Isle Valen: I'm on the way!

In 2015 Dean, Hazen, Neville, Terry and I did a trip in Placentia Bay visiting abandoned communities from Clattice Harbour to Channels Harbour.  On the third day of the trip we paddled by Isle Valen on our way to St. Kyrans.  I wished afterwards we had gone to at least have a look while we were so close.

Fast forward to 2017.  I noticed a stable air mass had set in and mailed around to people who could go midweek.  Unfortunately I didn't get any favourable responses.  Ummm, I wondered would I go myself?  The answer was a resounding "yes".

On Monday I was off to Garden Cove to begin my four day trip to and from Isle Valen.

It was a beautiful calm day but Placentia Bay is famous for its foggy weather.  As I left Garden Cove I prepared to made my way over to Sound Island and I noticed fog in the distance but ...

... it was in the distance and on the west side of Sound Island the summer cabins were bathed in brilliant sunshine.  Well, that good weather came to an end as I passed Brimstone Point and ...

... fog was as thick as pea soup.  I hugged the shoreline identifying places on my map to keep track of where I was.

At Sound Island Point I spotted the lighthouse that was showing on my topo and entered Muddy Hole, a broad open cove at the southern end of the island and made the short crossing to Holletts Point on Woody Island, the home of ...

... Woody Island Resort which gives guests a taste of outport Newfoundland living.  The day's guests were standing around in Garden Cove waiting to depart in the vessel Merasheen looking inquisitively at what I was doing.  I departed as they started to board but they got here before me.

The fog that looked like it would persist completely evaporated and it got hot.  Where I had passed on the west side of Sound Island I elected to paddled down the east side of Woody Island and take the inside channel.  There was no wind as I entered Jean Cove with Creve Islets offshore.

Between Allens Point and Barrets Point on Woody Island the coast curves west and I followed the shore which guided me onwards to the Burin Peninsula on the mainland.  I entered La Plante Cove and thought it was a ...

... good place to stop for a bite to eat.  I chose the south side of a little beach that was in shadow and therefore a bit cooler.  From here I carried on south until I got to Gulch Head where the wind picked up a bit in the open two km crossing to Ship Island.  I had camped at Gulch Pond several times before but on this trip I opted for a beach om Ship Island that I knew was a good camping spot.

A bit of work getting to Ship Island but worth it.  I arrived at 2:30, changed out of my paddling gear, set up my tent and generally got the campsite organized, had a good long lay down looking down the water I had just come down and had supper.  Then it was time to ...

... pick up some wood for the night's campfire.  I might have been alone and would have to do all the collecting myself but there was going to be a fire!

With the firewood ready I occupied myself with leaving a legacy on Ship Island.  I don't think there many people who frequent this beach but anyone who does will wonder who TR is.  I made it up out of concrete slabs that were falling out of old decaying lobster pots.

It gets dark later this time of year and I had a long day ahead the next day to get into Isle Valen Harbour.  So, I started the fire just as he sun was about to set.

I knew I wouldn't see the fire in the dark.  I burned what wood I had collected as it got duckish and when it was burned out and ...

.. as the red in the sky deepened, I toddled off to bed.

It was a most satisfying day.  While I would have welcomed company, I was elated to be out by myself.  The trip got off to a wonderful start.

Here's a Google Earth screen shot of the day's Garmin track:

Distance of 24.7 kms for the day.

A fine day in Cape Broyle, if it was January

Nine of us were in Cape Broyle today for a day paddle.  It was 7C but with the wind chill it felt like 3C.  That would be a fine day in January but on July 2nd, dreadful.  It speaks volumes though about the crew today.

The wind was forecasted to be 10 knots SE but it looked more like ESE as it was pretty much in our faces as we paddled east from the put-in.

A usual stop along the north side of the harbour is at Horsechops Falls where the river meets the sea.

We crossed at "The Narrows" to the south side.  Here, the black slates of the St. John's Formation are compressed and folded into an anticline.  Notice the curved beds with the convex up!

It was a relaxed paddle stopping every now and then to examine sea stacks along the way.

