Hutchison Cove

Had a good time on the water on Saturday. Bernie and I launched at Cooper's Cove and headed into Hutchison Cove. Both coves are part of Sooke Basin, where we've paddled before several times!

We ate a ripe blackberry each as we walked from the van to shore with our boats. No lingering to harvest blackberries! Today was just a short day. If I'd thought about driving to water, I'd have taken my 13-foot Expedition inflatable kayak, but the little 8'6" Lagoon is still so new that I'm practically carrying it to the grocery store and everywhere. I was in the Lagoon and Bernie in the red Pamlico when we set off. By the time I hit the water -- a bare six minutes after leaving the van, I might add, which is a terrific inflation/set-up time for any folding kayak!-- Bernie was drifting back from the middle of the cove with a smug smile.

"I've already caught a crab," he said. "And a fish. Well, the fish struck at the blackberry seed I spit out of my teeth. And I've seen a turkey vulture soaring overhead. My day is complete." Congratulations were in order, even when he admitted that the crab had been thumb-sized, floating, and already released, and the fish was a tiny fingerling.

Most of the sea life we noted after that was a series of jellyfish. Moon jellies were floating all around. We paddled past the bluffs and into the mouth of Hutchison Cove, where we drifted for a while and contemplated an immensely large house visible on the shore. Here's a SPOT signal showing our location on our way back.

We followed along the Goodridge Peninsula on the outside of Cooper Cove and then on the inside, contemplating the geology and the wear-and-tear on this little peninsula. It formed after the end of the last Ice Age, and most of the sediments we can see above the waterline piled up in the last 10,000 years. There are clamshells and black earth here, which apparently means the ashes and shells from First Nations middens. It would have been a nice place for clams and ducks. A hundred years ago it was a site for construction of concrete tunnel sections to convey water from Sooke Lake reservoir to Victoria, so the site saw some pretty rough use. Now it's recovering and looks like a park. Part of the Cove is a sanctuary for migrating birds.

A seal or two popped up behind our boats and watched us before dipping down again. We weren't on the water long, but it always feels like the right place to be.

With Ben in Cooper's Cove

Today there was time for a quick paddle at Cooper's Cove with Ben. He's made various appearances on the blog, often quoted in conversation or chats, sometimes photographed when kayaking with us. Today he paddled our old red Pamlico, the go-to boat for a casual recreational paddle.
Bernie is the one who has taken this boat the most places around here anyone has ever handled this model of kayak, according to Brian Henry of Ocean River, and when in practise Bernie can stand it on its side. But he's been out in it twice this summer and doesn't feel in practise. As for Ben, when he took it out the first few minutes were taken up with practise leaning around and trying various grips on the paddle befoer he settled in and felt comfortable steering and picking up speed.
Cooper's Cove is a nice place to paddle, sheltered from most of the wind. Here's a link showing my SPOT message during the outing. Ben and I looked in particular along the peninsula where one could see the earth accumulating over time and eroding at the edges. As long as that soil has been accumulating since the ice age, people have been using this little cove. A pity that the cove took such a pounding during the construction of the water main from Sooke Lake reservoir to Victoria. There are some articles about that time here and here where the flowline sounds like an interesting sight to see.
Bernie came back to pick up the happy paddlers. Then I went off to the grocery on my bike, and came back to find Ben and Bernie crowbar-ing some damaged boards off the porch deck. Ah, summer!

Paddling Cooper's Cove with a new paddle

Got a minute to get back to writing about that short outing in Cooper's Cove the other day, trying out my new paddle. Things have been busy around here with the move, and I was glad to take the time to go out in a boat.
Cooper's Cove is a nice sheltered place for taking a recreational kayak, and a good place for entering Sooke Basin. I like that there's room for a couple of cars to park, and a loop for turning around. The Galloping Goose bike & hike path is right here, and bus stops for the #61 bus! There's even a kayak rental place right here, and a restaurant.
I sent a SPOT OK signal while paddling here -- you can see my location at this link. Looking at the map just now, I noticed again that sometimes when I'm near a cliff the signal doesn't reach always reach a satellite right away. Half the sky is blocked by the cliff, eh? The signal got through about two minutes later, when I was a few dozen yards away from the cliff and headed towards the launch site. If I really wanted to pinpoint my location up against a cliff, I'd send the signal and stay put for a few minutes, letting the SPOT keep flashing its OK signal till a satellite comes into range.
The paddle I was using is by Advanced Elements, and it's their Ultralite Pack Paddle. At 23.6 ounces, it's certainly lighter than any other paddle I've handled, even my carbon paddle with scoop blades. It comes apart into four pieces, and has its own drawstring bag with a mesh side.
For paddlers needing a paddle to use in challenging conditions, I recommend Advanced Elements' Touring 4-part paddle with dihedral blades rather than the Ultralite. The Touring is what I used on the Red Deer River, though if I were going there again my spare paddle this time would be the Ultralite since the stretch I paddled isn't whitewater. The Touring 4-part paddle is sold through West Marine stores as well as Advanced Elements' website.

