SISKA's July 2021 Newsletter. Upcoming events, reports and articles

July 2021 SISKA Newsletter

Introduction

Dear Tony,

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!

Alan Campbell (SISKA president) and Tony Playfair (editor)

Siska now has it's own Youtube channel HERE

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

Upcoming SISKA Events
Community Events of Interest
BC Marine Trail Report
BC Marine Trails Site Assessments
SISKA’s Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Albert Head Lagoon on World Oceans Day
Weather To Boat App Now Available
What’s in a Name?
Shopping Online
Safety Tips
Camp Cookery
Trip Reports
Kayaking Klips
Tips from the Trips
To Buy or Sell
SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners

Upcoming SISKA Events

For more details, go to the SISKA website

Community Events of Interest

These events are not formally supported by SISKA, but considered to be of interest to a significant number of our members.

Any member may request an event to be included in this section by sending a note to chairperson@siska.ca.

BC Marine Trail Report

by Fred Pishalski

The BC Marine Trails is comprised, in part from 12 paddling clubs from Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island and the mainland of BC; the BCMT has approximately 600 individual, family and business members as well. Recently a new committee was established: BCMT Cross-Club Committee.

The Cross Club Committee was created to bring together people, clubs and organizations that are interested in caring for our coast and preserving it for the future generations. As a provincial group, BCMT has ties with many of the clubs and organizations around the province providing a good connecting point to share information and opportunities to be good stewards of the sites we love to visit. We are off to a good start sharing presentations and information about activities and events to develop sustainable behavior. As the world gets back to normal, we hope to share areas needing maintenance and cleanups so that we can create opportunities to get out in the field and tangibly contribute to improvements at sites around the coast. Building a community of like-minded people will allow us to accomplish more together than we could have imagined.

We will post information pertaining to other club’s presentations/events that SISKA members might be interested in. As we transition out of our current Covid meeting restrictions such as having mostly Zoom meetings/gatherings, we are not certain how this will unfold but stay tuned for further announcements.

Fred Pishalski SISKA rep to BCMT

BC Marine Trails Site Assessments

by Debbie Leach

OUT ON THE MARINE TRAILS?

BC Marine Trails appreciates any site assessments done by paddlers this summer. They accept both Site Condition Reports (largely on condition of site) and New or Potential Site Assessments. Broughton Archipelago is a priority. If you would like additional information on assessments you can contact john@bcmarinetrails.org or use our Report for us! page. View John Kimantas' video below.

John explains coast site assessments

SISKA’s Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Albert Head Lagoon on World Oceans Day

by Alan Campbell

June 8, 2021
Thanks to BJ Porter’s organizing efforts, Sandy Senyk, Bridget Senyk and Dorothea Hoffman joined me on a shoreline cleanup at Albert Head Lagoon Beach, after paddling from Esquimalt Lagoon Beach. Although it was pretty clean we collected about 2kg of debris. A tictac container full of hairpins was the most unusual find, not counting the dead deer in the lagoon or the huge piece of a dock stuck in the creek. Both were reported to CRD parks for proper removal! After a quick show and tell over lunch on the beach, we paddled back to Esquimalt, leaving Albert Head Lagoon Park cleaner than before!

Weather To Boat App Now Available

by Edmond Duggan

June 17, 2021 -- The Weather to Boat app is now available to download for FREE in the app stores.

Dynamic, Powerful, FREE…. and most important… it could save YOUR LIFE!
Weather to Boat is sure to become your “Boating Go-To” App. More than just weather, it provides information to help make your boating experience safer and more enjoyable. Get all the key information needed in one place:

- Up to date Marine and local weather forecasts for your boating area
- Pre-departure checklists
- Geo-referenced Marinas and Boat Launches
- Rules of the Road
- Safety equipment required - specific to your boat
- Dynamic interactive trip planner with emergency contact alerting
- Boating tips and videos

Many boaters have experienced the unpredictability of Canadian weather conditions. Sometimes what can start out looking like the nicest day for boating can quickly turn into one of the worst weather days.

