Queen Charlottes, Kayaking July 2008

8 days through the Gwaii Haanas park (in Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii), BC Canada) with Gabriola Cycle and Kayak, gck.ca, July 17 -24 2008. 8 kayakers, + 2 guides, ....... from TANU VILLAGE TO BURNABY NARROWS

Impressed by.......:(1) mostly sunny (much to my surprise).....(2) seas fairly calm (compared to Baja)......(3) walking through the woods (jumble of huge moss-covered trees) was remarkable !! ......(4) Jo Anne Haeger was an extraordinary guide, very expressive

July 16, Wed, Flight to Vancouver, then Sandspit, saw two men on the Sandspit flight that had distinct facial features like those on the back of the $20 bill.... assumed that was the "Haida" look. Stayed at Civas B&B with three others. Had dinner at the golf course with Stuart Agnus and Jane, all of Vcr. The rest of the group was two sisters from Ontario, and a younger Swiss couple. Oldest: 69, youngest: 28. plus two women guides.

July 1 7 Thurs, woke up to sunshine and a 90 minute zodiac ride to Kunga Island, then a short 25 minute paddle to Tanu Village where Steve, a young Haida watchman, gave us an hour tour of the village (....just the foundation moss-covered remains).

July 18 Fri, kayaked to Windy Bay, where there was a 4km crossing. Somehow paddled out ahead fo the group by as much as 1km, not that I'm anything special as a paddler. Saw humpback whale, and followed him for an hour or so. Stayed with the watchman couple and in a longhouse cabin, ... since it was raining. Played RummyQue with the watchman's wife, and had homemade cookies.

July 19 Sat, went for a 2 hour walk in the tall woods, where Joanne, the amazing guide, carried Rolph, 40, 90Kg (200 pounds) Swiss guy, piggyback across a 20 ft stream. 2:30 departure for a two night stay across from Hot Springs,... weather a bit crappy. Did my Day 3 dinner, .... went well enough.

July 20 Sun, left at 11am (due to tides) for a short crossing to Hot Springs, winds were strong and slight rain, so at Joannes recommendation came back without doing the hot-springs. The back bay was busy, ...... other kayakers, 2 boats, seaplane.

July 21 Mon, leaving the campsite there was impressive intertidals (... large drooping colourful anemones) went over to Hot Springs, ....... pleasant, nobody else there, tried two of the hotsprings, pleasant.... then our longest crossing, 8km, over to Moresby.

July 22, Tues, longest paddle day to a real sand spit (for 2 nights) beautiful sunny day

July 23 Wed, paddle to Burnaby Narrows, saw a smallish 2 yr old black bear turning over rocks on the beach for at least 1/2 hour. After lunch, saw 3 Risso dolphins (2 big, 1 small) in the bay, ....a kind of tiring paddle back.

July 24 Thurs, a pick up by Wade of Moresby Explorers in the zodiac, 2 hours, then 1 hour in van to Civa's,... dinner at Dick Woks, ... food was pretty good.

July 25 Fri, taxi to airport, ..... flight a bit late but still made the Vancouver connection. On the flight south to Vcr, the route was over the interior, was struck by the size and multitude of the snow-covered Rockies (whereas the trip south had been over the coastal islands)

Overall..., I'd rate it as a...... 7.5/10. whereas the first Baja trip was an 8, the second Baja a 6.5/10. The big positives were the sunny weather and Joanne.