Cooper's Cove in a new kayak!

Today I had a chance to do two great things. One was to paddle in Cooper's Cove, which we've visited before as you can see at these posts, but I haven't been here in a boat for years. The other was to try out my new inflatable kayak!
Yes, I have a little fleet of kayak, and a number of them are inflatable. Yes, this one is a new model of one I already have. I've been using it for seven years, and oi, these puppies do get a little worn out after a while, y'know?
At any rate, I'll write a better post soon with a review comparing this model of kayak to the others I've paddled. For now, I'll say WOW, and close with a link to my SPOT message showing my location on this sunny day as the tide was coming up to full tide slack.

Ayum Creek Restoration

The Capital Regional District is busy restoring parkland again. This time it's in Ayum Creek Regional Park. That's a little park right by where we launch our kayaks into Cooper Cove and head out into Sooke Basin. The park at Ayum Creek is one of several where fish habitat is being restored. Here's the Media Release just sent out by CRD Parks:

Media Release
For Immediate Release
September 2, 2010
Fish Habitat Restoration Project at Ayum Creek Regional Park Reserve
Victoria, BC – The Capital Regional District is partnering with the South Islands Aquatic Stewardship Society (SIASS) to undertake a fish habitat restoration project at Ayum Creek Regional Park Reserve in the district of Sooke. The work is taking place the week of September 1 and will not impact park visitors.
“Ayum Creek has very high value for chum and coho spawning,” said James Hamly, project coordinator for South Islands Aquatic Stewardship Society. “There has been extensive habitat restoration over the last twelve years, however, some of the work is in need of mitigation. We will be repairing a riffle and preventing further erosion to the stream bank to improve fish habitat.”
“Regional Parks recently completed a management plan for Ayum Creek, with primary emphasis on conserving and restoring the ecosystems and biodiversity of the creek,” said Lloyd Rushton, CRD Parks and Community Services General Manager. “This small park reserve protects the stream-fed estuary of Ayum Creek, which empties into the Sooke Basin. It is one of the few remaining estuaries in the region.”
Funding for the fish restoration project is provided by the CRD Regional Parks, SIASS, and the Pacific Salmon Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization that works in concert with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ministry of Environment in fostering salmon recovery.
For further information, please contact:
Laurie Sthamann, Communications Coordinator
CRD Regional Parks
Tel: 250.360.3332 cell: 250.889.8030
lsthamann@crd.bc.ca
www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Super Sunday

It's SuperBowl Sunday, so what are a bunch of kayakers to do? That's an easy choice...who cares about the big game when we've got kayaking to do!
Today we're putting in at Cooper's Cove in Sooke. It's cool and cloudy this morning, and there's also a forecast for a bit of a breeze. We were worried it might be too rough to go out of the cove into the Sooke Basin proper because of the breeze, but the winds simply never materialized. The water was flat and inviting, and we took up its offer.
The tide was right in, as we were launching at high tide. We didn't realize that we have so little beach to launch from. So we took it in turns to launch and headed out one at a time. Today we had Jason, Richard, Paula, Bernie, and Louise paddling.


And yours truly, of course.


So our little fleet headed out into the cool but otherwise perfect paddling conditions.


Bernie, Louise and Paula set the early pace.


Richard loves his new kayak.


We left the Cove and entered the Sooke Basin. We decided to head west towards where Sooke River enters the basin. None of us had gone this way before, so it would be a new experience. With the tide changing just as we were launching, we would be paddling into the out-going current on our return, but it shouldn't be too bad.
Always remember kids -- practice safe boating.


