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Deep Cove Winter Paddle
Deep Cove is one of the very first places where I learned to paddle. The protected harbour with a well-stocked kayak rental shop right on the water is famously friendly for beginners. There is also the popular Quarry Rock trail (closed during pandemic) that draws a big crowd. As a result, people come out in…
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English Bay Paddle
For my first paddle of 2021, and my first time paddling with a full 3mm wetsuit, I headed to Vanier Park with the gang. The air temperature was a cool 5 degrees celsius, and the conditions were perfect for trying out the wetsuit. Launching from the dock during winter is actually preferable to me now,…
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Vanier Park to Granville Island Paddle
Vanier Park sits on the western end of False Creek, right as it opens up to English Bay. The water here is cleaner than East False Creek around Science World, and it offers several good options to paddle: going east to Granville Island and into False Creek, west to connect to Kitsilano and beyond, or…
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False Creek Paddle from Science World
False Creek is an iconic feature of Vancouver, and it’s quite accessible for kayaks and paddleboards. It is surrounded by the concrete jungle of downtown, crowned by the landmark metal ball at Science World, and there are lots of opportunities to watch interesting people on the Seawall. However, being right next to the densely populated…
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Rocky Point Paddle
Our good friend Johnny and Alison introduced us to Rocky Point Park last year, and we’ve come back several times since. It’s a great family-oriented park with a large grassy field, a spray park, a Pajo’s fish and chips semi-outdoor food stand, a full service Boathouse restaurant, and a very good walking trail. Most importantly,…
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Spanish Banks Paddle
Spanish Banks lies immediately to the west of Jericho Beach, making it a natural extension of my usual go-to paddle route. It’s closer to the open waters of Straight of Georgia, and it can get much windier such that kite boarders and windsurfers can sometimes be seen, so it’s a little intimidating for me as…
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Squamish/Howe Sound Paddle
I went for a socially-distanced group paddle in Squamish over the weekend. The weather was fantastic: sunny but not too hot, and best of all, almost no wind in the morning! This is apparently rare in Squamish, which is known for being one of the windiest places in the region for wind sports on the…