Unlocking Aquatic Adventure

How an old Clipper offers endless exploration

Have you ever looked at an island, or across a lake, or at the other side of the river bank, and thought if only I could explore over there! Well, me too! All the time! The means to move on water expands access to wild places and the ability to get out beyond the crowds. Upon moving to Vancouver Island, I couldn’t stay land locked for long. Here are some memories from the first year with the new (old) Clipper Ranger.

I noticed a poster at Manning Park advertising the sale of their rental canoe fleet. I walked around the boat house and looked over the canoes, they certainly seemed “well used”. Most of the abuse seemed cosmetic. Despite the tourist attitude of “don’t be gentle, it’s a rental” I knew the old Clipper Ranger 17s best years may still lie ahead. I called the number on the flyer but the front desk had no idea what I was talking about. Hmm. I emailed, with hope diminished, but within a couple days a response appeared.

“Yes, there are some still for sale, when can you come through and pick one out?”

YES! We could take the scenic route back from a best friend’s wedding in late October and choose our craft during our move to the Island. October 20th arrived and we pulled up to the old barn, shook hands with the park operator, and followed him up the dim and dusty steps to a hay loft filled with more than a dozen old boats nested away for the winter. We inspected each one and chose our favourite. They were all white, all beat up, but #39 was begging for a new life on bigger waters. “We’ll take it!” I exclaimed, as I shook his hand and rummaged for the cash. He had to gift us some rope for a bow and stern line because of our beginner unpreparedness, but a canoe makes any car look like a true adventure rig. Before long we were driving West as proud new canoe owners, hoping it was normal for a boat to shift that much on the crossbars in the wind.

After securing some paddles, we raced the sun to the horizon and waddled together toward the beach. We zig-zagged our way to the end of the lake as I theorized what a “j-stroke” must mean. Pro tip: In still photos, no one can tell how novice a captain you are — so I pulled out the camera and snapped some shots of the tranquil evening. Even as an amateur, I could tell the canoe was a piece of art to paddle. Glass waters made for a magical maiden voyage and I thought to myself I can’t wait to get good with this thing.

After a few good outings on the lake above our house, we got old #39 on the ocean and began learning to work with the waves and currents. We had some unsuccessful fishing missions…

Some Successful ones…

And I was ready for an over night canoe adventure. Something I’d been dreaming of since my first outdoor-ed trip in grade 11 to Wells Gray Provincial Park.

The weather was perfect, unbelievable actually. When, in January, on the west coast (near Tofino) do you get glass calm waters and sunshine? You don’t! It was a gift from above, so I called up Quin and said “Pack your bags, I’ll pick you up at the ferry!” This trip was such an amazing time, I can’t put the whole story here but I’ll share it soon enough. For now, I’ll let some of the photos convey the wonder.

Epic is an understatement. Memories I’ll recall with a smile forever.

Next, some after work strike missions in town, taking in the long summer evenings.

And some paddling in the heat of the day, to access abandoned beaches in hard-to-get-to places. Catching the incoming tide upriver and catching the outgoing tide back, seems like we’re cheating!

With time on water, we were becoming more confident and getting to know our boat well. Our skills were developing and the canoe was proving reliable, smooth, and seaworthy.

Working at an outdoor store, I’m always curious what adventures folks are getting up to. A few times this summer, I heard people rave about a canoe circuit North on the island. With a long weekend that just freed up — I knew where to spend it! The Sayward Forest Canoe route. 12 lakes, 12 portages, this was something like I’d never done. But how hard could it be?

Hard. I underestimated the technical trails, we snapped our canoe cart, and tested our communication skills — but our relationship survived! Definitely learned a few tips for next time (I’ll share those later too!) but we would do it all over again for the peace found on the water and those serene island campsites.

To be honest, I’m impressed with how much use we’ve gotten out of old #39 in a year. We’ve certainly got our money’s worth. Although Kendra will remind me, not if that metric is based on fish caught. This winter I should probably give her some touch ups, and maybe a better name - but even if I don’t, I know she’s built to last and just waiting to keep exploring places hikers can’t reach for years to come. I’m so grateful for the new places and experiences enabled by this boat, and I think in some way, it might be grateful for better views than that old hay loft. Writing this, I can’t wait to push off and glide toward another adventure together!

An island, on a lake, on an island, in the sea.