Many people have accused Bernie of losing his marbles. Well, give him some credit -- here he is looking for them.


Here's a fishing boat tied up for the winter. You can see just how glassy smooth the water was. It was just about perfect for paddling.


We made it around the point and into the mouth of the Sooke River. There's a highway bridge that you cross over just as you enter the town. While the rest of the gang went to the bridge, I went to check out something that caught my eye.
This seagull had found a gnarled tree branch to perch on. And even though I was a fair bit offshore, it was pretty shallow here which surprised me.


The other seagulls were giving me The Evil Eye. Since I was vastly outnumbered, I thought it best that I retreat. I was barely gliding over the bottom, and this was at high tide.
This stump begged me to take its picture. So I did.


As we turned to head back, we could see all the chimney smoke trapped by thermoclines. There wasn't a hint of breeze today, which is unusual for these parts, so for the moment the smoke wasn't going anywhere.
It was a super paddle on a super Sunday.


John's pictures are here.

Moonlight paddle on Sooke Basin

Note to self: the time to work out the night settings on one's camera is before one is in the middle of the water, trying to take a photograph of kayaks in the moonlight. Which on a night like Tuesday night, was something to see, if not photograph.

Courtesy of Saanich Recreation and Rush Adventures, I achieved another ambition: paddling by the moonlight. I signed up for a 3 hour moonlight paddle out of Cooper's Cove on Sooke Basin, on a night that couldn't have been more perfect. There were 8 kayaks in total, seven doubles and one single; three guides and 12 guests. We assembled, gradually, for around about 8:30 pm, several of our number having first eaten lunch at the adjacent restaurant and emerged hilarious. By the last light of the sun and by the light of our guides' headlights, we kitted up, were assigned our boats, first by colour and then by number, trooped down to the dock, and one by one, launched. The night was dark and glassy-still, and as we paddled slowly out of Cooper's Cove we could dip fingers and paddles into the water and see a wake of ghostly bioluminescence caused by dinoflagellates in the water. A hand trailed in the water would brush the bodies and tendrils of multiple unseen moon jellyfish (non-stinging); a torch shone in the water showed their dim clustered bodies. When we paddled clear of Cooper's Cove it was into moonlight that was like a headlight, almost painful to look at with dark-adapted eyes, and bright enough for me to make out the other seven boats without effort. To the left were the lights of East Sooke, and all around the edge of the darkned cove, scattered lights. We paddled across the basin to the Goodrich Islands, a former Native Canadian burial ground. The entire vista was shades of black with a patina of silver on damp and pale surfaces, and the occasional sharp reflection of moonlight from a wet, turning paddle. Kayaks to the moonward side were dark shadows against moonlit water, and kayaks to the other side were picked out in light grey against the darker water, and fading to a mere suggestion in the distance. We then paddled towards Roche cove, more or less, looking for dark water and more bioluminescence, but the moon was well up, although a thin layer of cirrus cloud had come up over it, giving it a halo; our guide predicted a change in weather, both from that, and the distinct and persistent contrails still visible in the moonlight. We started some ducks or geese from night's peace, an indistinct, pale fluttering. And then back around the shore, into Cooper's cove, gliding past the moored yachts, come in one by one and climb out of the kayaks onto to the dock, return gear, gather up stuff, say thank you to Steve, Glen and Galia [sic], and climb in the car to drive back the winding Sooke road in the pale moonlight.

Before we started and before the light went, I had a crack at a pan shot around the basin. Fixing exposure so it doesn't change from frame to frame is something else I need to learn how to do, but here it is -

Cooper's Cove

Totally flat water faced us as we prepared to face Cooper's Cove just east of Sooke, in the Sooke Basin. Unlike the last time we were here when we dealt with wind and waves, there was little wind and no wave action at all. We were advised by someone from the nearby kayak rental place that gale force winds were due in the afternoon, but the morning should be fine.

And it was. A large group headed out from the kayak place, and we met a couple from Sooke who were avid kayakers. They were heading out in a pair of 14' Neckys that Bernie would have died for. :)

First, we went past this wreck on the beach.

Clearly, its cargo of concrete blocks was too much for it.


There's also a nearby abandoned ship that looks to be an old Canadian naval vessel.

Be careful if you venture out to visit this vessel -- there's all sorts of metal and other stuff in the water here.


