Jan 12 - Dallman Bay (#2)

I managed to get out for a paddle with Claire while she was on board. We were by Gand Island in Dallmann Bay.

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2 km, YTD 3 km

Jan 2 - Hinks Channel (#1)

 I managed to get out for a short paddle with Jenny while she was on board. Also in Hinks Channel.

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1 km, YTD 1 km

The 2025 Year

I managed 34 paddles and 367 km this year which is not bad considering how much I was away! I got to paddle in lots of places, as well as the Cadboro Bay "back yard" and this year I seem to have done better than the previous 3!

This was also my 20th year of this paddle blog!

Year #	Year	# paddles	km total	km per paddle
1	2006	77	1273	16.50
2	2007	66	1098	16.60
3	2008	75	1080	14.40
4	2009	116	1381	11.90
5	2010	124	1214	9.80
6	2011	105	1217	11.60
7	2012	87	1001	11.50
8	2013	92	1063	11.60
9	2014	98	911	9.30
10	2015	120	1025	8.50
11	2016	129	1076	8.30
12	2017	86	728	8.47
13	2018	69	548	7.94
14	2019	57	427	7.49
15	2020	101	905	8.96
16	2021	77	707	9.18
17	2022	33	323	9.79
18	2023	30	329	10.97
19	2024	22	233	10.59
20	2025	34	367	10.79
	Totals	1597	16906	10.58

December 23 - Hinks Channel (#34)

I managed to get out for one more 2025 paddle in Antarctica! 

Google maps imagery shows it to be fully in sea ice but ArcGIS shows it as clear when zoomed out a bit...

click to enlarge Hinks Channel

click to enlarge - sea ice!

3 km, YTD 367 km

November 29 - Discovery Island (#33)

Dan, Paulo and I went for an early paddle (0800 start) so we could get back in time for the SISKA lunch. Conditions were great - a little current against us but not too bad and no wind to speak of. I could see Mt Rainier and Mt Baker. We kept up a good pace (avg 6.1 kph, just over 3 knots) and I was back at the beach in 2 hours 25 minutes. There were a couple of noisy California Sea Lions on the west side of Chatham and then some noisy Steller sea lions (and one California) on the rock by Seabird Point. All the sea lions seen were males.

We had the usual birds: https://ebird.org/checklist/S286720019

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15 km, YTD 364 km

November 26 -Discovery (#32)

I organized a Wednesday Group paddle for 12 of us to leave from Caddy Bay (where else!) and head out to the islands. The winds were light and the tide levels high so we visited lagoons and passages that are otherwise impassable. The currents were not too tricky, though they seemed stronger for the return across Baynes Channel.The cacti in Cactus Islet Inlet were still there and seem to be doing well in spite of their position so close to the water. We had lunch in Rudlin Bay. We saw plenty of birds: (https://ebird.org/checklist/S286288322)as well as both Steller and California sea lions and harbour seals.

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17 km, YTD 349 km

22 November - Discovery Island (#31)

 I paddled out to Cadboro Point to join Dan and Paulo for a paddle around the islands. I could just make out the tip of Mt Rainier above the Puget Sound clouds! Conditions were good with favourable tides and light winds. I however was out of shape and my back was not happy - too much time out of the "saddle"?

It was good to see the winter birds in full swing - 19 species https://ebird.org/checklist/S285687706

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15 km, YTD 332 km

Australia paddles (26-30) October 2025

Monica and I were in Australia for two months and I managed to get 5 paddles in... I am going to post about them in one go. Prior to this there were too many crocs (salties), sharks or wind!

Wellington Reservoir 9 km

My first paddle was on Wellington Reservoir. It took me quite a while to get the TRAK set up and I made a few mistakes in the process. But it was great to get out

Kalgan River 11 km

This was delightful early morning river paddle. The river and launch were only about 30 m from our motorhome site!

Walpole inlet 7 km

Another nice morning paddle - a bit more of a trek from the campsite!

Augusta 7 km

Yet another great morning paddle - launch site was metres away from the motorhome - saw dolphins in the harbour as I was heading back

Perth 12 km

I joined Gillian from the Swans Paddle club for a morning paddle in Perth Harbour - great morning and we saw dolphins twice!

Total for 5 paddles 46 km, YTD 317 km

August 9th - Oak Bay (#25)

I went for another solo paddle to Oak Bay in the F1. Conditions were great with sunshine and a helpful current both ways. saw some murrelets, oystercatchers, geese and plenty of seals en route.

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9 km, YTD 248 km

August 7th - Oak Bay (#24)

I paddled along the coast to Oak Bay and back. I had to paddle against wind and current on the way out  and had some help on the way back. Saw several black oystercatchers and heard a belted kingfisher.

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9 km, YTD 239 km

August 2nd - Discovery Island (#23)

I led a SISKA paddle out to the islands with a nice group of 12 others. We started off with a mild flood and ended with a mild ebb, but there was a moderate 10-15 kt SW wind throughout (except when we were in the lee of the islands). We had lumpy water crossing Baynes each way but not too bad. After lunch I decided to stay in the lee of the islands rather than round the SW corner  where it was facing the wind and waves. A beautiful sunny day on the water! We had some nice birds (14 species noted!) https://ebird.org/checklist/S264601713

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17 km, YTD 230 km

July 30 - Cadboro Bay (#22)

I took the starboard SUP out so that I could dump some salmon carcasses in deep water...  Results of a successful fishing trip!

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1 km, YTD 213 km

July 20 - Discovery (#21)

I paddled out to Cadboro Point to join Dan and Paulo for a paddle around the islands. Great conditions and a lovely day on the water. Birding highlight was seeing a bunch of rhinoceros auklets while crossing Baynes. https://ebird.org/checklist/S261510669

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15 km, YTD 212 km

July 17 - Telegraph Cove (#20)

I led a very small SISKA group (just Craig, Rod and myself) for a  "light" paddle from Caddy Bay to telegraph Cove and back. WE made it comfortably in two hours and I was home for lunch!

Not a lot in the way of birds: turkey vultures, Canada geese and Black Oystercatchers.

Conditions were very nice with a gentle ebb current throughout, sunshine and calm seas. Visibility was not great - could not see Rainier and could barely see Mt Baker.

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10 km, YTD 197 km

May and June - Haida Gwaii (#19)

I did a bunch of short paddles in Haida Gwaii while working on board MV Cascadia with Maple Leaf Adventures... 

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Murchison Island - June 3 - 3 km

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Rose Inlet - June 4 - 3 km

De La beche Inlet - June 6 - 2 km

June 9 Thurston Hbr 3 km

June 9 De la Beche - 1.5 km

June 10 De La Beche - 2 km

June 11 - Ikeda Cove - 2 km

June 12 heater Harbour - 3 km

9 paddles (counting as one!)

23 km, YTD 271 km