Top 10 paddles of 2013 - #10

Winter paddles in general make my list at #10 this year and specifically a paddle Dean and I completed yesterday.  Five - 10 centimeters of snow was forecasted with easterly winds strengthening as the morning wore on.  The temperature at put-in was -7C.  Balmy in comparison with our coldest paddle on 27 January earlier this year.  Then it it was -9C but the wind chill made it feel like -15.  We were covered in ice.

Snow started to accumulate on my foredeck  The water in the harbour was a mass of slushy icepans.

Dean and I headed north towards Portugal Cove.  Fine snow was falling that gave everything in the distance a hazy look.

Icicles hung from the cliffs and snow settled on the trees like icing sugar.

My thumbs felt the sting of the cold mostly but they warmed in the exertion of paddling.

Dean wore his cag and, surprisingly, had to take it easy to avoid overheating.  I wore my usual gear with a fleece under my drysuit.  It looks cold but I was perfectly comfortable.  In many ways, more comfortable than in a drysuit in the heat of summer.

Dean is not hard to spot paddling through the channel at Sailing Point.

As we rounded Wester Point and entered Portugal Cove we were greeted by easterly winds and blowing snow in our faces.  Refreshing!

After paddling across the cove were were under the sheltering hills again.

We continued north still under the imposing cliffs until we reached ...

... Brocks Pond Falls.  Four of us paddled up here earlier this past summer and had a lovely cool down in the fresh water.  On this day the water was still running but under a frozen layer of ice.  We hung out for a bit before returning to St. Philips where we feasted on a meal of fish & chips.  A great way to finish off the day.

Winter paddling looks daunting but is most enjoyable with some fine tuning.  I really enjoy it and therefore I'm putting it on my list of top paddles for the year.

In like lamb

March 3rd, fog, rain and 3C.  March has come in like a lamb.  The icicles and snow along the shore have shrunk considerably.

Gone is the bitter cold but not the swell.  In this over the shoulder shot Dean scoots between rocks covered in washover and the cliffs.

Neville trying out his newly carved Greenland paddle stayed a bit further offshore with Bell Island obscured in the fog in the background.

The rain the last couple of days and the meltwater from the snowpack made for a considerable flow of water at the falls in Beachy Cove.

This area just before Portugal Cove is a fun paddle through some rocks.  Today it was more entertaining than usual as waves broke over the rocks.  Timing is everything as Dean, a mere speck compared to the crashing wave, makes his way through.

At Portugal Cove we took out to have our granola bars and compliment ourselves on the stretch just paddled.  Dean commented that paddling season would be starting in about four weeks.  I agreed it certainly was probable with the way March has come in even though the lamb wasn't accompanied by mint jelly.

Question is, will March go out like a lion?

Another winter paddle

I got up this morning and checked the latest forecast before heading out for a day paddle.  I noticed the Weather Network had a visitor survey entitled "Which summer sport do you miss the most?"

Interestingly, 4% of respondents indicated "kayaking".

I was amused because I don't miss it at all.  I've just carried on padding without noticing winter had set in.

Dean and I made it a sixth straight weekend of winter paddling.  It was cold in the northerly wind and a sizeable swell was running in the bay which made for attentive paddling.

The channel we like to paddle through at Sailing Point was off limits today with waves washing over the top of the rocks.

The zone of clapotis extended out some 100 - 150 meters from the cliffs.  Standing waves were created where the clapotis met the incoming waves.  It meant for some gingerly picture taking.  Each time I took the camera out I had it in the back of my mind that I was prepared too roll if I got knocked over, camera in hand.

A recent snowfall of almost 25 cms still laying on the land reflected the sun giving the landscape a bright cheerful look.

If I didn't admit this was Newfoundland I think could easily convince the reader we were paddling in Greenland. (?)

We stopped for a break just to step on solid ground after being bounced around for almost an hour.  Dean and I each had a granola bar.  Mine was supposed to be chewy but the freezing temperature rendered it crunchy.  It went down well nevertheless.

Back on the water we retraced our steps, this time paddling with the incoming waves behind us but we still had the incessant clapotis.  It was like a carnival ride without the cotton candy and we didn't have to stand in line to take our turn.

We washed up in the fresh water of the river as is our habit this time of year.  I like to pick paddles where the takeout is near a fresh water source so that I don't have to wash the salt out at home.  The padding gear is not so much an issue, its just hard to wash the kayak in the bathtub *lol*

Another fine winter paddling adventure with Dean.  That survey I mentioned, we weren't in the 4% who missed kayaking just because it wasn't summer.