Low tide had been reached a hour earlier and I wondered if we'd be able to get into the tunnel.  As luck would have it, the rising water had risen enough for us to gain entrance.

Some of us grabbed a shower at this waterfall but it was chilly and a sudden cool down.

There were caves to explore.

We entered Lance Cove with its impressive sea stack.  The plan was ...

... to carry on to Church Cove but Eugene decided to get out at Lance Cove.  Brian went to check on him.  He was OK to stop there for lunch by himself but as we made our way towards Church Cove the plan began to come apart.  Dean, Shane and Ron thought they should go back with Eugene.  Brian, Cathy, Gary, Sue and myself continued on for a while until Brian and Sue also signaled they were returning to Lance Cove.  At that point Cathy, Gary and I felt compelled to also return.

I was disappointed but sometimes these things can't be helped.  In the end it was better to stay together.  There will be other days to make Church Cove and check out the huge cave called Cathedral Cave.

Vas de problem?

So, Wednesday evenings have been ongoing since 2008.  Its an opportunity to practice skills in  supportive environment.  The past average turnout has been 8 - 10.

Two weeks ago it was just Shane and myself.  Maybe it was too cold and windy?

Last week only four showed up.  Maybe it was too warm in calm winds?

Last evening it poured rain out of the heavens beforehand and it was just Shane and me again.  Maybe it was too wet?

  
While we waited till 6:00 for other people to show up we did a few assisted rescues.  At 6:00 we realized no one else would be there so we went for a short paddle along the coast.

As we did it seemed to clear up but outside the wind shadow provided by the protecting cliffs we noticed the catabatic effect of the SE winds dropping over Topsail Head formed whitecaps.  The choice was return along the coast or paddle out into to the whitecaps and catch surf rides back.

We chose to ride the wind and waves back.  As we paddled out the wind increased to the point where it blew the tops off of the whitecaps.  Into it we ...

... turned for home and caught some super surf rides.  The waves were at the right frequency that catching one wave it was easy to ride and paddle onto the wave in front making for long, fast rides with the bow purling sending water up the foredeck and around the cockpit.

That's what everyone missed.  But the bigger question is, whether these practice sessions have run their course and outlived their usefulness?

Fine tuning a rescue

This past winter some of us recognized that at Wednesday evening practices we were no longer doing much rescue practice.  Rather, we tended to just go on short paddles.  We resolved to get back to doing some rescue practices.

Last evening it was only Brian, Dean, Sue and myself.  It was warm and calm.  I wondered if I'd put on an extra layer for immersion.  Brian said he intended to get wet so that was incentive enough for me.

First we did a few self rescues - rolls and back deck scramble ons.

After that Brian and I did a few assisted rescues.

One of the challenges of doing a rescue in conditions is getting on the bow of the overturned kayak.  That is, getting  hold of it.  Brian proposed something to make that easier.  This is what he came up with:

• the swimmer goes to the bow of the overturned kayak and holds on to the toggle.  That helps the incoming rescuer establish contact because the swimmer has two arm lengths of reach to grab on to the incoming kayak if necessary,
• the swimmer can also help right the overturned boat so it can be pulled across the cockpit to empty,
• from there the rescue can proceed as usual.

We both had a go rescuing each other with that refinement and it worked well.

 Over the years we've practiced rescues I haven't seen anyone doing a T-rescue so I proposed to Brian we do that one.

Two kayaks lined up side by side are very stable but two kayaks configured in a T shape offers more stability in my opinion.  The benefit of the T-rescue is that most kayakers already practice back deck scramble ons so they're familiar with getting on the back deck and plopping into the cockpit.

The other benefit is there's only one choice to make.  It saves time deciding whether to do a between the kayaks rescue or a heel hook etc, etc.

Then there's the fun of pumping the water out.

It was a productive evening and I'm glad to get back to basics and do some actual practice.  Its important so that it becomes instinctive between the people we paddle with.

A hoard of kayaks descends on Conception Harbour

The first club paddle of 2017 began today in Conception Harbour.  It was Cathy's first time planning and leading a club paddle.  I counted 27 kayaks.  I may be off one but either way it was a fine turnout.  With that many kayaks there was a bottle neck on the slipway so it took a while for everyone to get on the water.

