2012 Annual Kayaking Weather Stats

It's not in my nature to get too personal on this blog. But this year has been unlike any other I've experienced, and the only stats that matter this year are ones that in our quiet moments almost bring us to tears.
In 2011, Louise lost her father. In January of this year, my extended family back east was dealt a blow as my sister lost her husband to cancer, followed a few months later by his father. Louise lost her mother to cancer in October, then my sister's mother-in-law passed away in late November. Then my sister died unexpectedly a couple of weeks ago. Louise lost both her parents in little more than a year, and two generations of my family back east were gone within ten months. So you can imagine our desire to just get this miserable year over and done with.
We have reached the age when we will start losing friends and family with unfortunate regularity. That our families would suffer so many losses in such a brief window has left us both stunned into disbelief. It's almost like one of those stories that only happens to other people. Except it's us instead.
But they're still here, as long as we remember them. And the sun still comes up each morning. (Except of course, it's winter here on the We(s)t Coast, so it's less like the sun comes up, and more like the rain clouds overhead just get lighter. But I digress.)

The most popular article published on the blog this year was this post about a local paddler who managed to video his own rescue, followed by our post noting the passing of Don Starkell, followed by our review of the This is The Roll dvd. Our most popular paddling post from 2012 was our day at the 2012 MEC Paddlefest Victoria.

Our paddling year pretty much ended when Louise's mother received her diagnosis in September. But we can see that the trend towards more sunny days over time continues. The climate is changing before our eyes.



Okay, enough of that. Bring on 2013!

The Grinch Pays A Visit

According to Alana on her Beachpebbles blog, the Grinch paid a visit over Christmas and stole this kayak from Granville Island in Vancouver. She writes, "It is a Valley Avocet with a gold metal flake deck, red seam, and a white hull. It's pretty distinctive and you will know it when you see it. The boat was stolen from Granville Island in Vancouver, but it could be anywhere along the coast, on Vancouver Island, or even in Washington State."

So be on the look out and if you see it, contact Vancouver Police, and let Alana know.

No Kayaking Gear Under the Tree...

....but there was the best T-Shirt ever!

HAPPY KAYAKMAS!

Today's Forecast

Coastal Kayaks From Back in the Day

Here's an article on "coastal kayaks" from a 1985 issue of Popular Mechanics.



I checked out the names of the kayak companies at the end of the article. Most of them still seem to be in operation in one form or another, including our local Ocean River Sports.

More Fuel Spill Info for Kayakers

Heads up! There's been ANOTHER spill of home heating fuel into the watershed in Greater Victoria. You can read about it here at the Times-Colonist newspaper website. This one's in Saanich (again!) and this time, it's a spill into Blenkinsop Creek, which drains into Swan Lake.  If you've ridden your bike or walked on the Lochside Trail where it approaches McKenzie Avenue and the Galloping Goose trail, you've ridden beside this stream or over its culverts.
The Times-Colonist article noted that:
 A fact sheet from the provincial Environment Ministry says homeowners are potentially liable for cleanup costs whether they are aware of the existence of an oil tank or not.
Scary thought, eh? And home insurance doesn't cover fuel spills. One of the recent cleanups cost the homeowners $35,000.
This spill came after the latest spill that went into Swan Creek, which like Swan Lake, drains into Colquitz Creek and on to Colquitz River and Portage Inlet. Poor Colquitz! We've paddled there several times, and salmon are spawning there again. It's dreadful to think of several fuel spills into that quiet waterway this year, as the Saanich News has been reporting. There are fewer of these fuel spills in nearby Oak Bay because for the last fifteen years, the fire department and municipality have been contacting homeowners to remind them to have unused tanks safely removed.

At this point, I should apologize to regular readers of Kayak Yak. A couple of times now, I have urged readers to go and check any fuel tanks at their homes. I might even have given the impression that if there were flaws in your tanks, you would see them. Of course, if there is a visible flaw in the tank, or an oily patch under it, I'm sure that anyone would immediately get an expert in to service the tank.
But apparently, an old tank can go from "looks ok" to "leaking" pretty darned fast... even when it's been checked by an expert from the fuel oil company. As one homeowner with an unexpected leak said to the Saanich News:
“We had a platinum protection plan where (our oil company) would do sonic testing of the tank to check the thickness of the walls. We were also using their oil that’s supposed to have additives in it that retards corrosion,” Keith says. “We were sort of relying on that plan, to some extent, to give us a head’s up if something was up. At the end of the day that didn’t help us out. We’re kicking ourselves now – it was an old tank, why didn’t we just replace it? For $2,000 we could’ve avoided a ton of grief.”
Oboy.

