LOCAL PADDLING STORIESSEA TO SKY IN 20 MINUTES
January 31 may not mean much to some people, but to us, it was a great and memorable day. It all started with a fresh dump of snow overnight, leaving the mountains fluffy, white and inviting. The Tetrahedren Mountain Range, which is BC's newest Provincial Park is just a 12 mile drive up a well maintained logging road from Pedals & Paddles, and our home at Tillicum Bay. The kids were antsy to get out and test their new Christmas toboggan, and I had been looking forward to a family paddle at the same time. We decided to split the difference and do both. In the morning, we took the 20 minute drive up into the snow, tobogganed till everyone was tired, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire and then made the 20 minute journey back to Pedals & Paddles at the bottom of the hill. There we launched a family-sized double kayak and went exploring the Inlet foreshore in search of wintering wildlife and waterfowl who choose our calm protected waters to wait out the winter storms on the 'outside', and birth their young in the Spring. It was one of those beautiful, calm winter days, where the air was crystal-clear and the light almost surreal. By the end of the day everyone had a nice healthy glow and many wonderful memories.
You don't have to wait for summer to enjoy the beauty and wonder of Sechelt Inlet; and you don't have to just paddle if you visit Pedals & Paddles anytime of year. Sechelt Inlet, and the surrounding mountain ranges are the best kept secret in south-western BC. As we are only 2 hours from downtown Vancouver, families who normally visit us in the summer for paddling, swimming and camping can easily catch the 7:20 am ferry from Horseshoe Bay and be on top of a beautiful mountain range or out on a secluded wilderness beach way before lunchtime.
The new Tetrahedren Provincial Park encompasses a network of trails leading to 5 log cabins, situated on lake shores and mountain peaks. It is perfect for back-country skiing or snow-shoeing in the winter, with excellent areas for family tobogganing and picnicking; and some of the best back-country hiking, camping and fishing to be found anywhere from Spring thru Fall. All this just a 20 minute drive from Pedals & Paddles and the world-class paddling of Sechelt Inlet. And don't forget, we are just 2 hours from downtown Vancouver. THERE'S MORE TO PEDALS & PADDLES THAN SUMMER PADDLING ADVENTURES!DONT' BE SELFISH WITH YOUR SHELLFISHGourmet dining is just one of the many attractions that bring explorers and adventurers back to this easily accessible wilderness. At low tide clams, muscles and oysters abound. There is no real trick to harvesting these tasty morsels. The only rule-of-thumb is take only what you can eat, and if you take too many, share them.It wouldn't be fair to explain exactly which locations are the best for these delicious jewels, as half the fun is the hunt, but once you locate a clam bed, just rake the surface and harvest a very small portion of what you find. The same rule applies to oysters. Just take what you need for a fine gourmet dinner. Muscles are plentiful, and the trick is to find the big ones. Preparation is simple and well suited to camp cooking - and the results are always divine! For oysters, the easiest method is to place them on a rack over hot coals. When they open, they are done. Just throw a few drops of Tobasco or Louisiana hot sauce onto the cooked oyster in the half-shell and enjoy. Clams can either be shucked and mixed with a vegetable chowder and heated over an open fire, or steamed with a water, white wine and garlic broth until they open - eat them right out of the shell. Mmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mussels are not as appreciated here as in other parts of the world - but they are delicious! The best recipe for steamed muscles that we have tasted goes something like this - Be sure to check for red-tides and other regulations before you depart on your gourmet camping trip - and Bon Appetite!! WHO SAYS IT HAS TO BE SUMMER?????Just because its not 20 degrees and sunny doesn't mean you can't have a great paddling adventure! As a matter of fact, for those who get tired of the Monday - Friday grind, its amazing how easy it is to escape to the Sunshine Coast for a day or two of relaxing and rewarding west coast adventure. Winter is the time for waterfowl viewing. Many varieties choose Sechelt Inlet for reasons only buffleheads and merganzers might know, but I suspect its due to the calm, lush conditions that exist here.The conditions that attract waterfowl for the winter are the same ones that make off-season paddling so pleasant and exciting - all at the same time; and always memorable! A crystal clear morning with the winter sun reflecting obtusely off of dead calm waters can change in a blink to localized gusts and a black thunder cloud marching down the Inlet, dumping its contents on anything in its path. Come prepared with waterproof clothing as a back-up and break the winter doldrums. Plan a wilderness picnic with your favorate picnic cuisine. If you need dry kindling to ensure a warm, cheery campfire to cook your gourmet picnic lunch, just ask! We're here year-round to provide excellent boats and paddling gear, as well as any creature comforts needed to ensure a great time.
A typical off-season day trip from Vancouver would go something like this -
BE SURE TO CALL AHEAD AND BOOK, SO THAT WE KNOW YOU ARE COMING. |