COWICHAN VALLEY PADDLE NEWS

2. Trips

2.1 TRIP RATINGS:

As per past practice our trips will be rated as follows -

A - sheltered areas, B - some exposure or mild currents, C - expect some surf, swells or strong currents. 1 - less than six nautical miles per day, 2 - six to ten nautical miles per day, 3 - more than ten nautical miles per day.

Note that trips are sanctioned by our trip committee (Lis Farrell, Richard Bird and Dennis Wyatt ). If you would like to go on a trip, call the trip leader or coordinator at least two days before the scheduled date of the trip. All members are expected to be able to do a wet exit and re-entry for any of these trips and are expected to consider their own fitness level and skill before deciding to go. The trip leader has the option of refusing anybody who she or he feels is not fit or experienced enough to do the trip.

2.2 TRIP COORDINATORS AND LEADERS

We need trip coordinators and leaders. Usually, these two activities are combined, however they can be done by two people. Coordinating a trip means taking the phone calls and advising the trip leader of the number of participants and, if necessary, their skill levels. To lead a trip requires a little preparation in regard to launch sites, timing, weather, tides and currents, routing. etc. It helps if the leader has paddled the route before but it is not necessary. Each paddler is responsible for his or her own safety and preparation.

Note that some participants will be asked to participate in the planning of a trip, that is to help check weather, tides, currents and routings in order that people will be familiar with what goes into the planning process. Remember- a prepared paddler is a safer paddler. Some web sites that will be useful are http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca for marine weather, http://www.wxtide32.com for tides anywhere in the world, and http://www.lau.chs-shc.gc.ca and http://www.tides.gc.ca for tides, currents and water levels in Canada. For routings check the appropriate Nautical charts of which the club has a few.

2.3 TRIPS

Thanks to Lis and Richard for their hard work putting these trips together. Also, thanks to our trip leaders for volunteering to do these trips.

April 13- Ladysmith Harbour to Elliott Beach (A1) Call Lis 245 5282 or e-mail at lisrexfarrell@shaw.ca

April 20- Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay (B2), If time permits, we may paddle down Todd Inlet. Call Ed at 743 1220 or e-mail at campbed@shaw.ca

April 27- Chemainus to Tent Island (B2)- Call Adrian 748 4034 or e-mail at greenisle@shaw.ca

May 4- Cowichan Bay to Musgrave Landing (A2)- Call Keith 748 9846 or e-mail at khjis@shaw.ca

May 10 and 11- Ladysmith paddlefest. CKCC will again assist with this event. Call Lis 245 5282 or e-mail at lisrexfarrell@shaw.ca

May 25- Delgado Road to Witty's Lagoon (A2)- Call Richard 748 6608 or e-mail at rbbird@shaw.ca

May 31- Turning in wind and waves (A1)- Clinic by Doug Alderson- Transfer Beach, Ladysmith. Attendance will be limited on this clinic. Call Richard at 748 6608.

June 1- Drumbeg Park, Gabriola Island to the Flat Top Islands- Call Gordon 245 8333 or e-mail at wilcoxg@shaw.ca

June 8- Esquimalt Lagoon: Moving Water Practice I- Paddling in currents- Call Dave and Lois 743 5617 or e-mail at drthompson@shaw.ca

June 21- Paddle and Pot Luck (A1)- Quamichan Lake and Carol's house. Call Carol at 748 8583

June 22- Maple Bay to Samsun Point: Moving Water Practice II - Paddling in currents- Call Dave and Lois 743 5617 or e-mail at drthompson@shaw.ca

June 29- Fuller Lake Practice and Pot Luck- Call Lis at 245 5282 or Richard at 748 6608

NOTE- There will be some trips planned on short notice in the winter so be aware of the perils of paddling in cold water. Everybody should read the article on Cold Water Consequences in the February issue of Sea Kayaker magazine.

2.4 CAMP OUTS

May 17, 18 and 19- Union Bay to Sandy Island Call Richard 748 6608 or Lis 245 5282

June 13, 14 and 15- Blue Heron Park to Blackberry Point Call Richard 748 6608

3. EVENTS

If you know of any kayaking events that would be of interest to club members, please call Ed Campbell at 743 1220 for inclusion in the newsletter.

May 10 & 11, 2008- Ladysmith Paddlefest

September 19, 20 and 21- Sea Kayak Symposium Port Townsend, Washington

3.1 POOL SESSIONS

The Pool Sessions are fully subscribed but you can put your name on a waiting list. Call Lis at 245 5282

4.0 FOOD BANK

Attached is a letter of appreciation from the Mill Bay Food Bank thanking us for our donation to the food bank at Christmas from our Christmas party. Thanks to all who donated and a special thanks to Alice S. who made the suggestion.

WEB SITE OF THE MONTH- Do you have any good kayak websites that you would like to share? If so e-mail Ed at campbed@shaw.ca.

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

You are visitor since July 9/00