A seal launch and a seal

We had hauled out on the rocks at Brocks Pond Falls as there are no beach take-outs.  I climbed up to where Cathy and Gary were lunching to look down on our precarious dining location.

After lunch it was time to return.  Clyde readies his Nordkapp LV to climb in and hopefully before it slides into the water.

Brian straddles the cockpit seal launching the kayak backwards.

Everyone got on the water safely and without getting dumped into the sea.  Looking down the coast.

We paddled close to the shore and happened on this small seal getting a sun tan.  It didn't seem to mind us as we were able to get ...

... very close.  I believe it was very young and unafraid or very relaxed and lazy in the hot sun.  Rest assured we didn't cause it any stress or harm.

The tide was falling and some places we were able to paddle through on the outward leg were impassible on the return but ....

... not all.  It was a tight fit between a rock and a hard place but Clyde and I got through.

At the G-Spot (coined as such by myself a few years ago when Gerard had a spill and swim) we were almost back a St. Philips.

Brian, Sue and Cathy left.  Clyde Gary and I stopped at the nearby restaurant for coffee or tea sitting outside on the deck overlooking the cove and enjoying the warm weather.  A day that started in fog turned into a beautiful sunny day that, hopefully, signals a trend towards better weather.

Here comes the sun, little darling!

After the last several weeks paddling further afield we stuck closer to home as an earlier off the water time was needed.  Five of us were at the slipway in St. Philips at the appointed 9:00 but we were expecting a sixth, Cathy.  Ten minutes later, just making the grace period, Cathy drove in.  She rushed to get ready.  I tried to calm her down by suggesting we weren't in a hurry.  Kayaking is supposed to be relaxing not stress inducing.

We were on our way to Brocks Pond Falls, 10 kms up the coast.

Soon Brian, Cathy, Clyde, Gary, Sue and I were on our way in foggy conditions.  The forecast was foggy in the morning, clearing later in the day.

It was foggy but not like pea soup.  Across the water Bell Island was not visible but it announced its presence by fog horn.

It was an hour past high tide which meant little passages were accessible.

Brian followed me through this very tight cleft in the rocks.  The high water and calm sea made conditions right for my first time through this spot.

The fog persisted as we approached Portugal Cove but ...

... it began to lift as we crossed the ferry route out of Portugal Cove and ...

... the sun began to gain the upper hand once we had crossed.

Finally, it burned through the fog and the promised sunshine arrived.

The soothing sound of water trickled own the tall cliffs and into the crystal clear sea.

Sue and Cathy float by suspended over the sea bottom illuminated by sunbeams.

An eagle looked down on us from its lofty perch.  Usually they take to wing trying to draw us away but this one didn't move.

Ten kms after leaving St. Philips we were at the falls.  The GPS showed a moving average of 4.7 kms/ hr giving evidence to our desire to take it easy on this day.

The falls were in their full glory falling 100 meters from the precipice fueled by recent rains.

There are no beaches to take out along this coast so we hauled out on the rocks.  The falling tide exposed seaweed covered rocks making it a little kinder on the fibreglass but made getting a secure footing difficult.

Brian, Clyde, Sue and myself lunched on the lower rocks while Cathy and Gary clambered up the rocks to gain a comfortable perch above us.  Out in the water a crab fishing boat steamed out the bay.  We could see the land around Harbour Grace 25 kms across the water.  The sun was warm enough to make the wet rocks steam.  It was a wonderful setting to have lunch.  We were content.

Brocks Pond Falls - The Movie

On Saturday were were promised a forecast of snow, freezing ran and rain.  Not the most pleasant of days for a paddle but I was determined to get on the water.  Clyde, Dean, Neville, Terry and I met in St. Philips for a short paddle.  St. Philips was picked because it was close and if the weather did turn to crap we had the refuge of the restaurant and warm coffee close at hand.

It turned out the inclement weather stayed away so we kept going past Portugal Cove to Brocks Pond Falls on a day that had no wind and flat calm water.  It was a relaxed day checking out passages where they occurred.

The video is a short, less than 4 minute, combination of excerpts from our paddle.  Here's a link to YouTube.

Brocks Pond Falls, a repeat performance

The forecast for Saturday was snow, freezing rain and rain.  Not very appealing so I suggested a short paddle close by just to get on the water.  I checked the forecast again before leaving; it had not changed.  As I left for St. Philips it was very foggy but on the water it was clear and calm.

It was spring like.  A lot of snow has melted in recent rains but the massive icicles still survive.

Approaching Portugal Cove the fog hung over the cliffs to the north.

An hour into our paddle and no sign of the inclement weather that was predicted.

Terry checks out this overhanging icicle that was dripping copious water.  I'd like to be around when that comes down but not just then.

We were prepared to paddle in snow, freezing rain and rain but we could not believe our luck so we kept paddling north on ...

... flat calm waters along a coast Dean, Gerard and I paddled last weekend to the same destination of ...

... Brocks Pond Falls.  This weekend the falls were a flowing torrent after the recent rain and milder tempertures.

Checking out the falls up close and personal.

And, why not grab a selfie while I'm at it!

Neville gives a two thumbs up for the day.  A proposed short paddle in crappy weather turned out to be a most enjoyable, easy going paddle.  We had no plans to retrace our paddle of last weekend but as the freezing rain did not materialize, we just kept going.  Chaulk up another 20 kms.

Brock's Pond Falls, part 2

After checking out Brock's Pond Falls we turned south to return the 10 kms to the put-in.  The light wind which was behind us on the way up was now in our faces.

It was only a light wind which was forecasted to increase slightly but ...

... it didn't happen.  As we were pulled out at Portugal Cove for a short break after almost three hours in the kayaks the wind completely dropped and the sea went flat calm.

The sun overpowered the camera and ...

... illuminated the shallow water that Gerard floated on.

Seeing the channel at Sailing Point from the other direction.

Gerard on a calm sea under clear sunny skies.

It was another fine day on the water coming to a close as we were almost back at St. Philips.  The sun and drop in wind made it peasant to get into our street clothes and stow away our gear before going for our customary coffee.

The first full day of spring

Spring came in here at 8:15 pm on Friday, March 20.

I got up (Saturday morning) to check the weather.  It was -9C and -13C with the windchill.

I checked the calendar.  Yup, March 21st.  The calendar said spring but Mother Nature said "Not so fast Tony.  You're not done winter weather yet."

Dean, Gerard and I met at 9:00 to paddle to Brock's Pond Falls to check out how much ice was at the falls.

Did I mention it was spring?

We paddled north in the shade of the cliffs.  It was brilliantly sunny but we were in the chilly shadow as we paddled through Sailing Point.

High tide opened up paddling access to all the rocky places.

At Beachy Cove the hills were lower and we were in bright sunshine until we reached ...

... Wester Point at the entrance to Portugal Cove where we were again in shade.

Across Portugal Cove the 650 foot tall cliffs were bathed in sunshine.  Our objective was in sight.

A total snowfall of about 50 cms in the past week covered the frozen falls but where it was open we could see and hear the water running.  The falls flow out of Brock's Head Pond cascading 325 feet into the sea.  Today, the falls looked more like a ski hill.

Two weeks ago Sean biked to the top of the falls for a different perspective.

There's nowhere to take out so we bobbed at the falls for a short period before beginning our return.