Another way to Avondale

Bound for a distant shore

Avondale is a popular paddling destination in the area of St. John's. Its about a 70 km drive if you put-in in Avondale. Sometimes I want to put-in closer to home and save the gas. There's more than one way to skin a cat they say and so it is with getting to Avondale.

Today Dean, Gerry and I put-in at Indian Pond (which was a 30 km drive for me) on the east shore of Holyrood Bay and we paddled west across the bay to Chapel Cove, Harbour Main and Salmon Cove Point. Avondale is on the other side of Salmon Cove Point but we didn't get down there as we were short of time. Nonetheless, its another option to paddle Avondale and environs but a more direct crossing would save time to be able to get down into Avondale.

Gerry bathed in bright sunlight

I caught Gerry backing into this cave and got out the camera for a shot. That's the thing about digital cameras, you don't always get the shot you want. The subject (Gerry) was partly in the dark cave but outside it was bright sunshine. The camera probably didn't know what light reading to use with the resulting picture a bit overexposed.

Salmon Cove Point

A bit of swell was running at Salmon Cove Point which we rode back to MacKay's Point. We discussed a run down into Avondale but time was against us, so, we headed back and just took our time.

Surf's up

The beach at MacKay's Point looked pretty inviting for a break even though it was a dumping beach. Still getting used to landing and launching the fibreglass Nordkapp in a bit of surf. The more I do the smoother it gets. Sometimes a plastic boat is a lot simpler; just get in and knuckle walk it until the surf picks ya up.

Harvest the wind

There were a lot of sailboats out today and this one caught my eye with is colourful spinnaker. The wind had dropped and this sailboat was doing its best to harvest speed from the wind with the big sheet spinnaker. Even with the spinnaker I had no trouble catching her for a picture.