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Seasoned kayakers who like to explore remote sections of Vancouver island's northwest coast load their vessels on the Uchuck III at Gold River and sail on her out to the outer coast where, using a pallet attached to the ship’s boom and a winch, the crew lowers them, in their kayaks, into the water. Arrangements are also made with Nootka Sound Service for return pick-up. The First Nations people once ranged up and down the coast in cedar canoes, whaling, fishing and moving to and from their winter and summer homes. In the same water borne way a growing number of kayakers now absorb this rich aboriginal history, as they visit the coastal communities, the abandoned villages and remote islands of the “Land of Maquinna”, indeed one of the world’s finest sea kayaking areas. An absolutely splendid wild wilderness awaits paddlers: uninhabited beaches; dense old growth rainforests populated by wolves and bears; waterfalls; deep fjords, and coves, secluded and sheltered. Supernatural! Wildlife galore: orca and gray whales, sea lions, black bears, cougars, and bald eagles. Most kayakers want to view the sea otters and rafts with a hundred of them not a rarity here. In all about 1500 of these adorable creatures live here, descendents of 89 sea otters re-located from Alaska between 1969 and 1972, and ranging from Brooks Peninsula south to the Broken Islands. Paddle Kyuquot Sound, sheltered Esperanza Inlet or Nuchatlitz Inlet -- and Nuchatlitz Marine Park -- Nootka Sound and Bligh Island Marine Park in between. Unparalleled!
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