by Deborah Rogers –
It seems I’ll never quite know where Seaside Magazine will take me next. This month I ended up on the water for a two-hour sunset paddle tour from Port Sidney Marina, in the capable hands of Amber and Alana from Blue Dog Kayaking. It had been a warm day, but Amber texted me to bring a sweater and as the sun started to drop it got a little cool over the water. Living by the sea it’s easy to take it for granted: to look but never get on it or in it. There are those few hot, hot days in July and August when I will bravely dip in the water to cool off (but mainly on the west side of the Peninsula), otherwise the ocean is only really enjoyed from the shore, or from the deck of a BC Ferry. And what a waste that is, because the ocean is another world and it’s only when you’re connected to its vastness and energy that you really get to appreciate it.
My guides saw me safely kitted out in a PFD and a “skirt” that would clip on to my 5.8-metre Atlantic Titan kayak and prevent too much of the Salish Sea from soaking my leggings. It’s easy enough to climb in, especially when someone is holding the kayak still, and with a few quick notes about the rudder (controlled by your feet) I was away. My paddle had a Blue Dog sticker on it and I was assured that as long as the dog faced me I was holding it right! (Blue Dog Kayaking takes its name from the owner’s dog Benny; he’s a lovely looking mascot.)
You can’t deny the meditative qualities once you find a rhythm with the paddle and you can measure the distance against a spot on the shore. We saw a seal, many herons, geese nesting, a kingfisher (I think) and the fin of a porpoise. There were a few boats coming into the harbour past Roberts Bay but otherwise the water was ours to explore and enjoy. My guides were friendly and knowledgeable about the shoreline and its inhabitants; they were happy to chat but also able to let me enjoy the total tranquility that the evening brings.
I don’t know what I expected – rougher seas maybe – but the water was smooth and we quickly made progress up the coastline, checking out the impressive waterfront properties along the way, until we reached Canoe Cove. I suggested that a stop at the Stonehouse Pub would round out the trip perfectly, and was politely reminded that as professionals, the guides would never drink and paddle!
Once we turned and started the return trip I realized that I was feeling a little stiff in the hip flexors; a full-day trip would require some good stamina, but the kayaks are very stable and once I’d had a stretch and a wriggle I felt comfortable to put some effort in. We were aiming for Roberts Bay to watch the sun drop below the skyline. It’s a magical time of day and the water took on a mystical quality with the low angle of the sun hitting the gentle swell, turning the water pearlescent.
I felt privileged to have the experience and privileged to live in such an outstandingly beautiful place. This day out didn’t have the adrenaline surge of my day at the track, but it was good for my soul. I don’t seek out peaceful experiences very often but I felt really at ease on the water in the good company of Amber and Alana. I got a different look at my home community too, surrounded and shaped as it is by water.
For more info visit www.bluedogkayaking.com.
