Participants: Pat Chan, Bruce Wallace, Allan Stanley, Todd Maclean, Sean McCabe, John Wade (Swade), Peter Hamill, Kipp Lemke and myself - Bryon Howard

Experience Level: From beginner to advanced.

Weather: 15 degrees Celsius / blue skies / no wind / full moon / big tides

Animals: Lots of cormorants returning from the East - heading home to Cape Tryon for the night. Also Eider ducks, and lesser yellow legs (I think). No plover sightings - but they got to be there. Allan claims to have seen a giraffe.

Personal Thoughts / Reminders / Memories: We met in Rustico Harbour at Outside Expeditions across from the Lighthouse at the Court Brothers between 5pm and 6pm. Most were on the water by 6pm, and all on the water at 6:20. While waiting for everyone to get on the water we played around in the 2-knot current (flood tide). Many were having their first paddle of the season (and Todd was having his first kayaking paddle of life) - and very excited to be enjoying the incredible evening.

When all were on the water, we rafted-up, and Bryon did a short 5 minute talk on Club philosophy and then "Dressing for Paddling in early May". We then talked about various options for the evening.

Swade offered to look after the "newbies", while Bryon was keen to paddle hard, and then there was another group who wanted to just 'let things happened'. Swade and the 'newbies' stayed in the harbour; Bryon and Peter paddled hard to Orby Head, and most all got to Cape Turner.

At the end of the evening, Pat was pushing his skills - practising his edging - and then effectively demonstrated his expertise at self-rescue! He found the water to be warm - and hopes to swim every Tuesday in May!

The tea was delicious - and $5 was raised for the Outside Expeditions Conservation Fund!

Future Plans: We all had an excellent time … and look forward to many more Tuesday night paddles. Bryon encouraged all people to use this opportunity to push their skill level, perhaps look silly trying that high brace or 360-degree turn. The club is meant to be a place to enjoy an evening a paddle - whatever your interest and skill level (birds, race training, or stress release).

Bryon plans to have the group raft up at 6pm sharp every Tuesday … and offer a short 'skill building' session for anyone interested. (Instruction may come from Outside Expeditions staff - but hopefully will come from volunteer participants as well.) If you are not able to make it 'on-the-water' by 6pm - no problem - just arrange for a buddy to wait for you. (I'm quite certain there will most often - be a group who stay within the harbour anyway.)

If you own your equipment - come meet other paddlers. If you don't own your own equipment - come paddle every week - very inexpensively. (We only ask that you are able to look after your own safety. A self-excluding requirement should be that you are able to demonstrate a self-rescue.)