August 27, 2005

wPict27a
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

Spend the day at the Spa.

The winds had picked up, or so I had convinced myself, so I spent another day at the Hot Springs. I tried to dry out some clothing but it was 110% humidity and it just seemed to get wetter as it hung on the line.



Bishop Bay Hot Springs are great. It has a dock to land at, wooden boardwalks that lead to campsites, a shelter, and the springs. There are 3 tubs at the springs, the hottest in covered and the next one is out on a wood deck overlooking the bay. The third is a little one that is for bathing in, it felt so good to scrub myself clean. They are very secluded, you can only reach them by boat and the closest town is over 60 miles away. It is an amazing sanctuary in the wilderness. To top it all off, Humpback whales were feeding in the bay for hours every evening and morning.

August 28, 2005

wPict28
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

August 28, 2005

POOOOOFFFF As I kayak out of Bishop Bay the Humpback whales give me quite a show close to the kayak. I end up camping on the south end of Promise Island, this sets me up to go to Hartly Bay on Monday, the next day. In Hartly I get my final food shipment and I get to call Mary Lou and tell her I’m safe.

August 29, 2005

wPict29a
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

Kayak into Hartley Bay, it is an amazingly clean village. All the roads and walkways are raised wood boardwalks. Not a drop of gravel or pavement anywhere. Everyone walks or drives ATV’s to get around town. A friendly dock worker directs me to the Post Office where I get my last box of supplies and a letter from Aunt Vernie. There is no public pay phone in town or within 50 miles. The kind people at the development center let me use their phone to call home. It’s been 11 days since I talked to Mary Lou, we yak for a good long time.



ML told me that the Hank and Carolyn had been in touch with her and were looking for me. On the 27th they were at the south end of Pitt Island, this was when I was at the Hot Springs so it looked like I missed them. If they were still in the area ML said that they were going to try and track me down.

Back at the tent I spend the afternoon sorting and organizing all of my new food. I still had rice, organic pesto pasta, cuscus, cashews, almonds, more mixed nuts, granola, It looks like I had more food than I knew what to do with. With the fishing that I had done my supplies were lasting longer than planned.

August 30 - 31, 2005

wPict30
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

I traveled up Greenville Passage a few miles and then took a left into Union Passage, a narrow estuary that would bring me to Squally Channel and the south end of Pitt Island. As I paddled down to the south tip of Pitt I saw no signs of Hank and Carolyn’s boat, I
guess that they were to far away to make it back. I found a little beach where I could make camp and had a late lunch. 45 minutes later I see a small red boat, it’s them, I wave my yellow jacket like crazy till they see me and then paddle out to see them.

It is great to see some friends, it’s been weeks since I’ve seen anyone I knew except ML in Shearwater. Hank and Carolyn spoil me with shrimp, pasta, wine, wild huckleberry tart for dessert and to top it all off a dry bed to sleep in. Hank I spend hours talking about Northwest Formline Art in the dry cabin as it rains outside. The next morning they ship me off with a good breakfast and I head off around the South tip of Pitt Island and up Principe Channel. At the end of the day I camp all the way back in a small inlet called Buchan Inlet. This was the only spot that I had found in the last 2 hours that resembles a flat space. And of course, more RAIN.

September 1, 2005

wPict1
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

Trapped in the inlet by the incoming tide that is causing a Tidal Rapid an a narrow constriction of the inlet. I have to wait till the tide slows down, at 10:58 am I am able to power through and start the day of paddling. While I wait I have time to think……Feels good to be near the end of the trip, winding down, thinking about seeing ML, hot showers, shaving, dry clean cotton clothing. I decide what I want to eat first, roast chicken or pizza.

More rain and wind as I go up Principle Channel and turn into a protected waterway between Anger Island and Pitt Island. That night I find a marginal campsite, I have to pull out my saw to cut driftwood so I have enough space for the tent. I leave my cook pot outside the tent just to find out how much rain I would get over night.

