Introduction
Dear <<First Name>>,
Thanks to those members who contributed photos and materials. After enjoying a SISKA event or paddle, please consider sending a short (100-150 words) summary article; for more information, contact one of us. If you would like to start a regular column, please let us know!
Past SISKA Newsletters are archived at: http://goo.gl/VUkafR
And a reminder that both Ben and Mike will be away for much of 2018 on various trips. That means some months without a newsletter unless someone is willing to assist with editing the club newsletter.
Michael Jackson (SISKA president) and Ben van Drimmelen (editor)
PS: You can find SISKA on Facebook at this link.
PPS: SISKA has a Meetup site for "impromptu" and other paddles organized by club members. For more details, go to https://www.meetup.com/SISKA-Meetup/. To join this, you have to be a club member. |
|
Upcoming SISKA Events
February 6, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Chart & Compass: Navigation Basics Course #1 with John Abercrombie
February 8, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Chart & Compass: Navigation Basics Course #2 with John Abercrombie
February 11, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Oak Bay Marina to Cadboro Bay Paddle (RELAXED)
February 13, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Chart & Compass: Navigation Basics Course #1 Part II with John Abercrombie
February 15, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Chart & Compass: Navigation Basics Course #2 Part II with John Abercrombie
February 21, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Monthly Meeting-Visiting and paddling in the Galapagos Islands with Mike Jackson.
February 25, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Spirit Bay to Whirl Bay Paddle (ENERGIZER)
March 5, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, How to Plan for a Lengthy Kayak Trip - David Maxwell & John Minkley
March 10, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Amherst to Coal Island circumnavigation Paddle (RELAXED)
March 14, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm, Tides & Currents with Anne Graves
March 25, 9:15 am - 3:00 pm, Whiffin Spit to Cabin Point Paddle (ENERGIZER)
March 28, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Monthly Meeting
|
|
Community Events of Interest
If you are aware of a non-SISKA event of likely interest to our members, please email Alan Campbell at alanglencampbell@shaw.ca.
February 4, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm, Kayak to Klemtu - VFF - Silver City 3
February 6, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm, Kayak to Klemtu - VFF - Silver City 3
February 8, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm, Bones and Brains behind the Boats at Ocean River Sports
February 22-March 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Marine Bird course (U.Vic, James Clowater). 5 Thursday evening classes plus 2 Sunday field trips; great course for learning to identify marine birds when kayaking!
February 26, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm, Respect Your Elders: Rockfish Conservation in the Salish Sea
March 29, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm, Reel Paddling Film Festival
Details on the SISKA website
|
|
Trip Tips
- Debbie Leach
COZY UP
A cozy can insulate one hot pot while another one is on the stove. For quick cooking items like rice noodles and couscous, pour boiling water into the pot, cover and cozy it up.
|
|
Discovery Island Open for Camping
- Mike Jackson
Camping is permitted again on Discovery Island. A friend has recently spent a night there and says things seem back to normal. From the BC Parks website:
December 20, 2017: Park is open for day-use and overnight camping. This park
is open for day-use activities and overnight camping in the designated camping
area. Please be advised that all dogs and domestic pets are not allowed anywhere
within Discovery Island Provincial Park – violators may be subject to fines or
penalties. You can help BC Parks by following our important
wolf safety guidelines before visiting the park. Park Rangers and Conservation
Officers will be patrolling the area to facilitate public education and monitoring.
For more information: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/discovery_is/
|
|
Executive News
After more than five years of keeping our books as club treasurer, John Levey is stepping down. We are very fortunate to have Roger Botting stepping in to take his place. Many thanks to John for all of his hard work and thanks to Roger for stepping in to this role for us.
After completing his two 2-year terms (and a bit more!), Mark Byrne is stepping down as secretary at the AGM in April. We are looking for a replacement and encourage anyone interested to contact Mark (secretary@siska.ca) for more details about the position. Feel free to contact Mike Jackson (chairperson@siska.ca) or Alan Campbell (vicepresident@siska.ca) as well.
|
|
First Paddle of 2018
- Ben van Drimmelen
Saturday January 13th looked cool and gloomy with a threat of drizzle, but 14 contented paddlers departed Gyro Beach to see what they could see. We noodled along the east shore of Cadboro Bay, with leader Mike Jackson snap-quizzing us on the names of the smallest islands and bays. Staines Island, Flower Island, Sheep cove, Tudor Beach....
|
|
However, as we rounded the Cadboro Point light, we encountered higher winds and steeper waves than predicted or anticipated. This was a "Relaxed Paddle", so we prudently turned sterns to the wind and retreated gracefully back past Jemmy Jones Island across the mouth of Cadboro Bay, past Cattle Point and onward to land triumphantly, like an invading flotilla, at Willows Beach. Lunch while kids and dogs examined our multi-coloured fleet, then back to noodling the western side of Cadboro Bay and on to our starting point.