Unsure whether to boat? Download the NEW ‘Weather to Boat’ app today to help keep you safe on the water!

Visit weathertoboat.ca to learn more.

The Weather to Boat app is developed and promoted by the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC), a registered charity, with support from its members, partners, Environment and Climate Change Canada and funded through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF), Public Safety.

For further information contact:
Mary Nicoll
Project Manager
Tel: (647) 293-8003
mary@playsafeproductions.com

Read the reviews also HERE.

What’s in a Name?

by Vic Turkington

Patricia Bay

Patricia Bay is named after Princess Patricia (1886-1974), a daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She came to Canada when her father was the 10th Governor General of Canada. Her attractive and outgoing personality was very popular with Canadians and in 1918 she became colonel in chief of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, until her death. The well known and much travelled “Pat Bay” highway is also named after her. An aerodrome and seaplane base was established beside Patricia Bay (1939), which was developed, after the war, into the present Victoria International Airport. Patricia Bay (formerly Union Bay) houses a Coast Guard Base, the Victoria Airport Water Aerodrome as well as the research Institute of Ocean Sciences and the West Coast HQ of the Canadian Hydrographic Services. Float planes take off and land in the area, which could be of concern to off-shore paddlers!
Pat Bay also provides us with a good launch site on the West Saanich Rd. (opposite Munro Rd.), at the north end of Scoter trail. Roadside parking exists for about 8-10 cars. A sloping shell beach provides an easy put-in for trips up and down the coast. At low tide, the tide recedes considerably, requiring a long kayak carry. However, even at tide datum, the sand/shell beach is sufficiently firm to support kayak carrying wheels (no mud). Typically, mild currents exist in the area and it is protected from strong easterly winds. Wind forecasts are available on “bigwavedave.ca”, wind model 2.

Shopping Online

by Debbie Leach

Shopping online can be daunting. Thanks to the paddlers who shared their recommendations for tried and tested suppliers.

LOCAL

MEC - range of kayaking and outdoor gear

Trotac Marine - charts, VHF, marine hardware, line.

Industrial Plastics and Paints- epoxy and fiberglass supplies, adhesives and sealants, dry bags, zipper lock bags

Valhalla Pure Outfitters - NRS, clothing and camping supplies. The Victoria store has less kayaking gear than Nanaimo has.

Blue Dog Kayaking (Mill Bay/Sidney) - kayaks, dry suits, safety gear

BestCoast Outfitters - kayaks, dry suits, apparel, PFDs, safety gear

Atmosphere Canada - camping gear, dry bags

Gyro Beach Board Shop - NRS gear, boots, gloves, jackets.

Pacifica Paddle Sports - KeelEazy, hatch covers, kayaks, paddles, safety gear

Neoprene Gloves/Boots: Frank Whites Dive Store Rockfish Divers Wilson Diving

Outdoor Gear: Capital Iron, Canadian Tire, Robinson’s

Roof Racks: Rack Attack

ONLINE/AT A DISTANCE

ONO (Nanaimo) - heavy duty rain gear, gloves,

Cabelas (Nanaimo) - outdoor gear including deck compasses

Harbour Chandler (Nanaimo) - marine supplies,fishing gear, clothing, safety gear

Comox Valley Kayaks (Courtenay) – if you know what you want/need – give them a call. Their stock varies a lot so that may be why they don’t list gear on their website. They will mail items down to Victoria at minimal cost. They also have a very good "fleet sale" each year in late August. Some good boat bargains can be had at this sale.

SOS (Courtenay) - survival (including first aid) and outdoor supplies

AquaQuest (Courtenay) - waterproof gear: tarps, cases, dry bags, bivy sacks

Bass Pro (Tsawassen) - camping, fishing, first aid and survival gear

SkyView Outdoors (Surrey) - kayaks, tents, freeze-dried food, emergency devices, clothing, safety gear

BC Kayak Centre (Richmond) - Gearlab paddles and products

North Water (Vancouver) - PFDs, safety gear, deck bags, paddle scabbards

Orca Boats (Vancouver) - Rod Tait handles kayak hardware, footpegs, etc

Mustang Survival (Burnaby) - dry suits, PFDs

Western Canoe and Kayak (Abbotsford) - kayaks, paddles, PFDs, safety gear, apparel.

