Return of an old friend

The weather hasn't been great the last little while so the paddling has been sporadic at best.  Monday the weather cooperated with cool temperatures but no wind to speak of.  The call went out with six replies from Brian, Cathy, Dean, Gary, Hazen and Shane.  We met at Bay Bulls.

I was happy to have calm conditions for the paddle; I wasn't looking for a workout.  The conditions also suited Dean who banged up his shoulder earlier this year when he got windowshaded and dragged upside down across a cobble beach.  Dean hasn't paddled much since but this day fit the bill.

A drill ship had been moored at the mouth of Bay Bulls for some time.  We've seen this before when West Hercules was here so I thought it was her again.

We, here Cathy, made our way east along the north shore of Bay Bulls.

Dean looks like his shoulder is doing just fine.

The north side of Bay Bulls offers a couple of places to paddle around sea stacks.  They are not places to get caught in with a big swell running but on this day ...

... it was a piece of cake.  Bran was the first to disappear and emerge out the other side.

Under clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine.

The second opportunity to check out the space behind the sea stacks towering above our heads.

Brian!

As we reached North Head at the entrance to Bay Bulls I asked if we'd paddle a short distance north up the coast to Freshwater Cove.  So, that's what we did.  Here Hazen paddles under the North Head lighthouse.

Its rained a lot lately supplying this waterfall pouring into Freshwater Cove.

We hung out in the cove for a while and then exited to return to Bay Bulls where we ...

... paddled on the rig's blind side to get close.  As I approached I made out the rigs name - West Aquarius!  It was a reunion of sorts for me.  On January 14th of 2013 I paid it a visit while it was in Conception Bay.  At that time I approached it from the control room side and as I closed on it I was warned off of coming too close.  It was hard to believe it was almost five years ago.

On the west side we were in shade as the low sun hid behind the hills.  It was an uneventful relaxing paddle back to the take out, capped off with a coffee and a few laughs.  It was great to be back on the water with these familiar faces.