Day 13 to Day 15: Blackberry Point to Rathtrevor

23rd May 2023

21st May: Day 15 
Wallis Island to Rathtrevor 
Distance 14.5km

We had a late start today, we looked at various options in regard to our wind, tide times and possible landing spots that can accommodate the team and the kayaks. 
Team meeting done, routes discussed and three workable possibilities just in case! 
We had visitors to our camp this morning – two deer decided to come investigate and walk over to the point during low tide! The inlet turns into a massive tidal pool during low tide; I spent about an hour just looking at all the scurrying crabs, finding starfish and looking under rocks! Getting in touch with nature – that sense of ‘You know what? Today is going to be a good day!’
We had to portage the kayaks over barnacle encrusted rocks, when you place them down your heart just sinks if you hear a noise – don’t scratch the paintwork! 
Paddling as a team is one of the most fantastic experiences I have had, the formation looks awesome, kayaks staying in line, pushed out to the flanks. And for me it’s not just about the formation, its offering yourself up to the team; getting rid of all that bravado, the I am. It’s slotting into that position of the team comes first, handing over yourself to something that is bigger than you. Being better than you were yesterday, being selfless, committed to these seven guys! 
First landing site was a bust, no water or enough space, onto number two!! 
The setting sun created this golden pathway on the water’s surface, the silhouette of the team black against the golden hue. 
I looked up into this raging grey maw devouring the skyline, a storm front started to move in; for 90 minutes it was the team against 20 knot winds! Swell breaking over the kayak deck, salt water spraying in your face! Every sinew stretching and burning, keep paddling, get that paddle in the water, there is no turning back, keep paddling keep, moving forward! Kayaks breaking through wave after wave, rolling water pushing and pulling! About halfway through this battle against Boreas, Theo’s rudder line pulled out it could not come at a worst time because there is nothing we can do! We could feel his thighs burning edging his kayak through this! Land is in sight keep paddling every fibre of your being is screaming out, muscles are fatigued, take the strain, use every bit left in the tank! Then all of a sudden we are in the wind shadow, the kayaks are just cutting through the water, breathe, take a break  -100m, then 50m, then 10m – the beach is a welcome feeling! Spray deck off, take your wet clothes off, change into dry clothes, don’t get cold! It was a 21:30; landing dinner was served at 23:00. Sharing a meal after the day is an amazing feeling!!

20th May: Day 14 
Departure Bay to Wallis Island 
Distance 19.5 km 

Whilst we where breaking down camp we had a lovely visit from Pascale – she saw us come in off the water yesterday and this morning popped in with fresh coffee and muffins! Merci beaucoup!! She and her class are following our journey! Merci pour suivre notre expedition! 
Our first resupply came in today: Paul Gray, President of BC Marine Trails, kindly took delivery and dropped it off! Now it’s the pack and unpack sorting out where the nuts go, the peanut butter, and everything else!! 
Susan Conrad and Becky!! Wow your generosity and well wishes have made our team very happy!! We got a letter in our boxes with 8 little butterflies in, each butterfly had a word written on the back! Every team member had to choose a butterfly and fate decided your word! I will cherish mine!! And a bottle of port! That is getting saved for the hard tired night ahead when moral is low, our little tents getting battered by the wind and rain! That voice in your head shouting at you ‘why are you putting yourself through this? Give up, go home,’ That voice drowning out all the self belief, the sense of wonder and amazement all getting ruined because of it! Then it will be all smiles and happy thoughts when the port gets shared between the team! 
Leaving from Departure Bay it was an artist’s dream: you start off in crystal clear water then as if someone made a brush stroke it turns dark blue! We paddled on a polished mirror again! I can get use to this! We had to change our route once again due to no space at camp sites so a shorter paddle today however it didn’t fail to surprise the whole team – the water was a couple of degrees warmer; you could see the bottom through 20foot of water! Just imagine you are sliding along tapping away with little effort and you look up and all you can see is mountains wherever you turn your head! Your mind and eyes start to play tricks on you; the mountains are so imposing you can almost reach out and touch them! 
We have an island all to ourselves again!!! 
Taff saw some deer sneaking into our camp this morning – they crossed at low tide. 

19th May: Day 13
Blackberry Point To Nanaimo
Distance 30km 

I wish I could share this beauty with you! Last night the team just sat in a row on the cliff edge watching the sunset, the golden shimmer of the setting sun reflected on the water, the deep hues of orange dancing over the skyline, the rolling mountains creating a border of this perfect picture! Making this memory that will be forever be etched into my soul! Taff found out that the little seabird is called a guillemot – I’m happy that I know the little bird’s name now!! 
I can’t explain how happy my inner child is every time I get to climb in the cockpit of the kayak! Every child wanted to be a Formula One driver, an astronaut or a fighter jet pilot. However I know my limitations and this feeling can’t be beaten! The sliding in with both feet, the feeling of your feet on the two foot pegs, the little pump just to make sure, the quick shuffle, your spray deck on behind your back the lean and stretch to get it over the front, the satisfying ping as the elastic snaps into place! The balancing act as Marty gets in front, the push off, skeg down, the releasing of the rudder line, leaning back, making sure, then paddle in the water!

We are getting lulled into a false sense of security weather wise! We have had nothing but great weather so far! We are in Nanaimo!! The sense of achievement and jubilation is palpable!! We left Blackberry point late in the afternoon waiting for the perfect window with regard to flow and wind! Some very interesting crossings today – there were ferries coming north to south east to west and fishing boats screaming up and down! Sea planes taking off and coming to land. We paddled past a massive timber plant that stretched about 3km long – which meant dodging these massive logs in the water! The timber yard looks like a scar in the landscape – you have these massive forests then nothing apart from this yard! 

The name Nanaimo conjures up images of longhouses built with skeletons of log beams, but when we got into Departure Bay then – boom – this massive sprawling metropolis of concrete and glass appears in the sunshine! Once again I have been blown away by the kayak community – we didn’t have a camp site and with a couple of calls to one of Shaun’s Kokatat and Lendal team members, Jamie Sharp, who got in touch with one of his friends Ron and his wife Liz Williams who live in Departure Bay it was like the bat signal going up – we had a place to rest our tired bodies! It was in a children’s play area next to the waters edge! Beggars can’t be choosers but people’s kindness is a gift on our journey! 
We all shared a meal and started to long blink – went to bed only to be awoken at 0330 by the park sprinklers!! It sounded like I was in the middle of a hurricane. The sprinklers were peppering our tents with streams of water every 20 seconds! You could hear the sniggers from the others tents because they only got sprayed a little bit!! 
Up and packed, camp broken down on the water’s edge!