3 island hop, skip and jump

Getting ready at Topsail Beach

There are three islands in Conception Bay grouped within about 5 kms of each other. I suggested a paddle to to each one, a sort of triple play as in baseball. The idea was to step out on each one to tag the base.

Group of Seven

There were eight of us.

It was calm

The paddle out to the islands meant 4 crossings. There's something that I find appealing about a crossing especially sitting in the middle of the bay. It feels like I'm in my own world and no one can intrude upon it. There are no "honey-do" lists out here, there are no phone calls from call centers trying to bum a contribution for some cause, there are not deadlines.

Arriving at Little Bell Island

A 4.5 km paddle from Topsail Beach and we arrive at first base 35 minutes later. We all got out to complete the tag.

Off to Bell Island

Each of the islands have towering cliffs of Ordovician sandstones and siltstones ...

Arriving at Bell Island

and, you can really see the individual beds in the cliffs of Bell Island. Each bed contains different grain sizes that indicate a change in depositional environment.

Lunch stop on Bell Island

We landed here for lunch and to tag up on second base.

Heading for Kelly's Island

After lunch we paddled southerly towards Kelly's Island. We were promised rain and increasing winds in the afternoon but the weather was holding.

Arriving at Kelly's Island

The cliffs here at Kelly's Island were stained with rust caused by oxidation of the hematite rich rocks. Iron ore was mined on Bell Island and while they rocks are related, there's no ore to mine here. Rumour has it that pirate treasure is burried on the island though.

Group shot

We landed to tag third base.

Here's the group today (l2R) Gene, Sean, Gerard, Clyde, Dean, Dennis, Hazen and myself. We're on Kelly's Island, the third of the islands visited today to complete the triple play. We put in and paddled the 6 kms back to home base at Topsail Beach in 60 minutes, a pretty good pace. Those 6 put the total for the day at 22.5. Thanks guys for a great paddle.