Salish Sea Summer 2026 - Looking for paddling partner(s)

[intrepid]

Older guy in 70's, strong, experienced paddler looking for one or more partners (preferably female but not ironclad) for extended kayak trips anywhere on Inside Passage between North Island and US Border. Flexible easygoing itinerary and can usually work around your schedule, meet up where ever, etc. Have done this for the past two years and intend to stay on the water as long as the decent weather lasts next summer. My boat is a 15 foot Necky Kyook.
Open to suggestions and easy to get along with. Love whale watching and the occasional pub break.
Mostly beach camping but do have access to some accomodation in southern Gulf Islands. Generally I prefer to go north however to avoid the crowds.

 

[Looksha]

Might be helpful to describe what 'extended kayak trips' means to you. Is that 3 days or 8?
And do you like to paddle 2h/day or 6? etc.

I'm envious of your ability to kayak so much over the summer!

 

[intrepid]

Hi Looksha. Thanks for your helpful comments and apologies for taking so long to reply. The trip I am planning for this summer would take me from West Van up around Cortez then back down the Van Isle side to Saturna thence north again to Hornby, across to Lasqueti and back to West Van. So very extended, probably about a month. I generally paddle around 6-8 hours per day if pushing it and more like 4 if I'm not. As mentioned I would be very happy to link up with any interested paddling partners for as much or as little as they want to take on. Also very flexible in terms of routes and stopovers. want to be as accommodating as possible to other aspirations. Hoping this improves the response rate as I haven't exactly been overwhelmed so far. Cheers to all.

 

[intrepid]

Had the most amazing encounter with a pod of humpbacks off southern Lasqueti last summer. First sign was a strange upwelling of the water all around me. Next thing I know they were surfacing all around my boat. Around five of them. Talk about a peak experience. Incredible!!! Anyway, when I got home I looked into the upwelling phenomenon and discovered that it is caused when a whale is about to surface right beneath you and changes its mind and heads back down. So, despite what you might hear sometimes, they do pay attention when surfacing, at least sometimes.

 

[kayak4life]

Hello intrepid,
Ron here on Hornby Island. I plan on some summer paddling mid July>>>late August. Me...? 74, mostly paddle alone but not necessarily by choice. Years of experience. Broke my back a few years ago while hiking in a canyon in Baja. Done a lot of paddling there, Clayoquot has always been a favorite and I hope to spend a week to ten days there this summer. Be nice to have company. I don't walk very well but apparently can still paddle. Let's talk...

 

[intrepid]

Hi Ron.
Apologies for late reply. Haven't checked in for awhile. You are the first positive response I've had. Would be great to link up for as little or as long as you like. I am expecting to depart for about a month on the strait, probably last week of July. Planning to go from West Van up to Cortes then back down Island side to Gulf Islands then back up to Hornby and over to Lasqueti and back down Sunshine Coast again. Just getting over an ankle fracture but should be good to go soon. Also 74. Otherwise fit. Drop me a line at f.j.kay@hotmail.com and let's see what we can work out.
Cheers!
Fred (aka Intrepid)