The end of days

My first kayak camp trip of any consequence was in 2009 when Stan and I did a one night, over weekend, trip to Lobster Cove in Long Harbour, Fortune Bay.  It was a trip of short duration but it was the launching pad to longer satisfying trips.

In 2010 I took the leap into the deep end with Ralph and Stan on a four day trip along the exposed south coast of Newfoundland from Harbour Le Cou to Burgeo.

The year 2011 saw Cyde, Dean, Hazen and myself doing a three day circumnavigation of Long Island in Placentia Bay.  It was an impromptu three day weekend trip out of Arnolds Cove preceded by an overnight camp-out along the highway close to Arnolds Cove.

We could see Merasheen Island from Long Island when we were there in 2011.  We resolved then to circumnavigate Merasheen east of Long Island in 2012.  It was the longest trip yet taking six days with Clyde, Dean, Hazen and Neville.

The target in 2013 was a circumnavigation of New World Island and North and South Twillingate Islands.  This time I accompanied Brian, Dean, Neville and Hazen on a five day trip to the exposed northeast coast of the island.  It ended with a gut busting 50 km fifth day paddle with the final 25 km into a howling wind.

That brings me up to date in 2014 with the seven day trip across the north end of Fortune Bay.

It may seem like a nostalgic look over the trips I've done but that's not where I'm going.  We are currently looking after my wife's mother for a little while until she can be placed in a longer care facility.  She is nearing the end of her life.  Its not a tear jerker for she has lived a full life of 92 years.  Its a reminder for me to squeeze every last drop out of this fantastic pass time while I can.

With that in my foremost on my mind, yesterday, Saturday, I met Dean, Neville, Hazen to plan this year's kayak camp trip.  The winner is again Placentia Bay but a different part of it.  Its going to be a tour of a number of resettled communities some of which will be Oderin, Isle Valen, St. Kyrans, St. Leonards, Clattice Harbour.  With good fortune and timing (from the popular Newfoundland folk song "The Ryans and The Pittmans"):

We'll rant and we'll roar like true Newfoundlanders

We'll rant and we'll roar on deck and below

Until we see bottom inside the two sunkers

When straight through the Channel to Toslow we'll go.