September 12th - SISKA Sidney Spit Cleanup (#86)

I led a SISKA clean up paddle to Sidney Spit as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. The weather was rainy but calm and we had a nice paddle via Ker and Dock Islets to Sidney Spit where we spent a couple of hours picking up garbage. We filled 5 garbage bags and also found some big pieces of foam. The Parks Canada boat took our haul away
Some photos posted here.

10 km, 6 NM, YTD 851 km

September 11th - caddy Bay (#85)

I took Liz out into Caddy Bay to try out the Sirocco and the Tahe Greenland as she is looking at boats. She also tried out a bunch of paddles including my Greenland Carbon by Superior Kayaks. Conditions were nice.

5 km, 3 NM, YTD 841 km.

September 4th/5th - Newcastle Island and Joe's finish (#83/84)

I drove up to Nanaimo to be there for the finish. Robin from Atlantis Kayaks had organised a corn roast for Joe and many Atlantis fans. I met Helen Wilson (greenlandorbust.org) of the Duke point ferry and we made our way over to the camp at Newcastle Island in our Tahe Greenlands (Thanks to Mel for transporting our camping gear which would not fit in the Greenland!). Though conditions in the Gulf Islands were fairly calm there was a stiff NW wind in the Strait of Georgia. When we made it to Newcastle, we met Sheila and Jo Anne, Yves and Patti, Roy and Annette and many others.
After eating some wonderful corn for dinner, we heard that Joe was passing through Dodd Narrows so a few of us headed to the southern tip of Protection Island to wait for Joe. Just before dark, we spotted a speck which quickly grew into Joe, still paddling strong. We paddled the last few kms with Joe to his record setting finish of 16 days, 12 hours and 14 mins. What an accomplishments. After celebrating at the finish (Brechin Boat ramp) we made our way back to camp on Newcastle and had a few beers to celebrate Joe's amazing feat of athleticism and endurance.
A few photos of the finish:

2010-09-05_joeoblenis

On Sunday morning we had a relaxed breakfast, broke camp and I had a short but very productive rolling lesson with Helen - managed to do a couple of elbow rolls and also learned the cross arm roll. Thanks Helen!

We were so proud of Joe - he is a very unassuming and modest champion!

16 km, 9 NM, YTD 836 km

September 3rd - Jemmy Jones and Joe O'Blenis (#82)

After meeting Joe at Fonyo Beach to deliver some water and food and help set up the CHEK TV interview, I zoomed back home and hopped into the Tahe to paddle out to intercept Joe on the way by. The wind in Oak Bay was a strong southwesterly and I eventually made out a small speck coming towards me through the waves. It quickly grew larger and I met up with Joe as he was about to turn north on the final legs of his record-breaking Vancouver Island circumnavigation. We paddled along together for a while and then Joe took a short food break just north of Ten Mile Point. He paddled on to Cowichan head for the last night of his trip.
Some photos at:

2010-09-03_joeoblenis

10 KM, 5 NM, YTD 820 km

August 31st - Cadboro Bay (#81)

Dan and I went out into a lumpy-looking cadboro bay (wind was fairly steady around 20 knots) to do some rolling practice. We found calm water in Loon Bay and worked on a bunch of rolls. I figured out the scarecrow roll and almost have the elbow roll....
It was fun paddling and practicing rolls in big water. It was hard work "beating into the wind". We both caught a few wave rides on the way back.

7 km, 4 NM, YTD 810 km

August 28th - Discovery (#80)

I paddled out to Maynard(Smuggler's) Cove where I met up with Gordin, Dan and Paulo. We then headed over to the islands for a nice day's paddle. Paulo was experimenting with a newly made Goretex tuilik which looks good. I was trying out the F1 with the feathercraft sea sock. While we were having lunch we saw the gray whale that has been hanging around - just north of boathouse bay. Shortly afterwards, we were surrounded by 5 whale watching boats. We also ran into Kaarsten (another F1 owner).

18 km, 10 NM, YTD 803 km

August 24th - Enterprise Channel (#79)

Dan, Gordin, George and I set out from "rat bay" by McNeill Bay and went out to play in the waves of Enterprise channel and Trial Island. The wind was steady between 30 and 40 knots, so it was fairly exciting stuff - hard work to paddle into and good waves. I tried a few storm rolls in the waves and they worked OK though they still need finesse.

5 km, 3NM, YTD 785 km

August 25th - Chatham Island (#78)

Dan and I went for a paddle an roll to Chatham Island. We rolled in swing bay as well as back in loon bay. In honour of Joe O'Blenis' attenmpt to race around the island in 16 days, I did 16 rolling stick rolls in succession using a rolling stick made by Joe!

