The life of a raging birder is composed of phases or levels. In order to keep the rage furnace burning, it is necessary to periodically stoke that fire with rage fuel and bring it to the next level. My furnace of rage had mere hot embers, then been reduced to a heap of warm ash during the past year. Since last summer, I had aged but not raged. When the pandemic came, I was already heading for Guatemala before finding out that the country was to close its borders, forcing me to turn back barely after I had left from work. My 3-week Christmas break was forgone due to lack of funds since the over-the-top Tanzania trip. My planned summer of canoe guiding in Algonquin Park was also axed due to Covid-19.
During March break, I became extremely bored and depressed siting alone at home but it allowed me to conjure one of the best ideas I've ever had. I was absolutely determined not to let the entire summer go to waste. Since all the provincial and national parks were closing, an epic summer road trip was ruled out, but the government could not control the seas, so that is where I would go.
Sea kayaking.
You can paddle and camp basically anywhere, and encounter almost zero people. And July and August is prime whale season. Massive preparations would be in order.
First, I had to learn about sea kayaking. So I grabbed The Wild Coast 3 by John Kimantas and Sea Kayaking by Derek Hutchinson, and watched a bunch of youtube videos by John Dawson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc1ixH3mfdI&t=2731s). I then took a marine radio operator course from Brentwood Bay Power and Sail Squadron for $100 and bought myself a marine radio. Then went on a facebook marketplace and UsedVictoria rampage. We bought drysuits. We even bought a car! Then installed a roof rack on it.
Within less than a month we had procured basically all the equipment needed for a proper sea kayaking expedition, bought a car and learned how to sea kayak. Ramata with her 2002 CD Solstice GTS and me with my 2003 Nimbus Telkwa.
Operation S.O.S. (Save Our Summer) was underway.
