A few random highlights from a recent trip in the Bella-Bella/Price Island area, 14 days on the water. We had the "West Coast variety pack" of weather with everything thing from glorious sunshine, to days of unceasing rain, to a gale. North of Ivory Island, we watched from the safety of our boats as a black bear gorged on berries. We circumnavigated Price Island from the north in a counter-clockwise direction. Not far from McGinnis Island lighthouse we scrambled out of the water at about 11am as the daytime winds blew up (we had gotten up at 4AM to paddle as far as we could in the calm of the morning). This campsite looked brutal at first - a narrow rocky ledge without even room to set up our tents. However it proved to be one of the nicest. We napped in the sunshine of the afternoon, then slept under the bright, bright stars before setting off again early the next morning, completely refreshed. We spent three nights on Dallas Island. It has an elaborate network of trails which allow you to experience the jungle-like nature of northern rain forest, which kayakers often see only the fringe of from their boats. One morning, a pair of wolves pattered by our tents - the first I've seen in the wild. The last day, we paddled back partially through a lovely soft fog to the ferry dock. For those who haven't experienced BC Ferries "Discovery Passage" ferry, do try it. They're very kayak friendly. They have a large rolling boat rack so you can leave the wheelies at home and pack more single malt. They have a special dock that sets up on the end of the rack so that they can "wet launch" or retrieve you at sea (this is by special arrangement and the captain's permission). The ferry has hot, coin operated showered, and cold, cash-operated beer. Can't wait to leave again for Nootka Sound in a few weeks. Philip T. **************************************** Mountain Equipment Co-op 1655 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 1K1 Tel: 640-732-1989 Fax: 604-731-6483 email: pid_at_mec.ca Visit our website at: http://www.mec.ca ***************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Sep 03 1998 - 14:39:24 PDT
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