Cupid draws her bow ... (Part3)

We reached the entrance to Brigus on our paddle from Colliers to the community of Cupids.  Inside South Point we were surprised by a bit of swell that surged over the rocks which offered an opportunity to test fate.

It was decided to have a short stop and stretch our legs before paddling into Brigus itself.

Hazen in the inner harbour.

Older sheds lined the inner harbour while ...

... some newer "sheds" crowded the shore with a view out Brigus Bay.

The wind started to pick up as we left Brigus behind and were soon out to North Point and the lighthouse benefiting from mini-surf rides.

The shoreline continued to impress as we paddled inside "The Wigwam" seastack.

Just around Burnt Point we padded into what looked like a dead end canyon which in fact was ...

... another stone arch open to the sky and sunshine above.

From the arch we had a short 3.5 km paddle into Cupids.  Cupids, originally called Cuper's Cove, was settled by Englishman John Guy in 1610 making it the oldest settlement in Canada and the second oldest in North America after Jamestown in 1607.  Here's a link to the Cupids Legacy Center where there is more info to check out.

But we weren't there yet and we had a bit of work to do paddling southwest into a 15 knot wind.  Dean and I arrived at the take-out first and I began to feel guilty.  Dean had thrown down the gauntlet and I took up the challenge keeping up with him but as I looked northeast from the beach I saw our paddle partners some distance away, I thought to myself I should have stayed with the pack.

Nevertheless, it was a fantastic paddle of 25 kms with some interesting features and shoreline.  As sure as Cupid let her arrow fly, it found its target in seven paddlers Sunday on way to the community of Cupids.

Cupid draws her bow ... (Part2)

After a lunch stop in Turks Gut on our way to the community of Cupids we passed through this sea arch and ...

... around this seastack.

The day that started out overcast turned mostly sunny turning black volcanic rocks purplish in the bright sunshine.

We approached another seastack and in the calm conditions paddled through the passage and into ...

... Woody Island Cove with its dramatic red and grey beds dipping to the east.  There ensued a short geology lesson.

Brian, Dean and I paddled past another stack that wasn't obvious until we had paddled past it.  I looked back to see it was wide enough and with just a foot of swell there was also enough water to carry a kayak through.  We went back and forth a couple of times while the rest paddled on unconcerned that we were no longer behind them.

Further along as we played catch up we were in another un-named cove with the dramatic red and grey rocks.  Something big obviously happened here as grey and red sediments were jumbled together, the grey sediments passing through the bedding planes of the red.

Just over an hour after leaving Turks Gut we rounded South Point and entered Great Cove in Brigus Bay.

Cupid draws her bow ... (Part1)

Sunday, April 17th, seven of us drove to Colliers, dropped the kayaks on the beach at 10:00 and shuttled the cars to the community of Cupids.  The day started off under grey skies and cool temperatures and a long carry to the salt water.

I'm not a fan of car shuttles but this one was worth the effort.  We arrived back at Colliers where Dean guarded our kayaks engaged in conversation with one of the locals.  Around 11:00 we were on the water to begin the paddle north to Cupids.

The first 6 kms out of Colliers were alongside massive cliffs of the Harbour Main Group volcanic rocks.  I kept the camera in pocket as the the cliffs are not very scenic but the scenery improved, as well as the clearing sky, when we reached Turks Gut in Marysvale.  It was near enough to ...

... lunch time so we pulled out to take in fuel.  While it was sunny and bright there was still a chill in the light breeze.  Seated on the sunny bank it was warm and very comfortable.

It took a scant 30 minutes to eat lunch before we were off again heading out of Turks Gut pointing our bows northward.

Outside the entrance to Turks Gut the waters had a tropical look.  The sun shining from behind accented the contrast in the andesites, basalts and rhyolites.

The shoreline began to show more character and interest with channels to paddle through.

A stream trickled over the rocks in a small cove a kilometer further on.  Dean was behind me and jokingly shouted to Hazen he was on his way to take his picture.

We arrived at the first highlight of the day, a sea arch.  It wouldn't be the last treat on this shore between Marysvale and Cupids.

In the foorsteps of John Guy

It began in fog

Sunday began in fog. We dropped the boats on the beach in Colliers and Clyde, Dean and Hazen took two of the cars down to Cupids where we were headed for the day. It was cool in the early morning fog so I found a comfortable spot to sit and guard our craft as I awaited their return. There was a fair bit of traffic on the road, our boats attracting only a passing glance as people drove by.

On our way

The boys returned from the car shuttle and we left Colliers headed north towards Cupids. The cliffs along here were bleak and barren but as the day progressed it got more interesting as the weather also brightened up.

Exploring a small cove

After stopping in Marysvale for lunch we continued up the coast stopping to explore interesting little coves, this one with a small waterfall.

Taking turns

Our first arch for the day. Its narrow and due to the low water, timing was everything.

Red beds

Continuing along the shoreline there's a channel between some rocks and the cliffs. Paddling through all of a sudden this magical cove opens up with greenish waters and striking massive cliffs of red and greenish-grey sedimentary rocks. Dean and Clyde paddle by some huge blocks that have tumbled into the cove.

Sentinel

We didn't paddle into Brigus today but crossed straight across the mouth of the harbour. A lighthouse dominates the north point, one Captain Bob Bartlett would have sailed past numerous times. Captain Bartlett commanded the Roosevelt, Robert E. Perry's ship on his way to the North Pole. Bartlett himself came to within 100 miles of the pole before being sent back by Perry.

Greenland

We stopped for a brief break at the location of the former community of Greenland. A possible future campsite but the landing is very rocky.

Under the arch

Just outside of Cupids we had our second arch for the day, this one was much larger. Even in low water with a bit of a swell running almost directly into it, it was very accessible. Paddling in through the arch there's a large room open to the sky. Paddle back through the arch or continue to paddle right around the the east shoulder of the arch.

Paddling into Cupids

As we arrived at our destination of Cupids I thought about looking at the scene through the eyes of John Guy who sailed into this cove almost 401 years ago. Cupids is the site of the first English settlement in Canada. It was established in 1610 by the London and Bristol Company, John Guy being its first Governor. The investors in the company eventually lost interest in the colony but it survived and some of its citizens created other settlements in Conception Bay. Learn more here.

A total of 22 kms on what proved to be a very entertaining and enjoyable paddle with lots to see and highly recommended to the rest of the Newfoundland community.