September 2, 2005

wPict2
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

2 ¼ inches of rain last night!!!!! My cook pot is full of water and overflowing. No wonder everything I have is wet, I’ve have had rain everyday for the last 18 days. I pack the boat and decide that I am going to Oona River today and stay at B&B to get dry. I paddle 35 miles and arrive around dinnertime.
I find the most wonderful B&B run by Jan and Mike Lemon. They take me in and treat me like family, starting with a huge steaming bowl of seafood stew full of halibut and Dungeness crab. Everyone sits around and we talk to 10:30 and then I take a hot shower and get to sleep in a warm, dry , cotton sheet bed.

September 3, 2005

wPict3a
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

I walk around Oona River just poking my nose around old boat workshops, lumber mills and meeting the people of Oona. It was my lucky day, it was River Festival Day and there was a big celibration down at the river. Taco lunch, kids games, fish counting and a duck race. You could pick your “duck”, a float from an old fishing line that was painted bright colors, and enter it in the race. All the “Ducks” would be dumped in the river upstream and then would float down to the finish line. Almost the whole town was there, I counted 33 people. Everyone was so warm and friendly, I had a great time.

http://www.oonariver.com/

ABOUT OONA RIVER
Many members of the founding families of the Oona River settlement were Scandinavian homesteaders who were recruited to live in the Northwest in the early 1900s. At its peak, the tight-knit community had more than 100 residents and 25 homes. Until the 1970s, fishing and forestry provided a stable economic base that supported the rural lifestyle preferred by its residents.

wPict3b
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.


Oona River's population is now about 35. In addition to "old timers", it continues to attract new residents who take pleasure in the lifestyle. A number of mainland families own residences in the community, travelling to Oona River on weekends, holidays and during the summer months. "Oona" is considered to be an especially great place for children, providing a safe, secure environment where they may experience freedom and independence and a sense of family and community.
The Setting
The community of Oona River is situated on the lee side of Porcher Island in a well-protected harbour at the mouth of the Oona River. It faces eastward, looking over Ogden Channel toward the Skeena River. Twice a day the view is dramatically altered with the changing of the tide. As the water drops, stone fishing weirs used by Aboriginal fishers, perhaps as many as 5000 years ago, are revealed, offering proof that the river has long supported prolific salmon runs and helped to sustain the people of the coast.
The community is set in the spectacular oceanic waterway known as the Inside Passage, plied by cruise ships and recreational sailors, alike. Sheltered coastal inlets, pristine islands, and abundant fish and wildlife draw sightseers and visitors from near and far.

September 4, 2005

Pwict4
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

The Weather Gods smile upon me today.
For my last day of paddling they give me a day of sunshine and light winds.
They had played with me by serving me up 20 days of rain and wind and I guess they were happy on how I stayed the course.
I paddle across Malacca Passage across lightly rippled blue water and bright sunshine, I have not seen sun like this in 3 weeks.
The trip ends at the Prince Rupert Rowing & Yacht Club at 6:47 pm





PSS – Would I do the trip again? YES, this was a one in a lifetime trip that will give me wonderful memories till my last days.
- Did I learn anything? Yes and No. I am no closer to solving the problems of the world at the mysteries of Universe. But I did learn new things about myself, and countless nuances of the ocean.

Totem Poles of the Skeena River

t9
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

Here are some Totem Poles from our drive back from Prince Rupert, BC.

End of Trip

End of the Trip
It is September 12, 2005 and I am back in Seattle.
It feels strange to be back, hardly anything has changed and I feel like I have been gone so long.
Hope you have enjoyed my stories
Till my next adventure
TTFN.

July 28 to 31 - Alert Bay

I paddle into Alert Bay at on July 28th, so happy to be here. The people here are so friendly and helpful that I spend 4 days here. I go and see the Totem Poles, a traditional dance in a long house, Museum and spend time with the local carvers. Some of them are interested in the lost wax silver jewelry that I do. So I spend a fair amount of time explaining how it is done.
July 31, 2005




I paddle across Blackfish Sound where I get to see 8 Killer Whales and two Humpback Whales. What a thrill to see such large critters gliding through the water. I visit an abandoned native village, wonder around looking at some of the old poles from their houses and eating wild berries. I was going to camp there but as I found the campsite I noticed a giant pile of purple bear poop only 20' away. I then kayaked 4 miles to Mound Island where I set up camp.

