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)

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PS: You can find SISKA on Facebook at this link.
PS: Siska now has it's own Youtube Channel.
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

Happily, SISKA’s paddles and other outdoor activities are Covid-safe and can continue within the renewed restrictions as per our Guidelines for Paddling included below:
 

 
NOTE: Participants should still only attend paddles if they can answer NO to each of these questions:
In the past 14 days, have you:
1.  experienced any symptoms related to COVID-19?
2.  travelled outside Canada?
3.  had contact with anyone travelling outside Canada, or with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or who has experienced symptoms related to COVID-19?

Ecological Reserves off Oak Bay

This year marks the 50^th Anniversary of the Ecological Reserve Program in British Columbia. Ecological Reserves (ER) are part of an international program to preserve representative and special natural ecosystems, plant and animal species, features and phenomena. The principal uses of ecological reserves are for scientific research and educational purposes. Two ERs lie just off the shores of Oak Bay. Trial Islands ER has been set aside to protect the most outstanding known assemblage of rare and endangered plant species in British Columbia. The Oak Bay Islands ER, has been set aside to protect vulnerable nesting seabirds, uncommon meadow plant communities, showy and rare early spring wildflowers and representative shallow water marine habitats.

This talk will give you information about the importance of Ecological Reserves and why these islands are protected.
 

Marilyn Lambert Bio

A native Victorian, Marilyn has been exploring the Oak Bay Islands area since 1968. She worked in the Birds and Mammals section of the BC Provincial Museum in the 1970’s where she was involved in a Glaucous-winged Gull banding program on Great Chain Island and waterfowl surveys in the area. Marilyn spent time with the warden for the Oak Bay Islands Ecological Reserve and when the position became vacant she became warden in 1998. Her interests include seabirds, native plants and exploring tide pools. Marilyn has travelled extensively, but the islands of Oak Bay are her favourite places to explore.


Topic: SISKA Monthly Members' Meeting
Time: Sep 22, 2021 07:00 PM Vancouver

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82153965059?pwd=WGpQbUY3TVFPT1BZQ25udmZHRnNuZz09
Meeting ID: 821 5396 5059
Passcode: 401854
 

 

Dr Neoprene will bring his portable soft gear repair clinic to the SISKA picnic on the 11th. See demonstrations of several procedures such as drysuit gasket transplants, torn “randeckotomy" on sprayskirts and dealing with neoprene lacerations in wetsuits via “neopreneplasty.”

 

Also, the doctor will consult on your damaged gear via walk-in sessions. Bring in your damaged sprayskirts, wetsuits, dry tops or other items for a consultation; he’ll make referrals if needed.

 

Additionally, there will be a brief lecture on care, maintenance and repair of soft gear. Gear marking supplies will be available for you to try out as well.

 

A surgery/walk-in schedule will be posted onsite to allow visits through the morning.

 

 

 

Cook broad rice noodles making sure they are done but still firm. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain well and toss with toasted sesame oil. Add matchstick carrots and red peppers and thinly sliced green onions. Add toasted sesame seeds. Carnivores can add shredded chicken or pork. Toss with a sauce made of peanut butter, Tom Yum paste, a bit of soy sauce, and a bit of rice vinegar. Squeeze lime juice over all. Enjoy!

 

On a multi-day paddling trip you may encounter areas where your VHF radio does not receive well.

For example, you may only get spotty reception of those important weather broadcasts.

 

Try placing your radio on the wet surface of a nearby sand beach. Or if that is not available, place it in the centre of a metal pan such as a frypan or pizza sheet.

 

These surfaces act as a “ground plane” for your radio antenna, and with luck you will obtain better reception.

 

Sorry, I cannot guarantee you will receive better weather.