12 km, 6 NM, YTD 780 km

August 22 - KFAC Victoria _ Brentwood Bay (#77)

I helped Don lead a group of 28 paddlers on the 3rd annual Kayak for a Cure Victoria paddle out of Brentwood Bay. The winds were a bit on the strong side, so we had to slog a bit to get from Willis Point to McKenzie Bight and decided not to cross over to Spectacle Falls. 4 of the group decided to turn back at willis point, but the rest of us had a great paddle and the event raised over $11000 for Cancer reserach! On the way back we had a very relaxed "amble" into Todd inlet.It was great to connect with some of last years paddlers as well as Bill and Heather!
If you are interested in donating to the cause, feel free to go to http://kayakforacure.org/2010-events/victoria/.

15 km, 8 NM, YTD 768 km

August 21 - Heritage Point (#76)

Dan Paulo and I went for a morning paddle out to Chatham Island. We wore rolling gear so we stopped in the bay by Heritage Point on Chatham to do a bunch of rolls. I am enjoying the storm roll! We finished off with some more rolling back at Cadboro Bay - good thing as I was getting warm in the tuilik!

10 km, 5 NM, YTD 753 km

August 15th - Loon Bay rolling (#76)

Dan, Bill and I went over to Loon Bay for a rolling session. We got Bill "back in the saddle" aka doing some nice rolls and static braces and Dan managed to figure out the storm roll after I demoed it a few times. I was happy to see that I still have a solid storm roll after coming back to the ocean.

3 km, 2 NM, YTD 746 km

August 9-11 - Oyama (#s70-75)

I had three more great days of paddling in Oyama, enjoying the fresh warm water. I managed to accumulate a few more kms and lots of rolling practice. After watching Dubside's video again and rereading Chris Crowhurst's Kayak Rolls site (as well as a couple of face book messages with Chris!) I was happy to have  managed to get my storm roll figured out - pretty well on my left side and OK on my right.
I also noticed that it was pretty easy to maintain nearly 4 knots in the Tahe on a flatwater paddle...

August 9th

August 10th

August 11th

22 km, 12 NM, YTD 743 km

August 4-8 Oyama (#s61-69)

I've been in Oyama now for a few days and have managed to get out paddling once or twice a day. The water is nice and warm, about 24 C, and it is nice to paddle in freshwater without cold water immersion gear! I have mostly been paddling the Tahe Greenland, though I have also taken out the Feathercraft Wisper and the OK Trident 13. The Trident 13 is definitely slower than the other sea kayaks, but is not too bad. I was able to cruise it at 5 or 6 kph and it also sailed quite nicely with the large Spirit sail. I hope to take it fishing in Oyama lake soon...

I have been practicing plenty of rolls in the Tahe including:
static brace
body brace
butterfly roll
standard Greenland roll
norsaq roll
hand roll
shotgun roll
crook of arm roll
chest scull
back scull
reverse sweep roll (forward finishing)
All of these seem to work well on both sides - I would like to figure out the storm roll but don't yet have the movements figured out...
I went for a longer paddle in the wisper and it was fun to feel the waves on the hull. It also moves along well.
On Sunday evening I took the Trident 13 to go fishing in Oyama Lake. It was a beautiful evening and though I hooked a couple of good ones, I only brought a shaker to the boat. It was a very enjoyable first fishing outing in the SOT. It is not as ideal a fishing vessel as the watermaster raft, but it is a kayak! I need to play around a bit with rod holders and leashes etc but the set up seemed to work well.
While paddling this week, I have seen a good collection of birds: osprey, bald eagle, great blue heron, kildeer, an unidentified sandpiper, red-winged blackbird, common loon, common merganser, a couple of grebes, mallard, cowbird, gray jay.

To date 50 km, 23NM, YTD 721 km

track images:

 Oyama lake - Aug 8th

Kalamalka and Wood lakes August 7

Kalamalka lake August 4, 5 and 6

August 1 - Chatham Island (#60)

Kathy, Sandy, Mark and I went for a paddle around the Chatham group, Conditions were a little windy and there was some chop in Baynes - but not too much. I did a bit of rolling practice after lunch and also back at caddy bay. We saw lots of seals with pups hauled out on various rocks.

13 km, 7 NM, YTD: 671 km

July 31 - Discovery Island (#59)

Dan, Gordin, Paulo, George and I went for a morning paddle around Discovery. From Cadboro point on we were in the fog and the GPS definitely helped with the Baynes Channel crossing. It was cool for mid summer due to the fog and a bit of wind.

16 km, 9 NM, YTD 658 km