Red IslandAnd the winner is ... drum roll.
From June 27th to July 4th Ralph, Stan and I completed an extended trip along the south coast of Newfoundland. We planned to take the ferry from Burgeo to Rose Blanche and paddle the 100+ kilometres back to Burgeo. We arrived a couple of days early to take two day paddles in the Burgeo area before the ferry's departure on a Tuesday.
Our first day paddle was east to Red Island. The island got its name from the red Silurian age granites.
Islands in front of Burgeo Day two we paddled around the islands that protect Burgeo from southerly storms.
The community of Burgeo faces due south into the Atlantic with no land until Bermuda, and that only a speck on the ocean. Being so exposed, the whole coast is unforgiving. We were lucky with the weather on our trip because this area is not the place to get caught unexpectedly in a sea kayak.
Leaving in a fog We hooked a ride from Rose Blanche a few kilometres to the other side of the peninsula to Harbour Le Cou after we arrived by ferry. The next morning, on Thursday July 1st, we left in fog paddling with the sound of crashing waves everywhere.
Campsite LaPlante Harbour Destination the first night was Indian Harbour but we decided on an abandoned community that once existed at La Plante Harbour. We arrived again in fog. It was bleak and desolated but had its charm.
In Roti Bay Friday, July 2nd, we woke to bright sunshine. The sun was just finishing to burn the fog off La Poile Bay when we were ready to depart for Grand Bruit.
Grand Bruit Ralph planned the whole trip around the resettlement of Grand Bruit. The people there were leaving a community that was settled in the mid 1850's; they were giving it back to nature. New generations weren't prepared to live in isolation, they were attracted by bright city lights and better services.
It was in one way a morbid feeling watching them pack up all their belongings as they prepared to start a new life in new communities.
Friday night we slept in the church at the top of the hill overlooking the homes.
Exiting Cinq Cerf Bay July 3rd, Saturday we left Grand Bruit in glassy calm conditions and made super speed covering 36 kms easily and arriving at Wreck Island we set up camp. We set up camp on a level area about 3 metres above a sandy beach. Looking back down the coast I could see the Blue Hills of Brand Bruit way off in the distance from where we had come. Up the coast hidden from view was Burgeo and the end of our adventure.
Home sweet home, Wreck Island A room with a view! One thing that appealed to me was our isolation, being away from it all.
Islands outside of Burgeo Midday on Sunday, July 4th, we celebrated our return to Burgeo. The end of our south coast adventure. We had been on the water 6 days for a total of 150 kms. Not a marathon but it wasn't meant to be. We came to paddle and particularly to enjoy the scenery because we may never come here again.
The whole trip was awesome. The 2 day trips we did near Burgeo, the ferry ride down to Rose Blanche, truck ride to Harbour Le Cou, our stay in Grand Bruit, the campsites. In total it had to be THE paddle of 2010.
The anticipation of 2011 lies ahead!
Congratulations to you and Stan and Ralph! You guys did the "big trip" of 2010 in Newfoundland.
ReplyDeleteThanks Malcolm. We did a considerable trip no doubt but the south coast was very kind to us. There was only one section on the last day that was either bit challenging and that was between Kelpy Cove Point and into Barasway Bay. The Nordkapp showed her true colours loaded as she was with camping gear. She handled like a tank.
ReplyDeleteI know your trip was beset with things out of your control but even though it wasn't completed to plan I think you had some more challenging sections.
Tony :-)