Looks like we are leaving for the UK tomorrow. After MANY phone calls to airlines, we have things set...maybe...

http://www.youtube.com/adwords10?hl=en-us&forcelang=false&x=c4c6247cf3ee42e5bd377bcb92eb8e16

We are honored to be personally thanked by Google. Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/adwords10?hl=en-us&forcelang=false&x=c4c6247cf3ee42e5bd377bcb92eb8e16

New Destinations on the Horizon

Currently working on setting up kayaking trips and instruction in Kitimat, as well as hiking and canoeing trips in Tweedsmuir. It's all up to the permitting gods at this point. Wish us luck.

West Coast Trail Tip #5-What to Bring and Not

The gear you bring on the West Coast Trail need some thought. Because it is coastal, the climate begs for some planning on how to stay warm, if not dry. In this fifth article in the series, we tell you the key things you need to bring on the trail to make it through with some reasonable comfort. Check out Tips for Trips for this next installment.

Rivers are Coming Up-Slowly...Get Your Paddles Ready

Our local Cowichan River has come up a good two feet in the last few weeks and we are seeing some flow. That means that the river kayaking season is on us. If La Nina has any say in it, we will get a few weeks of paddling before the rain levels come bombing in on us and drive the river to spate with all the features washed out and the waters roaring down like mad. This may make for some good runs in dam controlled rivers as water releases may increase to accommodate the increased rainfall. La Nina is expected to begin to weaken in late Spring, so we may see some decent weather in the summer.

The Adventure Blog: Freya Hoffmeister Talks Paddling Around Australia ...

The Adventure Blog: Freya Hoffmeister Talks Paddling Around Australia ...: "Freya Hoffmeister has earned the distinction of being named Canoe & Kayak magazine's Adventurer of the Year. In case you've forgotten about ..."

West Coast Trail Tip #4-Food for the Trip

One big question we get all the time about our hiking trips is, "How can you have such good food?" We give away some of our secrets in West Coast Trail Tip #4 in the Tips for Trips page.

West Coast Trail Tip #3-Transportation In and Out

The next West Coast Trail tip installment in Tips for Trips has just been released.

West Coast Trail Tip # 2-Date Considerations

See more of this months West Coast Trail info with Tip #2 in Tips for Trips.

West Coast Trail Tip # 1-Trip Planning

Shift over to Tips for Trips to see the latest tip about the West Coast Trail.

Rivers are Beginning to Fill

The river kayaking season is about to start on Vancouver Island as the rains begin to fill the rivers with water. A number of us have packed up the sea kayaks and have pulled out the river boats in anticipation of the start of the season. Come join us for a paddle!

Moonlight Paddle...with not so Much Moonlight

On Friday evening, October 22nd, we took the Grade 7 and 8 classes of Sunrise Waldorf School out on a moonlight paddle. This was a second paddle this Fall for each class, having done the basics a few weeks before.

Each class paddled on one side of Maple Bay, near Duncan, BC, on Vancouver Island. Grade 7 paddled across the inner harbor and then further down into Bird's Eye Cove, while the Grade 8 class paddles along the north shore and just into Sansum Narrows, between Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island.

Both groups were dazzled by the phosphorescence in the water. The bioluminescent organisms in the water gave a tremendous show as our paddles and our boats moved through the water. It was a great trip.

New West Coast Trail Squidoo Lens

We've created a Squidoo Lens about the West Coast Trail. It has basic information about taking a hike on the West Coast Trail, whether it is a DIY tour or a fully guided one. Click: West Coast Trail Squidoo Lens.

The Touring Season is Over for 2010!

Now into October and the weather is changing. The guiding season is over and the play, preparation, and learning season for us is just beginning.

We have trainings, re-certifications,and practice to do-and in some of the most interesting conditions!

Part of our off-season is to sort through the massive numbers of photos and video that we took during our tours and trickle them out to you-the best of the best.

