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October 3, 2009 | Field Reports > Nanaimo, Kayaking (Ocean)
The third and final day was an amazing end to a great weekend. Breakfast was gourmet-goodness which has been par for the weekend. The rock formations along De Courcy Island rocked my world. Check out all the cool patterns, caves, and bulges in these rocks. It's so cool!
Then if you needed more convincing of how amazing this trip has been, hear testimonials from other adventurers!
October 1, 2009 | Field Reports > Nanaimo, Kayaking (Ocean)
This is the second day of the Edible BC Gourmet Kayaking Adventure. The day started with the best breakfast I've ever eaten - yummy and hearty! It gave us the fuel to paddle over to Valdes Island to the "Cliffs of Insanity." The incredible texture and shapes of these cliffs were otherwordly.
We ate a delicious gourmet lunch at Blackberry Point before heading back to camp. Luckily we beat the rain!
And again- worked up an appetite for a delicious meal of duck! YUM!
September 27, 2009 | Field Reports > Nanaimo, Kayaking (Ocean)
This is culinary tourism at it's best!
Imagine...a weekend of exploring the gulf islands by kayak while every meal is expertly prepared by a gourmet chef using local organic ingredients. Yum!
This was Day 1 of our weekend adventure. We launched from Cedar near Nanaimo and kayaked to Pirate's Cove - we got up close and personal with seals and inter-tidal marine life. Passing between sandstone walls and following the shore brought us to camp where we ate the first delicious meal.
To work up an appetite, we hiked around the island and heard mystical tales of The Cult of Brother 12 and hidden treasure.
Dinner was in the dark - but the taste was clear - another fantastic meal!
Check out the video highlights and don't miss day 2 & 3, too!
August 10, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Sooke, Kayaking (Ocean)
They’re All Around Us!
Who knew when I woke up on this Thursday morning that it was going to be an extraordinary day that would produce a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It was a beautiful afternoon with calm seas; so, Allan from West Coast Outdoor Adventure Rentals and I decided to take the Hobie kayaks for a spin. Heading out towards Secretary Island just off Sooke, BC in the Juan de Fuca Strait, we got word there was a large pod of Orcas close by. We were so excited to receive this news and at the prospect of seeing killer whales; we were immediately intrigued. As luck would have it, the whales were just as intrigued by us.
We could see the whales were swimming near Otter Point, about a mile and a half from where we drifted and bobbed about like buoys in our kayaks. We could just make out the black specks of dorsal fins on the horizon. The killer whales were hugging the shoreline, so we were completely amazed at the events that would take place over the next 30 minutes.
Even though we were in the open, usually turbulent, waters of the Juan de Fuca Strait, we were in a flood tide so paddling was smooth—effortless. We held our position and the whales got closer, and closer. The entire pod was heading our way. The pod got a little closer, then a lot closer. Then they were all around us! And under us! And beside us!
A mother and her calf gave us an unbelievable experience; if I hadn’t caught the scene on video, I would never have believed it. I can wholeheartedly say that this was one of the most stunning, thrilling (and scary!) events of my life. Mother and baby swam straight towards us, and dove directly in front of the bow of my kayak. I could see them both swimming under my kayak and then disappear into the depths. Not knowing where or when then would emerge, I sat in anticipation. And then, they surfaced directly in front of my kayak.
Wow. Unbelievable! They were all around us. Don’t believe me? Think I’m exaggerating? This is no fisherman’s tall tale, and I have the video to prove it. Join me on my adventure and watch this astonishing recount.
July 1, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Sandspit, Kayaking (Ocean)
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I just spent a month on Haida Gwaii for a university field "school". Everything was just amazing! We hit up Masset, Old Masset, Tlell, Port Clements, Queen Charlotte City, Skidegate, Sandspit, and Gwaii Haanas and did so many different things! One thing that REALLY stands out though was Mount Moresby Adventure Camp! Located on Moresby Island, not far from the launch point into Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, this place is GORGEOUS! MMAC is right on Mosquito Lake and Mount Moresby overshadows the lake and there are some really cool short and long hikes nearby! The bunkhouse and mess hall buildings are also stunning; two cedar traditional longhouses!
But that's not all! Our field school rented out the camp in May as the camp was just coming alive and we had the chance to talk to Jonathan, the director. We got to hear about MMAC's beginnings and as it turns out, MMAC is not just a business, its actually this amazing Forest Stewardship and Outdoor Education Program that is partnered with the Haida Gwaii School District. Every year all the grades 4, 8 and 12 spend a week or two at the camp learning outdoor skills and environmental stewardship among other things. I think he said that as of this year every kid on Haida Gwaii will have been to MMAC! And better yet, all the money from tours and facility rentals that MMAC puts on goes towards supporting this program!
