Lunch in Crescent Channel
Ferry Dock on Quadra to Valdez Road turn off - 19km
From Heriot Bay, turn off onto Hyacinthe Bay Rd...which turns into Village Bay Rd
Right where the road turns into gravel (just past Granite Bay Rd turn off) is Valdez Rd.
Allow 20-30 minutes for one-way drive.
Launch is great at high tide...lower tides exposes large rocks to walk over.
Group rendezvous'd at the Quadra Island Ferry for the 08:30 sailing...skies were sunny with a slight (brisk) NW wind blowing.
A mandatory stop at the Coffee Shop on Quadra to get our coffee's and baked goods and we were on our way to the Valdez Road launch.
In the water by 10:30 and headed North behind the Breton Islands...once into Hoskyn Channel we had a slight headwind (NW) while we cut across the mouth of Village Bay, but nothing serious, maybe 4" to 6" chop, the sunny skies had everyone's spirit's high.
With all the visiting (chatting) and verbal assaults (ribbing), the outbound trip to Cresent Channel (Bold Island) seemed to buzz by. For the record...poor Bernie took a bit of a beating (verbally) from the Group, with Tom getting his fair share of attention. Good thing these two fellows have good senses of humour.
Shortly before noon we got into the South end of Cresent Channel, and broke for lunch. We chose a nice little pocket beach about half way in that was sheltered from the breeze but basking in sunlight. Tom was heart-broken...Kathy didn't bring any Chocolate Chip Cookies that she usually packs, this proved to be near fatal later on.
Upon packing up and readying for the return paddle, my drysuit zipper packed it in and was unable to wear it further...good thing I brought back-up clothing (there's a message there).
Once we got out of the North end of Cresent Channel...we had the breeze slightly behind us (mostly from the side) as we turned South for the return trip, but once we got past the mouth of Village Bay (12" chop) the wind was at our backs and we mostly let the breeze sail us back to the Bretons.
By the time we approached the Bretons, it was clear Tom was running out of gas, it would appear he was counting on Kathy's Cookies at lunch for an energy boost...(also a message here, when paddling with Tom, bring chocolate chip cookies!) ;-)
Once inside the calm Breton's...Tom and Al practiced some braces and rolling...without a drysuit, I was a spectator with the rest of the Group.
Tom and Al displayed some fabulous skills.
We got back to our launch site by 14:00, and pulled out loaded up by 15:00...caught the 4pm (16:00) ferry back to CR.
A wonderful day for the first trip of year with wonderful people.
Lunch in Crescent Channel
