Enjoying a sunset paddle over Kye Bay near Comox

By Keith and Heather Nicol

With summer coming to a close we realized that we had not done a sunset paddle yet this year so with some warm temperatures and clear skies we decided to head out on the evening of Sept 11 from the  Point Holmes boat launch around 6:00 pm. We headed out around Cape Lazo and toward Kye Bay in amazing flat seas. The high tide and calm conditions met we could check out the shore line for possible shore birds (we saw none) but we rewarded with viewing 100’s of young Bonaparte gulls and many young Harlequin ducks. 

 

We headed toward Air Force Beach watching the sun slip lower in the sky and we could see that it would set along the side Mt Washington.  As the sun slipped lower the colours in the sky began to change and views across to the mountains behind the Sunshine Coast were impressive. But then we realized that we better start to head back since the sun was now just about to set and we still had to paddle back 4 km before it got dark. We arrived back at Pt Holmes with other boats returning from fishing trips and it was abit chaotic at the boat launch as everyone was trying to get off the water in the disappearing light. There will still be some great evenings for paddling so if you had not had a sunset paddle this year get out soon before the weather changes. Remember you can always check the conditions at the Pt Holmes boat launch by viewing this web cam before you head out- http://www.pointholmesrecreation.ca/rampcam/   See you on the water.