KNL RIP?

Brian Derrick and I met at St. Philips on  beautiful day for a short morning paddle.  A topic of conversation was the demise of Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador (KNL).  This post is both about pictures from the paddle and a rant.

We found out earlier this week that the Newfoundland an Labrador Paddle Association is proposing the formation of a new entity, Paddle Newfoundland and Labrador, that would take in the membership of KNL and Tumblehome Canoe Club and the windup of NLPA, KNL and Tumblehome.

KNL members were surprised to find out about this so suddenly after apparently several months of discussion.  We continued on our way paddling into and out of shade.

The fact that this discussion was taking place unknown to the membership is disconcerting.  Like we were being kept in the dark similar to this channel in shade.

A meeting has been called for April 17th to discuss this issue so eventually we won't be in the dark anymore but ...

... maybe we'll emerge enlightened.

Meeting or not, I think we'll all still be in the dark as to the real motivation because I feel its taking on a bit of a political feel.  Nevertheless, informed or not, we will be asked to vote on the proposal.

I hope KNL members reject the proposal.  I think a Board composed of kayakers and canoeists will not serve kayaking's interests as well as a Board made up of exclusively kayakers.  The chance is that KNL will die.  I will be sad.  I'll accept it and hopefully not make bad friends over the discussion.  In the end its all about kayaking and I will continue either way.

The last winter paddle

What a day

Winter is over on Wednesday so today five of us had our last winter paddle for this season. Hard to put this forward as a winter paddle because it was such a beautiful day.

Its still winter

But it was as we were brought back to reality, by sheets of ice, that it was still technically winter.

How sweet it is

No wind, flat calm water and temperatures hovering just above zero gave promise to warmer days ahead.

Not today

Low tide made it impossible to get through some spots that are navigable in higher water.

Room here

There was room here either side of the protruding rock.

Muscle power

Sometimes its marginal but guys with plastic boats will give it a try anyway. Here Dean puts his Greenland paddle to good use *lol* to pry himself over the rocks.

Reflections

Clear water reflected icicles hanging off the cliff face above the greenish grey rounded pebbles of the sea bottom.

Seaweed

Bright sunshine penetrated the surface to highlight seaweed growing on submerged rocks.

Slob ice

Fresh water floating on the surface of the briny seawater was frozen into slush. No icebreaker needed today though.

Front row seat

Another fine display of icicles that begged a look.

Going round

Gary rounding a rock in the last little cove before we finished for the day.

It appears that winter is going out like a lamb. We'll look forward to warmer weather but look back on a productive and enjoyable winter of paddling. As the weather and the water warms up more paddlers will come out of hibernation. We will welcome them back after a long absence.

Paddling in the snow

Snowing

Brian, Clyde, Dean, Lee and I met at St. Philips with the initial intention to play in waves expected to be generated by northerly winds. The wind didn't materialize so we paddled north knowing we'd have the wind at our backs for the return in case it did kick up.

It was snowing lightly and it built up on the deck as we prepared to launch.

Streaks

Snowflakes streaked the picture like a time exposure of a starry night.

Brian

Snow stung the eyes as we paddled into the little bit of wind there was.

Dean

We were not fazed in the least. It was padding in an environment with conditions close to those expected in the ancestral home of the kayak.

Lee

Dressing for the weather makes all the difference.

The four horsemen

The guys lined up side by side.

Clyde

No sign of Bell Island hidden in the snow.

What weather?

Paddling into the blowing snow it built up on my PFD. I love it!!!

We paddled a familiar coast but it wasn't boring by a long shot. There's always something to add interest. Today it was a bit of blowing snow and unusually high water. The high water made it possible to get through some spots inaccessible otherwise.

I'm sure people I passed on the road to the put-in questioned my sanity to be kayaking on such a day. These things though are hard to explain to the uninitiated.

Hiatus over

At the put-in

Its been three weeks of atrocious weather so there's hasn't been any ocean paddling. Today, I put the bad weather behind me and joined Clyde and Dean for a morning paddle.

Both Clyde and Dean seal launched. I have video but Blogger wanted to put the video at the end so I couldn't put it in sequence. I decided to post in a day or so.

Little alcove

The wind had a bite to it in the -5C temperature and the sea had just a little lop. Here in this little alcove there's protection and a rock to paddle around.

Lots of ice

The cliffs were covered in ice and snow.

Comin' thru

The little lop there was made scooting between rocks interesting.

Gotta go around

Some rocks we had to paddle around as we couldn't get through on the inside.

Daggers of ice

Clyde checks out a shallow cave with overhanging icicles.

Wash up

A river flows into the harbour at the put-in. Its so much easier to rinse the salt out of our gear in the fresh water here than in the laundry tub or shower home.

Dean has a few shots of today's paddle on his blog. An enjoyable paddle guys, thanks.

And, guess what? Crappy weather is back tomorrow so I'm happy to get out today. Carpe diem in other words.

Stayin' in shape

Snow means go

Winter is not paddle season for most. A growing group of us here believe it is.

