To the Cape

Cape Spear in a shimmering sea

This is as close as we got to the Cape today. Big swell meant prudence and maintain distance.

Capes are mystic places. There are no places to hide at capes, they're open to the weather and the sea. We don't always get a chance to paddle in their vicinity either because of wind and/or waves.

Its been 2 days since a strong Nor'easter blew through and the swell was starting to settle but it was still forecast to be in the 3 - 4 metre range. Malcolm figured it was a good day to go for the cape. It was but it still wasn't a walk in the park. On our way back from the cape a set of three huge waves rolled in that Malcolm guessed were at least 6 metres tall.

Cabot Tower on top of Signal Hill

We paddled back from Cape Spear with a bit of a following sea from the southeast combining with the remaining northeast swell from a storm that blew through 2 days ago. I found it interesting. The swell would roll under me from starboard and then wind waves would hit me from port. Staying loose was imperative. On top of that we thought a ship was coming our way as it was leaving the port of St. John's so we had to keep an eye on that too.

Its difficult to see the sea state here except the picture is a little tilted, caused by my desire to stay upright.

Malcolm entering Quidi Vidi harbour

Inside the Gut the water settled a bit and inside Quidi Vidi it was calm and the battle for the day was over. We spent 3 hours going out to the Cape and back.

Behind Malcolm is St. John's Bay and the open North Atlantic. Its a very narrow entrance and not a problem to get thru today. Different story yesterday. Yesterday we were still feeling the effects of a "weather bomb", a Nor'easter with winds clocked at 114 km/hr. To get back in yesterday we had to sit, wait and time the charge in thru the narrow entrance.

Malcolm in "Victory"

These are my favourite types of pictures, kayakers in action in a picturesque setting.