August 2 - 6, Echo Bay to Cape Caution

August 2, 2005
Echo Bay Resort
I am packed and ready to go, I plan to use the phone in the store to call Mary Lou, which opens at 7am. 7am – 8am – 9am store still not open. They finally open and I call her, no one home. As I set out on my paddle on of the fishermen on the dock gives me a pound of frozen wrapped halibut for dinner. I paddle down Fife Sound and find a beautiful camp on a small island about twice the size on my yard in Seattle with my very own 15' white shell beach.

August 3, 2005
Up early for a long day, paddle 29 miles to camp on Robinson Island.

River Otter!
I’m moving along the side of a island when an otter comes around a corner of the shore 25' away. He is only 15' away when he notices me. He stops and sticks his head straight out of the water 10" and looks at me in the eye. I can tell he is surprised because his whiskers pop out at 90 degrees from his face. He dives back down then pops right back up again as to say that he did not believe his eyes the first time.

August 4, 2005
Another marathon day, 29 miles to Burnett Bay. The bay is the last camp before Cape Caution. The beaches of the bay have the most amazing soft white sands, and incredible place to camp and have driftwood fires.

August 5, 2005
I was a bit windy so it became a rest day, walks on the sand beaches, cold stream baths, writing in journal and a good dinner.

August 6, 2005
Cape Caution and Kelp Head
Cape Caution day, I stuck my head out of the tent at 6:15 am to check the weather. It did not look ideal but it did look better than yesterday. I go into packing high gear and load the kayak and was off the beach by 7:05 am. It was 4 miles to the Cape from the beach. As I left the sheltered bay I ran head first into large ocean roller waves. These waves are about 4' high and 40' between crests. I am not used to such large waves but soon become adjusted to their mostly harmless roll. It is strange to have the world disappear for a few seconds at the bottom of the wave and then get a few seconds of mini hilltop panoramic view. Then the wind picks up, and just for fun mother nature adds in some reflection waves from the shoreline. Reflection waves are the hardest to deal with because they have no set pattern as the bounce off the coast and back out to sea. It took me two hours to get around Cape Caution, but on the other side it was calmer in Smith Sound. I enjoyed seeing Auklets, Gulls and Murres as I crossed Smith Sound.

From the NW corner of Smith Sound to Kelp Head, 3 mi, was worse than Cape Caution. By the time I got around Kelp Head I was beat, I was so happy to find another white sand beach tucked in behind Kelp Head. This beach could not of been better situated, it is in a sheltered bay behind the point and has soft white sand to rest on and drift wood for fires.
While walking down the beach I find a live dragonfly stuck in the wet sand. It’s wings had touched the wet sand and it’s wings were now coated with the very fine wet sand. It was sitting there just exhausted, every once and a while as I watched it would try to fly but it’s wings were just becoming more coated with sand. I took a leaf and slid it under him and took him back to camp. Then I took one of my paintbrushes and cleaned off his wings. He just laid there as I did this, once I was done I put him on a rock and left him alone. I came back later and he was gone. I guess my dragonfly first aid still works.

August 7, 2005 Dawson's Landing

Sunday
I paddle from my white sand beach camp up Rivers Inlet to Dawson's Landing. For three hours as I paddle I have humpback whales feeding around be, I see them push their heads out of the water and strain the water out of their mouths to catch the mini fish they eat. I hear them constantly blowing the air out their blowholes. They never come closer than 100 yards.
Dawson’’s Landing is great, friendly people, grocery store, hot showers and they let me camp on their dock. All the building at Dawson’’s are built on floats, nothing in on the land. As I am cooking dinner on the floats the Humpback Whales come by and start feeding near the dock, they get as close as 30 yards. They are so close that I can hear them suck in the air through their blowholes, it sounds like a giant wind chamber. They spend over 2 hours feeding by the docks.
I met a retired couple from Bainbridge Island, they came over to visit since they had heard that I was from the Seattle area. They brought me two muffins for my breakfast. Their ship is called the Winship, they had designed it themselves and had it built in Tacoma. It is a very nice ship.