GPS Central (Calgary) - GPS, VHF

Aquabatics (Calgary and Edmonton) - A great website, shipping free on orders of $100 or more. Lots of NRS. Stuff often arrives within a few days of ordering.

Level Six (Ottawa) - Drysuits, clothing and safety gear, sprayskirts

Trailhead Paddle Shack (Ottawa) - free shipping over $49. Paddles, kayaks, PFDs, clothing, helmets, spray skirts, cockpit covers, safety gear

Radio World (North York) - for those hard to find extras for VHF radios (spare antenna, battery pack etc)

The Complete Paddler (Toronto)

Kingdom Outdoor Products (Toronto) - safety gear, lights, deck slates, dry bags, jewelry

La Cordee - camping gear, water, paddles, PFDs

Binnacle (Halifax) - charts, PFDs, electronics

Kayak Academy (Washington) - Their website is great for researching what is available (kayaks and gear) and their spec sheets are very thorough and easy to find.

Duckworks Boat Builders Supply (Washington) - kayak hatches and parts

Top Kayaker (New Hampshire) - Tom Holtey has all sorts of kayak replacement parts,

rudders, skegs, etc.

Reed Chillcheater (Braunton) - paddle suits, sprayskirts, balaclavas, warm base layers, etc in aquatherm (thinner than other neoprene)

Seaskin (Leeds) - excellent source for drysuit gaskets.Thanks to Roger Botting for recommending them!

Micks Garage (Dublin) - roof racks at a reasonable price and great service..

ORKA Paddles - good carbon wing paddles at reasonable prices (also 'Euro aka 'flat' paddles with adjustable length)

AliExpress - kayak covers, NOT drysuits

Safety Tips

by Lynn Baier

Borrowed from an article by Tom Watson:

Protecting or shielding your hands from the elements while kayaking makes gloves and other hand-wear an important item of clothing in any paddler’s wardrobe. Adding that protective padding or layer needs to function without greatly impeding your sense of touch and digital manipulation of your surroundings that might be otherwise be compromised by something restricting your fingers and hand.

The friction of bare skin against the paddle shaft during a long-haul or arduous paddling effort can be eased by wearing a ‘fingerless’ style of glove. Open fingers maintain your digital dexterity while the enclosed hand is kept relatively warm and dry in addition to softening the grip of the paddle.

Full hand protection against the wet/cold is provided by full-fingered gloves. From thinner fabrics to denser neoprene, the level of dexterity rises accordingly. The thicker the glove, the warmer it is, but the more restrictive of finger movement, too.

Like hand protection in most cold environments, a mitten is warmer than a glove. Similarly, the thicker the mitt, the more restrictive and even less dexterous without the use of your fingers.

The ‘poggie” may be the best compromise, but it, too, has it’s limitations. You have the hands-on touch of your paddle, while also being protected from the elements.The trade off is that the poggie stays with the paddle so any capsize or any activity that requires the use of your hand elsewhere, you lose the protection of the poggie mitt.

Some poggies are designed to have a soft sleeve/gaunlet-like cuff attached. It can be challenging to get your hand into that second, loose, wobbly cuff once your other hand is already confined within the in the other cuffed poggie. The stiffer/no cuff styles allow you to remove/replace your hand quickly and effortlessly.

Warm, flexible hands and fingers are critical to the safe operation of your kayak - especially in emergency situations

Camp Cookery

by Lynn Baier

I found this great recipe in Backpacking Chef

Backpacking Recipe: Mexican Beef & Rice for Taco Lovers

This backpacking recipe spices up your evening meal with a cheddar cheese sauce and taco seasoning. The sign might say Mount Rogers, but you’ll be thinking Margaritaville when you lift the lid on Señor Glenn’s Mexican Beef & Rice. Extremadamente delicioso!

