Heel hook assisted rescue

We recently had a swimmer on one of our paddles when they capsized riding the surge over a rocky ledge.  The rescue went well but could have been performed more efficiently.  It highlighted the fact we've gotten complacent (read "slack") on our Wednesday evening practices.  In calm conditions we've just gone for an evening paddle.

Last week in response to the recent rescue we decided to pick one rescue to practice every Wednesday evening.  This week it as the heel hook assisted rescue.  A very good demonstration of it is provided by the well known Gordon Brown which can be seen here.

Practicing exposes shortcomings in either the rescue or rescuer/rescuee technique.  In the case of the heel hook assisted rescue we identified one issue.  In the video the rescuee is advised to grab their deck line or both their and the rescuer's deck line to level themselves back into the cockpit.

We found it took time to grab the rescuer's deck line because the rescuers kayak was usually tilted down toward us making it difficult to get a hold of.  If I have to use that rescue I'm inclined to just grab my deck line especially if time is an issue say around rocks.

Having completed our homework we ...

... decided to do some towing practice.

Cathy puts her contact tow line back which, as it turns out, was a dog leash.

Then some of us just goofed around a bit or did other rescues before ...

... heading own the shore for a short paddle.  It was low tide so we often paddled through the weeds.

In the west the sun began to set eventually ...

... emerging from the clouds before disappearing under the horizon reminding us to turn back and close out the evening.

It was a great feeling getting the purpose of Wednesday evening practices back on track.

A seal launch and a seal

We had hauled out on the rocks at Brocks Pond Falls as there are no beach take-outs.  I climbed up to where Cathy and Gary were lunching to look down on our precarious dining location.

After lunch it was time to return.  Clyde readies his Nordkapp LV to climb in and hopefully before it slides into the water.

Brian straddles the cockpit seal launching the kayak backwards.

Everyone got on the water safely and without getting dumped into the sea.  Looking down the coast.

We paddled close to the shore and happened on this small seal getting a sun tan.  It didn't seem to mind us as we were able to get ...

... very close.  I believe it was very young and unafraid or very relaxed and lazy in the hot sun.  Rest assured we didn't cause it any stress or harm.

The tide was falling and some places we were able to paddle through on the outward leg were impassible on the return but ....

... not all.  It was a tight fit between a rock and a hard place but Clyde and I got through.

At the G-Spot (coined as such by myself a few years ago when Gerard had a spill and swim) we were almost back a St. Philips.

Brian, Sue and Cathy left.  Clyde Gary and I stopped at the nearby restaurant for coffee or tea sitting outside on the deck overlooking the cove and enjoying the warm weather.  A day that started in fog turned into a beautiful sunny day that, hopefully, signals a trend towards better weather.

Here comes the sun, little darling!

After the last several weeks paddling further afield we stuck closer to home as an earlier off the water time was needed.  Five of us were at the slipway in St. Philips at the appointed 9:00 but we were expecting a sixth, Cathy.  Ten minutes later, just making the grace period, Cathy drove in.  She rushed to get ready.  I tried to calm her down by suggesting we weren't in a hurry.  Kayaking is supposed to be relaxing not stress inducing.

We were on our way to Brocks Pond Falls, 10 kms up the coast.

Soon Brian, Cathy, Clyde, Gary, Sue and I were on our way in foggy conditions.  The forecast was foggy in the morning, clearing later in the day.

It was foggy but not like pea soup.  Across the water Bell Island was not visible but it announced its presence by fog horn.

It was an hour past high tide which meant little passages were accessible.

Brian followed me through this very tight cleft in the rocks.  The high water and calm sea made conditions right for my first time through this spot.

The fog persisted as we approached Portugal Cove but ...

... it began to lift as we crossed the ferry route out of Portugal Cove and ...

... the sun began to gain the upper hand once we had crossed.

Finally, it burned through the fog and the promised sunshine arrived.

The soothing sound of water trickled own the tall cliffs and into the crystal clear sea.

Sue and Cathy float by suspended over the sea bottom illuminated by sunbeams.

An eagle looked down on us from its lofty perch.  Usually they take to wing trying to draw us away but this one didn't move.

