Koru One
Koru One, in her stride
Whether there was more excitement looking through A1 nautical charts, finding channel 7 on the radio (whale channel), or pulling into the Seward car park to see the food truck there in all it’s beauty, I can’t recall.
FRY FACTORY, French Fries; Poutine
“Two of your best thanks!”
They served us up what seemed to be the last two batches of fries for the Friday evening shift, and if those are the moments life is made up of, we are well and truly on track my friends!
It was the fuel we didn’t need to start the weekend.
And, our smiles tell a different story. Bring on the grease baby!
Pictured: less info on google maps = more joy
Packing for a 2-day weekend kayak trip seemed a lot like finding things after moving house for the 13th time. Truly a collective community mission with Julian picking up the pieces while I made my way from across the province in Nelson.
God bless the man, his connections, and smile that lights up an entire village.
We were away laughing; Julian on the phone to the man behind his pay-cheques while I navigated our way up island. Tally-ho!
After hearing about a grizzly family close to our destination campsite the road winds through lush forests and along the coastline, bliss baby, pure fugg’n bliss.
Eyes peeled for some brown fluff balls, nothing spotted.
Safe to say we were a bit shocked with a packed campsite in such a secluded zone, we whip around the corner, where only one other camper (who has a set-up to make it through a zombie apocalypse) has a front row seat to the beauty before us.
We set up the portable stove, relishing the simplicity of cooking outdoors, fry some eggs, veggies, and noodles to top off the day.
Mi goreng, you beauty!
Koru One: Maiden-ish voyage
Waking up to cold, overcast weather wrapped the morning in a muted stillness, the grey sky casting a soft glow over the landscape. A beautiful grey, it’s a necessity to get used to it in B.C.
We settle into the car, working the radio through some screeching static until all of a sudden there it is… Channel 7.
It's the whale channel, an unexpected delight. Grizzly Girl and Silver Fox, engage in lively discussions about the ocean's majestic inhabitants. They refer to orcas affectionately as "sea pandas" and "black and whites," highlighting their distinctive colours and playful nature.
The chatter dances around tales of recent sightings and the delicate ecosystem surrounding these extraordinary creatures. Grizzly Girl shares of a pod spotted frolicking near us somewhere, although each time they mention a location we struggle to pin-point it on the map.
Between static we dream up spotting a whale, a pod, or a super-pod.
Sitting there, we let our thoughts drift like the songs of the whales, dreaming up the day ahead. We end up packing for an overnighter, load the yaks, and put our first few strokes in.
Robson Bight: An Unmistakable Beauty & A Bitch to paddle around
It's not long before we find a rhythm in the water. Julian on navigation, and I'm tuned into the radio, yelling out when there's news to have him try to locate the spot on the map.
The waves create a steady beat against the hull, and I can feel the boat responding with each swell. The sound of the water slapping against the sides blends seamlessly with the static crackle of the radio.
The chatter on the radio flows through the airwaves like the current beneath us, seemingly always against us for the next two days, however, it doesn’t dampen our demeanour — simply a lesson.
With every passing minute, we find our groove—a dance between water and wind. The rhythm is infectious; this feeling of being part of something larger, the open expanse of water around us, stretching endlessly into the horizon.
Ladies, never get between a man & his maps
We paddle steadily along the shimmering surface, the rhythmic pattern of our strokes providing a comforting reassurance against the gentle sway of the water beneath us.
The air around us is surprisingly warm and I’m down to skin sacrificing a little chaffing for sweet sweet freedom.
Despite our limited speed when compared to a much larger boat, we skillfully steer ourselves toward the direction where enticing whispers of orca activity have begun to surface, channel 7 is bumping, and your guys are tuned in, pulling big strokes, and grinning like maniacs.
All untill…
Honestly, everything from that point on was a bonus.
Orcas that Julian could have dived on, with graceful movements as they surfaced alongside our boats; We were fortunate not to get rained on until the last hour of our trip, making the experience even more enjoyable; My disposable camera surprisingly managed to catch the moment an orca breached the surface just off the side of my boat, a fleeting image of beauty that I’ll cherish.
The cooking spots we found were serene, allowing us to enjoy our meals surrounded by nature's calm. Additionally, conversing with an amazing couple at the orca lab outpost added another layer of richness to our adventure. All said and done, this trip was a flying success.
We may have lost a lifejacket, a small price to pay for the memories made. With excitement, we look forward to hitting the waters again next season. Are you coming with us?
Be joyous, love yourself, and keep nurturing your dreams,
Your one and only,
Marlon 🙃
