Urban Kayaking

The cloudless sky, mild temperature and calm winds spoke "Urban Paddling" today. We all know the dark, gloomy, rainy reputation the West Coast has for its winter. This winter was particularly dark and particularly gloomy. Until today! We seized the opportunity to experience the flip coin of the West Coast winter - kayaking in January! It took us an hour or two to get together all the gear that was last used over six months ago. Then we were off to Lighthouse Park, which has to be one of the best urban paddling locations in the world.

Across the harbour from Vancouver, Lighthouse Park sits on Point Atkinson which is 1 of 24 manned lighthouses left on the BC coast. Point Atkinson is an area of sea cliffs and battered coastline that is home to countless harbour seals, oyster catchers, bald eagles, and more species of gulls than you can shake a paddle at.

It all started off a little bumpy, quite a lot of chop and a good ride to start our day, which was a little challenging to the healing hand. But eventually the coastal cliffs give way to a more calm inlet experience where the fir, pine and arbutus trees come down to meet the water. This is also where the multi million dollar architectural wonders come into view.

We stopped on a small island hosting the ruins of an abandoned lightstation for a bite to eat. From the front of her boat, Rachelle retrieved a couple of bento boxes filled with salmon and tuna sushi and rolls. It was quintessential Vancouver - kayaking, sushi, eagles, and in the distance, the urban skyline backed by the celestial presence of Mount Baker.

After a whole month of no potable water, 14 hurricane-strength wind storms in rapid succession, unsolicited deforestation of our parks and property.... a little R 'n R on the water was just what we needed to remind us of why it is we live on the Best Coast.