Craig, Mike and I went to Race rocks launching from Taylor Road. We had a nice ebb building to help us down to the islands and then had some fun playing in the current waves. We went back via Bentink Island and had a brief stop for lunch neir Wier beach.
Some video on youtube: too come…
20.5 km, 11 NM , YTD:350 km
I was up in Yellowknife for a Geology conference/workshop and had a great time. A highlight of my visit was borrowing a kayak from Greg Loftus of Tundra Sails (http://www.tundrasails.ca/), distributor for Pacific Action Sails ( I had bought one earlier this year) and heading out for a couple of padddles on Slave lake. There was still quite a bit of ice on the lake, though it was disappearing quickly, which made for interesting paddling. One of the neatest things was hearing the tinkling of the “candled” ice as my wake went past it. I went for a longer solo paddle on the first evening and went round both islands. On the 26th I joined 3 colleagues in a canoe (Eileen, Christy and John) and we paddled around the smaller island.
25th: 7.5 km, 4 NM; 26th: 5 km, 2.3 NM
YTD 340 km
Beth Anne and I led a group of grade 11 students on their outdoor leadership trip to the deer group. We were lucky with the weather, encountering heavy rain only on Friday and Saturday nights – some showers and drizzle at other times but generally good weather. Due to strong winds on the firsdt day, we did not make it to the Stud Islets and instead camped on the Ross Islets – a great spot.
On Saturday we paddled from bamfield to the Ross Islets, on Sunday we paddled around Fleming Island with a side trip to Marble cove and Swiss Boy island. On Monday we paddled around Helby and Diana Islands with a lunch stop on Edward King. On Tuesday we paddled back from the Ross Islets to Bamfield. A great trip with a great group. I managed to get the sails up a couple of times. The swells were big off Kirby point…
Track Plots:
May 19 and 22 (out & back):
You can view an interactive version of the trip plot with Google maps at: http://www.islandnet.com/~mjackson/google/deergroup2007b.htm
51.5 km 28 NM, YTD: 318 km (The students paddled 48 km)
8 of us arrived at the second parking lot at Thetis lake to do a towing clinic that I was leading for VCKC. Weather was overcast to sprinkling but really quite pleasant and not enough rain to interfere. We discussed tow types and towing gear and then went and practised a number of different tows: contact, short, intermediate and long, in line and V tows with a supporting paddler etc. Everyone had a chance to test out their gear and learn a few new tricks (including me!).
4.3 km, YTD:266 km
I lead a group of 20 VCKC paddlers on a paddle from Agate Beach in Cordova Bay to Gordon Head. There was an ebb tide to help us in the morning, turning to a flood in the afternoon, but this was eclipsed by a steady breeze from the south which was in our face all the way out. We made steady progress along the shore until Gordon Head, where we decided to stop for lunch. After lunch we made a very speedy return to Agate beach with the wind at our backs. I popped up the spirit sail for a little added boost! I was ably assisted by Neil and Tony.
The lunch beach: 
Neil’s group shot:
14.6 km, 8 NM, YTD 262 km
I left fairly early today to head out to Portland Island to spend the day with the West Coast Paddler group that was camping on Portland Island. I joined Ian and Michael at Swartz head who had come over on the ferry from Vancouver. Conditions were magnificent – sunny and calm. On the way we saw a couple of huge flocks of geese. Once there I rested for a while and met several of the campers. A little later, I headed around Portland with “Kasey”(Kathy) and “Candikayak” and we had a nice circumnavigation with a snack stop in the main park bay. Shortly after I returned, Philip came back from Fulford Harbour and we compared sail rigs. Philip and I then went for a paddle up wind so that we could have a sail. Unfortunately the wind was not strong, but enough for me to test a two sail rig. Around 6 PM, I left the camp site and paddled solo back to Swartz Head – almost exactly an hour.
27 km, 14.4 NM, YTD:247 km – my track from the day:
The day’s photo gallery: (the pics are full res – so they are big…)
I met Bill up at Beaver Lake for the launch of his brand new skin on frame kayak that he built with Heather’s help over March break. I took my sof as well and we had a nice paddle around the lake. It is only 21 inches wide and was tippy to start until we lowered the seat a bit. It paddles nicely and rolls easily.
3 km YTD: 220
Tony and I made a nice quick morning trip out from Smuggler’s Cove and around the Chatham group. There was a nice current running. On the way back we paddled up to 10 mile point to take a look at the house with the weather Station.
9 km, 4.8 NM, YTD: 217
Today I helped co-lead a VCKC paddle organised by Neil S – 14 of us in all. We left Amherst and paddled around Coal and then to Portland for lunch. Nice day, nice conditions, nice group! We all paddled well together and kept up a good steady pace. I started the day of shakily, managing to forget my lunch, water and paddles at home! Fortunately there were enough spare paddles around and I was able to mooch enough food!
9.2 NM, 17 km, YTD: 208 km 
Dave sent in a couple of pics:
I joined an instructor development course today instructed by Nigel Foster and organised by Ocean River Sports. We paddled around the ocean river dock area and managed to clock up 9 km!
We had a great day, Nigel was a great teacher and I learned some new strokes as well as some teaching techniques.
9 km, YTD 191 km
Monica and I went for a nice paddle from the Brentwood ferry dock into Tod Inlet. The tide was low, it rained a bit and I was paddling the SOF and using the Tuilik for the first time. Surprisingly, it was not too hot to paddle in. I did not try any serious sculling, bracing or rolling as the SOF is quite loose on me and I did not have any hip padding installed.
I spent 11 wonderful days aboard the MV Faah Yai leading a Wilderness Travel tour to the Mergui Archipelago. We kayaked and snorkelled virtually every day, visiting beautiful white beaches, mangrove forests, green islands and some magnificent limestone islands. I only GPS’d two days worth of paddling which amounted to 29 km. I conservatively estimate that we managed to clock somewhere well over 60 kms.
I have attached a google map screenshot of the two days spent paddling into the mangrove areas of Lampi Island. I’ll post some photos later…
No local paddling for me for the next few weeks… I am heading off to Thailand and Burma this weekend for 2 weeks. I will be leading a trip to paddle and snorkel in the Andaman sea – Mergui Archipelago.
I am sure I shall post some pics on my return!
I joined the VCKC paddle led by Dennis today. 14 of us set out from the beach by the Brentwood Bay ferry and paddled around Tod Inlet and then around to McKenzie Bight. We had a nice lunch on the beach and paddled back in light rain. A nice day’s paddle in calm conditions. Nice to meet a few new paddlers.
15 KM, 8.1 NM, YTD 176 km
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