So I am changing my tune.
No longer will I rant to kayaking friends that they should go out right now and look at the tanks holding fuel for their homes to check for leaks. Of course, my friends have already done that. As well, it seems that leaks can happen suddenly and aren't as obvious as the crack along the coaming in my second-hand Pamlico kayak from Wilderness Systems.
Instead, I will remind you of the statements by experts in the local newspapers: twenty-year-old fuel tanks can and do fail suddenly. If your home/house/building is anything but brand new, make a proper plan! Don't let your home heating system be the cause for an expensive and environmentally damaging spill.
I'm sure anyone would rather buy a new kayak than a new fuel tank... but at least you could stencil a drawing of a pretty kayak onto the side of an above-ground tank. And maybe add the words NEW IN 2012, like my landlady's hotwater heater has written on it the words NEW IN 19... ohmygosh, it's time to replace the hotwater heater here. Well, at least this appliance wouldn't leak petroleum products!

News from the Georgia Strait Alliance

Dunno where you live, but our paddle group lives on the Salish Sea. We like to keep informed of community groups that are interested in this beautiful part of the world. One of these groups is the Georgia Strait Alliance. Here's part of their latest e-mail mailing list update, which is of particular interest for kayakers in this area:

The Georgia Strait Communities Atlas has a new web address, so don't forget to update your bookmark! Although we've moved the site, we are still proudly a part of the UVIC Community Mapping Initiative (http://mapping.uvic.ca), and look forward to working with them in the future.

Did you know that you can submit your own videos to the Georgia Strait Communities Atlas? One of our goals for the Communities Atlas project is to encourage you to participate in the creation of a rich and informative Local Knowledge section of the Atlas. Check out our Atlas to learn more about how you can get involved, and read our blog about the newest member of the Atlas team (Meet Megapus).

A Clean Marine BC Resource Map is now available. This Google Earth map will help you find green boating resources around the region (including the locations of marinas participating in our CMBC eco-rating program), sensitive habitat areas, and information about best practices that will allow you to protect the Georgia Strait, while enjoying her amazing waters and shorelines.

How Our Grandparents Did It

Here's some kayak plans from a 1935 issue of Popular Mechanics.

High, HIGH Tide

Today when I launched my kayak at Cadboro Bay, there was not much beach. It was high tide, and a winter high tide (which stacks the sand up pretty steep). Plus, there was a storm surge which pushed the high tide about half a metre higher than the predicted level. The ocean sure looked full. In the park, there are ponds of standing water that have nowhere to drain.
There's a graph at the DFO website that shows how the storm surge has been affecting the local water level lately. (Thanks to Mike Jackson for the link!)
Strong onshore winds the last several days have driven many more logs into the bay and onto the beach. It was an ankle-breaking wrestle to get through the broken bits of driftwood and logs and water. And once I was afloat, there were many floating pieces of wood to avoid. There wasn't any wind, so the waves were small. It was an odd experience -- I wouldn't try paddling with all this driftwood if there was any surf to speak of.
Over by the Yacht Club the shoreline looked so different. Rocks that normally are exposed at high tide were underwater. The breakwater was only one row of boulders above the waterline, and it was decorated with bits of driftwood. One big log balanced on top of a few boulders.
I've never seen high water like this. On December 12, there's supposed to be a zero tide at 6:00 am. It'll be neat to see the difference along the shoreline!

Fire at Sterling Kayaks

Fire destroyed the Sterling Kayaks manufacturing building in Bellingham, Washington earlier today. According to news reports, "Business owner Sterling Donalson said he was inside the building when the fire began. He said he smelled something odd and saw smoke coming from an electrical socket. As soon as he realized there were flames, he got out as quickly as he could, yelling “Fire!” in case anyone else was inside."
While a few kayaks were saved, the building and all the equipment inside, including kayak molds, were destroyed. Thankfully, they were no injuries.
Needless to say, the future of Sterling Kayaks is uncertain over the short term, but they plan to rebuild and stay in business. The Kayak Yak gang met Sterling at this year's MEC Paddlefest Victoria where we took some Sterling kayaks out for a spin. His custom-made boats are a thing of beauty and our thoughts are with him and his employees.

grooving on kayak photos

When I get out on my own in a kayak, I rarely take a camera. So it's great to see John's photos, like the one at the top of this page, and the many he has posted on the site. Taking a moment to enjoy his photos again is always worth it.
So if you're here, I hope you'll do that. Look at the lines of the kayaks, look at the paddlers with our grins and gear, look at the places we go -- the phenomenally beautiful places that are within minutes of our homes as well as the trips we make -- and enjoy once again what we can share of getting on the water in our small boats. And thanks again, John, for posting so many photos!

