Day 5: Cow Bay To Dick & Jane's Beach (Heading Home).

Breakfast

Gilly Heading For Whitesand Cove

The homeward journey starts today, we have reached as far west as we are going, the weather must have realised, as it is overcast and there is a little more wind than we'd experienced this trip.

We know it is going to be a long day, from Cow Bay on Flores Island to Dick & Jane's Bay on Vargas Island.  It starts with a head wind and lumpy sea, as soon as we round the point and head east. "This is going to be fun" I thought, as we head into the conditions, the prospect of a 5 or 6 kms slog, is going to be hard work.  Fortunately, both the sea and wind ease after a while and the paddle to White Sands Beach is a very pleasant one.

Bill Preparing Lunch Whitesands Cove

After lunch I expected we would be heading out into the Russell Channel, retracing our steps of a few days ago, but our guide Bill chose a more circuitous route. We head north into the Millar Channel until we reach Yates Point, just before the First Nation's  Ahousat Settlement, which we can just see through the rainforest. The wind is a little stronger now and there is a slight, wind driven, sea running. At this point we head east across the channel to the Vancouver Island shore then south following the coast line and rock garden to Monks Rock.

      Marty Paddling North Towards Yates Point After Lunch

Regrouping we paddle across Calmus Passage, an open water stretch, in good conditions keeping an eye out for fishing boats and pleasure cruisers, to make Vargas Island in calm conditions at Dick & Jayne's Beach.

 
    Heading Towards Dick & Jane's Beach From Vancouver Island

A very famous sea kayaker lives at one end of the beach, John Dowd, he is the person who defined the  "Sea Kayaking" movement, back in the 70's and wrote the first book on the subject, the sport has come a long way since then.  We respect his privacy, camping at the other end of the beach in calm overcast conditions, and indulge in another feast for dinner.  I will post a separate item on the food we enjoyed during the trip, it has raised the bar so high I don't think we will ever be able to reach it.