Red Island

Getting underway

Ralph, Stan and I came to Burgeo to take the ferry down the coast to Rose Blanche and paddle 100 plus kms back. We came 2 days early to do some paddling locally and on our first full day in Burgeo we decided to paddle east towards Red Island.

We stayed at the Burgeo Haven B & B where they were well set-up for sea kayakers. We were able to get dressed in the boat house and step into our boats off of a convenient dock.

Leaving Burgeo

Paddling down Short Reach we were leaving Burgeo behind with its houses huddled together right down to the water.

Looking out Short Reach

Once we cleared the community, we could see our destination in the distance. To the right lay a bunch of islands that hid Burgeo if viewed passing at sea and to the left were the hilly cliffs that stretched east into the the distance and out of sight.

Bay de Loup

Burgeo left behind, we paddled across Bay de Loup. The swell was running from the southwest and where it was getting squeezed into the Bay, it heaved up into 2 metre high, occasionally breaking waves. I'm always amazed at how calm the water looks when I view the pictures I took even in those conditions. They never seem to do justice.

Rounding Salmon Net Head

After paddling across the top of Red Island we rounded Salmon Net Head and entered Northeast Arm where we expected the water to settle.

In Northeast Arm

The waters became calm after we rounded Salmon Net Head and entered into Northeast Arm. At the bottom of the Arm were the locations of the former communities of Red Island and Doctor Harbour.

Tranquility Base

At the bottom of Northeast Arm we found this sheltered spot where there the community of Red Island used to be. We stopped here for a snack break and marveled at the serenity of the place.

Barely an island

An island by definition is a stand alone body of land separated from the mainland by water. Here there's a narrow passage at the back end of Red Island that we slipped through on our return to Burgeo.

Some can pass

We were told of this place where its possible to pass from Bay de Loup into the the bay leading to Northwest Arm at Red Island. We missed it on the way to Red Island but I spotted it on the way back. At high tide its easily passable but we were there at low tide. I, being lighter than Ralph and Stan, was able to knuckle walk the kayak over the sand bar. The guys got out to pull their boats over and joined me on the other side as we continued our paddle back to Burgeo. A "warm up" paddle of 26 km.