Goose Spit Paddle - Sept 15

 When we arrived at the Royston Boat launch the skies were grey with heavy smoke and light rain was falling, but there was no wind.  The marine weather forecast had predicted moderate winds and sun by 11 am.  However, visibility was poor. We could not see Comox Harbour across the bay. After a brief discussion all 14 participants opted for a revised plan to launch in the Puntledge River behind the Comox Valley Kayaks and Canoe Shop at Cliff Rd and 20th St. in Courtenay.

The tide was low and while getting our boats into the river we noticed hundreds of Chinook Salmon working their way upstream in the shallow water. Cormack was familiar with the route and volunteered to lead. Jim offered to be the sweep.  During our leisurely paddle down the Puntledge River the 14 paddlers in 3 canoes and 8 kayaks observed wildlife and other features of the shoreline of the river and its estuary.

There was an abundance of Canada geese and seagulls, a variety of ducks, mergansers, great blue herons, and quite a number of vultures and bald eagles.  The seals also made their presence known, chasing schools of salmon where the river widened into the estuary. 

 

With Cormack’s knowledge of the river and estuary we avoided running aground in the low tide and arrived without incident at the Comox Marina. We took the back route around the marina, passing covered dragon boats and all sorts of other watercraft, big and small.

 

We took out at the boat launch and some paddlers headed for the food concession while others checked the area out. Once back in our boats we continued to paddle the back route around the marina then set our sights on sandy Goose Spit.

 

The weather was cooperating making our lunch stop a pleasant experience. Even though social distancing was kept it thankfully did not hinder the ability to carry on conversations.

  

Goose Spit is owned by the Komox First Nation. There were wood structures and small carved totems on the beach. Some of us went for short walks before preparing for the return trip. There was a large coloured totem pole set back from the main beach and an interpretive sign that explained the historic importance of salmon fishing and shell fish to First Nations people.

 

Of note, we saw an enormous number of blue jelly fish, both small and large. We also spotted an oversized whitish object floating along which we could not identify. Perhaps a jellyfish of a different kind? Cormack thought it might be a type of colonial algae or sponge.

 

The trip back seemed over far too short thanks to the incoming tide pushing up the river. Getting the boats back onto our vehicles was made easy as everyone pitched in.

 Although we did not get to paddle among the Royston Shipwrecks the Puntledge River trip provided an interesting combination of nature and cultural experiences.  FYI: The Royston Breakwater ships include 3 Frigates, 2 Destroyers, 3 Steam Tugs, 2 whaling harpoon boats, 2 Barques, and 2 Windjammers (the Riverdale and the Melanope), both 3 masted. If you wonder what a Barque is - Wikipedia defines this type of sailing ship as: "A barque is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts having the fore- and main-masts rigged square and only the mizzen (the aftmost mast) rigged fore and aft. Sometimes, the mizzen is only partly fore-and-aft rigged, bearing a square-rigged sail above." Perhaps conditions will be better next year and we will be able to paddle among the shipwrecks.

 

Distance paddled: 11.6 km

Duration of the paddle: 3.5 hrs

 

It was a joy to paddle with all of you.

Thanks,

Marianne