The staff that we met at MMAC, including Jonathan, are all pretty awesome and their resumes are pretty impressive! No need to worry about safety or having a good time with them around!
MMAC offers ecotourism sea kayaking tours into Gwaii Haanas, kids adventure camps and kids eco-tours as well as offering the MMAC facility up for rental for retreats and field schools to support the non-profit school camp!
It was such an amazing experience, kayaking and canoeing on the lake, hiking trails built by campers, campfires, 'class time' in the mess hall, spreading out our mattresses in front of the fire in the bunkhouses and waking up to the smell of cedar every morning! I hope everyone going to Haida Gwaii takes a tour with MMAC to support this great cause!!
June 29, 2009 | Tips from Us > North Vancouver, Kayaking (Ocean)
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I admit, there was a day last week that I just couldn't fathom spending behind the desk. Luckily, I had an exit plan in my back pocket, and took a friend up on her invitation to spend the day in North Vancouver.
Let's just say the day's experience ranged from serene to downright scary. We started with a gentle kayak from beautiful Deep Cove - quiet, calm, relaxing. But if I thought the heart rate was going to stay low for the full day I had another thought coming. By afternoon we were at the peak of Grouse Mountain ziplining at high speeds and heights through the forest. Yikes!
Amazingly, by 5pm I was safely down the mountain and home again. And when my husband asked how my day was, I could only say, "just another day at the office."
January 16, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Sechelt, Kayaking (Ocean)
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What a great find! I couldn't figure out why the place wasn't very crowded..
We took a shortie 4 day holiday at West Coast Wilderness Lodge. We were lucky, the weather was absolutely spectacular. We took a guided kayak trip one day, a guided canoe trip another day, we hiked to Skookumchuck rapids the 3rd day, and visited the Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve the final day.
The owner himself took our family on the canoe trip and he knew the place inside-out. The kayak tour was THE highlight of the vacation for me: the water was calm, the weather just perfect. We saw hundreds of seals on islands and swimming in the water with us, orange and purple starfish, many, many types of birds, including bald eagles. The kids loved it almost as much as I did.
Accommodations were very good: we got a big suite with a comfy queen bed for parents and a foldout sofabed for kids. The balcony overlooked the water and mountains. it looked like the room an bathroom had been very recently renovated - bathroom looked brand-new. We spent a bit of time with our binoculars watching seals from our balcony and from the huge scenic balcony just outside the main building. Nothing like sitting out there after a busy day, catching up on some reading, enjoying the fresh air and great views. For the finicky, there was no TV, but if you need a TV in a place like this, you've got a problem!
We had breakfast everyday at the lodge - it was a great start for every day. We only ate dinner at the lodge one night and had a great meal.. Kids also enjoyed archery, the pool table in the evenings and of course the hot tub. The only thing missing was a good beach for swimming - Ruby Lake and other swimming beaches were a short drive away, but not within walking distance.
October 16, 2008 | Field Reports > North Vancouver, Kayaking (Ocean)
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I checked out the cozy North Shore village of Deep Cove, jumped into a kayak and ventured into the narrow fjord of Indian Arm in the heart of the Coast Mountain Range! What a beautiful place and it is so close to downtown Vancouver!
June 30, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Nanaimo, Kayaking (Ocean)
So often living here on the island we forget to stop and take the time to really enjoy all the benefits of living in paradise. Well the other week through a series of events I was 'forced' to take a paddle from the dock of the Dinghy Dock pub back down the Newcastle Channel. As I paddled (and towed!) the rental kayaks back I hugged the shoreline of Newcastle Island. I had a great little converstation with two raccoons digging in the sand. The waters of the channel were calm and the a brillant green. Passing boaters waved, and float planes passed overhead. Here I was right in front of the second largest city on the island I truly felt a million miles away.
There is really only one kayak rental outlet in town, they offer great tours of all levels too. So you can enjoy a slice of paradise too.
May 26, 2008 | Tips from Us > Victoria, Kayaking (Ocean)
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Wow, I just got back from a really cool kayaking day trip along Victoria’s Gorge Waterway. Even though my dad was a lighthouse keeper and I grew up on the water, I can’t say that I am much of an experienced boater so when we began our kayak lesson, I was a little weary. The beauty of the Gorge is that the water is so calm and protected through this narrow inlet that you can become pretty confident in no time at all. My kayak seemed to glide through the water on its own while I watched Victoria’s skyline fade into the distance.
The highlight for me was seeing an otter pop out of the water and scurry along the tide line. I don’t think the critter knew I was there and that seems to be the beauty of kayaking: one can surreptitiously float amongst the marine wildlife and they are none the wiser.
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