Cape return

Heading back

After we had hung out at Cape Spear for a bit we turned to make our way back to Quidi Vidi. We could have made a direct crossing of 7 kms but chose to paddle headland-to-headland and then back along the Southside Hills. It would add 4 kms to the distance paddled.

The wind picked up a bit and things got a bit bumpy but the wind waves off the front starboard quarter were very manageable.

Look up

Back under the Southside Hills, they tapered down at the entrance to the harbour. Here Cabot Tower looms over Fort Amherst.

Waiting to dash across

St. John's harbour isn't as busy as say Rotterdam but it still pays to have a peek before scooting across to the other side.

Cabot Tower stands on top of Signal Hill above Dean's head. In colonial times, a company of soldiers were quartered here to keep an eye out for French and raiders of other nationalities coming in by sea. In more recent times, Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic wireless signal here in 1901 when the Morse code for "S" was picked up.

Across safely

Not long after we got across the mouth of The Narrows a supply vessel left port. These vessels supply the offshore oil rigs and production platforms that has turned Newfoundland into a have province. Things have been slow economically around the world but here things are really hopping with lots of money going round.

In the Gut

Gary enters Quidi Vidi Gut where things were pretty calm though there's a hint of a bit of fog hanging outside.

Misty

The sun was shining brightly. It added a bit of mystique to the fog and mist hanging in the air.

Fresh water

Quidi Vidi Lake runs out here at the head of Quidi Vidi. Its fresh water. Not very clean but its fresh so we washed the salt water out of our gear before loading the kayaks and driving home.

A very good day with 27 km paddled and a first trip for Dean out to the Cape he can now cross off of his bucket list!