Sun sets on Thursday practices

Last evening was our last Thursday evening practicing at St. Philips for the year.  The sun sets early now making it hardly worth while time wise.  We were on the water at 5:00 and off at 6:30.

Its been a great year with an average of 8 people taking part weekly.  One evening we had 15, an all time record.

A semi-submersible oil rig was back in the bay.  I took a run out and surfed back.  We had another spectacular sunset.  An appropriate ending for this year's sessions.

Half a dozen of one and two of another

A paddle started to form for Sunday in Bay Bulls.  An early start was proposed.  Too early for me given its only a 30 minute drive and not that long of a paddle.  It was also too early for Clyde so six of our paddle buddies put-in at 8:30 and Clyde and I put-in at 10:00.  We left with the rain falling and overcast skies.

We didn't know where the others were.  There was no plan so we made decisions on the fly.  We paddled out along the north side ducking into this channel that's not always accessible.

Five kilometers later we were at North Head.  We paddled out a bit to have a look down the coast and the lighthouse at the head.

At North Head we decided to cross the mouth of the harbour towards, oddly enough, South Head.  Looking south with Gull Island off of South Head it seemed the sun was trying to break out.

The ocean wave model predicted swell coming from the north.  At South Head it could go no further and crashed on the rocks.

When Clyde and I reached South Head I spotted the early crew coming up from Witless Bay.  We stopped for a while and rafted up for a chat.  I observed I couldn't get an early start as I needed my beauty sleep.  Someone remarked I should have stayed in bed longer.  Point taken.

Clyde and I carried on towards Witless Bay where we would stop for lunch.  The rain made all the greenery really green which contrasted nicely with the red sandstones.

Clyde checks out a cave.

We stopped on this little beach for lunch as it was secluded and out of sight of the community of Witless Bay.  It was still raining and turning colder so we only stayed long enough to eat our lunch before ...

... heading back to Bay Bulls.

Earlier when we met our friends the swell was moderate at South Head at about a meter.  The wind had come up while we ate which had a dramatic effect on the sea state.  The larger swell was near two meters which in combination with the rebounding waves made for interesting paddling.

We got around the head without incident.  There's always a chance for an "incident" when taking pictures in choppy seas.  Anyway, the swell though smaller in the harbour, followed us down the south side making for a good push and some mini surf rides.

The take-out in Bay Bulls.  The rain continued and the northwest winds had dropped the temperature to 7C.  No matter, we were pleased with our day's activity.  Ticked off another 21 kms towards the annual target, now clearly in sight with the best part of three months left.

I'm sure the six early risers had a good paddle.  I know the two of us did.  Next time we'll all be together again.

Blowing in the wind

Yesterday the wind was blowing westerly at 32 knots with gusts to 39.  I looked over the bay with binoculars.  I was awash with whitecaps.  I wondered if I should check it out.  Wondering solved, Brian mailed and we met at St. Philips at 2:30 to test the waters.

Paddling out through the harbour channel the wind hit us smack in the faces.  As I exited the wind caught my bow and pushed me broadside to the wind and waves and threatened to push me up on shore.  Some fully extended paddle sweeps got the bow pointed into the wind and I escaped.

 The huge waves beyond the point beckoned.  Keeping to the south side of the cove the wind was manageable but paddling out past the point was not possible.  Near the point the wind threatened blow the paddle out of my hands and blow me over as well.  It was a no-go zone.

The wind and waves cornered around the point and thus the waves were smaller.  We contented ourselves with some short surf rides inside the cove for just over half an hour before calling it quits.  It was a short spell but we were glad we put-in.

I shot some video and have it posted on YouTube.

Thursday evening surf

Nine of us got together Thursday evening to catch some surf rides.  The wind was gradually building all day and when we got there we were greeted by a fully developed sea.  It wasn't as big as I've seen it at St. Philips but it set up for some decent surf rides.  I caught Derrick on top of one.

We paddled out into the wind and waves until we were satisfied we were far enough out and then turned to catch surf rides back into the cove.  Here, Dean and Neville climb over one wave.

To the north the sky was indigo blue whereas, as the evening wore on, to the west the sun ...

... was setting on another fun evening at St. Philips.  One more week left because after next week it will get dark too early to make it practical.

On the road to Port aux Basques

Yesterday, Friday, it was blowing a gale and it was wet, wet, wet.  Brian and I considered going for some surf rides and a general bounce in the waves.  We didn't in the end.  Not that wet is an issue but today the winds were forecast to continue at a slightly reduced speed but it would be sunny.  We lost the wind but there was impressive swell still running thanks to the departing wind.

