I can't believe how much time it has taken just to get ready for this Vancouver Island sea trials trip. I can't imagine what it will be like when I am getting WiTHiN ready to leave La Gomera, Spain on her human powered voyage across the Atlantic ocean in a year from now.
I've spent the last few days packing two giant duffel bags and going through check-lists. Today, I loaded WiTHiN onto the trailer and packed the Suburban.
Pat and I leave tomorrow morning. It's about 1000 km from Calgary to Vancouver through various levels of winter driving conditions. I have the 9:00 pm ferry form Vancouver to Nanaimo reserved, so I hope 14 hours is enough time. We'll spend the night in Nanaimo, then drive a few hours across Vancouver Island to Tofino on Friday.
The surf forecast for Monday isn't looking fantastic at this point - about 15 foot waves on Monday - our "big seas" testing day, but 26 mph winds, which might make the conditions a bit nutty - I'll play it by ear, and take advice from the support boat skipper and my local guide.
I've spent the last few days packing two giant duffel bags and going through check-lists. Today, I loaded WiTHiN onto the trailer and packed the Suburban.
Pat and I leave tomorrow morning. It's about 1000 km from Calgary to Vancouver through various levels of winter driving conditions. I have the 9:00 pm ferry form Vancouver to Nanaimo reserved, so I hope 14 hours is enough time. We'll spend the night in Nanaimo, then drive a few hours across Vancouver Island to Tofino on Friday.
The surf forecast for Monday isn't looking fantastic at this point - about 15 foot waves on Monday - our "big seas" testing day, but 26 mph winds, which might make the conditions a bit nutty - I'll play it by ear, and take advice from the support boat skipper and my local guide.
What am I concerned with? I guess anything unknown is always a concern. I don't know how cold it will get inside WiTHiN - the forecast is calling for average temperature of around 5 to 8 degrees C during the day and around 1 to 2 at night. I have a pretty warm sleeping bag and plenty of warm clothes. I have pedalled inside WiTHiN when it was about that temperature here in Calgary and it got fairly warm inside - warm enough to wear a sweater, so it should be OK. The windows will definitely fog-up though, so I made sure to bring my anti-fog solution, and plenty of rags. I have my GPS for navigation and there shouldn't be too many other boats around since this is the middle of winter.
I am also concerned about rain - it rains constantly in Tofino in the winter. I added a rubber lip around the top hatch to prevent it from leaking, so I don't think rain will leak in, but you never know. I have a hotel room booked just in case.
I am also concerned about rain - it rains constantly in Tofino in the winter. I added a rubber lip around the top hatch to prevent it from leaking, so I don't think rain will leak in, but you never know. I have a hotel room booked just in case.
High winds blasting WiTHiN is also an unknown at this point - I would definitely be concerned about that. It should be OK because WiTHiN is pretty aerodynamic, but she's also a lot bigger than a sea kayak, and as such could get thrown around by the wind. Again, I need to play that by ear also and that's exactly what this sea trial is all about.
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