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!
Michael Jackson (SISKA president)
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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Do they kayak on the prairies? A quick farewell from the editor
Well, it was short lived, but it was fun! My run as editor of this SISKA newsletter has come to an end much sooner than I thought as I've accepted a new job in Edmonton and I'm hitting the road next week. Thanks to Mike, the executive, and previous editor Ben for letting me have the editor reigns for a short while, and to everyone in the club for paddling with me over the past 8 months. It has been a lot of fun and I hope to join you on a paddle over a future vacation sometime soon!
Moving to Edmonton will have quite an impact on my paddling, and my life. I am a fourth generation Vancouver Islander on one side of my family, and I've never been away from an ocean before for more than two consecutive months. I've been kayaking with family since I was 4, and just purchased my first boat last summer. But, I can find solace in the story of my grandfather: he grew up in Moose Jaw yet he managed to join Sea Cadets and spend some years in the North Atlantic during the Second World War! Maybe, like him, I'll turn my new prairie lifestyle into a maritime career. Or maybe I'll just get a canoe...
Happy paddling,
Ben Fast
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SISKA Meeting Update
September 26 meeting starts an hour early: 6pm.
Come share or hear about others summer trips. Tables will be set up, for those sharing, to lay out the trip chart etc... and tell your stories.
November meeting begins an hour early, so at 6pm, for a Gear Swap. For those looking to sell gear, come ready to stake your claim to a table and sell your gear.
A free table will be set up for those who are wishing to just give away gear.
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SISKA Member David Anderson named to the Order of British Columbia
- Blair Dwyer
At the time of the announcement, David was kayaking with other SISKA members in the Broken Group Islands segment of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This was appropriate timing, as David was instrumental in the 1971 creation of Pacific Rim.
It may seem self-evident today that the west coast of Vancouver Island should include a national park. However, self-evident truths tend to become self-evident only after someone has first had a new thought and then taken the time to bring the thought to fruition. In the late 1960’s, various groups were strongly opposed to creation of the park. David and others had a vision and persisted in implementing that vision. Today, we are able to enjoy the result of those efforts.
David is a member of the Order of Canada, is a former federal MP and cabinet minister and also served as a provincial MLA. As federal Environment Minister, David shepherded the Species At Risk Act through Parliament and secured Canada’s signature on the Kyoto Protocol (again, in the face of considerable opposition). David has received a number of environmental awards, including the following.
Congratulations to David on another well-deserved honour. And a very heart-felt thanks from all his kayaking companions, especially those who enjoyed kayaking with him in the Broken Group Islands.
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Around the Island in 57 Days!
Bob and Elizabeth Purdon along with their friend Marg Rees completed a 57-day circumnavigation of Vancouver Island by kayak on August 19. Posting updates to Facebook along the way as "Bobby and the Sea Stars," the trio returned to Island View Beach and were met by family and kayaking friends (and a nice cake!).
Watch for a future presentation on their amazing accomplishment, but for now enjoy these photos taken by Blair Dwyer.
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Safety Tip - Communication
- Lynn Baier
Search and Rescue believes that the most valuable piece of safety equipment you can carry is a VHF radio.
Familiarize yourself with yours and take a course to be radio operator certified.
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What’s in a Name? Vancouver Island
- Vic Turkington
Vancouver Island: “our home and native island” - but was it always called “Vancouver Island” ? ..... read on !
While Spain ruled the world in the mid 1500's, it is speculated that the British explorer and corsair Sir Francis Drake arrived here during the reign of Elizabeth 1st:. (Elizabethan coins found on Quadra Island and in Oak Bay).
Some 200 years later (1774), the Spanish arrived on Vancouver Island and named it “Gran Isla de Fuca”. Four years later, Capt.James Cook (1728-79) arrived and is credited with being the first British explorer to visit Vancouver Island.
Later in 1792, Capt. George Vancouver (1757-98) circumnavigated and charted Vancouver Island. He met up with the Spanish Capt. Bodega y Quadra, who had also circumnavigated the island, to initiate the terms of the Nootka Convention (later concluded by London & Madrid). The two captains became good friends and readily exchanged charts and information on the area, even though their countries were rivals. To mark their friendship and mutual respect, they decided to name the island “Quadra and Vancouver's” Island. This name appears on early charts (see below). However, as Spanish influence waned and British presence increased (1860s), the name was abbreviated to “Vancouver Island” and remains so today.
So here in Victoria, the history of these intrepid explorers is commemorated in our street names: (Cook, Vancouver & Quadra). In addition, the statue of Capt.James Cook's stands in the inner harbour (opposite the Empress Hotel); a bust of Capt.Quadra is found in Quadra Park (Belleville\Oswego), while the gilded statue of Capt.George Vancouver stands atop the BC Legislature.
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Capt. George Vancouver, Royal Navy
