Paddler's Challenge 2013 Week 1 - Sechelt Inlet

My third paddle this week was for week 1 on of the Paddler's Challenge hosted by Halfmoon Sea Kayaks. This is the 5th year of the challenge and my second.  Last year we paddled to:

1. Thormanby Island
2. Trail Islands
3. Port Mellon
4. To Davis Bay for gelato
5. Full moon paddle to Smuggler's Cove
6. Pender Harbour
7. Weather thwarted our crossing to the Pasley Island Group
8. We finished with a poker run in Sechelt Inlet

 

Paddler's Challenge 2013 started we finished last year - in Sechelt Inlet.  We launched from Halfmoon Sea Kayaks rental location.  There was quite the turnout.  It was good to see everyone back again, (although there were quite a few missing) and welcome lots of new faces.  

 

 

Some of the group getting ready to launch

 

 

 

The rest of the group out on the water, ready to go

 

 

Earlier in the day Cam and Bev from Halfmoon Sea Kayaks had set some crab traps out at Poise Island. The plan was to paddle out and round the Island, pull up the traps, hopefully collect some crab and then head back.  

 

 

Poise Island - historical burial ground for the Sechelt First Nations Band

 

 

On the way to Poise Island we saw a dragon boat team in training and a crew in the First Nations Canoe. I was too far away to get a photo of either of them. As we paddled around Poise Island we we under Arbutus trees and stopped to watch the starfish and/or seastars (where's Nicola when I need her) that were sunning on rocks just below the shoreline. 

 

 

Arbutus Tree - Watch out for ticks. Apparently they like to hang out in the Arbutus.

 

 

Then it was time to pull the two traps. Yes, you can set and pull crab (and prawn) traps from a kayak. Crab traps are easier because you only need about 50' of line, as opposed to prawn traps where you need about 300' of line - that's a lot of hauling to pull the trap back up.  Bev's trap had 5 crab in it, but some of them had to be thrown back because they were undersize or female.  (Yes, you have to have a license to crab).

 

 

Checking to make sure the crab is male and of legal size

 

 

After we had checked both traps and reset them it was time to head back to shore.  It was time to cook up the crab, grab a cold drink and sit and enjoy the evening and the company.

 

 

Chips and dip while waiting for the crab.

 

 

 

Our view

 

 

 

all that remains

 

 

Awesome start to the Paddler's Challenge. The crab bake after was particularly fun.  It was nice to be able to sit and have a drink and socialise with everyone afterwards instead of just loading up our cars and driving away.