It was indeed a pleasant relaxed paddle. The only near-casualty was Mike's GPS unit which had fallen out on shore as he beached near his home. Happily, it was found and returned by an honest beach-stroller! Got to love Victorians.
|
|
Victoria Waterways Loop Update
- Vic Turkington
The Victoria Waterways Loop offers a paddling route within the Capital Region. It winds through five municipalities and covers 8.4nm (15.5 kms) including a 950m portage. This is quite unique for a city and highlights Victoria as a desirable paddling destination. The complete Loop can be easily navigated in 4 hours. Kayak wheels are required for the portage.
The loop is divided into four sections, each with its own level of difficulty and attractions. Several launch points are available along each section, offering opportunities for paddlers of every skill level. The Gorge is the most protected section of the loop while the Esquimalt shore is more exposed and challenging. The tidal currents and turbulence at Tillicum bridge can create significant hazards for the unwary paddler.
The municipality of View Royal has funded ($70K) an access ramp on the Gorge which connects with Portage Park in Esquimalth Harbour. Currently the ramp only reaches the water's edge, giving reasonable access at higher tides (check F&O website Portage Inlet). An extension is planned to allow easier access at lower tides, but this final stage is awaiting permission from the Province to start construction. (stay tuned !)
In the meantime, the working group is designing hazard signs to alert paddlers to the dangers at Tillicum bridge. It is also experimenting with a radar-based monitoring system to measure current speeds at Tillicum Bridge. Ideally this real time data would be available on the Loop's website (www.vicwaterloop.ca). This site is well worth a visit as it provides details on levels of difficulty, available launch points, risks, etc., when planning a trip.
|
|
|
|
The Victoria Waterways Loop
|
|
Camp Cookery
- Lynn Baier
Apple Crumble
Peel, core, slice, and dehydrate enough apples to feed your planned kayaking group. Put in a ziplock bag. Then make the crumble topping by mixing a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, half a cup of brown sugar, a quarter cup of flour, 4 tablespoons of butter or margarine and a half cup of large-flake oats and baking the mix on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees until browned and crispy. Let it cool and put it in another ziplock bag.
In camp, reheat and rehydrate the apple slices in a frying pan. Thicken with cornstarch if needed (it should be thick). Remove from the heat and sprinkle the crumble over the top of the apples. (If your group deserves really fancy, you can bring a tiny packet of icing sugar to dust it.....) Serve it up and enjoy!
|
|
Library Notes
- Gary Jacek
We have two new books in our collection, as requested by club members.
Michael Layland - A Perfect Eden: Encounters by Early Explorers of Vancouver Island
John Robison - Sea Kayaking Illustrated: A Visual Guide to Better Paddling
Also a reminder that if your drysuit neck/wrist seals need replacement, SISKA has two gasket repair kits available through the library. These kits provide the jigs and tools to marry your (separately purchased) gaskets to your ailing drysuit.
The kits are available for loan at our monthly meeting. Send an email to Librarian@siska.ca so that we can bring along a kit for you. Or, if you don’t mind travelling to Gordon Head, you can orrow a kit at any time by sending email to the same address.
|
|
January 10th Currents Clinic
- Jennie Sutton
This was the first time that SISKA held this beginner/intermediate on-water current clinic mid-week and it was popular! Eight members registered and six participated in an educational, fun day on the water at Cadboro Point.
After a brief discussion on currents at Gyro Beach, we paddled to Cadboro Point. The group developed increasing skill and confidence in maneuvering their kayaks as the ebb currents increased.
|
|
Jennie Sutton, Mike Jackson and Edgar Hulatt were the instructors. Over the course of four hours, the participants' looks of total concentration and focus slowly changed to huge grins of satisfaction, with everyone having fun!
(ps - Cadboro Point is the point with the green light at the south-east end of Ten Mile Point. Confusingly, Ten Mile Point is both the point a few hundred metres to the north of Cadboro Point and the name for the whole peninsula to the north of Cadboro Bay.)
|
|
|
|
The track for the clinic group
|
|
Join a Broken Group Kayak Trip
- Norm Smyth
The Wednesday Paddlers Group has arranged a luxurious kayak trip to the Broken Group of Islands in Barkley Sound from 30 July to 3 August 2018, and are extending an invitation to all SISKA members to participate.
Accommodation is at the nicely furnished Sechart Lodge, which has some queen rooms and some with two single beds. However, just four rooms remain, so move quickly if you wish to participate. The Lodge provides three good home cooked meals per day - lunch is packed for kayaking. The cost per day (including meals) is $183 for one person in a room, or $155.50 per person for two sharing a room.
The plan is to arrive on Monday 30 July and depart Friday 3 August. You can paddle there from Toquart Bay, or take the Frances Barkley passenger ferry from either Port Alberni (an 0800 departure, $84 per person + $45 per kayak, round trip) or from Ucluelet (a 1400 departure, $66 per person + $45 per kayak, round trip - this seems the most convenient way, as no overnight stay is required), or arrange with the Sechart water taxi to pick you up ($60 each way from Toquart Bay, 12 people max).
