and back up as required. The first navigation test that I suggested to the group was to raft together for our first group photo opportunity.

(L to R)  Robyn , Dave and Kelly form a raft

We then headed into a small sheltered cove as I needed to adjust my seat back and rudder peddles a bit more to get a better feel for my kayak. Robyn took the opportunity to get my picture after my first successful beach landing with out ending up in the water. Once again.... skills learned last week sure helped!

My first beach exit without ending up in the water! LOL

Kelly focusing on the rock gardens and keeping paddling form.

It was time to head across the bay so we made the transit as a group in no time at all and started to explore further south towards the DND jetty. We came across numerous seals, the odd sea otter and schools of fish which the seals were feeding on. Heading back towards the marina we navigated our way through the rock gardens and kelp beds absorbing the warm sun and calm winds. It was a great day to expose Dave and Kelly to the joy of kayaking.

A bunch of happy kayakers celebrate our first paddle together! 

It's amazing how fast the time flows by when you are out on the water. It felt like we were only out for a short amount of time but in fact our little Pedder Paddle was 2 hours long and it was time to head back to base camp and enjoy lunch in the warm sunshine and relax the rest of the afternoon away.

I turned to see where Robyn was and she had her camera out busily snapping pictures of me while I approached her. Nice picture honey!!

NEXT UP: Exploring the Sooke Basin

First Haul

Heading into the coming long weekend Robyn and I got the opportunity to borrow (thanks Robin & Liz) a couple of Current Designs 17' Solstice GT & GTS kayaks to try out at Pedder Bay or in the Sooke Basin. So tonight we picked them up and it gave us an opportunity to try out our new Yakima Rack system.

Other than a few minor adjustments the kayaks easily rolled up on the Hullyrollers and because I have the Mako Saddles mounted quite a bit forward, the kayak only required a little assistance to reach them. I knew that having the racks mounted on top of my canopy that I would need a small step ladder to reach the racks or kayaks. Our 2 step ladder worked OK but we will invest in a 3 step model and it will become part of our standard kayaking gear that will reside in the truck.

The tie down straps are self locking and very easy to put on and just as easy to remove and because of the distance between the towers Robin and I decided that I didn't need the bow and stern straps. For long hauls or highway speed I think I will use the bow and stern straps just for that extra little bit of safety factor and the increased warm and fuzzy feeling. LOL  My Robyn :-) and I had no issues unloading the kayaks for safe keeping in the garage and the complete Yakima Rack system performed awesome!! Can't wait for the weekend!

Introduction to Kayaking Skills

What better way to really understand fundamental kayaking techniques than to learn from respected members of the local kayak community. There is something said about getting it right from the start so Robyn and I registered for the Oct.1st Introduction to Kayaking Skills course presented by Ocean River Sports in Victoria.

We met today at noon at the registration area in Ocean River Sports and after completing some final paperwork and receiving our course package we were ready to get things rolling. The packages included 28 page course notes, Transport Canada Sea Kayaking Safety Guide, Port of Victoria Traffic Scheme which clearly shows the proper areas of transit for pleasure craft under 65 feet, over 65 feet including float planes and the areas that paddlers can access. Also included in the package is a complimentary copy of Coast & Kayak and some rental information from Ocean River Sports.

There were 2 other couples also in the course and 2 instructors were assigned to our group which made for great one on one ratio teaching for the day. The first thing we did was head down to the dock located on the east side of the Johnson Street bridge and got to know each other a bit better by forming a circle. We then tossed a Throw Bag around to each other while saying the target's name and it wasn't long before we knew the other students, Pam and Jake, Charlotte and Lydia as well as Gary Doran (head instructor) and Gary "A" his assistant.

