New Year's Day paddle

Jim started a tradition of paddling at Quidi Vidi on New Year's Day. Its a long standing tradition, I'm not sure how long, but I think at least 10 years. It was my first New Year's Day paddle.

Quidi Vidi is a small fishing village next door to St. John's and its surrounded by hills, offering excellent protection from winds in every direction except westerly. It was windy with light freezing rain but we were good to go.

Nine of us showed up this year: Alex, Brian, Craig, Dean, Gerard, Jackie, Jim, Robert and myself. We paddled around a bit, went to check out the sea state at the entrance to the Gut, got some surf rides and then packed it in after an hour.

Jackie and Alex

Alex and Jim go check out conditions outside the Gut. There was a big swell on outside in St. John's Bay and as it approaches Quidi Vidi it gets pinched and squeezed through a narrow opening. That makes for a chance to get some surf rides.

Jim catches a surf ride

Brian in the soup zone

The swell turned into soup after it squeezed into the Gut.

Floating about in Quidi Vidi

After an hour the general consensus was that it was time to go home. Time to go home and dig into New Year's turkey dinner.

So, this is the only day each of us can say "We've paddled every day this year!"

The year is off to a good start. Happy New Year everyone, hope 2010 is a good one.