Please make your own accommodation and transportation arrangements, but let Norm Smyth (smyth@telus.net) know when you have made your plans. To book a room and space on the boat call (1 + 250-723-8313) Lady Rose Marine - they operate the ferry and own the Sechart Lodge - and tell Stacy you wish to join the Victoria Wednesday Paddler's trip. Here are the relevant links:
When we know who is participating and their skill levels, we will organize our daily paddles.
|
|
|
|
The Broken Group and Sechart Lodge.
|
|
Kayakable Birding
The Newsletter has now been out for two years. At two species per issue, we have covered 48 of the more readily-identifiable birds of the 70 or so that are likely to be seen, month by month,when kayaking in local waters.
|
|
Instead of covering more species, here’s a checklist of birds covered to date. You can keep track, marking them off as you encounter them. (“Issue” is the month and year of the relevant Newsletter, available in our Archives at http://goo.gl/VUkafR in case you want a refresher.)
| Species |
Seen? |
Issue |
Species |
Seen? |
Issue |
| Brant |
|
Mar 16 |
Black-bellied Plover |
|
Oct 17 |
| Gadwall |
|
Jan 17 |
Killdeer |
|
Dec 17 |
| American Widgeon |
|
Mar 16 |
Black Oystercatcher |
|
May 16 |
| Mallard |
|
Jan 17 |
Greater Yellowlegs |
|
Oct 16 |
| Greater Scaup |
|
Feb 17 |
Surfbird |
|
Nov 17 |
| Harlequin Duck |
|
Feb 16 |
Sanderling |
|
Nov 17 |
| Surf Scoter |
|
Oct 16 |
Western Sandpiper |
|
Jul 17 |
| Long-tailed Duck |
|
Nov 16 |
Least Sandpiper |
|
Jul 17 |
| Bufflehead |
|
Dec 16 |
Dunlin |
|
Oct 17 |
| Common Goldeneye |
|
Dec 16 |
Heermann’s Gull |
|
Sep 16 |
| Barrow’s Goldeneye |
|
Feb 17 |
Mew Gull |
|
Aug 17 |
| Hooded Merganser |
|
Mar 17 |
California Gull |
|
Aug 17 |
| Common Merganser |
|
May 16 |
Glaucous-winged Gull |
|
Sep 16 |
| Red-breasted Merganser |
|
Mar 17 |
Common Murre |
|
Nov 16 |
| Pacific Loon |
|
Apr 17 |
Pigeon Guillemot |
|
Jun 16 |
| Common Loon |
|
Apr 17 |
Marbled Murrelet |
|
Dec 17 |
| Horned Grebe |
|
Jan 18 |
Rhinoceros Auklet |
|
Jun 16 |
| Red-necked Grebe |
|
Jan 18 |
Northwestern Crow |
|
Jun 17 |
| Double-crested Cormorant |
|
Aug 16 |
Common Raven |
|
Jun 17 |
| Pelagic Cormorant |
|
Aug 16 |
Purple Martin |
|
May 17 |
| Turkey Vulture |
|
Jul 16 |
Barn Swallow |
|
May 17 |
| Osprey |
|
Apr 17 |
Savannah Sparrow |
|
Sep 17 |
| Bald Eagle |
|
Jul 16 |
Song Sparrow |
|
Sep 17 |
|
|
Cold Weather Kayaking
Though this article was sent to all members, we thought we should also include it in the Newsletter:
It's midwinter in paddling paradise, a time when our cold ocean waters (generally around 8 degrees C) are often warmer than the air temperature. While we continue to get out there and paddle regularly, we need to be very well prepared in case of immersion, particularly when that is unplanned!
After recent research by and discussions with Lynn Baier, our Coordinator for Standards and Safety, we agreed to remind all our members how to stay safe in these conditions. We hope to have a rep from the Canadian Coast Guard come to an upcoming monthly meeting to discuss this further, but meanwhile here is some interim information to take to heart.
Kayak Hipster has an excellent 10 minute video worth watching at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUUX1VI7i1I. Here is some of the information included with that Youtube link:
- Cold water and winter kayaking is a lot more dangerous than paddlers realize. I often hear stories of paddlers not respecting the risks that go along with cold water, so I hope this video can help make paddlers a bit safer out on the water. For further info on cold water paddling, please visit ACA's cold water survival guide https://goo.gl/5kKXfc (shortened link)
|
|
To Buy or Sell
If you have any buy/sell items that you would like to post in the Newsletter, please send a short description and your contact info to newsletter@siska.ca.
|
|
SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners
There are some fine discounts available for SISKA members who sign up for our partners' skills training programs; go to http://siska.ca/docs_public/SISKAsKayakSkillsCoursePartners.pdf.
Our partners are:
|
|
|
|
![](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>){kind=small}
![Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="139" height="54"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg> "Mailchimp Email Marketing")