Keep an eye out for yourself or friends as the memories pile up on the blog.

Until the next post....cheers!

Gulf Islands Sea Kayaking - Trip to Rum Island

 

Paddling from Sidney, cross to Sidney Spit. It is often easier to carry kayaks over the spit than paddle all the way around it. From the northeast side of the spit, island hop to Forrest Is. and Rubly Is. over to Gooch Is. The more interesting side is the north side. Travel along this north side of Gooch to Rum Island. Look for the National Park sign.

On your crossings, watch for the wind, especially if it will be opposing current. It can get pretty choppy out there. Also watch our for Washington State Ferries passing through the channel.

Gulf Islands' Sidney Spit Sea Kayaking Virtual Tour

 

Check out this day trip to Sidney Spit by sea kayak. Mornings are usually the best time to kayak over because the wind can kick up in the afternoons. We show a panorama of the spit from the water, walk through the day use area, and pick up a heron "strolling" along the spit. This is a great place for a short sea kayaking trip from Victoria.

Update to Paddlefest Attendance

Stats from MEC's Michael Pardy show that there were more people out on the water at this year's paddle fest than last year. I can say that the off-beach vendor's area had much less traffic.

It looks like more and more people are taking advantage of the short, on-water instructional sessions than ever before, but not so interested in gear, equipment, and tours.

We will definitely be reconsidering attendance next year if the format stays the same, as are a number of other vendors, so they say.

All in all, good for people getting on the water, not very economical for other businesses to spend a day with very little traffic going their way. Hmmm?

Gulf Islands Sea Kayaking-Crossing Sansum Narrows

 

Heading out of Maple Bay on the south side, there is a long stretch of shore before a gap in the land-Sansum Narrows. This gap feels the rush of water as the tides change, creating rips and eddies. Paddling a sea kayak through the narrows or crossing it is best done near slack current. Here, we cross it at about 1 hour past slack and get a little bit of the choppy swirl about two-thirds of the way across. This is some of the fun with more advanced sea kayaking skills-playing in currents.

Take a Virtual Sea Kayak Tour in the Gulf Islands-Burgoyne Bay on Salt Spring Island

Why Hike the North Coast Trail?

British Columbia’s new coastal hike at the north end of Vancouver Island, the North Coast Trail, is an addition to the wild beauty of Cape Scott Provincial Park. The new North Coast Trail is a treat, and every avid hiker needs to know why. I've outlined a few reasons below:

The Trail is New

There are no Crowds

Reflections of the old West Coast Trail

The Gem at the End

After traveling the rough coastal trail, it is a treat to walk the flatter areas Cape Scott Provincial Park, meandering along the trails exploring the old settlement areas as they are reclaimed by the ever-present wildness of the area. Cape Scott on its own is worth the effort to see. It is absolutely beautiful, with its sandy beaches, lakes, lagoons, and coves. To read more reasons, visit the full article at "Why Hike the North Coast Trail?".

Cape Scott Light Station and North Coast Trail-360 view

North Coast Trail Video from March 31

MEC Paddlefest Sunny But Not Well Attended

We had a beautiful sunny day at the MEC Paddlefest in Victoria, BC today, but attendance at this event is waning. A lot of the old diehard paddlers were there and a few new ones, but there may have been a third to a half of the people as last year. It's too bad, but people are finding other things to do. Anyway, it was good for us to be out in the sun at the beach.

Quite a few people did take part in the on-water stuff, including some free mini-courses and boat/paddle demos. Hoping things pick up next year!


Photos:

MEC Paddlefest this Saturday in Victoria, BC

Coastal Bliss will be at the MEC Paddlefest at Cadboro Bay on Saturday, June 5. We will be highlighting our tours and letting people try out our Swift Paddles. Come ready for fun!

