The Unofficial Publication of the Komoux Valley Paddlers

The Unofficial Publication of the Komoux Valley Paddlers

March 2002

Volume 1, Issue 1

wetblades

Index

Trips

Winter Round Up - 2001/2002

Let’s see… where did we leave off?! Ah..yes, it was Nov and the Christmas Dinner was coming up…

The Christmas Potluck Dinner was a smash hit! Food was exceptional, the gift exchange had some real surprises which made for a lot of laughs . It was a great evening enjoyed by all. A big thank you to Dave and Gail Blamire who were kind enough to host this years event.

The Executive had a meeting at President Keith’s house on Jan 20th to start to formulate ideas and suggestions for activities and events for the coming year. It was suggested that perhaps the Exec should meet one week prior to the General Meeting to help focus the general meetings content.

The February meeting was held on the 7th at the Comox Recreation Center with further discussions on spring /summer events and some progress made towards firming up the calendar.

Dave Blamire, Dave Clegg and Michel Gauthier volunteered to be club directors to assist the executive whenever the need arises. Thank you guys!

Richard Swanson of Canadian Raft Expeditions gave an excellent slide presentation on some of the Northern river trips that he guides in the summer. Nice summer job!

March’s club meeting had an exceptional turn out with a lot of new faces present. A pat on the back to the Mr. Publicity, John Wolsey, for bringing ‘em on in with his timely subliminal advertizing strategy.

Additional discussions on trips and events took place with more things starting to be firmed up. An event guide is on page 3.

The meeting was capped off by a great slide presentation by Laurel Archer on canoeing in Northern Saskatchewan. Her extensive guiding experience, knowledge and love of the area definitely shows through during the presentation. Best wishes from the club on the successful promotion of your new book “Canoeing Northern Saskatchewan—A Guide to Fifteen Wilderness Rivers” published by Boston Mills. (We know you’ve got a dozen sold here!). Laurel will be taking this slide presentation and promotion “on the road” starting in June.

Well… that’s some of the current going’s on over the last little while… Now on with the new stuff!

Back to Index


UPCOMING EVENTS
SNOW TO SURF - APRIL 28TH SPIDER LAKE REGATTA WITH NANAIMO PADDLERS –SUNDAY MAY 12 MAY 17 –COAST KAYAK SYMPOSIUM, THETIS ISLAND, BC –FOR INFORMATION CALL (604)597-1122. SUGGESTED TO REGISTER EARLY. WOODEN CANOE HERITAGE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SPRING MEET –MAY 17-19TH, CAMAS BAY, CAMANO ISLAND, WASHINGTON. CONTACT BARB @ 337-8690 JUNE 22 & 23 VANCOUVER ISLAND PADDLEFEST, LADYSMITH, BC Back to Index


KOMOUX VALLEY PADDLERS GO HIKING ?
Yes some of us really did put down the paddles and lace up the ol’ hiking boots in order to get outside into the fresh fall and winter air. Michel and Blanche took some of us out back in November to explore the Northeast end of Comox Lake. Another weekend Wendie and Steve just happened upon some members wandering along the Oyster River Walk (I think they were really looking for the next Pub!).	In January a number of members kinda of osmosed together to check out the trails in the Seal Bay area. Thank you Norm and Denise for finding us the way out of this interesting maze. There are some great days and times to be had just being outside anytime of the year… so just go...

Back to Index

To kayak or canoe

Oh… what do we do?

It’s hard to pick one when there is joy in paddling the

two!

Back to Index

The Komoux Valley Paddlers

Things YOU should know!

The Komoux Valley Paddlers is a fairly relaxed, organizationally challenged and slightly laid-back group of people that love to get outside and go paddling in any kind of canoe or kayak whenever the chance arises. Trips, event and things in general tend to evolve as we move along so you gotta remain flexible!

Due to liability and insurance concerns, the Club does not have trip leaders, only Contact Persons for excursions. Attendees on trips are expected to be self-contained and any sharing arrangements are on a personal basis.

Members must have current dues paid up in order to go on Club outings.

Safety of everyone on the water is a prime concern so the correct equipment is a must. There is lots of information available through the Club members on what equipment is essential for both canoer’s and kayaker’s. The Club does have a VHF radio and a First Aid Kit available for use on Club events and trips (contact: Barb Dobree @ 337-8690).

Most of our trip and event planning is e-mailed to members via the Web. Phone contact will be arranged for those without e-mail.

