The first evening paddle of the year for me! Thanks to Shane for instigating the paddle. Also on the water were Ashleigh, Brian and Terry.
I did a few rolls before we set out down the shore towards Topsail Beach. The water was cold but the air was warm. That caused some problems on the camera lens with it fogging up. Here we were making our way around the Rock of Ages.
Brian jumped out of his kayak and Ashleigh was conscripted to do an assisted rescue. Brian has a habit of doing that; helping newer paddlers learn some of these essential skills.
There was a bit of wind from the SW which made it interesting paddling along the shore. I haven't done much paddling lately, maybe having lost some of the enthusiasm for it and even feeling like I'm becoming a fair weather paddler ...
... but I hugged the shore getting the best of the action as waves beat off the rocks. I felt like I was finding my mojo again. Like riding a bike, you never forget. It felt so natural and I relished the rough water.
We didn't go all the way to Topsail Beach. Here we stopped by Harald Bluetooth rock while ...
... across the bay under grey skies Bell Island hovered on the horizon. After bobbing up and down on the waves we went a sort distance further and paddled out into the bay to catch the stronger winds and bigger waves. What took an hour to paddle into the wind was a 30 minute series of surf rides tearing back to the harbour at St. Philips.
Back at St. Philips I went up the river to wash the salt off of everything and did a few more rolls. This is Ashleigh setting up to do her first, I think, cold water roll under Shane's watchful eye.
I think I lost a lot of interest in paddling because I was getting too much of a good thing. I didn't have a lot of balance in my sporting life. Then I got sidetracked with the purchase of a fatbike and kayaking took a back seat. But, thanks to Shane I rediscovered the joy of ocean paddling.
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