[Paddlewise] Was Rant: now, access and Gulf Islands

For some odd reason my e mail program is only sending my responses directly 
to the author and skipping Paddlewise.  I'm sure I'm at fault.

So I've copied my last post to Philip and forwarded it on so everyone will 
know what Philip was talking about in his last reply.  He makes some good 
points.  Landowners could be more trusting and kayakers more 
sympathetic.  The best way to resolve access issues will be with 
dialogue.  Unfortunately some of these landowners breath only the rarefied 
air of corporate America (Microsoft and Bank of America to name just two) 
and they have no time for gnats like us or local governments.

Actually there is a more urgent and important access issue looming here in 
the Gulf Islands.  I'm making a few calls to get a last minute update and 
will post details.

Gordin Warner
Victoria BC




Hi Philip,

You wrote,

Some are surprised to find they don't own the beach. Others don't care: 
there are reports of an owner of an island in the Gulfs using a private 
security guard thug and a dog to run boaters off the public crown foreshore.

Your referring to James Island.  I believe the security guard/care taker 
has learnt his lesson.  As I understand it the last incident involved his 
attempt to run off a kayaker who just happened to be a Provincial Crown 
Prosecutor.  I've been told the lawyer collected accounts of the mans 
actions, opened a file, and sent a letter explaining the law and a polite 
request to desist or face the consequences.

Last week I circumnavigated James Island with a group of friends we stopped 
along it's north shore for lunch and where observed by the guard as he made 
his rounds in his truck.  He just kept on driving and didn't bother us. We 
stayed below the high water line.

As an aside it may be that the owner of James Island has safety in 
mine.  James Island was once the site of a very large munitions 
plant.  Apparently much of the island is contaminated and could pose some 
very serious hazards to the unsuspecting person tramping over the 
terrain.  This is truly an unfortunate circumstance for all as James is a 
very beautiful island of open meadows orchards, sand beaches groves of 
Arbutus, Gary Oak and scrub pine.

Forest Island which is near by is now owned by a Montana millionaire who's 
very protective of his territory.  This gentleman has posted, no 
trespassing above the high water mark, signs on trees along the island and 
employs a care taker guard who will climb into his utility boat and sit and 
watch as you approach the island.

When this happen to myself and some friends I told him he's going to be a 
busy man if he has to do that every time a group of kayakers comes by.  The 
island owner also asked the Federal Government about building a rock break 
wall.  Unfortunately by the time the feds got back to him the wall was 
built.  And when he wanted City water from Sidney he simply paid the $8,000 
for the pipeline creating a precedent that will be tough to back away from 
when all the other millionaire islands owners want water.  This wouldn't be 
an issue if we didn't have to ration water every year in the Sidney 
Victoria area.

While he's no doubt trying to protect his sanctuary in fairness to the 
owner I suspect he's also afraid of potential fires.  A fire on  densely 
treed Forest island would run wild.

Gordin
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