We have a Web site at

“ www.geocities.com/komouxpaddlers”

As time goes on we hope to add more links to paddling information. (Webmaster: Michel Gauthier). At some point we hope to be able to post “Wetblades” the Komoux Valley Paddlers’ newsletter to it for access to all. Membership applications have been posted on the web site - just print off and send in!

Speaking of the Newsletter… please feel free to forward suggestions, articles and/or anything you feel you would like to see to: Steve Flawith or phone 338-8623. Light criticism accepted! The newsletter is produced irregularly depending the Editor’s time and energy but we do try to get it out 3 or 4 times a year.

For anything else you may want to know… just come to a meeting! (see the calendar on page 3 for dates and times)

Still wanna join?…(of course you do! See you on the water!)

Komoux Valley Paddlers Canoe & Kayak Club

Box 10045

2064 Comox Ave.

Comox, B.C.

V9M-3S5

Back to Index

From the Jame’s Barber’s Kitchen:

Bannock—Simple & Quick

-1 bowl

-2 scoops of flour (mixture of whole wheat &

unbleached)

-1 tablespoon of baking powder

-3 tablespoons of oil

-a pinch of salt

-add enough water, milk or beer to make a slightly

“stiffish” dough

Note: you can approximate quantities when mixing—does’nt have to be exact.

Then cook by whatever means you think you can get away with and still have something edible. Should take about 10 or 15 minutes and don’t forget to turn over halfway through. Be creative... use a frying pan or pot with a lid or a hot rock or roll it out into a snake and wrap it around a stick… it always tastes good when you’re out camping!

Back to Index

TRIPS & EVENTS

(Note: some are tentative, stay posted & check e-mails regularly for any changes & updates)

March 17 Sunday 10AM Zeller’s lot , South end Decide & Go *Day Trip, Pack lunch, weather permitting

March 24 Sunday 10AM Zeller’s lot, South end Decide & Go *Day Trip, Pack lunch, weather permitting

March 31 Sunday 10AM Zeller’s lot, South end Decide & Go *Day Trip, Pack lunch, weather permitting

April 4 Thursday 7PM Comox Rec. Center Elections & Dues *Bear Safety Awareness

April 14 Sunday 10AM Zeller’s lot, South end Decide & Go *Day Trip, Pack lunch, weather permitting

April 21` Sunday 10AM Zeller’s lot, South lot Decide & Go *Day Trip, Pack lunch, weather permitting

April 28 Sunday 10AM Zeller’s lot, South end Decide & Go (*SNOW TO SURF WKEND*)

May 2 Thursday 6:30PM Goose Spit Meeting & Paddle (or Comox Marina Shelter if weather poor)

May 3/5 Fri/Sat/Sun 8AM Fri Village Bay Lakes Quadra Island, Canoe/Kayak Camping Warmup & Shakedown

May 12 Sunday 9AM Nanaimo Paddlers’ Regatta Spider Lake (*Note: the Club’s Honour is at stake here!)

May 12 Sunday 10AM Zeller’s lot, South end Decide & Go *Day Trip, Pack lunch

May 19 Sunday 10AM Zeller’s lot, South end Decide & Go *Day Trip, Pack lunch

May 24 Friday 3PM Comox Lake, Rod & Gun Setup for Show

May 25/26 Sat/Sun All Day Comox Lake, Rod & Gun *OUTDOOR SHOW*

May 31/Jun 1&2 Fri/Sat/Sun 8:30AM Fri Zeller’s lot, South end Wallace/Saltspring Islands c/o Cheryl @ 339-9899 (*Limited Numbers*)

June 6 Thursday 6:30PM Goose Spit or TBA Meeting & Paddle0

June 15/16 Sat/Sun 10AM Fly Fishing Introduction, Hydro Parking lot, NE side of Comox Lake Cruickshank River Area,

June 22/23 Sat/Sun All Day Ladysmith Ladysmith Paddlefest, Info @ http://www.island.net/~pfest/

June 30 Long Wkend TBA Trips still evolving! TBA

July 26/27/28 Fri/Sat/Sun TBA TBA - Bush Skills Weekend, c/o Barb Tashis-Kwoi, Signup deadline July 11th, pretrip meeting July 11th, more infor TBA

August NO Meeting! TBA Trips still evolving! TBA

Note: Daylight and weather permitting, Thursday night paddles will start at 6:30pm from various locations posted by Email.

Back to Index

Back to Home Page

End