Looking for the Cambrian explosion

Saturday Dean, Peter and I drove to Avondale with the paddling destination of Bacon Cove.  I don't know how Bacon Cove got its name but one thing of interest there is an angular unconformity between the Late Proterozoic rocks of the Conception Bay Group and a basal conglomerate of Cambrian age.  The Cambrian period saw the explosion of various life forms that ultimately led to the evolution of the highly intelligent kayak paddler.

We put in beside the river that flows into Masons Cove that today was ...

... so calm it reflected the passage of my kayak colleagues.

We were soon out of Masons Cove and into Gasters Bay ...

... handrailing on the way to ...

... Conception Harbour to check out this sunken, rusting hulk.  Its not very scenic but its a must stop.  I don't think anyone paddling in the area misses out on having a look around.

We were soon on our way north again past Mugford's Head where we left calm waters to paddle in ...

... more active waters.  I had checked the ocean wave model before leaving and expected some swell but yet I was surprised by the amount of water rolling into the bay.  Nothing challenging just large, broad open masses of water.

We arrived at Bacon Cove landing without incident and had a lunch.  Afterwards we went looking for the outcrop with the unconformity but I couldn't locate it.  It was odd because I had been there before though its not unusual for me to have it right under my eyes an still not see it.

Dean and Pete launched untroubled.  I made a mess of it and had a swim but more on that another time.

Back on the water, still smarting from the blow to my pride, we crossed Gasters Bay to the east side.  In the distance the razorback appearance of the Blue Hills of Avondale rise 850 feet above the bay.

We set our sights on the white church in Avondale where we washed the salt out of our gear in the river, had a coffee and called it another glorious day on the water.

Check out Dean's Blog with his take on the day.

Ice cream anyone?

Under dramatic skies and in cold steel grey waters we did ...

... our first multiple rolls or ...

... layback skulling braces until we developed ice cream headaches and ...

... at the setting of the sun we went home to warm up.  A second Thursday evening practice was in the books.

A bounce in St. Philips - The Movie

Sunday was a windy day and probably a day to stay ashore.  But, when a person is determined to get on the water they will find a way.  Brian, Dean, Sean and I met at St Philips where the wind was blowing from the west at 55 km with gusts well in excess of that and the sea a mass of whitecaps.  I decided to shoot some video rather than take stills.

I had over an hour of video that I got down to 7:14 but Blogger would only allow video files up to 100 megs so I cut it down some more and uploaded 1:23 worth.  Its a teaser.  The full 7:14 can be seen on Youtube.  I recommend full screen.

I think it almost captures the conditions but its not the same as being there.  Impossible to get the feel of the wind that made things wet for sure.

A bounce at St. Philips

This morning the wind was blowing at 55 kms westerly with gusts well in excess of that and the bay was a mass of whitecaps.  Not fit for a day paddle but perfect for a bounce and surf rides in St. Philips.  We bounced around in waves reaching 2 meters, slogged into the wind and turned tail to surf back in for an hour and a half.

I thought the conditions would make for some good video so last night I quickly made up a makeshift camera mount to capture some of today's playtime.  I got over an hour worth of video which at first glance looks to be pretty interesting but will take a little time to put together being as it is my first foray into "cinematography".  I'm hoping to have a clip in a day or two for my world premiere *lol*

Thursday practices are here again

I've waited all winter anticipating the resumption of our regular Thursday evening practices at St. Philips only to find ...

... it was still winter.  A small turnout of Brian, Sean and myself were on hand to do a short paddle along the coast in a bit of chop and in a few snow flurries.  It was cool.

It was exhilarating paddling in the cold and looming clouds.  In the west it started to lighten ...

... but the chop did not.

Surprisingly there wasn't much wind.  That is some of the most enjoyable paddling for me; a bit of action without the slog into the wind.

The setting sun was our cue to turn and head back to the cove before it got dark.  I suggested we paddle out into the bay a bit in the beam seas until we were upwind from St Philips so we could catch surf rides back.

The first Thursday evening practice was in the books.  It will gradually warm up, we'll get more daylight each week and more bodies will turn out.  Thursday evenings are something I look forward to because rain or shine, windy or calm, we'll be out there.

After the storm surge, a bob

Yesterday, Good Friday, we experienced a significant storm surge all along the northeast coast.  It died down somewhat today, Saturday, but it was still blowing hard.  It really wasn't fit for a paddle so we opted for a bounce in the waves at St Philips.

The camera rarely captures the true sea state but in this shot taken towards Bell Island, it is nowhere to be seen unless the camera is on the crest of a wave and then ...

 ... Bell Island pops into view.

The wind was blowing northwest at 45 kms with gusts to 55.  We were out in the open.  There was no protection.  The mini-ripples heralded the the coming wind gusts.

We spent an hour and a half paddling into the wind, bobbing in the unorganzed waves and catching the odd surf ride.  Today it was core training.  The obliques got a good workout.

In the hour and a half my GPS said 6.5 kms.  Its surprising the distance covered just bobbing around in the waves.

An hour and a half after putting in we had enough.  We paddled back into the harbour and up into the river to ...

... rinse the salt out of our gear.  Sean went directly home.  Dean, Tobias and I stopped for a coffee and a chat.

How does a person learn to paddle in confused seas?  The answer - paddle in confused seas.

Storm Surge at St. Philips

A storm surge was in the forecast for the northeast coast of Newfoundland with waves offshore reaching 6 - 7 meters.  Exposed shorelines were in for a pounding.  It wouldn't be quite as dramatic at St Philips as it lies deeper inside of Conception Bay.

I went to have a look.

The waves piled the cobbles up against the 5 foot wall protecting the harbour ...

... and on top of the wall ...

... and over the wall.

Breaking waves, short surf ride.

I stood on top of the yellow blocks of wood by the light pole to get a shot of ...

... the waves as they rolled in the channel into the inner harbour.  I wasn't far enough away or high enough.  The wave rolled over the harbour apron and around my knees while I hung on to the pole.  Once the water drained away I moved from my perch just in time to catch ...

... this wave crashing over the sea wall.  That would have been a good soaking for sure if I had not moved.

Safe to say paddling was not an option today, at least safe paddling.