Editorial: Guide To Millennial Trips

October-November 1999

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Alan Wilson

Cover Photo: Baja By Pacific Coast Leisure Works

Where will you be at the dawn of the Millennium? Many paddlers are planning a memorable transit into the Year 2000 on a tropical kayak expedition... whether in Thailand, the Philippines, Fiji, Tonga, Vietnam, Mexico, Hawaii, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Dominica... or somewhere else that makes me drool just to think about it. To feed fantasies, we have gathered stories about some of these tropical destinations to present in this issue. We also provide contact information in case you get serious about your own 'Millennial shift' abroad. Of course, we can't all be traveling on January 1, and it may well be more prudent to travel before or after the great Event in case some of the less desirable Y2K predictions occur. Whether it spans January 1 or not, the thought of a warm winter getaway is appealing, especially to those who live in Northern climes. For those of us who can't afford a trip this winter, for whatever reason time or money (and that's most of the world, let's face it) there are lots of other ways to experience this once in a lifetime Millennial event. I plan to at least get out for a paddle on the First, because paddling is the best thing I know for helping me feel buoyant, balanced and alive. And that's what I wish for all of us in the new Millennium.

Mothership Meanderings

This summer we managed a month on the water, traveling from the Gulf Islands on our converted fishboat up the coast to the Broughton Archipelago north of Johnstone Strait. We visited with our friends and colleagues along the way, including WaveLength columnist Alexandra Morton at Echo Bay to talk about whales, salmon and fish farms; fisherman Bill Proctor to learn about Bond Sound and the history of the Broughton at his new museum; ecotourism operators Gilbert and Vickie Cook, and Chief Bill Cranmer at Alert Bay to learn about First Nations concerns and tourism prospects; and environmentalist Jennifer Lash and fisherman Bruce Burrons in Sointula to learn about marine protected areas and life in coastal communities. With our kayaks aboard, we were able to paddle almost every day, exploring the nooks and crannies of our anchorages, accessing dozens of sites that we've never paddled before. We also noticed that a good number of power and sailing yachts now have kayaks on their decks, combining the best of both worlds. It's nice to see boaters discovering that paddling allows for an intimate coastal exploration once their boat is anchored, turning rocks and reefs from dangers into delights. With this issue we've decided to launch a new column, called 'Mothership Meanderings' which will look at areas we visited and the paddling opportunities to be found there, with a locator map and a narrative account of our experience. We're also expanding the distribution of WaveLength to the wider boating community through marine stores and other venues, to help spread the joys of paddling among boaters. We hope this material will be useful to boaters and touring kayakers alike.