A bit of everything in Bay Bulls

The forecast for today was winds from the north at 20 kms, gusting to 40.  I suggested a paddle in Bay Bulls.  A paddle along the north side of the harbour would moderate the affects of the wind.  Jenn and I met shortly before 10:00 in Bay Bulls with not a breath of wind apparent.  So we set off along the south side knowing that should the predicted wind materialize we'd just cross over to the north side.

Exploring the world from the bottom of a cave.  First I had a turn, then Jenn and then further on ...

... another.

Investigating this rock to paddle around but ...

... not this one, another one.

As we paddled east along the south shore we reached and went around Big Cove Point and the open ocean all the way to Ireland.  From the put-in we had paddled east, first past black slates of the St. John's Formation and then the greenish grey sandstones and, here, the red sandstones of the Signal Hill Formation.

A whispy waterfall fell from above where both Jenn and I grabbed a shower.

The wind waves began to grow as the wind began to pick up.  But, we had come this far and I wanted to show Jenn some of the Baboul Rocks so we paddled south among them and sheltering behind one to have a quick snack.

The forecasted north wind was more NE as we left Babou Rocks.  We set out for the north shore of the harbour into a stiff wind and breaking waves.  We paddled side by side across the 2 km open mouth of the harbour with occasional waves breaking over the kayaks and plastering us with salt water.

The trick is not to look at the destination but merely just paddle and eventually ...

... there's an assurance calmer waters will be reached.  Water drops on the camera lens testify to salty spray.

We paddle around Useless Bay, past Bread and Cheese Point and 4.5 kms later we were back at the take-out.

It was a bit of everything - caves, rocks, open ocean paddling and calm inner harbour waters.  I knew Jenn was a good paddler as I was so told.  Today she proved it; huge respect!

Bay Bulls - Down the south side

After paddling up the north side of Bay Bulls and crossing to the south side, Gerard, Hazen and I arrive at South Head.  We paddled on to ...

... Red Rock Cove with a good swell running into the constricted cove.  It was only large swell and no breaking waves so we ...

... paddled in and around the rock perched in the cove.  We hung around for a bit before padding uphill over the incoming swell and making our way ...

... through some rough water to ...

... Baboul Rocks, a collection of massive sea stacks.

Making our way between and through the stacks.

Back in the harbour of Bay Bulls we no longer had the swell from the southeast.  We picked our way back paddling into coves dominated by red sandstone cliffs draped with masses of white and ruddy icicles.

It was a marvelous day even under the grey skies that only got better as the promised sun began to make an appearance and patches of blue sky opened up.

The south side has a number of caves.  This one is my favourite.  There's a narrow entrance with barely room to get through until the inside is gained where it opens up.  Gerard and I sat looking out at the world beyond obscured regularly by one meter swell trying to get into the cave with us.

Gerard held his position whereas I let the incoming swell drive me back to get a side shot of him in front of the opening.

The rest of the day was uneventful making our way back to the put-in.  We made a fine choice of day and well content with ourselves as we sipped on coffee before heading home.  Thanks guys!

Bay Bulls - Up the north side

Every Monday I start to look at the long range forecast for the next weekend whether it will cooperate for a paddle.  Thursday caught my eye with light southerly winds so I mailed some of the guys who can paddle mid-week.  Gerard, Hazen and Pete were in so we met at Bay Bulls to put in.

After some discussion we decided on a paddle up the north side, a crossing to the south side and return down the south side.

Inside the harbour it was dead calm but as we made our way along the shore we felt a bit more action.

Gerard making his way along side the gently dipping rocks on the west limb of a gigantic syncline.

The previous two days were bitterly cold freezing masses of ice on cliff faces.  It was considerably warmer for us as the temperature hovered near 0 C.

Paddling into Useless Bay the southeast swell washed up on the sloping rocks.

Gerard goes to check out a passage hammered out by the sea.  I ...

... followed knowing there was room for both of us.

Near North Head we stopped briefly in this small cove protected from the swell.  Pete started to feel the effects of the cold and decided he had to head back.  I thought we should also retreat but he assured us he would be fine.  Inwardly I was concerned he would lose dexterity in his hands but he insisted we carry on so with some reluctance Gerard, Hazen and I ...

