Welcome back Thursdays

Cooling off

Well, we've started up Thursday evening practices at St. Philips again. It was a cool and clear evening. Small turnout of four but it will pick up as the weather gets warmer and the evenings get longer.

I didn't get the water temperature but my guess is its just above zero judging by the ice cream headaches. A couple of rolls and then paddle about to warm up again and repeat.

Ripples on waves

It wasn't terribly windy but yet windy enough to build waves suitable for surfing. We'd paddle out into the waves, turn and catch the surf ride back into the cove. Doing so, I postulated Tony's first law of surfing wind waves: the waves are always bigger paddling out and get smaller after turning to catch the ride back.

I'm looking forward to a summer of great Thursday evening practices.

Its what you can't see

The 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is almost here. Everyone will know that Titanic struck an iceberg and went down just over two hours later.

In the most recent movie there's one scene where a chunk of ice falls on deck after the collision. Maybe a bit of Hollywood drama. The real action however was under water. 90% of an iceberg is submerged and that's where the real damage was done, where the side was ripped out of the unsinkable ship.

A few more shots from my recent paddle in the ice at Torbay emphasizes how much lies underwater and its what Edward Smith couldn't see that reached up and grabbed him.

Pack ice paddle

Choked with ice

I checked the daily ice report with anticipation but it appeared the ice had moved off. I intended to walk to Torbay Point to check it out with binoculars but stopped at Middle Cove first. I was surprised and dismayed. There was ice but absolutely no open water in which to launch.

One of the sightseers there said Torbay was open so I drove the short distance there.

Open water

Sure enough Torbay was open and there was pack ice in the cove. I got out to survey the situation and felt the cold sting of the northerly winds blowing over the ice field.

Undaunted, I put-in and paddled the east side to see how far I could get.

End of the line

I hadn't paddled very far before my way was blocked.

Sheltered calm

I turned to the west side following the edge of the ice pack. I felt some wind when I launched but here there was enough height in the ice to offer protection from the northerly wind.

The leading edge

Near the west side of the cove I was able to get around and find more open water. I had spotted that option before I got in my kayak.

Squeeze through

Turning the corner there was open water beyond. There was just enough water to paddle through this oddly shaped floe.

No throughfare

I turned east again to see how close I could get to Middle Cove where I knew the ice was packed in tight. Close to Motion I was stopped dead in my tracks.

Bits and pieces

There were bits of ice and larger floes to paddle around practicing bow rudders and the like.

Pancakes

There weren't a lot of bigger pieces in the pack but here three layers of ice got pancaked on top of each other, possibly as the wind drove the ice ashore somewhere else.

On the other side

Looking west it was open water and I felt the sting of the cold northerly wind that was blowing at 15 knots. Only small wavelets formed though because there wasn't much fetch but there was enough wind to push the ice all over towards the east side.

Lone floater

A lone ice pan drifted along the west side as I made my way back after a bit over an hour of probing the edges of the ice pack.

Goin' thru here

A good part of this piece was under water. On the other side was a channel I intended to paddle through. Again, there was enough water to get over the ice shelf.

She's a beauty

Before I took out, I, of course, had to paddle up onto an ice floe. It was interesting standing on the floe with ice all around me.

It was a fun time today in Torbay. It was the first time in three years the ice came in as close to shore as this. Three years ago I also spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the same cove. Hopefully the ice will stick around for a while.

After the snow

Overwhelming sunshine

Saturday we were surprised with 31 cms of snow. No April fool joke what-so-ever.

After shoveling our respective driveways Clyde and I met at St. Philips to have an afternoon paddle. We picked close at hand because we only had the afternoon. The slipway was covered in pure white snow. The sun reflecting off of the snow tried to overwhelm the camera.

Icy skirt

It was colder than it felt as the buoys in the harbour were dressed in icy skirts.

Lumpy seas

We paddled down to Topsail Beach in case the 15 knot winds picked up. If they did they would be behind us.

No shots of the paddle down because they would have been directly into the sun and likely washed out. The paddle down was very entertaining though as we paddled close to the rocks in the clapotis.

Snow and ice

Snow settled on the rocks and also the icicles still clinging to the cliffs.

Caught by Clyde

And, a shot of me that Clyde mailed.

It was a short 14 km paddle. Not a lot of shots. Well, I took lots of pictures but sizing them up after they all pretty much looked the same - Clyde paddling along icy and snow covered cliffs.

Going solo

Every picture tells a story

Friday I did an impromptu paddle close to home. We were expecting a late winter storm bringing 30 cm snow. I wanted to get a paddle in before it hit. I went by myself. I'm glad I did because we got it as forecast.

Solo, I'm on my own timetable. I can take my time to have a reflective look at things that may not catch the attention of a group. Like, just sitting in the kayak watching and hearing the pitter-patter of water dropping onto the deck. Or, thinking about the massive forces unleashed when the Topsail Fault ruptured, evidenced by the micro and macro structures in these rocks.

Rocks on left and right

I have to be in a certain frame of mind to paddle solo. Most of the time though, I prefer the company of paddle friends. I lose a bit of independence but I gain so much more. I really notice that when we stop for coffee after a paddle. These guys and girls are not just people I paddle with, these are people I feel comfortable with and consider friends.

A picture like this really needs a kayaker or two.

The Bell Island ferry

I reached Portugal Cove just as the ferry Nonia was leaving for Bell Island. I sat and wondered if they saw me. They were people going somewhere doing something. Maybe in a hurry, maybe not. I don't know.

I sat and watched a while as the ferry chugged across the Tickle. I was in no hurry as I turned, stuck the paddle into the water and was carried back on the gentle swell. I felt happy and that is priceless.

Passage interrupted

Saltwater passage

Well, we've passed the spring equinox. The weather has been trending towards warmer weather and I thought our passage through winter was complete. But, around here, winter can come back with a vengeance even though the calendar says spring.

We're in for a blast of winter tonight and tomorrow that is expected to bring upwards of 30 cm snow.

I knew Saturday was out. Maybe Sunday too. So, after two hours at the gym I figured another hour and a half in the kayak was mandatory before the weather arrived.

The weather will get better yet. We live in hope.

A bit of spit

Warm waters

The chlorine in the pool water makes my eyes itchy for days after so I wear swim goggles. Tuesday evening I found them fogging up constantly.

The solution? A bit of spit. Sounds gross but a bit of spit in each eye piece rubbed around and drained gave me clear vision for the rest of the night.

Seven pool nights this past winter but I think I'll be spending Tuesdays outside from now on. I noticed Topsail Pond is ice free on one side.