A little professional development for Coastal Bliss: sea kayak guides in BC who are members of the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC have to attend a guides exchange each three years. We just spent the weekend carousing with our colleagues from other companies on Salt Spring Island at the Spring 2010 Exchange. There was a lot of play and training in currents in the local passages, navigation games, and marine biology talks by local expert David Dennings. We hope to have some video of some of the action up soon.

Rain, Wind, and Hail on the North Coast Trail!

Just back from a 7-day trip on the North Coast Trail as a pre-season warm-up (cool down?). It was pretty darned wet and chilly. Three of us braved the weather after having our water taxi to the trailhead postponed by a day due to hurricane force winds. The trail was soggy and muddy, and sometimes just downright WET. We saw it all, from crashing waves the size of giant submarines to rain, to sun, to hail. But we made it through all the way to the lighthouse for coffee with Harvey and Todd, the lightkeepers there. The walk out was relatively uneventful. All in all, it was truly AWESOME! Check out our photos here.

Food Glorious Food!

Back from Terrace and straight back to work. Georgia has spent this weekend dehydrating veggies, beans and jerky in preparation for backpacking the North Coast Trail and Cape Scott at the end of the month.

The Sun Is Out!!

As we move into spring, the light has begun to return. The days are noticeably longer and the number of clear, sunny days is increasing.

It is time to drag out and dust off the sea kayaks to get paddling again. Trips up and down the highway, looking out at the water of the Gulf Islands along the way, have started the kayaking blood flowing again.

While Gary has been busy mostly inside this winter, Georgia has been able to paddle the river a couple of times and get up to Mount Washington (for North America's best snow this year). Right now, she is in Terrace coaching a group of archers at the BC Winter Games.

Both are looking forward to picking up their activity levels. So far, we have plans for the Ladysmith Paddle Festival, doing our annual lead guide scout trips hiking the North Coast Trail and Cape Scott Park, paddling in the Southern Gulf Islnads, and assessing trailheads on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.

The Maple Mountain hikes have continued to get their legs into shape. Next will be practicing paddling strokes.

Don't forget to visit our Tips for Trips page. This month, we are giving you great information on many aspects of hiking and backpacking trips.

So much to do.........Ah, Beautiful BC!

Our friends down in the States at REI publish a great set of articles for general consumption about maximizing your enjoyment in the outdoors. We have included a link to a great article from their site. Just click on:
REI Article on General Aches and Pains.

Life is GOLDEN!

Following Canada's search for gold at the Olympics has become a past-time when not building and not first aiding.  It was very exciting to see the skeleton gold tonight!  And the skate dancing pair that currently stand second were just great.  It was a much better night tonight than last night with that squeaker of a win over Switzerland in hockey. I am so happy for all the Canadian medal winners and for Canadians in general for having success in these games.  Go Canada!

Re-certs and re-builds

While Georgia is re-certifying her first aid (something I have to do in the Fall as well), I have been volunteering time to RE-build a storage shed at a local school.  I forgot I had some of those muscles!  They are definitely different from kayaking or hiking muscles.  But this is also a good way to help get into shape for the coming season after a winter of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's delights.  Bon Chance!

Taking caring of our guests

Every three years each guide has to re-certify their Wilderness First Aid Certification in order to remain current.  For lead guides this involves a 80-90 hour training taken over 2 weeks.  This usually takes place in the Fall or Winter in some of the wettest, muddiest conditions that British Columbia has to offer.  Certifying bodies include 'Wilderness Alert' and 'Slipstream Wilderness First Aid'  This is what Coastal Bliss Adventures owner / guide Georgia Newsome will  be doing through 'Slipstream', in Victoria, for the next two weeks, in addition to fitness preparation for hiking the North Coast Trail.

Our company North Coast Trail hike is coming up and we are all trying to get into shape. We will be heading off the week before Easter and may be spending Easter day in Cape Scott Park.  Our regular hikes up Maple Mountain should help us.

This is the First Post!

Welcome to the beginning of the Coastal Bliss blog, called The Current Flow.