The Reluctant Kayaker: Dear Simone, I know we talked...

October-November 2004

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Marika Wilson

Dear Simone, I know we talked about going kayaking somewhere tropical this winter, but I’m just not excited about a long flight, vaccinations, the cost, etc. I think we’d both have a better time if we stayed a bit closer to home.

We could spend some time in BC, or south of the border in Washington State. There are lots of places along the coast that I’ve been meaning to see but I’ve been way too busy with work. Sure, a tropical beach would be nice, but winters here aren’t really that cold—do you know the ocean only drops a few degrees? It keeps the land temperature quite moderate.

I talked to Richard Antonchuk, owner of Alberni Outpost, the main paddling center here in Nanaimo. He said he does most of his personal paddling in the wintertime, because that’s when things are less busy for him. He says there are actually lots of nice off-season days to be had—you just have to go when the weather is good.

Did you know that Victoria’s average monthly rainfall in winter is just 5cm (2 inches)? The winter climate there is also one of the mildest in all of Canada, with an average of 44 degrees Fahrenheit in December and January. That’s a lot warmer than where you’re from, and it rarely snows.

Did you know that the scuba divers who come here from around the world actually prefer winter for the clarity of the water?!

Kim Crosby of Wild Heart Adventures says that there’s much more bird life in the winter and early spring. The herring spawn, he says, brings eagles and sea lions out, and there’s hardly any traffic on the water.

The best part is that we can keep costs low because hotels are cheaper in the winter, and you won’t have to pay peak airfare to get here. Plus, places won’t be crowded.

Here are some of the options:

NANAIMO

Once you get to Vancouver, you could take the HarbourLynx, a new passenger- only ferry service which goes direct from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Nanaimo. Then we could rent kayaks and gear locally and do day trips from here. I suppose we could stay in my little apartment but I’d prefer something a bit more special for our holiday. Diane told me about the Inn of the Sea at Yellowpoint, which I could look into if you want.

Then of course there’s Gabriola, where where Dad lives. It’s just a 20 minute ferry ride from Nanaimo and we could stay with him (at least we wouldn’t have to rent kayaks and gear that way since we could borrow his). There’s good paddling there in the winter.

TOFINO

We could go storm-watching in Tofino on the west coast, or whale watching. A friend also told me about the hotsprings out there. We could stay on the Innchanter, a converted boat which is anchored near the hotsprings. Then there’s surf kayaking at Long Beach—apparently the winter is the best time for surf. We could paddle if it’s nice, or curl up with a book if it’s wet.

VICTORIA

In summer, Victoria has tourists from all over the world, but winter is another story. We could rent kayaks at the kayak shops downtown and paddle the Gorge Waterway or the Inner Harbour. There are lots of good places to stay (and lots of good restaurants!) or we could head out to Sooke for something more isolated.

SAN JUAN ISLANDS

I’ve never been to the San Juans, but I hear they’re just as nice as the Gulf Islands... pretty much the same chain of islands, even though the border separates them. Dad mentioned that the Willows Inn offers accommodation all year long. And from there we could paddle or hook up with a whale watching boat to see the orcas.

Anyway, Simone, let me know your thoughts on all of this. I’m getting excited to think of taking some time off. Can’t wait to see you. Love, Marika.

© Marika Wilson is a recent grad in tourism. She’s shown here at her student job in downtown Nanaimo. For info on accommodations or kayaking services available in the areas she covers in her column, see the ads throughout this issue. She can be reached at Marika@wavelengthmagazine.com.