I know this sounds a little counterintuitive. Kayaking and winter are not necessarily words people put together.
But if you spend enough time on the bay, you begin to understand that winter may be one of its loveliest seasons.
There are fewer people and often so much more wildlife. The water can be surprisingly calm and glassy, the temperatures are usually moderate, and without all the summer activity, you see things you might otherwise miss. It is a moment that reminds us that there is still so much beauty in the world.
You might see a baby cormorant trying to keep up with its mother, cloud shadows moving along the hills, or the moment everyone stops talking and all you can hear are the paddles in the water.
The bay is quieter in winter, and that is part of what I love about it.
There is no reason to rush. We can paddle for a while, stop for something warm, and see what the day gives us.
It is also a beautiful time to camp, make dinner, sit around a table together, and have the kinds of conversations that are harder to find when everything is busy.
Of course, winter requires us to pay attention. Sometimes it is cold. Sometimes it gets misty, sometimes the wind comes up, and our plans have to change. We watch the weather, dress properly, and listen to what the water is telling us.
We like to say, “The Bay has the final say.”
Summer will always be beautiful. But winter gives us something quieter. More space. More wildlife. More time to look around and remember why we came. Maybe winter is not the off season at all.