The forecast for today was winds from the north at 20 kms, gusting to 40. I suggested a paddle in Bay Bulls. A paddle along the north side of the harbour would moderate the affects of the wind. Jenn and I met shortly before 10:00 in Bay Bulls with not a breath of wind apparent. So we set off along the south side knowing that should the predicted wind materialize we'd just cross over to the north side.
Exploring the world from the bottom of a cave. First I had a turn, then Jenn and then further on ...
... another.
Investigating this rock to paddle around but ...
... not this one, another one.
As we paddled east along the south shore we reached and went around Big Cove Point and the open ocean all the way to Ireland. From the put-in we had paddled east, first past black slates of the St. John's Formation and then the greenish grey sandstones and, here, the red sandstones of the Signal Hill Formation.
A whispy waterfall fell from above where both Jenn and I grabbed a shower.
The wind waves began to grow as the wind began to pick up. But, we had come this far and I wanted to show Jenn some of the Baboul Rocks so we paddled south among them and sheltering behind one to have a quick snack.
The forecasted north wind was more NE as we left Babou Rocks. We set out for the north shore of the harbour into a stiff wind and breaking waves. We paddled side by side across the 2 km open mouth of the harbour with occasional waves breaking over the kayaks and plastering us with salt water.
The trick is not to look at the destination but merely just paddle and eventually ...
... there's an assurance calmer waters will be reached. Water drops on the camera lens testify to salty spray.
We paddle around Useless Bay, past Bread and Cheese Point and 4.5 kms later we were back at the take-out.
It was a bit of everything - caves, rocks, open ocean paddling and calm inner harbour waters. I knew Jenn was a good paddler as I was so told. Today she proved it; huge respect!
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