Another Reminder About Fuel Spills

The Saanich News had a big cover story this week. Heck, every paper in the local chain carried the story! Remember that fuel spill back in February that contaminated Colquitz Creek? It happened when a fuel delivery was made to the wrong address, and the wrong home's unused tank was filled with home heating oil.
So now I'm going to repeat what I said in an earlier post. If your home is heated by a furnace that uses a tank of fuel, go check the tank right now. Check if there are any visible signs of leakage. Go now. I'll wait.
I know you can't see the line that runs from the tank to the furnace, because usually that line is underground or otherwise hidden from view. But the next time the furnace is serviced, you can ask your fuel company how to check that there are no leaks from the line.
There have been other spills in Colquitz Creek, and we've written about them on the blog. There are other spills here on Vancouver Island, of home heating fuel and gasoline and camping stove fuels on boats or on shore... too many fuel spills.
Every paddler interacts with the water in a personal way. We can understand the effects of fuel spills on waterways, effects that some people don't easily understand. Put that understanding to use, paddlers! Even if Colquitz Creek isn't your home waters, it's home waters for the salmon trying to spawn there right now.

Paddling with the big kids

Took a moment on the water today, and it was worth it. As I launched my little inflatable, the rising breeze was pushing in waves that made for an exciting launch. Just offshore were two young people with stand-up paddleboards. It looked like this was a good day to be on the water in either a playboat (and my boat is much like one) or an SUP. The waves were steady, and growing stronger, and rose from about eight inches in height to a foot and a half in the half hour I was out bobbing and reeling in them.
Kayak surfing is like playing with big kids instead of keeping to the little kids' end of the playground. I remember taking my sister-in-law out for her first time in a kayak, and telling her that on a calm day it was like riding a bike with your father holding the bike steady. This was more like riding your bike with the big kids... not doing bad stuff, just a little faster, a little harder, a little more challenge than you're used to.
And then back to shore, spotted with spray, as the wind grew higher and there were whitecaps all over the bay.
Later Bernie and I walked the dog to the shore and saw a flock of seagulls surfing on the strong wind blowing onshore. We could hear the theme for "Wipeout" as we watched them bob and reel.

Everyone's A Comedian

The Flying Kayak

 

Let me direct you to this blog post from the archives of the LA Times  by Scott Harrison about a 1982  "participation art piece" by Chris Burden called "The Flying Kayak." Viewers of the piece, as shown in this photo by Mary Frampton, were allowed to ride the kayak.

Family Business

There hasn't been much in the way of paddling reports lately, as we just haven't been in the kayaking mood. One reason is that winter is coming, something we can tell by the air this weekend which has a chilly bite to it, the kind that just makes you want to hunker down in front of a fire with cats on your lap, and that the malls are filled with the annual crowded orgy of holiday consumption Christmas shoppers.
The other reason is, sadly, of a more personal nature. In mid-September, Louise's mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. The prognosis was not good, and she passed away in mid-October. Dealing with her mom's final days and now with the estate and lawyers has been taxing for Louise, and we're only just now feeling up to digging the kayaks back out.
But now, another member of our little kayaking troupe is facing a family illness as Paula's father has suffered a serious stroke. The good news is that there is "still someone home" as Paula's husband describes it, but her father cannot speak at the moment and communicating with him is a struggle for all concerned.
There's not much else to add, except that the fall of 2012 is shaping up as our "annus horribilis." Our hearts hurt, but we carry on. For what else is there to do?

Dealing With Tsunami Warnings

Last Saturday night had a bit of excitement, here on the coast. An earthquake off the coast of Haida Gwaii meant that there was a tsunami warning put out for nearby shores, and a tsunami watch for places that are not directly at risk.
A tsunami watch is not a bad thing for we who live along the shoreline... bit like a fire drill that you know is a drill. Hang onto your patience. Assess what you would do if the situation upgraded to a warning of an actual tsunami approaching. Good to know you're prepared. Betcha my kayak would float away. When a tsunami warning comes through, though, it's time to evacuate.
The Saturday earthquake and small tsunami revealed that all is not well for the Emergency Info BC service, nor for EarthquakesCanada website, nor the American NOAA weather warnings website. As reported on The Tyee website, the tsunami warning wasn't shared as well as it should have. Social media saw people sharing the little they knew very enthusiastically.
The result of the not sharing and sharing was that people in some communities on Vancouver Island evacuated their tsunami danger zones even though soon afterward the word came through that their locations were not at risk for a dangerous wave. For most of these communities, an evacuation means gathering at a convenient building at the top of a hill (sometimes adjourning to a pub outside the tsunami danger zone). I'm glad to say that the general attitude seems to be that people would prefer to chat with their neighbours at the high school or the pub for an hour on top of the local hill, instead of waiting to see if a wave comes up the inlet.
At the Beach House, Bernie and I are located at sea level, about 300 yards/metres from the beach. Since the   landlady's house is built on wetlands, it would probably slump during an earthquake. During the latest local tremor, Bernie reported that he felt the house shimmy in a sick-making way. As well, a tsunami wouldn't have to be very high to flood our low-lying neighbourhood. The local emergency preparedness team suggests that in Victoria, people shouldn't wait for official warnings about tsunamis after earthquakes. "If it's hard to stand, go to high land," is the local rule. And yes, we keep an emergency bag packed. Even a kayak dunk bag is enough of an emergency bag to carry at a moment like that!