It was just the three of us today - Louise, Paula and myself.


We went east along the coast towards Roche Cove. We launched just at low tide, so there were lots of starfish on the rocks.


Another boat in trouble!


Louise dreams about winning the lottery.


Lots of green stuff on the rocks.


What a beautiful day. Flat water, sunny but not blazing, a little cloud, just perfect.


We rounded the point and headed to Roche Cove. That's when the fun began.


We headed for the bridge. There can be quite a current under the bridge and in not our brightest idea of the day, we decided to go under.

Paula got through okay, but Louise ran into trouble and got herself pinned by the current against the bridge. It was hair-raising for a moment, but Louise got herself out and through without going over. It was also a tough battle to get back out of the cove. So here's a warning: proceed into Roche Cove with caution!


After coming out of the cove, the wind had come up and the chop with it.
Here's a lesson: our little adventure in Roche Cove took only ten minutes, yet the weather conditions back in the basin were quite different when we returned.


Finally, a ship that's not abandoned!


We crossed to this small island.


Time to head back. We crossed the Sooke Basin. It got choppier and the wind was blowing against us.

We were eventually able to get our backs to the wind, and that made the last part of the crossing easier. Also, it seemed that the wind died off just as we finished. Figures.


And yes, there were geese.


No eagles in trees today, just a seagull on a post to end our trip.


My pictures are here.

Suddenly, Sooke Basin

So Saturday finally saw an attempt to paddle Sooke Basin . We launched in Cooper's Cove about 3:00pm--a lot later than our usual 9:00am. The weather was nice, but with a steady onshore wind. As the tide was on the way out, this was going to lead to choppy waters--I could see whitecaps off in the Basin proper, once you exited the cove.

Looking back at the beach we just launched from. To the left of the restaurant is a kayak rental outfit.

On the east side of the cove is a wrecked fishing boat that is fully exposed at low tide.



This shows the exit from Cooper's Cove into Sooke basin proper. The Basin isn't as wide as the maps lead me to believe, but it is plenty long.... about 2 km across but 4 km long--and then you are in Sooke Harbour.


With the wind, a long excursion seemed to be out of the question. With a strong onshore wind, paddling was difficult--about 60% of your energy was dedicated to maintaining your position against it. John and Louise in particular wanted to simply get used to using thier new boats in choppy conditions.


The learning curve isn't as steep with a new boat as it was with a first boat, but there is still a curve. The Delta's handle the waves much better than the Dagger Bayou's did, but learning how they handle the waves takes practice and time.


It might be a little hard to tell, but John is riding much better in the Delta. I mean, he has actual freeboard, something the Bayou didn't have.
Paddle excursions seem to have themes these days. Todd Inlet had the oyster day, the starfish day, and the crab day, for example. Each day seems to be different. Today, for example, was jellyfish day. You would catch sight of the occasional one in the top 450mm of water, but when you stopped to look, you realized that there were thousands of jellyfish in the waters of Cooper's Cove.


I spent a lot of time trying to photograph these creatures--not an easy thing. I would dunk my camera 300mm or so under water and point in a general direction, hoping that my motion and the motion of the jellyfish coincided. It did--twice. Once this side shot, and once from very close up.


No, not jellyfish porn, just an accidental shot of the bottom/backside of a jellyfish. Sure, it's difficult to make out, but after all that effort, I'm not wasting one of the two half-decent shots i got!

Sooke Basin

Sunday dawned windy and rainy. And worse, one by one, all the regular paddlers dropped out. Oh, they claimed to have valid excuses -- Dennis is out of the country, and Bernie is dead. Or sick. I dunno, I forget.
But Louise and I were undaunted. Most would cancel their paddle plans and go shopping at this point. Not us! Bad weather and wimpy paddle buddies weren't going to stop us! Sooke Basin, here we come!

A 45 minute drive took us to Sooke, a small village on the West Coast. I used to live in Sooke, but this was before I was a paddler. The basin seems smaller than I remember it. Or maybe the tide is out.


The scenery is wonderful, and the view out of my kayak just can't be beat!

There wasn't much wildlife, except for a lone seal that came up beside my kayak.

He hung around for a while...

...and he was very friendly!

The mountains across the strait were high-peaked and snowcapped.

It was a long, long paddle. But we had thought ahead and stopped for a little picnic on a beach before heading home.