The view from the Ocean River Sports dock looking towards the inner harbor and the Johnson Street bridge

Gary Doran has the highest level of Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking certification known as a Level 3 Instructor Trainer which took him approximately 10 years to accomplish, while Gary "A" holds a Level 3 Instructor rating. So our group was in great hands with years of experience between the two Gary's. For the rest of this blog I'll refer to Gary Doran just as "Gary" and the other Gary as "Gary "A" for simplicity. LOL

So we talked a bit about the mandatory safety equipment required by Transport Canada for kayaks as well as some of the personal gear that we would be using for the day. This is where we got into our Farmer John wets suits (very stylish I must say), PFD or personal floatation device and headed down to the dock for kayak assignments. Robyn and I had requested the use of a couple of Delta Fifteen 5 kayaks from their rental fleet as these are the same kayaks that we are thinking of buying in the spring and they were ready for us even in the same colors that we like. Now that is service!

Delta Kayaks Fifteen 5 Sport

Since we would be using kayaks with retractable rudders the first step was to properly set the rudder peddles so that our knees where slightly bent providing addition support. Gary demonstrated this in my boat for the group and then we got the opportunity to set our boats up for our own preference. This first thing I noticed was that to make the rudder move you only use the toes of your foot to pivot the peddle. By pushing the flat of your foot did nothing at all and this is only for bracing your foot. the peddles are much like those in an aircraft when you apply the brakes by pushing your toes.

Gary demonstrates proper knee and toe position to use the rudder peddles.

Gary "A" then demonstrated the proper entry technique when launching from a raised dock and everyone managed to get into their boats into the water and then themselves without any issues. Once we got the feel of the kayaks by rocking our hips back and forth it became obvious to the group that yes they are stable and you weren't going to capsize. Gary then started demonstrating the paddling techniques which included Forward, Maneuvering, Stopping and Reversing Strokes. It wasn't long before we played follow the leader with Gary as he selected different strokes to practice on as we made our way around the Point Hope Shipyard.

Heading towards Point Hope Shipyards

Every so often we "rafted" together which let us practice our draw strokes to bring our kayaks along side our course buddies. It wasn't long before we were able to do this at a moments notice and it gave us a chance to rest as the kayaks stabilized each other. I can imagine doing this in the future with Robyn or larger groups while enjoying a snack and a refreshing drink.

Pam, Lydia, Jake, Robyn and Charlotte raft together while I "draw" myself closer to the group.

Before we knew it our afternoon in the harbor was coming to an end so we transited under the "Blue Bridge" and crossed over to the opposite bank and made our way back to our starting point. I think everyone at this point we could have stayed on the water a bit longer but we had to keep the course moving and get ready for our evening session at the Crystal Pool. Once back at the dock and out of our gear, Gary explained some of the safety gear that we might consider such as a navigation light for night kayaking, safety flares and orange smoke pots. We also talked a little bit about currents and winds and where to get information on the internet prior to setting out for a day of paddling. It was then time to portage our kayaks up the dock to the parking lot to be loaded onto the trailer for the evening session at the Crystal Pool.

Gary gets ready for a discussion about safety while on the water

After breaking for dinner we all met up at the rear of the Crystal Pool located on Quadra Street where our kayaks were waiting for us.

Kayaks inside the Crystal Pool

We teamed up and got all of the equipment inside and got ready to get wet. A few exercises to get the Synovial fluid moving in our joints and it was into the pool to get accustomed to the water. Here we practiced a few somersaults to experience the sensation of water entering the nose which can be avoided if you had nose plugs but I found that I simply held my breath it wasn't a problem.

Now the real fun began with us learning how to wet exit (capsizing intentionally) the kayak in various configurations gradually leading up to a full wet exit with spray skirt and paddle in hand. Robyn was the first in the group to do a wet exit and I was very happy how she adapted to each step that became more involved. In fact the whole group had no issues in the exits and I found that once I had the spray skirt on I simply waited until I was perfectly horizontal but....upside down and started my exit.

