Betty Lowman Carey (July 31, 1914 – March 16, 2011[1]) became the first woman to singlehandedly row the Inside Passage of British Columbia in 1937. At the age of 22, having graduated from the University of Washington, she traveled in a traditional dugout canoe converted to include oars and named in an acronym of her brothers first names (Bill, Jack, Bob, and Jim), Bijaboji. She celebrated her 23rd birthday in Butedale on the east side of Princess Royal Island during her trip.
Bill Lowman (brother) Jack Lowman (brother) Bob Lowman (brother) Jim Lowman (brother)
The trip
Bijaboji is a traditional Alaska native dugout canoe, carved from red cedar. In 1931 the United States Coast Guard found the canoe floating in the vicinity of the San Juan Islands, Washington. After no owner claimed it, Lowman's father, Ray, acquired it, her brothers painted it red, strengthened it with four oak ribs, fitted it with oarlocks, and Ray gave it to Betty on her 18th birthday. Four years later she departed with a friend on June 15, 1937, from the north beach on Guemes Island, Washington, against her father's wishes, and arrived solo in Ketchikan on August 19, 66 days later.
Her friend, Florence Steele, returned home after a week when her smallpox vaccination resulted in a strong reaction. Lowman continued on alone, in a trip which featured several swampings of the canoe, frequent side trips and tows from friendly boaters, and almost daily contact, and bacon and egg breakfasts, with friendly locals. While a lost Amelia Earhart garnered international coverage during the same weeks, the "co-ed canoeist" generated significant media attention along the British Columbia coast.
Later years
After the adventure, for several years Lowman toured the US giving lectures of the adventure, during which time she met and later married Neil Carey. They homesteaded on the West Coast of Moresby Island in Puffin Cove, Haida Gwaii. They eventually moved to Sandspit, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, where the couple resides as of 2010. In 1963, Lowman, aged 49, repeated the trip in the opposite direction, rowing Bijaboji from Ketchikan to Anacortes, Washington. From 1999 to 2007, Bijaboji was displayed at the Sandspit Airport, and now is a permanent exhibit at the Anacortes History Museum, Washington. At age 90, Lowman wrote a memoir of her the trip, published in 2004 as Bijaboji: North to Alaska by Oar (ISBN1-55017-340-5). She died at age 96 on March 16, 2011, in Queen Charlotte City, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada.[2]
Bijaboji: North to Alaska by Oar. Betty Lowman Carey, 2004.
Conversations between Neil Carey and Dale McKinnon, 2004-2010.
Harbour Publishing
March 17, 2023
betty, lowman, carey, this, biography, living, person, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, . This biography of a living person includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Betty Lowman Carey July 31 1914 March 16 2011 1 became the first woman to singlehandedly row the Inside Passage of British Columbia in 1937 At the age of 22 having graduated from the University of Washington she traveled in a traditional dugout canoe converted to include oars and named in an acronym of her brothers first names Bill Jack Bob and Jim Bijaboji She celebrated her 23rd birthday in Butedale on the east side of Princess Royal Island during her trip Betty Lowman CareyBornBetty Lowman 1914 07 31 July 31 1914DiedMarch 16 2011 2011 03 16 aged 96 Queen Charlotte City Haida Gwaii British Columbia CanadaAlma materUniversity of WashingtonKnown forFirst woman to singlehandedly row the Inside PassageRelativesBill Lowman brother Jack Lowman brother Bob Lowman brother Jim Lowman brother The trip EditBijaboji is a traditional Alaska native dugout canoe carved from red cedar In 1931 the United States Coast Guard found the canoe floating in the vicinity of the San Juan Islands Washington After no owner claimed it Lowman s father Ray acquired it her brothers painted it red strengthened it with four oak ribs fitted it with oarlocks and Ray gave it to Betty on her 18th birthday Four years later she departed with a friend on June 15 1937 from the north beach on Guemes Island Washington against her father s wishes and arrived solo in Ketchikan on August 19 66 days later Her friend Florence Steele returned home after a week when her smallpox vaccination resulted in a strong reaction Lowman continued on alone in a trip which featured several swampings of the canoe frequent side trips and tows from friendly boaters and almost daily contact and bacon and egg breakfasts with friendly locals While a lost Amelia Earhart garnered international coverage during the same weeks the co ed canoeist generated significant media attention along the British Columbia coast Later years EditAfter the adventure for several years Lowman toured the US giving lectures of the adventure during which time she met and later married Neil Carey They homesteaded on the West Coast of Moresby Island in Puffin Cove Haida Gwaii They eventually moved to Sandspit Haida Gwaii British Columbia where the couple resides as of 2010 In 1963 Lowman aged 49 repeated the trip in the opposite direction rowing Bijaboji from Ketchikan to Anacortes Washington From 1999 to 2007 Bijaboji was displayed at the Sandspit Airport and now is a permanent exhibit at the Anacortes History Museum Washington At age 90 Lowman wrote a memoir of her the trip published in 2004 as Bijaboji North to Alaska by Oar ISBN 1 55017 340 5 She died at age 96 on March 16 2011 in Queen Charlotte City Haida Gwaii British Columbia Canada 2 References Edit LineTime Remembering Betty Lowman Carey The Observer BEATRICE BETTY ANNETTE LOWMAN CAREY Sandspit Archived from the original on 2011 08 25 Retrieved 2011 03 28 The Times Colonist October 24 2004 reprinted at http www harbourpublishing com excerpt Bijaboji 737 Bijaboji https web archive org web 20080928083538 http www woodenboat org boats Boat Detail aspx processID 549 http www peninsuladailynews com article 20080905 NEWS 809050304 Bijaboji North to Alaska by Oar Betty Lowman Carey 2004 Conversations between Neil Carey and Dale McKinnon 2004 2010 Harbour Publishing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Betty Lowman Carey amp oldid 1145144650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
