Welcome to the Johnstone Strait Ultimate Virtual Sea Kayaking Tour

Day one

Day 1 Dawned with a cloudless sky so deep a blue I felt I could reach out and gather it into a pail. At nine o'clock sharp with anticipation in the air, we met at the 'Yak Shack', Spirit of the West's base, located on quaint Quadra Island. Here we met the owners of the company and the trip's guides who answered our various questions, fitted us with PFDs and took care of last minute details. When the van was piled high with food totes, water jugs, guide's gear and our personal gear, we climbed in and headed down to the marina where we were to meet our water taxi.

The water taxi, 'Hi Flyer', with her captain Lee, sat ready and waiting. She was a sturdy looking 32 foot welded aluminium dual hulled boat especially designed for transiting the varied coastal waters. The large back deck provided plenty of room for bulkier items and inside the closed cabin under the deluxe padded bench seats there was ample room for personal luggage. Once the gear was loaded and we were aboard, we picked a seat and made ourselves comfortable to enjoy the journey through the coast's maze of forested islands; each with a beauty of its own.

Shortly after departing we passed through the famous Seymour Narrows known for having some of worlds fastest tidal currents reaching speeds of 15 knots. The 'Hi Flyer' effortlessly zipped through the swirling waters due to her shallow draft, but both our captain and our guides had fascinating stories of the many boats that had come to grief in this awe striking narrows.

On we sped, up our highway of sparkling water, keeping Vancouver Island on our left and the many islands and channels nestled at the foot of the mainland to our right. Now and then we caught a glimpse of the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Coast Mt. Range, framed by the green foot-hills and the blue sky.

En route we stopped in a lovely cove where we sat in the stillness of the morning, sipping hot tea, eating fresh homemade muffins and soaking up our surroundings.