August 8, 2005 Dawson's Landing to Goldstream Harbor

August 8, Monday
Load the boat, it is a tricky thing to do from a dock, every time you shove something in a hatch the boat moves. I miss Mary Lou and try to call her again, no answers still. I eat the tasty muffins and paddle through fog for 10 miles out of Rivers Inlet to Fitzhough Inlet. I Love Fitzhough Inlet! The fog cleared, there was a light wind on my back, small waves and the tide was going in my direction. The next 16 miles to camp were the best of the trip so far.
As I am traveling up Fitzhough I meet Dave, 67 old, and still paddling from Bella Bella, around Cape Caution to Port Hardy. We pull over onto shore to talk for a while and compare notes on campsites. He has done this trip before, what he does is take the ferry from Port Hardy to Bella Bella with his kayak, then paddles back to his car in Port Hardy. Not bad for someone who looks like Fred Beckey.

Camp is hidden on a small beach in Goldstream Harbor under a cedar tree. Room enough for my one tent and a pair of kayaks at high tide. Check those tide charts - don’t want a surprise like I had on Camino Island. The best thing about the campsite is no bugs! I got to sit out and write notes and not a buzz, bite, whine or sting.
There is an old retrofitted tug boat in the bay called Union Jack, Vancouver BC. Looks pretty cool, I’m going to check it out in the morning.

August 9, 2005 Tug Boat Breakfast

I've been out for 3 weeks since I departed Lund, 260 paddle miles ago. 21 days of kayaking, camping, fishing and solitude.

On leaving my camp under the Cedar Tree I paddled by the old tug boat the Union Jack. I got talking to the chef, a guest and the Captain. What they have is a remodeled tug that sleeps 8 guests and 4 crew. They do 7 day fishing tours with deluxe food out of Bella Bella and Haida Guaii ( www.tugboatcruise.com ). I was treated to two Chocolate Eclairs and four pieces of fresh fruit, what a treat.
From there (powered by eclairs) I crossed Hakai Passage and up Hunter Is to a small camp. Spirits in the Woods - That night around 9pm as it was getting dark strange drumming sounds started in the woods. The sounds would come from different directions across the bay at random times. The drumming itself was random without any rhythm or sequence. It did not sound like birds pecking, waves, or natural rhythm. What it did sound like was a baby with a drum that would beat on it occasionally to make noise, but had no since of rhythm. So the best I can figure is that it was the children of the forest spirits drumming on old hollow logs in the forest.

This is what I have come to call my Bear Pinata. I get to hang my food in a bag at night and hope the bear is not tall enough to open it up like a Pinata. Of course this brings up the question, if the bear can not get the food in the bag, what will he eat? (Me in the tent?)

Bella Bella, I made it!!!!!! August 11, 2005

August 11, 2005
I have made it to Bella Bella on the BC Coast!

SORRY, No pictures, I'm in the bonnies out here. I will load the pictures when I'm back in civilization.

August 10, 2005
I find a beautiful small shell beach for a camp early in the early afternoon. I had time to sort, dry and clean all my gear, take a saltwater bath and sit in the sun and write in my journal. Later in the evening a couple from Vancouver showed up and shared there wine with me, I must of looked like I was having a hard time..........

August 11, 2005
Leave camp at 9am. 4 more people showed up last night, made it a bit crowded but a fun time was had. It was my largest send off in the morning, a whole 6 people to see me off. From there I paddled up the channel against the ebb tide, past the native town of Bella Bella to the white-manÂ’s Bella Bella, also known as Shearwater. The first thing I do is call Mary Lou. She is Home! She is flying out to Bella Bella tomorrow! I get to see my wife after 3 weeks of being alone. YEAH! I talk to Greg at the hotel, he has a room reserved for us tomorrow, but they are full tonight. I get one more day of camping, but now I get to take hot showers. Spend the evening just wandering around of dry land. So many people.
I feel like a highschool kid with a date, can't wait to see Mary Lou tomorrow.

Plans from Bella Bella

I plan to leave Bella Bella on Tuesday, July 16th. This will be my last web update untill I reach Prince Rupert in 3 to 4 weeks. I will paddle to a Native village of Klemtu and then up the outer passage way of the coast.
See ya all later
Paddling with Buddha Speed

July 30 - ALERT BAY

I have made it to Alert Bay!!!! I'm spending the day stocking up and getting ready to head out tomorrow - July 31st.

Time is short, so is this entry

I want to thank all the wonderful and friendly people of Sayward who helped me on my travels

Kayakers - Stay out of Telegraph Cove, it was a nightmare for me

As bad as Telegraph Cove is, Alert Bay is wonderful (That ying-yang thing)
Totem Poles, Long Houses, Museums, Carvers, friendly people.

A full rendition of my travels will be entered at a later date

My next entry should be in about two weeks from Bella Bella

July 25 - CROSSING JOHNSTONE STRAIGHT

Leave my little Island early in hope of missing some of the wind, just more hopefully thinking. I cross Johnstone Straight in 15 knot winds and 2 to 3' waves. It was an epic battle but I make it across and then paddled up the coast of Vancouver Island to Camp Point where, you got it , I camped.



July 26 - 27, Sayward
On Tuesday morning I paddle the final 5 miles into Sayward where I am spending two days. The plan was to rest and stock up on supplies and head out on the morning of the 28th.



TRAPPED BY THE WIND
The wind has been picking up for the last two days, it had been holding at 15 to 25 mph which is Small Craft Advisory(15 mph) and Warning(25 mph). But tonight and tomorrow it is now GAIL FORCE (35 mph). I don't go out in that. Time to wait for the wind to change.

Sayward
Is filled with wonderful people, from Cindy who runs the Burger Shack at the marina (I lost count of how many burgers I ate, they were that good) to "Sayward Jacquie" at the Sayward Futures Society on the warf. Jacquie, I hope you start your Blog and have fun with it.

This will be the last update till Alert Bay.

July 22 - OKISOLLO RAPIDS

Today I had to wait till 6:35 pm for the tides to turn to slack in the Upper and Lower Okisollo Rapids. Spent the day cleaning gear, stuff and myself, reading and relaxing. As always the wind is blowing and I slowly, inch by inch crawl up the shore. Since I had to start at such a late time today I pushed on till 10:15 pm to a camp behind Howe Island that I knew about.

July 23 - Blind Channel Resort
More Wind from the NW, I crossed Nodales Channel and travel up the west side of Thurlow Is. At Edith Point I get turned back by strong winds and a wild tidal rip. I hide in a bay about half a km back for 1 1/2 hours. I then sneak around Edith Point and finally get to paddle with the wind and current at my back. I travel 4 miles in 45 minutes to Blind Channel Resort. WOW, it took me 4 1/2 hours to go 5 miles to Edith Point and only 45 minutes to get over the next 4 miles. At the resort I am able to call Mary Lou, have a soda. I relax on the patio and end up talking to Glen, a retired fisherman who has sold his boat and license. The people at the resort had asked him to move to the resort and help out. He has a nice little house to live in and takes care of the place during the winter a basically has every summer off. Kayak across the bay to a little island smaller than my yard in Ballard.

July 24 - Rest day
Spend Sunday as a day of rest. Paddle over to the resort and have breakfast at the bakery.

Belted Kingfisher - I did not see him till he flew of the trees 30' from me. The Kingfisher flew straight at me and dove into the water only 10' away. A few seconds later it popped back to the surface and flew back to it's tree with a 3" fish. The first thing that he did once he got to the branch was to shake his head and pop up his crest feathers on top of his head. He look damned proud of himself.

July 21 - SURGE NARROWS

Plan a long day, I'm up and in the water by 6 am. I paddle out of Teakerne arm and turn up into the wind in Lewis Passage. I fight the wind as I go up the narrow passage that is funneling the wind, once I get the the far side the wide lets up some. I cross the next open water and then paddle south through White Rock Pass to the beginning of Surge Narrows.
As I am passing along the shore I see a little brown Pine Martin running along the shore, down to the water and then he dives in the water. He pops back up with a little fish in his mouth. THEN a bald eagle flies over my left shoulder and lands on a rock just above the martin who dives under the rock to hide. The eagle then notices me 20 feet away and decided that I'm a little to close, make me feel good to save the little guy.
I will not be able to pass the Surge till slack tide, which is in 5 hours. I pull over and sit on the beach, have lunch and grab a book to read. While I am sitting there another kayaker shows up, Roger, a local who gets around to the store an friends by his kayak. He gives me great info on how to do the Surge and that the local store is open. Local info is always the best.
Watching the sealife under my boat and amazing thing happens in just a few miles. There is hardly any seaweed in Desolation Sound, but by the time I reach Surge Narrows I have rainbow of seaweeds under my boat, Kelp, Sea lettuce, Turkish Towel, etc. There are thousands of clams squirting in the sand flats.
I paddle over to the Surge General Store and spend the rest of the day with the owner Teresa till slack tide. I pass through the Surge with no problem and end up on Octopus Islands for the night. As I fall asleep that night I hear my first Loon of the trip.

July 19, The first paddle strokes of the trip

I take my first paddle strokes north, this is the start of my 2-month adventure. It is hard to believe that I will by kayaking for two months up the Inside Passage of BC.

( http://www.nwboat.com/refuge/ )

OKEOVER INLET - start from the government dock and say my goodbyes to Mary Lou, and paddle NW under cloudy skies and wind from the NW. The weather clears to sun and light breezes as I exit the Okeover Inlet and cross Desolation Sound to my first camp on a saddle between the two Martin Island. Unpack the boat, what was I thinking, I have way to much stuff, books, cooking stove and pots, food, carving tools, camping supplies. I need to organize and repack stuff, well I got two months to figure that out. Go for a swim, Desolation Sound has warm water, what a treat.


July 20, Teakerne Waterfalls
Wind has blown all night. Paddle over to Refuge Cove to give Mary Lou her first of many phone calls from the trip.
From there I kayak over to Teakerne Waterfall Prov. Park, dock I hike up a short trail to the lake where I go swimming for an hour in crystal clear warm water, this may be my only warm water swim of this trip. Camp about 1/2 km away on a small rock outcrops and watch the sunset over the water.
On the way in today I paddled around a corner of rock and found myself 10 feet away from a seal and her pup. They just watched me go by with there big black eyes. I don't think I scared them to much, they were still sitting on the rocks when I looked back from 30 m away.

July 16, Saturday - Going Away Party

Mary Lou had set up a great Going Away Party. I had a great time, Thank you everyone for taking the time to see me off. In some ways it amkes it harder to leave when you see so many of your friends.
The nest day we drove up to Canada and stopped in the night in Sechelt, BC. We found a wonderful little B&B by accident, the C-Breeze Waterfront B&B. It is on a hill overlooking the water and they have an increadible garden, giant gunnera, willows, flowers, and a private two person hot tub. (www.cbreezes-bb.com) Nice little cozy rooms overlooking the garden and water.

Au Kalan is the Kayak's name

Yes, for those who asked, Au Kalan is the name of the Kayak. Now you ask what does it mean? Well, many of you know I used to be a Chemist in my previous life before becomming a firefighter, from the world of chemistry Au = Gold. Well, as many of you don't know, a majority of my bloodline is Russian, Kalan = Otter. This makes my bright yellow kayak the Golden Otter.

Trapped by the WIND

It's Sunday, July 24th and I am trapped near Blind Bay Resort on East Thurlow Island, BC. I have been battling 15 to 25 knot winds from the NW for the last 3 days and I am ready for a rest day. I am now camped on a small island about the size of my yard in Ballard, no bears to worry about, but I do share the island with a currious Pine Martin (cute ferrit). I hope to push NW up Johnstone Straight tommorrow.

Kayak route map of Inside Passage

WebMapBC1
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

This is the proposed route that I will take this summer. My revised plans have me starting at Lund, BC around July 19, 2005. I have changed my original plans due to, well, limited time for the trip and the many unknowns(How fast can I paddle, will the weather GODS be nice to me?). Because of this I will skip the Central Coast from Sidney, BC to Lund, BC. This has been a hard choice to make, but at this time I think it is a good one.