Apres manger in LaManche

As I said, there's no beach takeout in LaManche, only this stream cascading into the cove at the very end.

So, we hauled out onto the rocks on the south side of the cove.  The sea weed and bits of ice made for tricky footing carrying the kayaks above the water line.

We sat on the cold rocks somewhat protected from the cool breeze to have lunch.  Some distance away a lone hiker sat, probably surprised and amused at seeing a group of kayakers out at this time of year.
 

 

Finished our lunch, we waved goodbye to the hiker and began the paddle back to Tors Cove.  The sun continued to shine brightly, now at our back.  It was so bright that these normally black slates of the St. John's Formation took on purplish grey tones.

 

Great Island of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve covered in snow shone brightly on the horizon.

At Bauline East we stopped to catch some surf rides where the swell broke over a submerged rock.  Hazen falling over the edge looks like he's catching a good one.

Done playing we carried on into Tors Cove as the islands were put behind us.  We stopped for coffee as its become our habit to debrief an excellent day kayaking.  Thanks guys for sharing the day.

LaManche, escape from St. Philips

The last four weeks Dean and I have paddled out of St. Philips for a variety of reasons.  Today, we went further afield.  Today Clyde, Dean, Hazen, Sean, Tobias, and I departed Tors Cove for the resettled community of LaManche.

It was a bright, beautiful sunny day.  The sun made the water sparkle like diamonds.

There was a little breeze from the west but we were protected by the land.

 A little swell made it fun to paddle behind rocks ...

 ... which we all did.
 

It was a day to savour and take our time.  We poked into pretty much every hole and notch in the cliffs ...

 ... some of which were decorated by hanging walls of ice.

 

The imperceptible swell on the ocean to port reared up as it approached the land as we made our way into LaManche Bay.

Handrailing along the shoreline we arrived at our destination of LaManche.  Where people lived until the mid-60s, now it is visited by only sea kayakers and hikers on the East Coast Trial, one of the iconic features of which is this suspension bridge across the cove.

There's no beach in the cove.  The takeout is over some seaweed and onto the gently sloping rocks where we had our lunch.

Million dollar paddle

This past week the winner of a $30,000,000 lottery prize came forward.  I am happy for the couple but I'm not jealous.

Sure, I like to win that kind of money.  I can imagine many ways to spend some of it.

But its not a make or break thing in my life.

Its not like money can buy happiness ...

... and money can't buy friends but I guess having a $30,000,000 bank account will mean lots of people will want to be friends.

There are some things money can't buy ...

... like getting out for a paddle on a fourth consecutive weekend in the middle of winter with a good friend.

Saturday we got the remnants of a nor'easter that pasted the Boston states.  They got a meter of snow.  We didn't get as much but it was not very pleasant nonetheless.  It blew itself out overnight and Sunday morning we were in the warm side of the low pressure system.  Warm at 0C by winter standards and no wind.  Cha-ching, another super paddle with Dean.

I hope the lottery winner decides to buy a kayak.  It would be some of the best money they could spend.  I could be his friend too *lol*

Groundhog day 2013

Groundhog day was on Friday, two days ago.  The verdict was mixed.  Some saw their shadows and predicted an early spring.  Some didn't so that meant another six weeks of winter.  Today, Sunday, Brian, Dean and I didn't worry about another six weeks of winter.  We went paddling.

On Monday I usually check the long range weather forecast wondering if it will be favourable for a paddle on the coming weekend.  Normally the forecast changes day to day as the weekend approaches.

So I ask myself, if the weatherperson, with the best technology tools science can provide can't get the forecast right a week in advance, even sometimes a day in advance ...

... then how can a rodent predict spring six weeks out?

It makes for good theatre and I know its a bit of light hearted humour to get over the winter blahs but ...

... winter isn't so bad if an effort is made to get out and enjoy it.  For example, when we reached Topsail Beach we noticed there was a good flow of water coming out of the estuary.  We thought, it could be fun to drag the boats up (two pics above) into it and ride the current back out to sea.

Which we did of course, with  great deal of glee.

When the prediction of spring is dependent on whether the sun shines or not on a mid-winter day, its best to have a chuckle and get on with what the weather and season offer.

Either way spring will come eventually.  Until it does, we'll carry on paddling.

Today the fresh water was running in the river so we could wash out our gear and the coffee was on at the restaurant to cap the day.  Thanks Brian and Dean.