sue on the rocks

VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- The last thing I expected was to end up on the injured reserve list. But that's what happened on a recent three-day kayaking adventure in British Columbia's Gulf Islands.

The tagline for my paddle adventure will forever be known as "Sue on the Rocks."

Although the type of kayaking we'd be doing on Edible British Columbia's Gourmet Kayaking Weekend wouldn't be considered an extreme sport, I somehow changed the "soft adventure" definition when I took a couple of hard tumbles on some slippery, slimy rocks.

Fortunately, the two guides with Blue Planet Kayaking were both skilled and compassionate about my most unfortunate fall.

Alas, there were no broken bones. Just lots of blood oozing from my left leg and right elbow, accompanied by a bruised ego. After all, I hadn't even set foot in the water. While the other kayakers packed the gear into the four single and four double kayaks, I held court in the Blue Planet van that doubled as the E.R.

Diagnosis? I'd survive. But a constant eye would be kept on my unsightly injuries. And my two attendants promptly renamed their behemoth first-aid kit, "Sue's Red Purse." The jokes continued throughout the weekend, but I didn't mind.

Since I was traveling solo, I was paired up with Lee from Vancouver, BC. She and I would be boat and tent mates for the next three days, and after a few good laughs about sleeping with strangers, the dozen kayakers headed out. Our route would take us from Cedar by the Sea just south of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island to Valdes Island, part of BC's beautiful Gulf Islands.

Home for the next two nights was Blackberry Point where we set up camp above the beach with spectacular sunsets right outside our front door. Not far away was a solar/sawdust composting toilet (complete with leaves if you forgot to bring your TP). We hauled in water and plenty of food.

Glorious food.

The non-camp style cuisine was the creation of lead guide and head chef James Bray, owner of Blue Planet Kayaking in Victoria, BC.

Chef James (who I renamed Chef Coleman, due to the four-burner Coleman stove he cooked on; and Chef Corky, due to the yummy Vancouver Island wines we enjoyed) created many a memorable meal for us.

His snappy wit and ongoing banter were just the right ingredients to accompany his cooking prowess. All fresh, organic products from Vancouver Island were used in his creations, making me grimace over the horrible freeze- dried stuff I inhaled during my backpacking days.

James' gourmet menus included Brioche French Toast, Hot Smoked Nicoise Salad and Chicken Leg Confit to name a few. Then there was the divine Rose Petal Pavlova for dessert with fresh whipped cream and strawberries.

Wilderness food at its finest.

One afternoon, while having my bandages changed by guide Alex (an affable 26-year-old from Montreal) and James, I noticed somebody down the beach who appeared to be wearing a beige bathing suit. "That's not a bathing suit, Sue, that's a bum!" said James.

More of these unique beige suits appeared during the course of the three days. And since it was Canada Day weekend with the Fourth of July in the wings, the beach at one point sported 49 kayaks. But the growing number of peeps didn't destroy the serenity of our space.

On the second night I opted to sleep outside. It seemed silly to be swaddled in a blue nylon dome with all that nature around us. Maybe I'd catch a meteor shower, too.

A group of us stayed up extra late after our farewell dinner. We were warmly watched over by an almost quarter moon, the Big and Little Dippers, Orion's Belt and the Milky Way. Bioluminescence charged the warm waters with an eerie glow as we waded through it into the wee hours of the morning.

The stuff of our lives slowly faded into the sky.

Kayak Haiku by Sue

Slip sliding' away
didn't paul simon sing that song?
sue's red purse appears

Beige swimsuits for all
forget your long underwear
buns do well with sun

oh James this is good
how DO you cook your chicken?
it's yummy, fine food

Moon slices water
there! it's the real Milky Way
our paddles sleep tight

Farewell to new friends
hugs and handshakes all around
back to life on ground