GABRIOLA Sea Kayaking PROVIDES:

ALL kayaking equipment (pfd, paddle, skirt, etc..)

• VHF marine radios / flares
• one 20 litre dry bag for clothes
• propane stove / pots / griddle
• coffee & coffee pot
• cooking oil & a few spices
• drinking water
• bowls or plates

What to Bring

• Sleeping bag - synthetic 2 or 3 season (down can be hard to keep dry)
• Tent (rentals available for $45 - please reserve and pay well in advance)
• Ground sheet under or inside your tent may help keep you dry
• Insulite or thermarest
• Cup / knife / fork / spoon (we bring bowls)
• Sun hat / sunscreen / sun glasses / swimsuit
• Cycling or paddling gloves - optional - to protect soft hands
• Toilet paper / zip lock bag / matches - lighter / soap
• 2 pairs of foot wear - one pair gets wet getting in and out of kayaks. Most varieties of water shoes, booties or sandals with tough soles are ideal. Old runners also work fine. Gum boots (optional) with a pair of wool socks are a cozy, dry and ideal for around camp, but we generally find them a little bulky to wear while paddling.
• Clothes - you are paddling in a rainforest, so come prepared to be wet.
• Cotton doesn't dry quickly, or keep you warm when wet, please avoid. Fleece, wool, polypro/synthetic garments are ideal. Wool/synthetic socks, a warm hat/ toque, fleece jacket and polypro/synthetic long johns are recommended. Plan to keep one set of clothing dry at all times (e.g. for sleeping). Space is at a premium, and most people tend to bring more then they need. Please don’t feel like you need to go out and purchase paddling specific outerwear. Just have a look first at what is in your closet! Often, the garment you use for cycling, hiking, skiing etc will be an excellent crossover, but so will that old wool sweater or synthetic shirt! Bring what you have.
• Rain jacket & pants. One jacket for paddling and one for around camp is ideal (optional). Rubber is simple and durable. Waterproof breathable outerwear like Gore-Tex are also appropriate ** performance is always dictated by the age of your jacket, intended purpose of the garment and how well it has been maintained. Please don’t feel like you need to go out and purchase paddling specific outerwear. Just have a look first at what is in your closet! Often, the waterproof breathable garment you use for cycling, hiking, skiing etc. will be an excellent crossover, but so will your old trusty rubber rain jacket! Bring what you have.
• Any medication you might need (e.g. aspirin, gravol). Our staff are certified in first aid but not permitted to administer any drugs at all.
• Dry bags (if you own them already) 20 litre or smaller (larger sizes are
  hard to fit into our kayak hatches). More small bags work better than one large dry bag.
• Stuff sacks or a compression bag (if you own them already) lined with a garbage bag for waterproofing are excellent for sea kayaking.
• Stuff sacks for your food (optional)
• Waterproof bag/case for your camera & binocs (vital).
• Leg-less camp chair (e.g., Crazy Creek Chair). Very much optional, but nice for the lower back.
• Flashlight & bug spray.
• Small water bottle - to keep on your boat deck. Handy if it has a ‘leash’ to attach to the kayak deck.
• Fishing gear & saltwater fishing license (if you want to fish)
• Wine or whatever (optional)
• If you have not had a tetanus shot in the past ten years, even a small cut will force your evacuation. You are responsible for evacuation costs.

Still stuck on what to bring or have any questions? Give us a call. You can also join the Gabriola Sea Kayaking facebook group to post a question.

Meals

We all share in the purchase and preparation of group meals. The number of meals (typically2) you are assigned depends on the length of the trip and the number of people — Kayaks act like coolers on the water, so the majority of
foods will keep at least a week. Heavy, uncut breads keep much longer than regular varieties.

Desserts are a nice touch. Lettuce usually only lasts 4 days (longer if you can buy it DRY); cabbage keeps more than a week. Hard vegetables travel very well. Wrapping vegetables in news paper helps. Some dishes can be frozen before the journey to extend life. Because red meats do not travel well, it is rare that vegetarians need to be concerned about diet. Remember, everything tastes good outdoors, so don’t worry about it. Click here for a list of meal ideas for BC.