Ralph in his Nordkapp LVToday, old Christmas Day is usually minus, minus around here with snow everywhere. There's no snow left from December after a couple of weeks of mild weather and the temperature was forecast to be 3 C. Its winter but winter has gone south, literally; it was warmer here this morning than it was in Florida. No excuse not to paddle.
Brian, Gerard, Ralph and I did a 5 km crossing from St. Philips to Bell Island, paddled south 4.25 kms to Lance Cove and then crossed back 7 kms to St. Philips. Winds were light but there was a bit of chop.
Ralph christened his new Nordkapp LV (her first taste of salt) and Gerard was there in his, new to him, Valley Aquanaught LV. It was amusing to find out that Gerard's boat used to be Ralph's which he traded in on his new kayak. When we got back Gerard appologized for being slower in his plastic boat, which is exactly whyRalph traded up. It must be the boat!
Brian and Gerard leaving St. Philips harbourBrian is one of the best paddlers in the province and vastly experienced. He's paddled in many areas of the province and circumnavigated Bell Island a couple of times. I was really surprised to hear him tell me that this was going to be his first crossing. I guess there's a first time for everything eventually.
Brian, Gerard and Ralph heading for Bell Island Crossing from St. Philips to Bell Island is only 5 kms but it was January so its not something to do lightly with the frigid waters of Conception Bay.
Don't anchor here This is where the power lines come ashore on Bell Island after crossing the Tickle. This is also where we landed after we crossed over from St. Philips. It didn't matter that we couldn't anchor because neither of us remembered to take our anchors today. *lol* We paused momentarily before deciding on paddling southwards to Lance Cove.
Brian paddling along the massive cliffs of Bell Island The sun catches the sedimentary rocks of Bell Island as Brian paddles past. These rocks were laid down in an Ordovician Sea that was located somewhere at 60 degrees south latitude. Given that they now reside at 47 degrees north latitude, they're globe trotters. Globe trotters that took 440 million years to arrive.
Today we were a bit faster having paddled the 16+ kms in 3 hours including a rest stop in Lance Cove. Great day today guys, thanks!
Nice shots Tony. The weather has been something else here lately, but i think it will be turning around the other way this weekend.
ReplyDeleteA Nordkapp LV is faster than an Aquanaut LV. But, that's only part of the story. It's important to work on being very efficient on your forward stroke and, then, on increasing your cadence. It's difficult to do this by practice alone. Instruction is also needed. For example, I noted a marked improvement in Des Sullivan's forward stroke after he & I spent half a day with Greg Stamer on Long Pond, focusing entirely on the forward stroke.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian, the sunny weather makes everything look brighter.
ReplyDeleteGood point Malcolm. The paddle is essentially a "propeller" so just as in a propeller driven boat, the more gas, the more rpm and more speed. Efficiency in the paddle stroke makes sure the paddler is able to keep going for longer before running out of gas.
Tony :-)