Say Nuth Khaw Yum: Why does it always rain on this trip?

Dates: Sept 3rd-4th, 2021

by Line

"Why does it always rain on this trip?" F asks as we pulled into the alley after returning home from another successful trip to Saysutsun (Indian Arm) with our bike canoe setup. It is really rainy, and I guess it did rain last time we did this trip, but we had hoped that we would make it home before the downpour started this time. Maybe next time we will manage to miss the rain...

It was the last weekend before the start of school, and rain was suppose to come in late Saturday, so we figured a Friday-Saturday trip was in order. We hadn't taken the bike canoe trailer out all summer, so now seemed a good time. We already knew the route to Barnet Marine Park and F was motivated to bike, so the way there seemed fast and smooth compared to last time. Our housemate, Noriko, was going to meet us at Barnet Marine Park, but she was having bike problems, so her arrival was delayed. That gave the kids plenty of time to explore and play on the beach. Just as we started getting worried about whether or not we would make it to Twin Islands, Noriko showed up and we all hopped in the canoe. We were glad to have an extra adult to help with the paddling as I was basically fully occupied with keeping the kids happy.

The weather was nice and the water calm, so it was a very enjoyable paddle. We pulled onto the dock on Twin Island around dinner time. It was pretty busy on the little island, but there was still a number of free spots available in the main camping area. We quickly set up camp, and then enjoyed dinner in the dark. Saturday we spend a couple of hours exploring. We hiked down to the little tidal beach on the South side of the island to check out the intertidal creatures. It seemed not many were alive and I wonder if most of the intertidal life died during the heat dome early in the summer. Afterwards we checked out the other sites scattered along the West shore and the beacon on the Northern tip. 

The weather started coming in on the paddle back, just like it did last year when we did this trip. It took a lot of complaining, crying and struggling to get the last of the rain gear on in the canoe, so spirits were pretty low as we pulled in to Barnet Marine Park. At the beach Rainy, a super helpful park employee, was waiting for us. She had offered to store our bikes in their secured area the day before and met us on our return. She helped Christian and Noriko with the bikes, while I got the kids out of the rain and fed them some snacks. Once everything was packed up we waved goodbye and thanks to Rainy, sent Noriko home in her car, and set off in the downpour. We had to stop on several occasions to bail water out of the canoe, but still made it home in record time. F had recovered from the tough times in the canoe, and was super positive and biked home really efficiently. I was very proud of her keeping her motivation up, and we had a really good time biking home together. At home Noriko was waiting with a pot of hot chocolate.