This trip started about 11 years ago.  In August 1998, I went to Bowron with family friends.  There were 10 of us in five canoes.  My daughter was 11 at the time.  This was the first time I had ever been in a human powered watercraft.

I had all the wrong equipment and clothing.  I also had no clue how to keep a canoe pointed and heading forward.  I had a great time but knew I would not get into a canoe again.  Five years ago, I started kayaking.  I knew at that time I would have to go back to Bowron.  I figured this year was as good as any.

The planning started in September 2008.  I had called Bowron Lakes to see what the limits are concerning people and boats.  I told the people in charge that all paddlers would be in single Kayaks.  I was informed that we could have 14 people.  I posted the trip with two of the kayak clubs to which I belong, requesting victims to come with me.  Within a week, I had the 14 people group.  All paid the required deposit.

The first day to make reservations was January 2.  I started calling early that day and after 45 minutes of busy signals, I got through.  I was told that I was misinformed.  The limit of boats was seven with a 14 people limit.  I guess the first people didn’t hear the part about single kayaks.

I contacted the 13 people who agreed to come with me and gave them three options.  I could do another trip, they could back out and get their money back, or they could find someone to be in a double with.  It worked out that between cancellations and using doubles we got down to seven boats and nine people, – five single kayaks and two two-person canoes.  Seven people are the minimum for a group reservation.

A week or two before the trip three people had to cancel for very good reasons.  I could not give them their money back because it was too close to the departure date.  I was worried about losing group status by only having six people.  That did not happen.  Since we registered at a group, we stayed as a group.

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People attending: Mark Peele, Mark Gringo, Rich Hahn, Frank Satta, Scott Chapman, and Jackie Brown.

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I had never planned a trip like this before, so I needed to find out what the group was thinking.  We had a meeting at the end of June to go over details for the trip.  The consensus was that we were all responsible for our own meals and belongings.

The trip went from July 17, 2009 to July 24 - Eight days and seven nights in a wilderness setting. The total mileage was 70.72 NM according to my GPS, not including any side trips that we took.  This is 81.39 statute miles.  All references will be in nautical miles since we had more water time than land time.  The driving distance one way from my house in Lakewood to Bowron Lakes Provincial Park parking lot was 591 statute miles.

Other scenic sites around the area are Barkerville, an old mining town, and Hell’s Gate on the way up the road.