... paddled on to North Head and out into the open ocean and bobbed around before ...

... setting out across the harbour entrance towards the south side.

Bagging my first iceberg of 2016

We arrived after our crossing of Bay Bulls at Baboul Rocks were we encountered our first iceberg of the year.  The swell out of the north had pushed us swiftly across.  At Baboul Rocks it piled into the headland causing this berg to rise and fall in the swell.

These weren't big bergs and weren't grounded but were held captive ...

... among the rocks.

There were various bits and chunks of ice floating in the water that made loud banging noises whenever we ran into them.  I looked around for a piece that was just the right size.  Clyde came along side and held me steady while I managed to get the slippery customer into my cockpit.

Back in Bay Bulls harbour Andrew and I checked out this cave under the west dipping rocks.

Continuing along the south shore we came upon another small floater.  Its one piece joined under water where the water is turned indigo blue.

We paddled around it a bit scoping it out before making our way to ...

... the big berg we passed earlier in the day.

This one, while not massive, was big enough to be grounded.  Again, we paddled around it and just marveled at the colours.  Icebergs from afar look white but up close the air bubbles trapped in the ice cause it to emit various hues of blue.

This shot of Hazen summarizes the day.  In the distance near the far shore floats the semi-submersible drill rig West Hercules which we visited almost four hours earlier.

We eventually began to make our way back to the take out.  There we met two young kayakers who were out for a near shore paddle.  After introductions, Justin and Ashley, joined our group of seven (Andrew, Cathy, Clyde, Dave, Gary, Hazen and myself) at a nearby coffee shop for a bite to eat and hot drinks.

Meanwhile ...

... later that evening pieces of the bergy bit I picked up ended up floating in a drop of rum.

It took 10,000 years for me to get the ice, oh I don't know, 5 years for Fidel to age the rum, a few hours for friend Lou to fly it up from Cuba and minutes for me to savour capping off a fantastic day on the water.

Hercules comes to town

Since April 1st I've been keeping an eye on the iceberg maps provided by Environment Canada.  I've been anxious to see how many bergs we'll get in our area this year.  It wasn't looking good for our immediate area so earlier last week when Shane reported on an iceberg in Bay Bulls AND the presence of semi-submersible drill rig I knew I'd have to hit Bay Bulls this weekend.

Seven of us met at Bay Bulls and after putting in we headed out the harbour on the non-descriptive north side.

The iceberg was anchored off to our right which we bypassed for a visit later in the day.  As we came around one last point the iron island which was West Hercules floated on the horizon.

She was moored out in the middle of the harbour so we left the shoreline and made a beeline for her.  In January of 2013 I did a paddle in Conception Bay out to the drill rig West Aquarius.  Now I was going to meet her sibling, though it was her fraternal twin West Hercules.

Back in 2013 as I approached West Aquarius I was warned off when I got too close.  This time we must not have looked to pose a threat in our posse of seven compared to my lone wolf stalking.  I wondered after what they would have done had I kept on coming.  Ram me? *lol*

We hung around for a while until I had enough and made my way back to shore.  Interesting features were waiting exploration like ...

.. this spot which led behind the rock in front of my bow and out the other side.  I looked around and the rest of the gang were further up the coast and missed this treat.  I paddled in behind and ...

... caught West Hercules between this rock and hard place.

I emerged to find Cathy coming my way and together we explored this second collection of passages.

We continued out along the north side until we reached the open ocean and the lighthouse at North Head.  She was rocking and rolling for our short paddle north to ...

... enter Freshwater Cove.  There was some huge swell running and in close by the shore the clapotis was making it interesting.  To starboard I watched the rest of the gang rise then disappear behind the swell.  I waited in the cove as they began to arrive.

Some of us answered the call of nature before leaving to paddle to across Bay Bulls harbour where ...

... West Hercules floated in the distance.

We got a nice push from the swell speeding our arrival at Baboul Rocks and the first iceberg we've seen for the season.  This is just a taster; you'll have to come back for the iceberg pix.