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Kayaking – AWESOME OUTING
Friday, June 12th, 2009 by GetawayBC.com
It looked like a fast-moving and unforgiving mountain river – a seemingly impassible barrier to a fully-laden sea kayak.
It was awesome and scary at the same time.
But this was no river. This was the world-famous Surge Narrows with the tide running full speed ahead. From a safe distance away, the group of six wide-eyed kayakers sat in their boats and wondered how in the world were they ever going to make it to the Octopus Islands, located on the northeast end of Quadra Island. But some mistakes – like misreading the tide guide – can prove fruitful when you have the time and patience, two things any good mariner should have. Fishing is a good way to wait for the tide to slacken. The freshly-caught cod had never tasted better when it was cooked up on sharpened sticks over a small driftwood fire on the rocky shore.
The sightseeing is spectacular too, especially from the crest of a small hill, on one of the tiny islands which lie near the end of the narrows. That’s where you can see the full force of Surge Narrows and appreciate its beauty as well.
A couple hours later, at slack tide, the group was able to get through and continue on after learning a valuable lesson: Always double-check the tide guide.