March 6th - Race Rocks (#22)

Dan, Heike, Paulo and I set out from Weir’s beach to paddle out to Race Rocks and into Becher Bay. Conditions were spectacular – I think I may have picked up a sunburn in spite of sunscreen! Summer in early March! We had a great boost from the ebb current on our way to Race rocks and played around in the tidal race channels for a while. We saw seals, eagles, oystercatchers, sea lions and dolphins! Lots of fishing boats out, especially around Church Rock. We stopped off for lunch in a small cove on the edge of Becher Bay and then made our way back along the shore to try to avoid the current.I changed the speed scale on the track map as we had speeds of up to 14 kph with the current!

 23 km, 12.5 NM, YTD 302 km

I don’t expect to get much paddling in until April as I am off to Ecuador on the 13th…

February 28th - rolling an caddy bay (#21)

Gordin and I went out to Loon bay to practice some rolling and test out some video gear. My her mount worked well but the batteries died again almost as soon as I started.  We had fun rolling and then went out over to Flower Island to enjoy the beautiful evening with mergansers, geese, seals and otters!

 4 km, 2NM, YTD 279 km

Feb 27th - Discovery and Tsunamis(#20)

I paddled the Tahe out to Cattle point to join Mike, Dan, Heike and Paulo on a paddle around “the islands”. Conditions were good. We had a flood to help us to the top end of Chatham and then we fought a bit of wind and current along the east side of the islands. The waves and wind were fun in the Tahe! We stopped in a bay on the west side of Discovery for lunch and I managed to record the Tsunami advisory message using my iphone voice recorder - wanted to save it to use with my geology and m,arine science classes! I peeled off at Jemmy Jones to head back to caddy bay – did a few rolls at the end before heading in. The tsunami wave was not noticeable when it eventually came in.

I have linked to the recording I made of the VHF Tsunami advisory broadcast: http://michaelhjackson.ca/pblog/tsunamimemo2.mp3

 17 km, 9 NM, YTD 275 km

February 21st - Chain Islets and Trident Angler test (18,19)

Dennis and I went for a morning paddle out from Cadboro Bay beach. I was in the F1 and we went out to Cadboro Point. The current was running nicely so we decided to catch a free ride to the chain islets. Our speed on this leg was mostly between 12 and 13 kph. (6 to 7 kt) (see the gray area on the track!). Conditions were wonderful – sunny and calm. there was a light north wind which made things a little cooler than summer but not by much! [14 km]

After we got back, I decided to take an Ocean Kayak Trident Angler kayak out for a test drive (I am looking for a fishing kayak). This is a neat little sit-on-top and paddles quite reasonably. Though nowhere near as fast as a regular sea kayak, I was able to maintain 6 kph fairly easily. I tried it with and without the rudder (which worked well) and also tried moving around the kayak. I also tried sitting with my legs over the side which also was fine. This kayak has a “rod pod” which is a centre hatch into which one can stuff all kinds of goodies into a relatively water tight area. I took it out into some light chop in Baynes and it remained a dry ride. I think it may be a keeper! [6 km] (http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/angler_editions/prowler_trident_13_angler.html)



20 km, 11 NM, YTD 258 km

February 15th - Chatham Islands (#17)

Pete, Gordon (visiting from Australia) and I set out for an afternoon paddle to show Gordon a bit of local paddling. We went over to Chatham only to find the sluice was quiet. However, by the time we were heading back across Baynes, the current and wind had picked up enough to make it interesting – I even got one short surf ride. It was a very nice 2 hour paddle.

12 km, 6 NM, YTD 238 km.

Feb 14th - Cordova Bay (#16)

I joined David and Ken for a VSKN paddle out of Telegraph Cove to Cordova Bay - conditions were nice and flat with a bit of drizzle to start and then sunshine – did not seem like a winter’s day! We went up as far as Mt Doug creek and then back tyo Margaret’s bay for lunch. The sun stayed out for the rest of the paddle and we were blessed with calm conditions. I decided to head around 10 mile point and paddle back to the “home beach”. I took a detour via the RVYC to pick up a sea rescue crew bag.

18 km, 10 NM, YTD 226 km.

