Due to an inclement weather forecast for Comox Lake this day, the paddle was changed to Westwood Lake in Westwood Park, Nanaimo.
The Park has a lovely 5 to 6 km trail that encircles the lake. The parking lot was fuller than we expected, as it seemed that the trail walkers and runners were getting their exercise in before the rain. There was still lots of room to park for our group. The boat launch and beach are ideal for paddlers. Power boats are prohibited on this small lake.
Before setting off we did some yoga-based stretches, working on our shoulders, spines and hips. Stretching hopefully allowed us to be more comfortable in our boats for a longer period. Eleven boats with 12 paddlers had a nice, leisurely paddle as we circumnavigated the lake in a counter-clockwise direction. We took several breaks to snap a few photos, keep the group together and ease our way into the new paddling season. A rough estimate of the distance paddled was 3 to 4 km.
There were several dead trees in the lake, especially around the edges, and many dead-heads cut off at or just below the surface. This made for a careful, but very interesting paddle.
The rain showers at Westwood held off until around 11:00 am and were quite light until the paddle was over. There was virtually no wind and the waters were very calm in this sheltered area of Nanaimo.
Earlier plans to paddle around the lake more than once were abandoned due to the gradually increasing rainfall.
Afterwards, a few hardy souls braved the light rain and had their lunches under the canopy of a large cedar tree. Rainfall increased as the afternoon progressed, so the decisions to change the venue away from Comox and limit the time on the water at Westwood were both deemed wise in hindsight! There is a good possibility that the Comox Lake paddle will make its way back into our hectic and busy paddling schedules later this season.
All in all, it was a lovely, picturesque setting and an easy way to start the paddling season. This being the first paddle, it was a good opportunity to familiarize ourselves with new and familiar faces and to chat about many interesting topics. Thanks to all who participated and we look forward to getting back together this season.
Scott and Donna Roy
Photos contributed by Donna, Scott and Jim
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