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Early chart of "Quadra and Vancouver Island"
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Tips from the trips
- Debbie Leach
Boot Dryer. Take advantage of rudders for drying wet boots. If you drop the rudder, you can turn it to catch the incoming wind.
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Pyrotechnics Paddle!
- Robyn Byrne
On August 25, I led a group of SISKA club members on a fireworks paddle (or as it has now been renamed “Tod Inlet Pyrotechnics Observation Paddle). Some were brand new kayakers so it was really fun to watch them enjoy their first night paddle. Karen C. was on her first SISKA club paddle and Heather was celebrating her birthday. Fun times. Lots of phosphorescence too!
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Kayaking the Broken Group
- Blair Dwyer and Norman Smyth
Twenty-four SISKA members kayaked the Broken Group Islands over three full days, arriving July 30 and leaving August 3.
The group used Sechart Lodge as a base. After a hard day paddling, kayakers would return to brave the rigors of a hot tub and the pleasure of a cold beer – as well as a hot meal cooked by someone else.
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Arriving by MV Francis Barkley from Ucluelet
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Sechart Lodge
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For the first two days, kayakers divided into three separate groups, each group going their separate ways on the water and exploring a separate part of the park. Each group had a paddle leader: Vic Turkington, Dave Chater and Jeff Skippen. The weather was perfect for paddling. Low cloud (but no fog on the water) kept the weather temperate (as opposed to the heat wave in Victoria). For the most part, the wind was calm (with just a very few brief exceptions).
Each group had a separate personality.
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Some of Vic's tired paddlers
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Dave discussing the day's paddle
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- Dave was more focussed. On one of his paddles, the paddlers had to wait until 1:15 in the afternoon before they were allowed to stop for lunch. The objective was to lunch at a specific beach, no matter what. There was one relief break, however, during which one kayaker surreptitiously snuck some nourishment when Dave wasn’t looking.
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Jeff’s group tended to try to take shortcuts between the islands, only to find that the tide was too low for the shortcut. Rather than waiting for the tide to lift all their kayaks, they had to resort to evasive action and paddle around. So much for saving time.
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Paddle leaders Dave, Vic and Jeff planning next day’s paddles with Edgar looking on.
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Effingham sea arch
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On the last day of paddling, various sub-groups formed and ventured forth, each sub-group seeking to outdo the others in some fashion. One group purposely left before the others so as to catch more wildlife sightings.
Lots of wildlife showed up to be seen (even for groups that had not yet left the lodge). At one breakfast, a bear decided to stroll along the beach in front of the lodge, investigating the hot tub (but it was closed). Kayakers saw several other bears, some wolves, sea-stars and moon snails.
Lodge food was superb and plentiful. Breakfast and dinner were buffet-style, so seconds and thirds were possible for those preparing for (or recovering from) a hard paddle. The Lodge packed a lunch for all kayakers (on the hopeful assumption that Dave would allow his kayakers to actually eat the lunch). Some lunch packs included chocolate pudding, which led to intense chocolate-market trading.
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Black bear
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Gord and Nancy lead campfire sing-along
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As noted, the winds were calm. On all three days some kayakers took the water taxi to the outer islands and paddled back to the lodge. This became known as the trek to Effingham Island (although some kayakers tended to separate the Effing from the Ham – with the proper pause, this became the official expletive for the group).On two nights, Gord (one of the managers) sang and played guitar while Nancy (the other manager) stoked the campfire. A SISKA member, Jennifer Heilings, helped out by playing the other guitar and performing one of her own compositions.
This was a very successful trip. Thank you to Norm Smyth for organizing the trip and to the paddle leaders for leading. On the way back to civilization, participants were speaking of a return visit in late June next year.
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Camp Cookery
- Lynn Baier
Spinach Artichoke Appetizer
Chop and dehydrate one bunch of spinach and one can of water-packed artichokes.
In camp, mix spinach, artichokes, a cup of mayonnaise and one package of shredded Parmesan cheese. Let this mix sit for a few hours to rehydrate.
Heat to just below boiling (if it boils, the mayonnaise will separate). Serve with crackers or whatever cracker-like items you have in camp.
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Sidney to Rum Island - August 18th Paddle
Trip story compiled by Alan Campbell with phoos from Debbie Chan, Blair Dwyer, and Karen Stefanyk
In perfect weather, calm winds and seas, 19 of us in 2 “pods” paddled from Amherst to Rum Island.
Many thanks to Rob and Lisa, John and Debbie who helped lead our big group on the water!
 
 
We filled the beach at lunch, so the few other kayakers and campers were delighted we were just day paddlers!
 
Blair brought some refreshment to share as we recalled the history of Rum Island, only 1 nm from the USA.
 
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