Introduction
Dear <<First Name>>,
When this issue comes out, I (Mike Jackson) will be back in Antarctica for the second of the three trips I am working on down here. With a bit of luck, I will be able to get out paddling at least once. The wildlife and sights I have seen are amazing and I am looking forward to sharing some of those with you at our February meeting.
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!
Michael Jackson (SISKA president) and Tony Playfair (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.
PPPS: You can find the SISKA newsletter archive here: http://goo.gl/VUkafR |
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Upcoming SISKA Events
January 2019 Meeting Information - Vancouver Island Circumnavigation
Bob and Elizabeth Purdon are retired Central Saanich residents and are active SISKA members. A significant part of their retirement involves weekly day paddles and one to three week kayak trips in our local areas and in the warm waters of Baja California Mexico. In the summer of 2018, Elizabeth and Bob along with friend Marg Rees of Canmore, circumnavigated Vancouver Island in what we think is a record long time of 58 days. Their presentation will include slides and a talk about the planning and preparation, logistics, problems encountered and the highlights of the trip.
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Saturday, January 05th, 2019 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM -
Esquimalt Lagoon to Millstream Falls Paddle
Tuesday, January 08th, 2019 - 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM -
Injury Prevention in Sea Kayaking - Keeping You On The Water by Jennie Sutton
Sunday, January 13th, 2019 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM -
Cadboro Bay to Glencoe Cove Paddle
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM -
Getting the Most From Your GPS by Karen Stefanyk
Sunday, January 20th, 2019 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM -
Albert Head to Witty's Lagoon Paddle
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM -
Monthly Meeting: Circumnavigating Van Isd with Bob/Eliz Purdon
Saturday, January 26th, 2019 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM -
Getting the Most From Your GPS by Karen Stefanyk
Saturday, February 02nd, 2019 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM -
Spirit Bay to Cabin Point Paddle
Tuesday, February 05th, 2019 - 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM -
Charts & Compass: Basic Navigation by John Abercrombie
Thursday, February 07th, 2019 - 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM -
Charts & Compass: Basic Navigation by John Abercrombie
Sunday, February 10th, 2019 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM -
Brentwood Bay Ferry Wharf to MacKenzie Bight Paddle
Tuesday, February 12th, 2019 - 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM -
Charts & Compass: Basic Navigation by John Abercrombie
Thursday, February 14th, 2019 - 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM -
Charts & Compass: Basic Navigation by John Abercrombie
Tuesday, February 19th, 2019 - 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM -
Weather, Wind & Waves by Don Tunstall assisted by Vic Turkington
Wednesday, February 27th, 2019 - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM -
Monthly Meeting
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Community Events of Interest
If you are aware of an event that should be included in the next Newsletter, please email Alan Campbell at alanglencampbell@shaw.ca.
List of Upcoming NonSISKA Events
Saturday, January 05th, 2019 - 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM -
New Year, New Beginnings - Guided Adult Walk - CRD
Sunday, January 06th, 2019 - 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM -
Winter Birds of Island View Beach - CRD
Friday, January 11th, 2019 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM -
West Coast Kayaking and Sea Otters - ORS
Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM -
Exploring the Deep - RBCM
Tuesday, January 29th, 2019 - 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM -
Ocean Acidification - VNHS
Friday, February 15th, 2019 - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM -
Wildlife Photographer of the Year - RBCM
Tuesday, February 26th, 2019 - 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM -
Shellfish Archaeology in BC - VNHS
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What’s in a Name?
by Vic Turkington
The Legend of the Sitting Lady Falls – Wittys's Lagoon
Long ago there was a great chief who lived in the mountains far inland. He had five daughters, and each was a princess.
One day these five princesses decided to go to the beach for a picnic. They set out and soon came to a very high cliff. The princesses leaped from rock to rock down the cliff like mountain goats. Remember that they were princesses from the mountain, and their clothes made of icicles and snow flashed like jewels as they played on the rocks. They had so much fun playing amongst the rocks that the picnic was forgotten and they only noticed what time it was when it began to get dark. Quickly all the princesses rushed home - all except the youngest, who was having too much fun to go home.
The great chief was very angry with his daughters for arriving home so late. He was furious with the youngest, and despite the pleas of his other daughters, he turned her into the waterfall. She will forever be reminded that she should have obeyed her father and gone home on time.
This is why the waterfall is called the Sitting Lady falls, and it is said if you look closely, you can still see the Indian princess.
(courtesy Sooke Museum)
So when we poke our kayak bows into the cascading waterfall, if we look up, we may see the lady sitting on a rock beckoning us to come closer !
- Happy New Year.
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Laun-Dry Bag. Pop a detergent pod in with your dirty duds, add water, seal and shake, shake, shake!
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Safety Tips
by Lynn Baier
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Do you file a float plan? It’s a wise idea. Even for a day trip, let someone know where you’re going and when to expect you home. It’s more important in an extended trip. Include who you’re paddling with, all makes and colour of kayaks, your intended itinerary, and your tent colours so that your camp is easily identifiable, and any other pertinent information.
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Camp Cookery
by Lynn Baier
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Curried Quinoa:
This can be made as a side dish, or a main if that fish refuses to be caught. It’s a great vegan/gluten free dish full of protein and healthy calories.
At home toast your quinoa in a frying pan. One cup of quinoa will give you two cups cooked. You don’t have to toast it, but it gives the finished dish a nice nutty flavour. In camp cook the one cup of quinoa with two cups of water and a boullion cube. You can boil it, then simmer it for 15 minutes, or conserve fuel by boiling it for about 5 minutes then keep it in a cozy for about an hour until the water has been absorbed and the quinoa is fluffy. Add half a cup of sliced or slivered almonds, a rehydrated clove of crushed garlic, about a quarter cup of pumpkin seeds, a quarter cup of sunflower seeds, and curry powder to taste. If desired, add raisins or chopped apricots. Serve hot. Enjoy!