Passing up on paddling in winter means having to get back in paddle shape in the spring. It doesn't take long to lose it so today I took advantage of pleasant conditions to keep myself in paddling tune. It stopped snowing just as I put-in.

Dusting of snow

Before long I was cruising past snow dusted trees and rocks at a comfortable speed of 7 - 7.5 kms/hr.

Topsail Head

By the time I reached Topsail Head I had built up considerable heat. I was burning off some of the holiday cheer!

Low ceiling

I paddled past Topsail Beach until I had 7.5 kms on the GPS. Turing back, Topsail Head was hiding in the low ceiling.

Back again

Today was a sprint. It was exercise but I enjoyed the rhythm as the paddle sliced effortlessly through the water. No shots of other paddlers and not much colour, sorry, exercise can be pretty bland but I was glad I went. 985 kilometers to go!

A good Friday paddle

Glassy calm waters of Conception Bay

It was Good Friday. It was another crossing; Stan and I did one last year on Good Friday too. Maybe it'll be a tradition.

The forecast was for calm winds so five of us met in St. Philips to paddle the 5 kms across the Tickle to Bell Island and spend the day sacrilegiously (to some) in the temple of the great outdoors.

Dwarfed

After we reached Bell Island we conferred and decided on paddling up from the ferry terminal towards the north end of Bell Island. Stan thought the scenery was better. None of us cared which way we went; we were just happy to be on the water.

Sean rounds a sea stack

There are lots of things that excite kayakers. Rocks, caves, sea stacks ... OK everything on the water excites us. We have to stick our bows into the smallest crevice, scoot between half submerged rocks (without leaving gel coat) and paddle around sea stacks. Sea stacks aren't abundant because the sea usually shows no mercy and eats away at the land without favour. Where the rock is just that little bit more resilient, it survives as sea stacks.

Massive cliffs, massive day

The cliffs of Bell Island NW of the the ferry terminal rise vertically 200 feet from the green waters. I had to get a bit further off shore and hold the camera vertically to catch where the cliffs meet the sky.

A swell day

There wasn't much swell but at places where the bottom rose sharply, the water turned to foam as it crashed on the rocks.

Lunch stop beach

Near the top of Bell Island we decided to stop for a break and refuel. This looked to be a suitable spot nestled in between the towering walls.

Birthday Stan

As we sat having a snack Stan casually mentioned it was his birthday. We all wished him a happy 39th birthday *lol* (stop counting there Stan). I know you had a good one and many more my friend.

Spring runoff

We rounded Long Harry Point, Polls Head and Redmonds Head and everyone kept paddling. We were going to turn around at some point but it took a while before we looked at each other as if to say where will we stop to turn. I thought for a while it looked good for a circumnavigation of Bell Island but not to be on this day.

Loading up on java

We were going to have coffee at By the Beach restaurant but it was crowded with religious people who were hell bent on having a feed of fish on Good Friday. Thou shalt not eat meat on Good Friday! So Sean invited us to his place not too far from the take-out and we enjoyed the sun and rehashing the day's paddle - and a good cup 'a.

From left to right - Dean, Gerard, Tony (me), Sean and Stan. Thanks guys, enough said!

Caught red handed

In the washing machine

I was caught red handed today trying to sneak in a paddle on a gloriously sunny and temperate day. Near St. Philips I saw Brian, we stopped, rolled down the windows and I had company. A stop at Ralph's house on the way it was three's company.

It was just a paddle we've done many times close to home but on a day like today it didn't wear thin. We paddled past Portugal Cove and on up to the falls flowing out of Brock's Head Pond. There and back Brian's GPS said 9.4 NM, or 17.5 kms. Not bad for a tad under 3 hours and not bad for a chance meeting. I was mighty pleased.

Brian in kayak heaven

Isn't this a quintessential kayak picture? Paddling through a short channel between St. Philips and Portugal Cove, dodging rocks exposed by low tide, a bit of white water (though not in this picture) all on a sunny springlike day. I don't think this channel has been named; maybe we should.

I moved in to get this shot of Brian and as soon as I heard the shutter close a wave put the bow up on the seaweed covered rocks. Bang! Oops. Battle stations! Brace like hell until the water comes back. I got free but then a bigger wave threatened to drive me right into a rock in the middle of the channel. Back paddling I got off the wave and after it rolled under I carried on. Happier outcome, hey Stan.

Ralph and icicle daggers

Up past Portugal Cove the cliffs just drop vertically into the sea. Here right next to the rocks there's upwards of 30 metres of water or more. Even with a bit of a swell running there wasn't much action against the cliffs because of the water depth.

Brocks Head Pond falls

Brian and Ralph heaved to as we came up to the falls. I was hoping they'd paddle up and in front of the falls to get a kayak in the picture.

I was surprised that the falls were not frozen over, even partially because there were a few icicles on the cliffs along the way. It was sort of why I wanted to come here but it may have to wait till next winter. I won't look forward to that just yet as spring is about to burst upon us.