Cathy met with the sweeps before we put in and called for everyone to raft up for the day's paddle plan at the shipwreck in Conception Harbour.

Leaving Conception Harbour we rounded Middle Point to paddle into Middle Arm.

We checked out some "shacks" in Middle Arm paddled up the east side of the Arm and reached the light at Ballyhack Point.

There was some talk of stopping at Broad Cove for lunch but Cathy decided Ezekiels Cove (Newfoundland pronounciation "S euh gulls").  Under bright sunshine we each got out our fare for the day.  It was so good to feel the heat of the sun on my back after the cold spring we've endured up to this point.

At Avondale Cathy wanted to feature the adit of an old mine so the curious got out to have a look.  It goes in some distance but not all accessible.  A sign just inside asks explorers not not go further because there is a colony of bats at the end.

Inside looking out at the less curious who stayed in their kayaks.

The club paddle is a Paddle Canada level I paddle.  The wind was starting to pick up so we paddled along the Goat Shore towards Salmon Cove where we crossed back across Gasters Bay to return to the take out at Conception Harbour.

Level I paddles are by their nature held in benign conditions and rather short.  It topped out at almost 13 kms, short but sweet and met the bill. A great job by Cathy rewarded by a huge turnout.  Thanks to everyone for a most enjoyable day.

Surf's up!

Wednesday evening and it was windy and cold.  Warm if it was January but for June 14th at 4C with a windchill of 0C it wasn't very seasonal.  Then with a NW wind of 20 knots gusting to 30 it was, shall we say, raw.

I arrived to see only Shane there concerned no one else would show.  I was already in my drysuit and here's Shane walking around in just jeans and a T-shirt.  I must have been exaggerating the conditions *lol*.

We got ready and headed out of the channel to face the wind and waves.

The idea was to paddle into the wind and waves for some distance before turning to catch surf rides back.  The first run was right into the teeth of the wind and uphill on the larger waves.  There's not much protection to hide from the NW wind but I knew it would be a short evening if I continued with that tactic.  So, from previous experience I paddled into the wind closer to shore and rest ...

... briefly between runs in this smallest of sheltered spots before heading back into the waves.

After an hour it seemed the wind was dropping slightly so Shane suggested a paddle up the shore some distance.  While the wind did drop some the sea state did not as we paddled close to the shoe in the waves and clapotis.

It was just the two of us.  I knew several other regulars had commitments but where was everyone else?  One of the objectives of Wednesday evening practices is to develop conditioning to paddle in challenging wind and waves when necessary.  The question then arises in my mind, do I have an obligation to tow anyone who doesn't see the need to put in the effort and suddenly find themselves in over their heads and unprepared to deal with the conditions?

Obviously, there is a need to tow in case of an injury.  But, I'd have to think long and hard otherwise.  Fair or not?

Two months done and dusted

Two months ago we started meeting at St. Philips for practice or a paddle or a social.  Its been slow to catch on this year as the weather has been so poor.  This week nine people showed up which was good to see.

The good thing about Wednesday evenings is that regardless of the weather the diehards get a chance to paddle.  Even if its too windy to paddle we beat into the wind some, turn and surf back.

There wasn't much happening as far as conditions but there was a bit of action along the rocks.  The nine of us set off towards Portugal Cove with Brian and Shane taking time to ride the surge over the rocks at the G-Spot while ...

... the rest of the gang stayed off shore even though it was safe to duck in behind remnant rocks.

At Beachy Cove we held up, waited for the two in play boats and as the sun began to set we ...

... turned to return to the cove but not before catching some more rides ...

at the G-spot.  I cut through and sat waiting to get some shots of Brian and Shane.  Trust me Brian is in there somewhere and if you click o the shot to enlarge you will see just a small patch of blue.

Timing they say is everything.  This is the best Shane could catch an after waiting a long time for something bigger, we gave up and called it a day.

The weather is improving every week.  I hope we'll see more people out as the summer kicks in.