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Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Canada
36 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2011 : 4:39 PM
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Three of us just got back yesterday from kayaking around the Gulf Islands for the August long weekend! Our rugged seafaring crew was myself, Mark, and Roy. It’s been about nine years since I last did kayaking out in the gulf islands, which is far too long to be away from such beautiful scenery and great exercise! We saw some spectacular things – most notable of which was a rogue beam of yellow sunlight peaking through between some islands around sunset. It only lasted about 3 or 4 minutes, but was probably one of the most spectacular things I’ll see in my lifetime.
We woke up just after 4am and took an early ferry over to Duke Point, then pitched into the water over at Cedar By-The-Sea. On the first day, we paddled about 15km: across to De Courcey Island, down to Pirates Cove, across to Ruxton Island, and then a little further to our campsite on a little island. Our map book marked a campsite on a small island as a wilderness site, but I climbed up onto the tree-covered rock and wandered around for quite a while and couldn’t find a spot. We asked some locals who pointed us down to another small island where people often camp. This is where we witnessed the amazing lighting, seen in the photo above.
View all 144 photos from day one at this link:
http://paulromein.ca/fwd/58/
   
Day two, we clocked about 16km as we went down Valdes Island and briefly saw Blackberry point, then went north up through Gabriola Passage to Wakes Cove, and settled on the south east edge of Kendrick Island. Right beside where the West Vancouver Yacht Club has property! From there, we had a beautiful view of the horizon, as it was clear blue sea to the south east, and we could even see Vancouver on the horizon to the east! We even manged to see a small fireworks display somewhere down in the Richmond/Ladner area (no, it wasn’t the Festival of Lights because it wasn’t the right night or the right area).
View all 171 photos from day two at this link:
http://paulromein.ca/fwd/59/
       
For our final day, we had to time our traverse through Gabriola Passage to be with the tide, and it was still fairly rough. We paddled straight back across the channel back to Cedar By-The-Sea. Packed up the boats and took the ferry back home! In total, day three was about 10 km, which puts us at a total of 41km traveled by kayak.
View all 93 photos from day three at this link:
http://paulromein.ca/fwd/60/
   
GPS Track: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&t=h&msid=217105629438521266232.0004a989cb3939d07bfcb&ll=49.095452,-123.734894&spn=0.112404,0.438766&z=11&source=embed
For a 5 minute highlight video in HD, and the original blog post click here:
http://www.paulromein.ca/blog/2011/08/02/ocean-kayaking/
Thanks for reading!
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Paul Romein |
Edited by - paulromein on 08/03/2011 09:55 AM
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1448 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2011 : 5:24 PM
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Great TR Paul
Where any signs posted at blackberry about being closed ? Or restrictions on camping etc ?
And what was the extra cost of having a trailer vs rigging up a boat rack for 3 kayaks ?
Sandstone is amazing along de courcy island
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Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Canada
36 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2011 : 5:58 PM
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We actually just touched down at Blackberry point down the beach a bit for lunch, so we didn't get a close look for signs. There were probably around 15-20 people up on the beach and around, so I don't suppose it would be closed.
Unfortunately, we decided only a few days before the weekend that we were going to do the trip, and we didn't have the foresight to just rent the kayaks on the island, lol... so the ferry was around $140 one-way with the trailer. We borrowed the trailer from a buddy and Roy built the rack on top of it the day before. |
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 Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2011 : 10:19 AM
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Wonderful trip. I'd really like to get out and Kayak in the Gulf Islands sometime. |
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Salmon Arm, BC
Canada
894 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 10:41 AM
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| Great TR, Paul, thanks for sharing your excellent pics. My wife and I kayaked the De Courcy group from Gabriola just 2 days before you guys. We put in at the Casa Blanca B&B right on False Narrows...I'd highly recommend staying there, they cater to kayakers including rentals and tours and their rates are great. |
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1448 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 12:49 PM
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thanks Paul
Ya trailers can really burn the wallet on the ferry.
Ya blackberry is in limbo and its not even listed in the new BC Marine Trails Network Association
quote:
Blackberry Point belongs to Island Timberlands. Its private land and there are no (known) permissions in place to camp there (and that would go for fires too). The lease the now defunct BC Marine Trail had expired in 2003. Island Timberlands apparently does not want to renew the lease though this is a matter of policy.
There is a history in mid 90s of someone leaving the campsites with fires unattended. The blame was put on kayakers though the kayak community tried to place the blame on power boaters. The campsite was closed for a period before permissions were restored.
I suspect that there is a blind eye being turned to the current use of the site if only because it would be very difficult to enforce a closure. If you were to ask permission you might well be told no and the existing irishmans invitation (you haven't been told to go away) will end.
BC Marine Trails Network Association
quote:
Originally posted by paulromein
We actually just touched down at Blackberry point down the beach a bit for lunch, so we didn't get a close look for signs. There were probably around 15-20 people up on the beach and around, so I don't suppose it would be closed.
Unfortunately, we decided only a few days before the weekend that we were going to do the trip, and we didn't have the foresight to just rent the kayaks on the island, lol... so the ferry was around $140 one-way with the trailer. We borrowed the trailer from a buddy and Roy built the rack on top of it the day before.
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Langley, BC
Canada
1509 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 1:00 PM
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Nice trip report - thanks for posting.
Blackberry Point is sort of in limbo. It is a private location owned by Island Timberland but they don't appear to be currently putting any restrictions as to stopping or camping -- this may change in the future -- not sure in which direction it will go. Blackberry Point was at one time cared for (I believe) by the members of SKABC but the responsibility lapsed as no one wanted to tend to the maintenance on the location.
Dan
http://www.westcoastpaddler.com
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Edited by - WestCoastPaddler on 08/23/2011 8:41 PM |
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Ocean Kayaking in Gulf Islands: Jul 30-Aug 1, 2011