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Trip Reports
Presidents paddle Dec 1
by Anne Jensen
Eleven paddlers headed out on the December 1st Presidents paddle. As we got organized on the beach the last few Sea King RCAF helicopters flew by overhead. The weather cooperated nicely for December with a light breeze and intermittent bursts of sunshine.
Mike pointed out various birds for us all to appreciate like buffleheads and hooded mergansers and we also spotted some murrelets and black turnstones. A few of us saw a seal as we left Cadboro Bay.
As we paddled around Jemmy Jones island, Mike showed us how the glaciers had made the north side smooth and rounded while the southern side was jagged. Interesting to take in the real estate along the shore.
Morley led the way and pointed out a property that had a callas firepit and some First Nations artwork not too far from the yacht club on our return. He then wowed us with his standing Gyro Park beach landing.
Paddlers who then went to the RVYC for our annual holiday party were somewhat hungry after our short paddle and able to somewhat justify dessert. Thanks Mike.
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Trial Island Paddle on December 15th
by Edgar Hulatt
The SailFlow weather report for Discovery Island had the winds building to 26 knots, gusting to 38 knots, at 3 pm on the Saturday afternoon, as only 6 hardy paddlers out of the original group of 17 set out to brave the elements. Reports of 5 foot rollers crashing onto Willows Beach did not deter this determined group. Launching from Brentwood Bay, paddling outside of Senanus Island, we had a relaxed and casual paddle along the coast north to Coles Bay, where a snack stop was held. The return trip was very much quicker as everyone made a dash along a direct line straight for the Brentwood Pub for a late lunch. Prepared lunches were discarded in the garbage can as the group shared pitchers of Dark Matter, well just one actually, and scoffed down some delicious pub fare.
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A Recent Thursday Paddle
by Alan Campbell
[Note: Paddles organized by Thursday Paddlers are neither authorized nor managed by SISKA]
Be Aware! Strong Winds Can Arise and Create Stormy Seas Very Quickly!
For Thursday December 20th all forecasts agreed that very strong winds would affect most inner BC coastal areas as the leading edge of a strong low-pressure system moved eastward. SE gale force winds were expected to veer to SW early in the day, rising from 5-15 to 25-30 knots with even higher gusts. Thursday paddlers modified their original Inlet-crossing paddle plan from Pat Bay in N Saanich Inlet to a safer shoreline paddle south until the winds became too much, and then either paddle back to the launch site or pull out and reconnect with our vehicles by land. The rationale for continuing with the paddle was that we could safely gain experience paddling in conditions seldom encountered in this area. The wind in Pat Bay at launch time about 10 am was a little gusty but otherwise light, and then dropped away entirely as the six of us paddled south to the point, continued around the headland and into Coles Bay, following the shoreline closely all the way. No significant wind was evident in the Inlet, where a small boat was quietly fishing, or in the tree tops we passed along the shore. A battered cedar-strip racing shell washed up in the head of Coles Bay was put under tow in the calm inner Bay waters by one of our group using a non-quick release line. Then, just a few minutes later, around 11 am, as our group paddled out toward the Inlet along the S shore of Coles Bay, the predicted strong winds suddenly arrived with a vengeance. Within 5-10 minutes Coles Bay turned from a tranquil backwater to a raging windswept sea resembling stormy west coast waters. After confirming by VHF radio, we turned back into the Bay and made for a pull out in Coles Bay Regional Park that we had passed a short time before. The tow line was disengaged with assistance from another of our group since it had become a sea anchor preventing that paddler from making headway in the still-rising seas. Bracing and surfing the 1-2 meter wind waves now rolling in close to shore in the very stiff wind, everyone arrived safely and then surf landed one by one at the low bank pullout, over top of the log debris that had washed in on the day’s very high tide. After hauling boats to the parking lot, and taxiing to retrieve vehicles from Pat Bay, we huddled over coffee and more at The Roost to debrief. Although content with our decision to paddle, and the course we took, we agreed that we had underestimated the speed with which the high winds struck and their rapid effect on the sea state in the Bay. Everyone stayed calm, paddling and working together to land safely in the surf and debris, but we were exposed to more risk than planned, and were fortunate that no injuries or damage resulted. We also all agreed that towing anyone or anything should always be done with a quick release line.
Alan Campbell
Luc Courtemanche
Willi Fast
Debbie Leach
Rene Watson
Rob Zacharias
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Pat Bay looking S to the point at 1015
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Coles Bay pullout at 1130
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Landing among surfy logs. Willi landed first, then each helped the next. Rob is about to catch Alan here.
This video was taken after moving our gear up the trail – small and blurry but you will catch the mood…VideoLink
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The kayakers, now safely ashore become hikers – 300 m or so to the Coles Bay parking lot…
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Noteworthy Items
by Jennie Sutton
This year SISKA members at the November meeting and at the annual Christmas Party donated $150.00 to Santa’s Anonymous and $175 to the Sea Rescue Society. Other members also donated online to these two deserving organizations. Thank you for your generosity!
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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.
Stohlquist "Shift" Drysuit - Size Small. Brand new, never used. Latex gaskets all around. Neck gasket can be removed and tucked inside front of suit on good weather days or pulled out quickly for rolling or heavy seas.
See description here. Email tonyplay@padlr.net for more info.
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SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners
Over the past year, SISKA successfully partnered with the following local kayak businesses. All of them have now agreed to continue to provide discounts in 2019 for SISKA members who sign up for their kayaking skills courses.
Please view the link on the website for details at http://siska.ca/docs_public/SISKAsKayakSkillsCoursePartners.pdf.
Our partners are:
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