The last paddle of 2010, and it was sweet...

High tide at the Maple Bay Rowing Club launch

Despite the "frigid", bone-chilling temperatures...

(I'll pause here until paddlers in most other parts of the country stop laughing...come on guys, it was minus 1 degree C when we launched - and this is Vancouver Island. Remember, our cold is a damp cold not the cushy dry cold that you have at minus 30 C! And hey, we don't all have dry suits - Joan says that I shouldn't be so overtly covetous about such things. I can't help it.)

...anyway, we paddled out of Maple Bay, just glad to be on the water on this second last day of the year. It was great to meet a couple of fellow paddlers on the shore, David and Richard, but they elected to head up to Ladysmith. Hey guys, I hope it wasn't something I said? ;-)

Joan out in front, Saltspring Island, Mt Maxwell, and Bourgoyne Bay (right)

Leaving Maple Bay we look out over Saltspring Island, the largest and most populated of our Southern Gulf Islands. Mt Maxwell is the second highest point on the Island, rising to around 595 metres - great panoramic views from the top!

Vancouver Island Arbutus tree dipping into the sea

Turning the corner, we head up Sansum Narrows towards Crofton, a nearby mill town. The arbutus trees reach down to the water, their full , green, leaves mocking winter (and, of course, the "frigid" conditions!). The Arbutus is the only broadleaved evergreen tree in Canada - it's pretty cool. Happy in the "Mediterranean" climate, they lose their leaves and red, flaky bark in the middle of summer. We have lots of them around our place, so yeah, we rake a bunch of leaves in late June.



Eagle...and "breakfast", on the fly

Paddling along, we spotted an eagle on the shore, chowing down (and that's putting it mildly) on "breakfast". Clearly, he decided there wasn't room for all of us in his seaside dining venue. He opened his bone-crunching talons, picked up the left-overs, spread his massive wings and lifted off - a rather "nasty" looking breakfast flowing in his slipstream!

Fisherfolk

There were a few folks out fishing (maybe crabbing?), and just enjoying this rare sunny December day.

The solar-powered  light at Grave Point

The crossing back home to Maple Bay

At Grave Point, we crossed the channel over to Erkskine Point, on Saltspring. The sun was low in the sky but the warmth felt wonderful! We paddled south to Maxwell Point and then back across the channel and into Maple Bay. A relatively brief, three hours on the water, but all in all, a great way to wind up the year - despite the "frigid, bone-chilling temperatures"!

Best wishes to all in this New Year to come!

Duncan.

PS The anticipated night paddle planned for yesterday came and went - with us warm and snug at home. The clear, starlit skies looked wonderful but the wind came up and it just didn't seem like a good idea. Ah, but there's always another day (or night).