So, surfing was off and instead Brian, Clyde, Sean, Tobias and I paddled the familiar coast to Portugal Cove.

All along the shore the incoming swell reared up and crashed on the rocks.  We stayed off shore for fear of being caught inside the break zone and getting washed up onto the rocks.  Still the clapotis reached us.

We arrived at Wester Point at the entrance to Portugal Cove.  The swell was really pounding in at the point, though the camera doesn't do it justice.

When the breaking waves generate haze there's a violent collision between water and land.

At the entrance to Portugal Cove we stopped and bobbed on the incoming swell.  We decided to return to St. Philips.

It wasn't a long paddle today but it all adds up.  The distance from St. John's, the capital city on the east coast, along the Trans Canada Highway to Port aux Basques on the west coast, where we catch the ferry to the mainland of Canada, is 905 kilometers.  If I was paddling it, after today's paddle the cumulative total would put me just past Tompkins, only 35 kilometers away.

1,000 kilometers is within reach.

Rainy day people

It rained all day Thursday.  I didn't expect many people would have much of an appetite for our Thursday evening get-together.  I was wrong.  Five of us were there and went for a paddle up to Portugal Cove.  It would have been six if Dean hadn't been nursing an injury.

It continued to rain with moderate winds; no way to avoid rain on the lens.  The swell added interest.  Clyde goes first.

After I got through I held the camera to catch this rear view shot of Brian and Sean (barely) coming through too.

I enjoyed the evening.  It rained.  So what?  We were in drysuits which would not have been very comfortable sitting home on the sofa.

Around alone

On the same Saturday last year Brian, Dean, Hazen and I paddled out of St. Philips to Bell Island and around and returned to St. Philips.

This year everyone was either doing a Paddle Canada course, attending a club paddle or otherwise unavailable.  I had to stay closer to home.  I decided to cross to Bell Island by myself and decide what I'd do when I got over there.

I checked the wave forecast model and expected swell in the Tickle.  It was sizable but broad open swell.  At times Dominion Pier, where I was headed, disappeared.  I wasn't concerned but questioned one option of doing a circumnavigation of the island.

Five kilometers later I arrived at Dominion Pier.  I felt good.  I decided to paddle north and have a look before committing to the rest of the day.

It was lumpy.  Swell was washing up on the base of the cliffs at Long Harry Point.

At Eastern Head I could see a bit down the shore.  It didn't look good.  Bell Island's sedimentary rocks dip gently east so near the shore its shallow and the swell really kicks up.  The swell was breaking all along the shore from my vantage point.  I paddled a bit further until I convinced myself I should just keep going, though I questioned my sanity.  Keep going, but stay well offshore out of the reach of the curlers.

The swell was running with me all along the eastern side of the island.  It was easy paddling while I made good progress.  Past Big Cove the effect of the swell lessened.  I was able to move in closer to shore without the threat of getting washed up onto the base of the cliffs.  This stack is still fastened to the land.

Behind me the sun was less harsh on the camera.  Typical shoreline.

At Big Head I finally caught sight of "The Bell".  I was near the south side of the island after paddling 10 kms from the lighthouse at Eastern Head, oddly enough at the North end of the island.

I paddled through between "The Bell" and the island and into Front Bell Cove.  It was time for lunch.  It was 1:30,  three and a half hours after leaving St. Philips.

After a 20 minute stop for lunch and a leg stretch I got along the SW side of the island and headed north.  At Scotia Pier I was close to Dominion Pier from where I started my circumnavigation.  This is all that's left of the Nova Scotia Steel Company's iron ore operations on Bell Island.  The red hematite staining on the sedimentary beds is evident in the sunshine.

And, this is all that's left of Dominion Coal Company's iron ore operations on the island.  The iron ore on Bell Island was mined from 1894 until 1966.  The operations here are underground and extend some 3 kms from shore.  Discovery of more economical surface deposits elsewhere sounded the death knell for Bell Island mining in 1966.

I stopped for a 5 minute stretch at a beach near Dominion Pier before making the 5 km crossing back to St. Philips in the middle distance.

Three quarters of an hour later I was back at St. Philips.

I felt elated.  I enjoyed my own company, being able to paddle at my own pace which on the day was a not too shabby 6.5 kms/hr moving average.  I was gone 6 hours covered 35 kms and only stopped for a bit over half an hour.

I prefer the company of others but at times going solo is a rewarding experience, as it was today.

The bread crumbs.  The effect of the ebbing tide on my return dragged me a bit off a straight line course.  Next time I'll have to take that into consideration.