When the destination for this week's challenge was sent out, my first thought was holy crap that's a long ways to go. But when you think that for the last 12 years I've commuted from Pitt Meadows to Vancouver daily, that's 40+ km each way. So really, going to Port Mellon wasn't all that far. Besides it's a place that I'm not likely to drive to on my own to kayak. So I sucked it up and went.
I think the distance from Sechelt/Halfmoon Bay put a lot of people off, there were less than 20 boats there tonight. It was worth it. The water was flat. There was no wind. The sun was out. There were lots of esturaries to explore. My only suggestion, I would have liked to have been a little bit longer out on the water.
After we'd had a snack, a drink and, for some a swim at Woolridge Island the plan was to hug the shoreline for a bit, cross over at the mill and then back to the launch site. But we paddled straight back. So instead of being out on the water for the planned 2.5 hours, it was only about 1.5. I could have easily spend another hour out on the water.
Couple of things I learnt from tonight's paddle:
1. I need new sunglasses. This pair keep falling off my face. Not just sliding down my nose, but falling right off my face. Annoying. Good thing they are only a cheapy pair, it won't matter if they drown.
2. I bought a waterproof case for my iPhone, hence more on water photos. But the case doesn't float. So now I need to tether it to my life jacket so it doesn't sink when it goes for a swim. Because you can bet at some point my iPhone will end up in the water. Next week bring carabiner to attach case to life jacket.
3. Speaking of attaching things to my life jacket...I would like a new PFD. Mine is old. It still works. But we used to do more open water paddling where help could be a while in coming, so we had the heavy duty life jacket. Now I do more recreational paddling than touring so this is a bit of overkill. It's big and bulky. I would like a more streamlined one. I'd better start saving my pennies.
I have both kayaks up here for the summer. So if you fancy a trip up to the Sunshine Coast and you time it to when I have a day off, you can come out kayaking with me. I'd love the company.
Nothing like being able to paddle right up to your vehicle. Remember in the first photo I said to note where my car was? Um, yeah, the tide is coming in. See the black SUV? That's where my car was. Good thing I moved it.
Sunset at Davis Bay on the drive home. It was stunning. I was umming and ahhing about stopping and then the bowline came loose. Decision made.