Serves 1

Ingredients:

    ½ Cup instant or dried rice
    ¼ Cup ground beef, dried
    ¼ Cup combined bell peppers (assorted colors), onions, and tomatoes, dried
    ¼ Cup black beans, dried
    1 tsp taco seasoning
    1 Tbsp + 1 tsp cheese mix
    1 Tbsp instant dry milk
    2 - 3 Slices dried jalapeños (optional)
    1¼ Cups water

Cheese Mix: The cheese mix for this backpacking recipe can be borrowed from a six ounce box of Back to Nature brand Spirals & White Cheddar Dinner or Annie’s Homegrown brand Bunny Pasta & Cheese. Look in the health foods section of your grocery store. These brands have no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. The cheese mix packet inside the box can be divided into three servings approximately 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp each. Use one third of the packet for this recipe and save the rest for other recipes. The macaroni can be saved for other meals as well. You could settle for the Kraft brand if you don’t mind a little artificial coloring.

Instant Dry Milk: I use Nestle Nido brand instant whole dry milk instead of the easier to find instant low fat milk varieties. The extra calories from the higher fat content in whole milk provide more energy for my long distance backpacking trips and I like the taste.

Taco Seasoning: Use store-bought packets of taco seasoning or make your own by combining 1 Tbsp Chili Powder, 1½ tsp Ground Cumin, ¼ Garlic Powder, ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper, ¼ tsp Dried Oregano, ¼ tsp Salt. Makes 5½ teaspoons. You only need a teaspoon for this recipe, but you can add more if you like it extra spicy.

Taco Mac: If you want to make another tasty backpacking meal with taco seasoning, try Taco Mac & Cheese.

At Home:
For information about dehydrating ground beef and vegetables for this recipe, review the dehydrating meat or dehydrating vegetables pages.

Combine and pack cheese, milk, and taco powders in small plastic bags. Enclose with other ingredients in a larger plastic bag.

On the Trail:
Combine all ingredients except cheese, milk, and taco powders with water in pot and soak five minutes. Light stove, bring to boil, and cook for one more minute. Remove from stove, stir in cheese, milk, and taco powders. Insulate pot and wait ten minutes.

Serving Suggestions:
Mexican Beef & Rice can be spooned onto a tortilla and rolled up like a burrito. Add some slices of cheese if you carry it. This recipe will easily fill two burritos. Messy but tasty!

If you have some tortilla chips handy, scoop your meal out of the pot with chips or crumble chips over your Mexican Beef & Rice.

Trip Reports

Siska Light Paddle Thursday June 3rd
Pod#1 Moses Point to Deep Cove

by Jane Jacek

Six paddlers wheeled their boats down and were welcomed with a beautiful view of Salt Spring Island and the waters of Satellite Channel. We were surprised by pod#2 which had launched earlier from Deep Cove, and was heading toward Swartz Bay.

With limited beach we set off from a narrow section of Moses Point and headed toward Deep Cove. Calm waters met us, and we enjoyed paddling along the shore. A quick hello was exchanged with pod#3 paddlers pushing off from Deep Cove Beach, and heading toward Moses Point. We continued on our way to the next bay over. As we returned to Moses Point the wind had picked up some, so we were glad to arrive back quicker than expected to our launch site. Another fabulous light paddle!

Highlights of the trip where the sightings of numerous large egg jellies and one large lions mane jelly fish.

Egg Jelly

Laurie Spooner thrilled to see a lions mane jelly

Photos by Danielle Boisvert

Kayaking Klips

by Debbie Leach

Practicing what you learned in spring training?

Alan is 1-2-3 edging to get his spray skirt to the water's edge.

Tips from the Trips

by Debbie Leach

Low on water? To collect water from a shallow stream, use your kayak pump to fill your water bag.

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 from our kayak skills course partners for SISKA members who sign up for their skills training programs; have a look at https://siska.ca/docs_public/SISKAsKayakSkillsCoursePartners2020.pdf

Our partners are: