Gabriola Sea Kayaking Spring Paddling 2009

Spring is finally here with some fine paddling weather for the long weekend down on the southern tip of Vancouver Island where our sailboat is currently moored - more scrubbing and painting than sailing and mother shipping this weekend though. Green with envy (and algae from washing down the hull from a long winter) of the boats sailing in and out of the harbour in such beautiful conditions. Our kayaks eagerly rafted to the starboard waiting to be hoisted on to the large flush deck of our little ship will have to wait for yet another fine day to explore any further than our home waters.

Although it has been a bittersweet beginning with the loss of our good freind, boss and mentor Peter Marcus this winter, the past couple of weeks have seen a successful start to our first season as Gabriola Sea Kayaking with Jen & I at the helm. Gabriola and the southern Gulf Islands are quiet in the spring in contrast to bustling summers. Tranquil waters and deserted beaches still shaking off their winter chill also offer an ideal environment for outdoor education programs and the beginning of May has seen us busy with school groups.

Often with guiding and outdoor education, it is difficult to see the ongoing impact these trips can have on students. It is always refreshing to hear reports that students "... came back glowing with positive experiences and I heard many of them say, and read in their journals, that this was their favorite outdoor ed. trip of the year. "

For us, May is about shaking out the cobwebs from a long Vancouver Island winter. Although we kayak and sail regularly on the Island year round, we can finally wear a pair of sandals and stretch out on the beach in the sun. Migrating birds pass through leaving us to identify new and familiar feathered friends. The coastline is now flush with wildflowers as we cruise along the sandstone shore lined with succulent stone crop, chocolate lily and stroll through the fields of brilliant camus. On some southern exposures, prickly pear cactus blooms, pleasantly reminding us of our many winters spent kayaking in Baja. In a Steinbeck kind of way, we vow to return next winter to resume our own log from the sea of Cortez.

It speaks of warmth and the many months of fine weather, comraderie and sunshine ahead of us as we spend the spring, summer and fall exploring new and familiar waters with freinds.