You can click on the map to the right to enlarge it.

Contacting me via. Canadian Post

As I am traviling North I will be stopping at several towns where I will be picking up my Kayaking Care Packages (more books and good food, spices). If any of you-all would like to send a letter to a lone kayaker to liven up his day, here are the addresses: (You need about two weeks for delivery)

I should be in Alert Bay July 27th

Chris Pope Attn: Barb
General Delivery
Alert Bay, BC
V0N 1A0
Canada

“Please hold for pickup by Kayaker Chris Pope July 22 to August 4, 2005”


I should be in Bella Bella August 12th

Chris Pope
General Delivery
Bella Bella, BC
V0T 1B0
Canada

“Please hold for pickup by Kayaker Chris Pope August 6 - 20, 2005”

I should be in Hartley Bay August 29th

Chris Pope
General Delivery
Hartley Bay, BC
V0V 1A0
Canada

“Please hold for pickup by Kayaker Chris Pope August 20 to September 10, 2005"

Kayaking the San Juan Islands

P6160002
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

CROSSING THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS
Anacortes, WA to Sidney, BC. Canada
June14 to 17, 2005

June 14th, Anacortes to Orcas Island. Worked again last night, twas another busy 24 hours. I drove up to Mt. Vernon after work and had breakfast at the bakery. The bakery has a book store attached to it and it was open this time. One of my weaknesses is books, I ended up with 4 new ones; Darwin – Origin of Species, Dante’s – Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso. Maybe I will have time on the trip to read them.
I launched from the Anacortes State Park, cross the Bellingham Channel to Reef Point on Cypress Island and then over to Strawberry Island where I had lunch. There are nesting Orange billed Oyster Catchers on the island. If you sit still they ignore you and stay quiet, but if they see you moving they set off in a horrible blast of BEEEE, BEEEE, BEEEEES. From there I crossed Rosario Straight to Blakely Island. There I was about twenty seals lazing on rock in the sunshine. Some of them would roll off the rocks as soon as they saw you, others would look at you and not move, as to say – I’m comfortable, go away. Spend the night at Obstruction Pass Park on Orcas Island.

June 15th, Orcas Island to Jones Island. Paddle over to Olga, Orcas Island for breakfast at the Olga Gallery and Café. This is an incredible store, all the art is from artist who live on the San Juan Islands. They have high quality, hand made paintings, pottery, books, glass, scarves and the list goes on. I picked up a gift for Mary Lou and headed back out. Kayaked west over Hartley Channel to Blind Island for lunch and then off to Jones Island to set up camp for the night.

Picture above is a sunset on the beach at the Jones Island camp site.

KAYAKING INTO CANADA

P6170007
Originally uploaded by Au_Kalan.

CROSSING INTO CANADA
June 16th, Jones Island to Sidney, BC Canada.
6am, an early start from Jones Island because I had a long way to go that day, all the way to Canada. As I crossed Spieden Channel I encountered my first rip tides of the day, a short section of chop waves just where they are marked on the charts. The wind picked up as I approached Spieden Island so I had to paddle within 20 feet of the shore for protection. Spieden Island is private property that was set up 50 years ago as an African wildlife preserve. As I paddled along the edge of it I had the luck of seeing two Gazelles on the open meadows and two other African horned creatures sitting under some trees. I took a rest stop on Stuart Island where I found fresh river otter tracks on the beach.


HARO STRAIGHT is the crossing into Canada. It takes me two hours with the wind an currents to make it to the lighthouse on Rum Island, the most eastern point that is close to the American San Juans. This lighthouse has been the focus of this trip, as I pass it I know I have entered Canada. I took a break on Rum Island then paddled into Sidney BC where I caught the 4pm ferry back to Anacortes.

Mt. Forbidden Climbing Accident

Last Summer while climbing Mt. Forbidden in the North Cascades one of my climbing partners fell an broke both his legs. Here is the link to the story he wrote:

http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0505/050202_news_mountain.php

He is still recovering from the fall but is able to walk and ride his bike now for short distances.