Ten kms after leaving St. Philips we were at the falls.  The GPS showed a moving average of 4.7 kms/ hr giving evidence to our desire to take it easy on this day.

The falls were in their full glory falling 100 meters from the precipice fueled by recent rains.

There are no beaches to take out along this coast so we hauled out on the rocks.  The falling tide exposed seaweed covered rocks making it a little kinder on the fibreglass but made getting a secure footing difficult.

Brian, Clyde, Sue and myself lunched on the lower rocks while Cathy and Gary clambered up the rocks to gain a comfortable perch above us.  Out in the water a crab fishing boat steamed out the bay.  We could see the land around Harbour Grace 25 kms across the water.  The sun was warm enough to make the wet rocks steam.  It was a wonderful setting to have lunch.  We were content.

Three hounds chasing a rock

After paddling out of Bay Bulls and paddling through the sea stacks at the headland we entered Witless Bay.  There we entered this indent in the red sandstone cliffs to investigate.

On the left a dark cavern opened under the gently sloping sedimentary beds.  We looked in and could see daylight through the smallest of openings at its end.

Inside I looked out at the crew taking in the awesomeness.

Onward we went until we ...

... came to this cave that we had to check out.

Another cave that attracted all of us with room for all.

Whereas we had a cold easterly breeze in our faces paddling out of Bay Bulls, we had it at our backs on our entry into Witless Bay.  Here Brian and Dean wait for Clyde to ride a bit of surge over a rock.

Eventually the land had less appeal and we paddled directly to the beach in Witless Bay for lunch.  Those of us who had coats or a cag donned them to keep warm in the cold.  Three dogs entertained us on the beach by constantly picking up this one rock for us to throw and play fetch.  Fog began to roll in from the open ocean while we ate our lunch so it wasn't long before we left the dogs to amuse themselves and we were back in our kayaks to retrace our route to Bay Bulls.

Back in Bay Bulls Derek had to rush home while Brian, Cathy, Clyde, Dean Hazen and I went for a coffee and warm-up.  Cathy picked up the tab so thanks for that and Hazen had Girl Guide cookies he was trying to push.  Overal, a most enjoyable trip punctuated by amazing seascapes.

Baboul Rocks rock

Baboul Rocks are a bunch of sea stacks between Bay Bulls and Witless Bay.  They are exposed to the open ocean and often are not accessible due to large swell.  Sunday we exited Bay Bulls harbour to paddle through the lot.

Cathy makes for an opening.

Finding little passages.

It wasn't that there was no swell, it was just very gentle washing over rocks near the surface.  Hazen waits for his turn to ride it over.

Brian among the rocks.

It seemed like Brian, Cathy and I spent more time exploring among the rocks than the others so we were last to continue around the headland and into Witless Bay.  On a day like we had Sunday I wanted to savour the area like letting good, dark chocolate melt in the mouth.

The rest of the gang waited for us around the corner and we carried on again as a group.

Bay Bulls - Prelude to the good stuff

Sunday we met in Bay Bulls, a 30 minute drive from my home.  It was something on the table the previous weekend but conditions were not favourable then.  Dean resurrected the plan, a paddle from Bay Bulls to Witless Bay, for this weekend.

The first part of the paddle as we made our way towards the south side of Bay Bulls is low lying land with not much to excite except the chance to get on the water again.  It was cool and it took some time to generate a bit of body heat.  The temperature hovered just above zero and an easterly wind blowing over the similarly cold water didn't help matters.

Further along towards the entrance to Bay Bulls the cliffs became more imposing.  The sun, shining from that direction, tried to wash out the pictures I took.

Several years ago Gerard led us into this cave.  There's almost only room to get a kayak through the entrance so its not obvious.  I backed in several kayak lengths until it opens up into a more cavernous feature.  Looking out from the darkness, the contrast in light overpowers the camera.  Cathy is barely visible outside but she ...

... joined me.  This was the best picture I got.

Back outside Cathy paddles away as she and I catch up with the other guys who were ...

 ... checking out this cave.

A sizeable water fall attracted our attention and despite the cold we grabbed a quick run through the falls.

Just over an hour later we were at the entrance to Bay Bulls harbour and into the open.  The splendors of Baboul Rocks were just around the corner.