Woody Island Zen

Peter proposed a paddle for Canada Day from Garden Cove at the head of Placentia Bay, down the outside of Sound Island and Woody Island and then a return trip up the inside channel between the islands and the mainland. It was the beginning of paddle that we would describe as fantastic when we took out. We put-in a bit after 10:30, stopped for lunch for about an hour, swam at a swimhole for about 30 minutes and took out at 6:30.

Just after putting in, Peter, Stan and Alison paddle towards Placentia Mans Point where we crossed over to Sheppard Point on Sound Island.

Black and white boats of Stan and Alison with the coast of the Avalon Peninsula behind them. The Come by Chance oil refinery was like a scar on the landscape but a happy memory also of a time many years ago when I fished codfish with my father-in-law on the waters in the background.

Stan and Peter paddle up to a beautiful beach in Maggotty Cove on Sound Island. I was surprised with the numerous beaches we would come across on our paddle today, some of which were claimed by people who built summer cabins behind them.

The schistose rocks of Sound Island in Placentia Bay testify to their heated contorted past in early earth history. And, they made for a very scenic paddle.

The kayaks were pulled up on this sandy beach at Back Cove on Woody Island where we stopped for lunch, a dip for some and some exploring. We spoke to some local people who showed up as we were leaving who told us the beach was cleared of rocks by a Randy Lieb who cemented them into the walls of a house we had earlier investigated. Maybe so, but we saw many beautiful beaches on our paddle today.

Peter and the rocks of Woody Island are reflected in the still waters that greeted us after our lunch stop. It was truly a Zen moment was we paddled along on still waters with Placentia Bay to the left and clear water letting us see fish, rocks and seaweed on the bottom.

Peter under the watchful eye of an eagle perched in the trees above him at about 1:00 on the clock. There was a nest in the trees below and as we approached the shore the Mama flew away to draw us away from the nest while Papa kept an eye on us. She need not have worried because we were only interested in looking and admiring these magnificent birds.

Stan paddling in the zen-like conditions of Placentia Bay after we stopped for lunch.

The falls where Rattling Brook falls into the sea. Getting under the spray of a waterfall like this is always a treat as its a chance to get a cool down.

We took our boats out and laid them along a short path that led to a well concealed treasure above the falls. Peter and Alison knew about the swim hole but if Stan and myself had been here without them we certainly would have missed it. This $1,000,00 view makes it look like its all on one level but the swim hole is actually about 5 metres above the sea level in the sunlight.

Alison and Peter were prepared with swimware, Stan and myself cooled ourselves off in our drysuits. Next time I'll be prepared.

We handrailed along the coast from Rattling Brook falls to Bob Spirer Cove opposite from Sound Island with the hope we'd see some wildlife. We were lucky; we saw two caribou. One walked at a canter along the shoreline and the other was sunning herself when Alison came upon her and gestured we should come quickly. We kept our distance and watched as the yearling sauntered off.