2010-02-14_cordovabay

Feb 13th - Spectacle falls with Freya (#15)

I organzied a paddle for Freya with a few ORS and SISKA folks (Brian, 3 Gary’s, Sheila, Dorothea, Joanne and Maddie) to Spectacle falls. We decided on Saanich inlet as the wind forecast as for 25+ knot winds. As it turned out, the winds off 10 mile point were consitently between 25 and 30 knots theough much of the paddling day (http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=IBRITISH32). In Saanich inlet, however, we experienced light winds and light rain throughout. Several of us got a chance to try out Freya’s spare wind paddle. Sacrilege though it may sound, I was very impressed with the effortless way the Epic wing paddle pushed me through the water. It was a grwat pleasure and honour for all of us to spend a few hours paddling with Freya and we thank her for joining us.

   15 km, 8 NM, YTD 208 km.

Trip album on picasaweb

Feb 8th - rolling with Dan (#14)

Dan and I set our for a morning of rolling practice in the bay. Paddled over to Flower and then over to Loon bay to warm up. Dan was in his Tahe Greenland T and I was in my Greenland. The rolls felt very smooth for me today. It was great to see Dan do his first rolls in his Tahe – he soon progressed to a butterfly, a rolling stick and a hand roll on his good side and even managed a couple of rolls on his off side. Grins all around!

4 km, 2 NM, YTD 193 km

Feb 6th - Discovery (#13)

Dan Paulo and I set out for a morning paddle around Discovery. Conditions were great with a good ebb building all morning. Dan had his Tahe again as did I. Winter in Victoria…

19 km, 10 NM, YTD: 189 km

February 4th - Cadboro Bay (#12)

I was happy to discover that there was enough light now that I could sneak out for a short paddle after work. I took the F1 (so easy to carry!) and went for a spin around the bay. I was probably on the water within 20 minutes of deciding to go, on the water for just under an hour and finished putting gear away withing 20 minutes of returning!

6.5 km, 3.5 NM, YTD 170 km

Jan 31st - Discovery and two Tahes! (#11)

Dan, Paulo, Dennis and I set out for a morning paddle around the islands. It was an auspicious morning since it was the first time that Dan’s new Tahe Greenland T was in the water. In a nutshell he loves it. It seems to have the performance of the Greenland but also fits Dan well. Due to an ear infection Dan was not able to try rolling it (and we felt that he should be the first to roll it!), but it looks like it will work very nicely. I liked the little day hatch and the bow lines and toggles.

18 km, 10 NM, YTD 164 km – not bad for January!

   

More photos posted at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mhjackson123/20100131_oakbay

January 30 - Rum Island (#10)

Dan, Mike and I set out nice and early from Amherst to paddle out to Rum Island. Conditions were calm with light rain and I was paddling my Shadow. There was a reasonably strong current ebbing between Dock and Forrest, but we made it past the north end of Forrest and then caught the flow to Gooch. It was neat to see all the sandstone and conglomerate formations again. Mike broughht out his large Kelly kettle and we had hot water and some very welcome hot chocolate! It feels good to have 10 paddles and almost 150 km under my belt by the end of January!

19 km, 10 NM, YTD 146 km.

Some more Kelly kettle shots are  posted at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mhjackson123/20100130_rum#

January 24th - Spectacle falls (#9)

I joined a SISKA energizer paddle led by Jennie from Brentwood Bay to Spectacle falls and back. The fourteen of us went by way of Bamberton and came back by way of McKenzie Bight (where I practiced a few rolls in my Tahe). Conditions were cool and a bit damp, but the forecast winds did not materialize in Saanich Inlet.

19 km, 10 NM, YTD 127 km

January 20th - Rolling the bay (#8)

Dan and I went out for an afternoon paddle in the bay. dan had his newly made Tuilik and his Gulfstream and I was paddling the Disko Bay with my Brooks Tuilik. We made our way out to Maynard Cove and back, stopping in virtually every cove to try some rolls and braces. Conditions were good and fun was had. you can see all the spots on the track log where we stopped to roll.



7 km, 4NM, YTD 108 km

Jan 17th - Discovery (#7)

Dennis and I went out from Cadboro Bay to paddle out and around Chatham and Discovery Islands. Paula joined us out to a little past Jemmy Jones. The wind was not that strong but there was reasonable wave and current action – especially out around Seabird point. It was nice to be out in some waves and swell but not have to fight a wind! I had some nice surf rides with the F1. Good to make the first 100 km for the year!

16 km, 9 nm, ytd 101 KM