paddlesores
Paddler
The Broughtons…..it never gets old.
This is the third time we’ve made the trip to paddle in the Broughton Archipelago. The first time we only went to Mound Island, the second we taxied to Insect Island and made our way back to Telegraph Cove, and this time we again used a water taxi and got dropped off at the Burdwood Group. This time we also had two friends from Dallas join us for the trip. We left Vancouver, picked up their rental NDKs at Comox Valley Kayaks, and made our way to Port McNeill for the night. Woke up early to rain, which thankfully let up soon after, and we headed down to Telegraph Cove in time to do a little exploring before our taxi picked us up at noon.
We normally take our kayak trips in late June and early September as there tended to be fewer people on the water. The last couple of years though it seems to be getting busier. We were surprised by the number of people preparing to go out when we got to Telegraph Cove. By the time noon had rolled around we had watched 3 commercial groups leave the cove.
Our taxi showed up a few minutes before noon (Silver King Ventures, wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them) and in no time the gear and boats were loaded and we were on our way. Saw lots of humpbacks as we travelled along the western edge of the islands. We unloaded at the main campsite in the Burdwood Group and got started setting up camp. Plan was to stay here two nights.
It’s a beautiful site with views all around. The way the weather was that afternoon, sometimes sunny, sometimes overcast, the view always changed with the light.
The next day we had planned to go see Billy Proctor’s Museum but the wind had come up so we only made it as far as The Paddlers’ Inn. Pretty cool looking place. Didn’t stop and check it out but did talk to another couple later that had stayed there for two nights and were really impressed.
We spent some time meandering through Scott Cove on our way back and watched a whole bunch of salmon jumping near the river mouth that feeds into the cove.
Next day we packed up and paddled through the Burdwood Group and made our way to the NE corner of Baker Island. We were taking a short break and got treated to a humpback passing by. Sometimes it would dive and we got a good look at the flukes and other times we just watched its back as it led us through a small channel between Baker and Ragged Islands. No pics of it as I can never get a decent shot of a whale. They always turn into a typical tourist shot….’see that black spot in the pic….it’s a whale/bear/sasquatch”, it just never works.
We explored the Benjamin Group for a bit, paddled down the west side of Insect Island and then bee-lined it to the southern-most island in the Fox Group. Another beautiful campsite with unbelievable views.
Day four we headed west through Arrow Passage and explored the areas around Hudson, Angular and Crib Islands. The shoreline of Angular Island is a favorite spot of mine. Weather was perfect, cool in the morning and sunny in the afternoon. Love paddling in this area with all the clusters of islands on one side and then the openness/vastness of the Strait on the other side. Paddled through the small passage between Tracey and Mars Island and then headed back to camp……..to find a commercial group of 12 setting up where we were camped. Caught us a little off guard but they were a really nice bunch of people. Some from as far away as England and South Carolina. Keep forgetting how far some people travel to visit our neck of the woods. Small world too, we met Leah, one of the guides of this group, who we found out was also a guide with the NOLS group we had met in Nuchatlitz last June.
To be continued..
Doug
This is the third time we’ve made the trip to paddle in the Broughton Archipelago. The first time we only went to Mound Island, the second we taxied to Insect Island and made our way back to Telegraph Cove, and this time we again used a water taxi and got dropped off at the Burdwood Group. This time we also had two friends from Dallas join us for the trip. We left Vancouver, picked up their rental NDKs at Comox Valley Kayaks, and made our way to Port McNeill for the night. Woke up early to rain, which thankfully let up soon after, and we headed down to Telegraph Cove in time to do a little exploring before our taxi picked us up at noon.
We normally take our kayak trips in late June and early September as there tended to be fewer people on the water. The last couple of years though it seems to be getting busier. We were surprised by the number of people preparing to go out when we got to Telegraph Cove. By the time noon had rolled around we had watched 3 commercial groups leave the cove.
Our taxi showed up a few minutes before noon (Silver King Ventures, wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them) and in no time the gear and boats were loaded and we were on our way. Saw lots of humpbacks as we travelled along the western edge of the islands. We unloaded at the main campsite in the Burdwood Group and got started setting up camp. Plan was to stay here two nights.
It’s a beautiful site with views all around. The way the weather was that afternoon, sometimes sunny, sometimes overcast, the view always changed with the light.
The next day we had planned to go see Billy Proctor’s Museum but the wind had come up so we only made it as far as The Paddlers’ Inn. Pretty cool looking place. Didn’t stop and check it out but did talk to another couple later that had stayed there for two nights and were really impressed.
We spent some time meandering through Scott Cove on our way back and watched a whole bunch of salmon jumping near the river mouth that feeds into the cove.
Next day we packed up and paddled through the Burdwood Group and made our way to the NE corner of Baker Island. We were taking a short break and got treated to a humpback passing by. Sometimes it would dive and we got a good look at the flukes and other times we just watched its back as it led us through a small channel between Baker and Ragged Islands. No pics of it as I can never get a decent shot of a whale. They always turn into a typical tourist shot….’see that black spot in the pic….it’s a whale/bear/sasquatch”, it just never works.
We explored the Benjamin Group for a bit, paddled down the west side of Insect Island and then bee-lined it to the southern-most island in the Fox Group. Another beautiful campsite with unbelievable views.
Day four we headed west through Arrow Passage and explored the areas around Hudson, Angular and Crib Islands. The shoreline of Angular Island is a favorite spot of mine. Weather was perfect, cool in the morning and sunny in the afternoon. Love paddling in this area with all the clusters of islands on one side and then the openness/vastness of the Strait on the other side. Paddled through the small passage between Tracey and Mars Island and then headed back to camp……..to find a commercial group of 12 setting up where we were camped. Caught us a little off guard but they were a really nice bunch of people. Some from as far away as England and South Carolina. Keep forgetting how far some people travel to visit our neck of the woods. Small world too, we met Leah, one of the guides of this group, who we found out was also a guide with the NOLS group we had met in Nuchatlitz last June.
To be continued..
Doug