June 20th - Gonzales Bay (#51)

I paddled over to Turkey head by Oak bay Marina, just below the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, and helped lead a SISKA paddle from Oak bay to Gonzales Bay. The currents at the start were either ebbing or weak and we passed by some nice glacial features (roches moutonees and erratics). I think I managed to put in about twice as much distance as the group did! You can also see that my to and fro from Caddy bay was a tad faster than the relaxed club paddle! A lovely day out on the water.

Gonzales Bay is named after Gonzalo Lopez de Haro who was mate aboard the Princesa Real, the first European vessel to explore Juan de Fuca Strait in 1790. Gonzales bay used to be called Foul Bay (same as the road forming the boundary between Oak Bay and Victoria!) after the poor anchorage qualities of the bay, until  misguided local residents wanted the bay's name changed. Eventually, in 1934, the Geographic Board of Canada caved into the complaints and renamed the bay after Gonzalo Lopez de Haro.

click to enlarge

18 km, YTD 410 km