More Exploring in the Kayaks

July 3rd (Friday)

It was sunny in the morning!  We were not expecting that, but of course we were very happy.  We headed out in our kayaks to explore the three lagoon-like areas that joined to our inner-basin anchorage.  

First we headed to the northern one.  This one is completely cut off at low tide, and inside it is one circular hole.  As we passed over the shallows at the entrance, it was mid-tide, and we could see the rocky bank that formed the dam.  Inside the lagoon we saw sea cucumbers, red rock crabs, and anemones. 

The second lagoon was the one to the east and it still had a small river flowing out.  We could have portaged over, but instead we decided to go to the third arm first with the plan of coming back around high tide when we would be able to paddle inside. 

The third lagoon or basin area was the arm to the south.  It was an easy piddle inside, but we had seen that at low tide there was a very strong river that flowed in.  This lagoon was sitting lower than the main basin, unlike the other two, which sat higher.  The inner area of this lagoon was where we had already explored in Kiki on our first evening here, but it was nice to take our time along the shoreline.  We heard Sandhill cranes in the distance, and we saw a pair of red throated loons, an osprey, several eagles, ravens, a heron, and four king fishers.

We stopped at one of the many fresh water streams that flowed into the ocean, because the trees looked very thin in the area. 

Sure enough, as we followed the stream back into the forest we quickly came to a little lake where we saw a toad.  Along the stream there was an interesting area where rocks had been moved and positioned to form a small wall, which was used to create a side pool. 

We could only speculate as to when this was made and what it was used for, but it looked quite old.   

When we came out of this third lagoon area and back into the inner basin there was a sea otter that was busy bathing.  It was scrubbing and splashing and twisting in the water.  We gave it a wide berth so as not to disturb it and went to check out lagoon number two.  

Because of the time that we had taken in the last lagoon we had missed our high-tide window, and there was once again already a small river starting to form flowing out.  

It was just deep enough to paddle through and we went in briefly to look around.  It was a small lagoon, but the entrance was full of muscles and brightly coloured starfish. 

We paddled back out before the tide dropped and we went home for lunch.  

After lunch we headed out in our kayaks once again, and this time we paddled out of the basins and into the wind across St. John Harbour.  

Salal berries

At the north end of Wurtele Island we found an area where we were able to get ashore in the small swells that were making it in and past Rage Reefs.  We secured our kayaks and explored our way along the shore and around the point.  It was a very pretty, rugged, outer coast area.  

There were many separate islands and islets that were still connected by boulders, but stood alone, capped in mosses and stunted trees. 

On the outer side of the island the bank was packed with driftwood logs, small ones and massive ones, all woven together to form one impressive wall.  

Some of the driftwood had clearly been there for many many years.  We sat on an outer rock and watched the constant surges of the swells, as well as three seals that were in among the kelp in the waves. 

Eventually we headed back to our kayaks, and just as we got back to them we saw a mink on shore up ahead.  We stood still and it looked at us, then instead of running, it came closer.  It froze again and looked at us, and I was quite sure that this time it would run away as the shutter of my camera went click.  Once again it came towards us and stopped once again to look.  It continued to do this until it was only about five feet away from Jason.  Then it turned and headed back towards the woods and the cover of the larger rocks.  

It was super cute, but we weren’t fully sure whether it couldn’t quite see us, or if it was just curious.  This was the second time that we had had a mink come within several feet of us, but the last one seemed completely oblivious to our presence, as it did not even once stop and look at us even when I was taking pictures.  Perhaps they rely mainly on their sense of smell.

Back at home we made California rolls with sea asparagus instead of the typical avocado and cucumber.  This was something that we did last year, and once again it was delicious.  Sea asparagus is a perfect substitute and it makes for some very good rolls.  We had them with crispy fried fish.  Yum Yum!!