Circumnavigating Salt Spring Island

"There is something exciting in the first start even upon an ordinary journey.  The bustle of preparation - the act of departing, which seems like a decided step taken - the prospect of change, and consequent stretching out of the imagination - have at all times the effect of stirring the blood, and giving a quicker motion to the spirits. ….. Before me were novelty and enterprise; hope, curiosity, and the love of adventure were my companions; and even the prospect of difficulties and dangers to be encountered, with the responsibility inseparable from command, instead of damping, rather heightened the enjoyment of the moment.  In turning my back of the Fort, I felt my breast lightened, and my spirit, as it were, set free again; and with a quick step, Mr. King and I (for my companion seemed to share in the feeling) went on our way rejoicing.” Admiral Sir George Back FRS (1796–1878) British naval officer, explorer of the Canadian Arctic, naturalist and artist. This is what we were told when we started our adventure. There is something strange and almost surreal about setting off on a trip like this. Our smiles almost outshone the sun that accompanied our buoyed spirits. On September 17th ten intrepid Grade 11 and 12 students and two sanguine teachers set off from the Brentwood docks in six double sea kayaks for five days. The plan: circumnavigate Salt Spring Island. This year we were going to go clockwise around the island and our first campsite was at Samsum Narrows. After a night of “Star Tipping”, “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board” and s’mores, we paddled off the next morning for only twenty minutes before we were instructed to stop. Mr. Norman studied the cliffs beside us and decided that it was “the spot”. He announced we were going cliff jumping. As always, it was challenge by choice. About half of us accepted the challenge and climbed up the cliff using our rock climbing skills.  Screaming, we took the plunge.   The water was a tad bit chilly to say the least. We reached Wallace Island by mid-afternoon and worked efficiently to set up the tents and then we were left to cook dinner by ourselves. We made tortellini with red pepper sauce. Well, some of us did; four of us went and explored a cave in the cliff. There was enough room for us to sit comfortably and still see the camp. It was slightly sketchy to get into the cave; we had to employ our rock climbing skills again this time to avoid falling into the water. The next day we had a strong headwind and had to stop on the other side of the island for an hour for it to die down. We reached an area on Prevost Island touched by Johnny Appleseed. We had enough time to set up camp and start dinner before watching the gorgeous sunset. Beautiful stars matched the fresh made apple crisp to usher in the beautiful weather we had the next morning. Shell Beach on Portland Island was our last campsite. We were getting out of our kayaks when we realized one of the groups already at the campsite were from Shawnigan Lake School and were out for the night. It turned out that St Michael’s University was on the other side of the island.  It was unusually hot that afternoon so we went swimming while we waited for a boat from school that was bringing the coveted popsicles, oh, and Mr. Patel. We got to know the students from Shawnigan after dinner and taught them some games. Next morning was the end; we had to come back and face the reality of Biology, Chemistry, and other missed work. On our way back to the school at Whiskey Point following the lead of Mr. Norman we spontaneously jumped out of the boats into the ocean. We cleaned up our gear and tromped back up to respective houses to take a long awaited (and needed) shower and curl up in our soft warm beds. A huge thank you to Mrs. Olszewski and Mr. Norman for all you contributed to the trip and to Outdoor Pursuits. And happy 50th birthday to Mr. Norman on September 29th! Teagan W, Mackenzie ‘15 & Joe K, Whittall ’16; Photos by Joe K, Whittall ‘16 & Mr. Dan Norman