Faster than a speeding bullet

Today Brian, Dean and I paddled around Little Bell Island and Kellys Island like we were late for supper and in a hurry.  We left Topsail Beach and struck out across Conception Bay for Little Bell Island.  We covered the 4.5 km crossing at an average speed of 8.0 kms/hr.

Looking up Conception Bay towards Bell Island and the coast running up to Cape St. Francis the sea was flatter than flat and not a breath of wind.  I stopped to take a few pictures while the guys paddled on.  I didn't, or rather couldn't, make up the distance so I paddled on my own ...

... until I reached Little Bell Island where Brian and Dean waited ...

... in the rain that was teeming down.  With the water so calm the rain drops were bouncing like so many ping pong balls.

We were together again and paddled at a more relaxed pace across the back side of the island and ...

... eventually we were in sight of Kellys Island beyond.  Again, it was a sprint across the 2.4 km gap ...

... where we again paddled at a more relaxed pace under the dominating cliffs of alternating sandstone and siltstone layers of rock.

Further along on the backside the cliffs were more modest.

Rounding the southern end we stopped for lunch before jumping in our kayaks for the 3 km crossing to Long Pond and ...

... the less interesting shore leading back to Topsail Beach.

Four after leaving the beach at 9:30 we were back, our day paddle cut short by our speed.  We had covered 21.1 kms in a moving time of 3 hours and nine minutes for a moving average of 6.7 kms/hr.

Another 21 kms added to my log and I'm sure I'll have no trouble sleeping tonight.

The breadcrumbs we left in our wake.

Tour of Conception Bay - almost

Conception Bay, Newfoundland

Conception Bay lays to the west of St. John's, the capital city of Newfoundland. Stan and I (familiar theme) took advantage of the beautiful weather for a paddle but couldn't be gone all day as Stan had an appointment at 2:00. I suggested a paddle out of Long Pond and around Kelly's Island which Stan had never done. When we landed at Long Pond I suggested we do a "tour of Conception Bay"; do three crossing and visit the three islands in the bay. Turns out time didn't permit but we did do a mini-tour and maybe some time in the future we'd also cross to Bell Island. The mini-tour was for a total distance of 16 kms.

Black diamond?

Stan's black boat looks sweet paddling in the calm waters of Conception Bay with a massive tanker in the background. We'd have a chance to get a closer look at the tanker on our inward paddle.

We left Long Pond northbound for Little Bell Island in no wind and glassy waters with just a very gentle swell. We had the bay to ourselves but were under watchful eyes on doubt all along the shore of the Town of Conception Bay South.

Orangy cliffs of Little Bell Island

As we approached Little Bell Island the cliffs looked orangy (if that's a word, OK is now!). When we got closer we discovered the rocks were covered by a rusty or orange coloured lichen of some sort. I tried to get the orange of my deck in the picture to compliment the orange colour in the cliffs. The crossing from Long Pond to Little Bell Island was about 5 kms.

Stan rounding Kelly's Island

We left Little Bell Island and made for Martin's Cove on Kelly's Island, a short crossing of about 2.75 kms. Paddling up the backside of Kelly's Island it was surprising how the swell just piled up until the waves broke as they passed over sunken rocks. At one point I sidesurfed one breaking wave without consequence. We steered well wide of the point and submerged rocks and looked for a place to grab a bite to eat.

High and dry

After we paddled the backside of Kelly's Island we stopped for lunch on a small pocket beach. It was sunny and hot but there was shade to be found. Getting ready to put in again I thought the boat looked very fragile laying there on the cobbles and the cliff all around. Fibreglass looks great but ya can't just haul it up on the beach or seal launch. Handle with care!

Stan dwarfed by tanker "Vinland"

On the way back to Long Pond we passed by the Penny Ugland tanker "Vinland". Its a huge boat. I paddled under the bow, inside the anchor chain and along the side. I find paddling alongside a huge ship kinda creepy. After I sized up the stern I turned to catch Stan who looked like a speck in comparison.

A dandy mini-tour of Conception Bay and well worth scaling up to visit Bell Island. As usual, thanks Stan!