Deep Cove

Last Wednesday Nate organized a Spamily kayak outing. About 20 of us treked across the bridge to North Vancouver and to the hamlet of Deep Cove. Situated at the base of Mount Seymour, Deep Cove is a small community on an inlet of the Indian Arm fjord. The fjord was created during the last ice age and is a branch of the Burrard Inlet that forms Vancouver's inner harbor. The mountains rise dramatically up out of the water on both sides of Indian Arm and make for some beautiful surroundings.

The view from the shore of Deep Cove

We were outfitted with touring kayaks, life-jackets and other supplies by the good people of Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak. They gave us a 5 minute kayaking lesson and then set us loose on the water. We didn't have a guide - just instructions to keep together and have fun.

Suiting up and preparing

Paddling out

We set out paddling north from the cove and into Indian Arm. Very quickly, the view became more pastoral. The steep mountain-sides don't leave a lot of room for people. A single road traces the shoreline north from town with a row of houses along the water's edge. The view that these homes have must be brilliant - of course, you also have to share it with groups of laughing amateur kayakers occasionally...

A mile, or so, into the trip we passed a small lighthouse on its own island.

After we rounded the lighthouse, I could really feel the wind at our backs pushing us along. We started to spread out along the eastern side of the fjord with the more adventurous at the head of the group and some more laid back paddlers bringing up the rear. The leading edge of the group paddled about 3 and half miles from our put-in point and got a spectacular view of the snow-capped mountains at the north end of Indian Arm. I hung back a little bit and explored the shoreline. Small rivers and streams poured into Indian Arm at a couple of places along the trip making pretty waterfalls. I also sat and watched a crab boat pull crab pots for a while.







When it was time to head for home the wind was in our faces, making the trip back to the beach much more of a workout. The water had a little more chop to it on the return trip, but the views were no less beautiful the second time. I was grateful, though, to round the lighthouse and feel the winds lessen a bit as the mountains shielded me. My whole trip ended up being something like six miles - that was quite a workout!

Francesca paddling

As I climbed out of my kayak my camera dropped out of my life-vest and into about 2 feet of water. I rinsed off the salt water and let the camera dry for a couple of days, but the dunking had ruined the camera. Francesca was able to salvage the photos on the memory card, but I'll have to send the camera in to be repaired. Fortunately, the extended service plan I bought with the camera covers such mishaps and I should be able to get a new one soon. Unfortunately, Ritz camera doesn't have outposts in Canada, so it's still a little up in the air how, exactly, I'll have to handle the transaction. Until then, my blog will be a little less photo intensive and I'll be using my phone's camera more and relying on friends to share their photos.

JV