Here's the key...relax! As I started to capsize I tucked my paddle under my arm in the direction of the roll, ran my hands along the cockpit forward to the "Holy Crap Handle", grab and push forward, pull back to release the skirt, run my hands back along the cockpit to my hips and pushed like I was taking a pair or well fitting pants off. At the same time I bent forward and as I exited the kayak performed a forward somersault and reached the surface right next to my boat with my paddle under my arm. Easy Peasy right??

So you are out of the kayak and gotta get back in and here's where paddling with a buddy comes in as they play a key role to getting out of the water as fast as you can to avoid hypothermia setting in. So in our case, Robyn righted my kayak and stabilized it by reaching over and transferred her weight to my kayak I was able to swim up and onto the rear deck with my head towards the stern. This enable me to get my legs back inside my kayak and then do a 180 roll of my body to face forward towards my bow. Once I reinstalled my skirt and used the bilge pump to empty my kayak I was ready to start paddling again. I didn't take notice of how long I was in the water but Robyn and I figured probably less than 2 minutes depending on which version of this rescue that was used.

The rest of the evening session we practiced other techniques such as "edging" which is flexing your hips to allow the kayak to sit at an angle in the water while keeping your torso perfectly vertical. While doing this in conjunction to a wide sweep stroke enabled the kayak to turn very fast and in fact it could be used in a backwards stroke as well at the same time to turn your kayak around 180 degrees very quickly.

Getting into the kayak unassisted.... yes this one was difficult but started to get better after a few tries.

Another technique we learned was to enter the kayak unassisted from a dock or shore which actually I think was the most difficult thing to do all night. By using your paddle as a brace it was an art to transfer your weight and body into the kayak without doing a capsize at the dock which I figure would be pretty embarrassing. LOL

As they say...time flies when you are having fun and it was time to exit the pool and end our first day of official kayak training. Looking back to our Pedder Bay experience it made me realize that a) we didn't have any idea as the proper safety equipment required, b) our paddling strokes were probably more like beating the heck out of the water and c) kayaking is so much more rewarding knowing some basic kayaking navigation skills.

It was great to share our Introduction To Kayaking Skills with our fellow paddlers and a special thanks to Gary Doran and Gary "A" for the personal touch they put on the course. We came away with a greater understanding, respect and passion for our new hobby and hope to see them on the water in the future.

Next Up: Pedder Bay with Current Design kayaks Oct 6-10th

What Comes First... The Rack or The Kayak?

After reflecting for a couple of weeks of our Pedder Bay kayaking experience, Robyn and I decided that we are going push forward and make kayaking one of our new hobbies for the future. We spent a considerable amount of time researching on the internet on different types of kayaks, personal gear etc but one decision that we made first was to get our truck fitted with a rack system to transport kayaks. Since expressing our interest in kayaking, many of our friends have offered us the use of their boats to try out and since the fall weather is coming we really don't need to purchase our own kayaks at this time. So in our case...the rack came first! LOL

Last weekend we checked out the Ocean River Sports"Gear Sale" and also the number of vehicles in the parking lots with rack systems. There are primarily two keys manufactures of systems (Thule and Yakima Racks) and both companies offer similar products and options. We also stopped by All Seasons Auto Racks on Gorge Road and Rick demonstrated the the various mounting systems that could be used on our fiberglass truck canopy. 

 

We settled on a Yakima Rack system that included the cross bars and removable locking towers, 2 sets of Mako Saddles and Hullyrollers which will make loading and unloading kayaks easy. The rear mounted Hullyrollers seem to be very popular in the kayaking community and one feature that I really like is that they have a locking tab for when the kayak is on the rack. The front saddles come with felt backing which also helps in loading the kayak as well protecting the hull.

Installation was only an hour and the Mako Saddles and Hullyrollers come complete with adjustable kayak straps and bow/stern tie downs as well! The perfect kayak system for our truck all for $940 plus tax, which will enable us to transport our kayaks with our RV in tow! Just in time too as we have been offered the use of a couple of Current Designs glass boats for next weekend at Pedder Bay where we can put to use the paddling skills that we learned yesterday at the Ocean River Introduction to Kayaking Skills course.