Guest Author - Janet Collins

Batstar – Sea Kayaking Off BC’s West Coast


Okay, I know what you’re thinking: You’ve never sat in a kayak let alone gone sea kayaking, and you’re not sure it’s a good idea to try something like that at this stage of life. Well, leave your fears on the shore and hop aboard a pleasant paddling experience with the good folks at Batstar Adventure Tours.

“The bulk of our guests are in the 50 to 55 year range, with many older than that,” says Natalie Haltrich, an assistant guide with Batstar, “and about 70% of them have never kayaked before.” The Queen Charlotte Islands, The Broken Islands, Johnston Strait, and Nuchatlitz Provincial Park are among the destinations, and Batstar’s five-day trips the company has developed are the big draw. “Think camping with luxury,” Haltrich says.

Luxury indeed. Guests paddle the picturesque waters of BC’s West Coast in highly stable ocean kayaks that sport backrests and padded seats. The pace is leisurely meditative so there’s lots of time to explore. The meals are gourmet, and the sleeping accommodations are “five star” tents that are almost big enough to stand up in. There is a B&B option, but most guests prefer the five-day camping trips that Batstar is known for.

The tours might seem a bit pricy, but Haltrich insists you get what you pay for. “Many of our guests come back for a second or third trip,” she says. Batstar honours that loyalty by offering return guests a “special alumni discount.”

First timers can take advantage of some other savings, too. For example, they can save 5% when 2 or 3 people book at the same time, or 7½% when 4 to 8 people book together. If you book before February 28, 2006, groups of 4 save 25% while individuals reap 15% savings.

Trips start in May, but with those savings incentives, it might be a good idea to start planning your trip now.

Oh yes, Batstar Adventure Tours also offers some interesting hiking and bicycling trips.

For more information, log onto Batstar’s website at www.batstar.com


Some book suggestions to put you in the mood:

Sea Kayaking Barkley & Clayoquot Sounds by Mary Ann Snowden
(ISBN 1-894765-54-0)
This book gives outlines of 20 kayaking trips, some of which are covered on Batstar tours. Also included is important info on tides, currents, safety conditions, etc. as well as information about the history of shipwrecks, natural history of everything from grey whales to barnacles and an introduction to the Nuu-chah-nulth people.

Exploring the Seashore in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon: A Guide to Shorebirds and Intertidal Plants and Animals by Gloria Snively
(ISBN 0-919574-25-4)
Arguably the best book of its kind. A great introduction to some of the flora and fauna you’ll see on your trip.