Hi I'm a First time user.
I'm hoping someone will have a little info to share. This weekend a few friends and I will be launching at Swartz Bay and Paddling to Duke point for the ferry back to Tsawwassen. Anyone know where the haul out at Jack point is?? The ferry official line is somewhere on the opposit side of the point from the ferry. Rather vague given the posibility of fences and rocky shorlines. Help please I can't make out a clear site on google earth either.
Thanks
Alison

Hey Alison.
I estimate you know what you're getting into, but it's something close to 30 miles of paddling if you stay on course.Eeep.With nothing to look at but water. and waves. and the occasional ferry and barge.
On your question-you can land right at the Duke point. Just to the very left of the ferry dock. you'll have to carry the boats up a slope,and to the right,and you end up at an opening between fence and some maintenence building,right in front of the ferry loading ramp. I've landed there a couple years ago,worked like a charm.

I was at Duke Point a couple of weeks ago and noticed a chain link fence that has been installed all along the perimeter of the terminal at the shoreline. Don't know if it effects the spot you're referring to, rider.

*****

Here's one that is frequently used. You wander across the parking lot and thru the gate at the corner.



The footing is sometimes tenuous across the flattish rocks lower down, so be careful. If so, it probably would make sense to attach your tow rope halfway up and use as a handhold when crossing the rocks with boat or gear.

I have heard rumours about official discouragement, so maybe precheck and report back!

mick

Hm, big thank you Dan. I guess it's an addition since last time I've been there.If that's been closed off, wheeling a kayak from anywhere to duke point would be a real pain in the arse because the road leads through basically an industrial park .

Mick, that's the way/spot I was reffering to.

I'm not certain that the fence goes across this point where Mick has indicated -- I noticed the fence from the parking lot, a bit to the left of the photo.

*****

Sharks, I never thought about this arrangement. It is a fabulous way to paddle the whole Gulf Islands without worrying about car transfers. Will have this one in my mind for the next year trip, that is for sure.

Alison, sorry that I cannot help you with the way around Duke Point. Perhaps, after your trip, you will describe your experience with the take on point at that ferry terminal, so we can use it in the future.

Thanks for the info.
I think there is a site on the opposite shore of the peninsula from the terminal. Exactly where is the question? That is the direction the Official on the phone indicated. They are definatley discouraging anyone near the dock.
The ferry workers in Swartz Bay idicated last week that the exit used by kayakers there will be closed off very soon and we will need to haul our little wheels on over to the toll booth area.
Olympic national security of some such nonsense.
I'll be sure to post a report. If we make it home again that is.
Love those hi mileage days.
A

Yes, I can confirm that has already been done. You can't get out the way you used to. Actually, I'm not even sure how you'd get out now - there's a 'labyrinth gate' type thing just outside of the ticket booths on the path up to Dolphin Road. You may want to check that too, with ferry officials.

Success ! Great paddle.
A little head wind from Blackberry Point north to Jack Point on Sunday , along with the search for a take out spot put us off schedule. We missed the 3:15. ferry by about 30 min.
We paddled around the back / north side of Jack Point the first little bay past the rocks lead to a lovely set of 40 + stairs topped with a 10 foot chain link fence with tripple barbwire run at the top, and a tantalizing look at the ferry terminal.
Back in boats for the actual haul out a few hundred meters further along.Across the road from the lumber mill. A scramble up 12 feet of very large rip rapp. Gear tossed up onto the rocks. Boats shouldered and the scrambled commenced. I would not want to do this at low tide as the scramble would have been much steeper.
Wheels on and a slog up the shoulder to a traffic light ( for the lumber yard) which we could not trigger so set up a look out at the blind corner.
No point in letting our guard down now as those last few vehicles really rip mostly local busses, delivery trucks and pick ups for the walk on passengers.
The roll was about 1K. to the ferry, on the shoulder and through the toll booth.

There is absolutly no way short of a night landing with bolt cutters to take out at the former location. Thank God the terminal is safe now!

I would love to take this trip in reverse if only the put in was easier.
I did speak to varoius ferry folks (including a Captain on the Horseshoe run who indicated the fencing would cause issues at Departure Bay terminal as well) all of whom had a tough time with the whole concept of any vessel smaller than a Barge. Not much help here.
At Swartz Bay the wheeled kayaks have a much longer pull than even two weeks ago, as all the new fencing is in place. Almost all the way to the toll booth, there is a vehicle exit gate where, if you line up 3 kayaks and all jump you can trigger the under ground gate sensor to open the gate. Down hill from here to the gov, wharf.
Alison