It's been a while since I've kayaked on a regular basis. I don't mind paddling around the bay in front of the house on my own, but for longer jaunts I like a bit of company.
Halfmoon Sea Kayaks are just up the road from me, and they have just the thing for me this summer. The Paddler's Challenge.
Every Thursday night for the next 8 weeks they will organise a paddling route between 2 and four hours long. They post the location on Facebook, on their website and in their newsletter a few days before hand.
On the day of, I show up with my kayak and along with some 20+ new friends launch and set off for an evening of kayaking fun.
Last night was the first paddle of the challenge. It was from Rockwater Secret Cove Resort to Thormanby Island and back. We had to pass in front of a tug boat hauling a log boom. The tug boat operator very nicely stopped to let us go by, but apparently some of the group crossed between the tug and the boom! You can't imagine how much of a NO this is. Crossing over the tow lines? Crossing between the tug and the boom? That puts you in a whole world of danger. Luckily nothing happened and everyone made the crossing.
We stopped at the gap on Thormanby Island, had a snack, went for a swim, got to know some of the other paddlers and then started paddling back to Secret Cove.
On the way back we encountered another tug and log boom. We decided to paddle to the end of the boom and go round that way, rather than trying to race in front of the tug, or sit and wait for it to pass. To our surpise guess what was on the end of the boom...
Just sitting there staring at us was an eagle. He was probably protecting his dinner. He let us get really close. Closer than I have ever been to an eagle before. We were probably there 20 mins, maybe longer before he flew off.
There was also a fairly large group of seals in the same area who tolerated our prescense. They would ocassionally jump, make a large splash and frighten at least one or two of us.
The water was calm, the sun was out, there was no wind. It was a beautiful night. The sun started setting on our way back. It was awesome. I can't wait to go again.