The best laid plans ...

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry they say.  But sometimes they don't.  I suggested a paddle from Colliers to Conception Harbour.  That gave us protection from NW winds paddling out Colliers Bay and have it behind us after we got around the peninsula heading down Gasters Bay into Conception Harbour.

The wind turned out to be westerly and light so we scraped the original idea and paddled from Colliers to Brigus return.  It proved to be a more scenic route.  The group of eight on the day's paddle were Brian, Cathy, Dean, Derrick, Gary, Shane, Terry and myself.

Leaving the beach we headed north on flat calm waters paddling under the hills of volcanic rocks of the Harbour Main Group consisting mainly of basalts, andesites and rhyolites.

Shane and Terry explore a crevice.

We arrived at Turks Gut where a fault runs up the valley separating the volcanic rocks from sedimentary rocks of the Conception Group.

The paddle up to Turks Gut was uneventful but beyond it got more interesting with a few sea stacks and ...

... places to grab a shower if so disposed to do so.

At this sea arch its clear to see we were now paddling along sedimentary rocks with its defined beds dipping from east to west.

A rocky sentinel stands off alone in the sea and ...

... another (I have no idea why the camera made this shot darker under the same lighting conditions) which, when we passed through opened up into a cove where the scenery dramatically changed to ...

... Lower Cambrian age red and green slates of the Brigus Formation.

Its a peasant surprise emerging from the slot guarding the shoreline entrance the first time I was here.  We were also here earlier this year and I knew what awaited but kept quiet to allow Cathy to be surprised.  This time it was Derrick, who has sailed past here before but because the sailboat runs further offshore, it escaped him.

The red rocks are laid down in shallow water allowing oxygen to essentially rust the iron hematite.  The green rocks indicate deposition in anoxic (devoid of oxygen) waters preventing oxidation of the hematite.  Though I have to admit some confusion where the red beds fade to green within the same bed.

We arrived at South Point at the entrance to Brigus.

Inside the point at Great Cove in Brigus Bay we stopped to play in a bit of wave action in the rocks.

As we continued on to what would be our lunch beach we spotted a minke whale.  It was feeding.  I paddled out from the cliffs a little into the cove where I noticed the water boil up around the kayak.  I looked down and while I couldn't see the whale pass under it had surely done so.  After that bit of excitement we ...

... pulled out to stop for lunch.  Those who brought coats donned them to keep warm in the cool wind flowing west out of Brigus Harbour and mitts or gloves to keep the hands warm.

Dean found there was no wind on the other side of the beach and slowly people abandoned the main group to join him.  We didn't stay long before beginning our return south to Colliers and a waiting hot beverage and a bite to eat at the local restaurant.

Another awesome day on the water and thanks to the gang.

Cupid draws her bow ... (Part3)

We reached the entrance to Brigus on our paddle from Colliers to the community of Cupids.  Inside South Point we were surprised by a bit of swell that surged over the rocks which offered an opportunity to test fate.

It was decided to have a short stop and stretch our legs before paddling into Brigus itself.

Hazen in the inner harbour.

Older sheds lined the inner harbour while ...

... some newer "sheds" crowded the shore with a view out Brigus Bay.

The wind started to pick up as we left Brigus behind and were soon out to North Point and the lighthouse benefiting from mini-surf rides.

The shoreline continued to impress as we paddled inside "The Wigwam" seastack.

Just around Burnt Point we padded into what looked like a dead end canyon which in fact was ...

... another stone arch open to the sky and sunshine above.

From the arch we had a short 3.5 km paddle into Cupids.  Cupids, originally called Cuper's Cove, was settled by Englishman John Guy in 1610 making it the oldest settlement in Canada and the second oldest in North America after Jamestown in 1607.  Here's a link to the Cupids Legacy Center where there is more info to check out.

But we weren't there yet and we had a bit of work to do paddling southwest into a 15 knot wind.  Dean and I arrived at the take-out first and I began to feel guilty.  Dean had thrown down the gauntlet and I took up the challenge keeping up with him but as I looked northeast from the beach I saw our paddle partners some distance away, I thought to myself I should have stayed with the pack.

Nevertheless, it was a fantastic paddle of 25 kms with some interesting features and shoreline.  As sure as Cupid let her arrow fly, it found its target in seven paddlers Sunday on way to the community of Cupids.

Cupid draws her bow ... (Part2)

After a lunch stop in Turks Gut on our way to the community of Cupids we passed through this sea arch and ...

... around this seastack.

The day that started out overcast turned mostly sunny turning black volcanic rocks purplish in the bright sunshine.

We approached another seastack and in the calm conditions paddled through the passage and into ...

... Woody Island Cove with its dramatic red and grey beds dipping to the east.  There ensued a short geology lesson.

Brian, Dean and I paddled past another stack that wasn't obvious until we had paddled past it.  I looked back to see it was wide enough and with just a foot of swell there was also enough water to carry a kayak through.  We went back and forth a couple of times while the rest paddled on unconcerned that we were no longer behind them.

Further along as we played catch up we were in another un-named cove with the dramatic red and grey rocks.  Something big obviously happened here as grey and red sediments were jumbled together, the grey sediments passing through the bedding planes of the red.

Just over an hour after leaving Turks Gut we rounded South Point and entered Great Cove in Brigus Bay.

Cupid draws her bow ... (Part1)

Sunday, April 17th, seven of us drove to Colliers, dropped the kayaks on the beach at 10:00 and shuttled the cars to the community of Cupids.  The day started off under grey skies and cool temperatures and a long carry to the salt water.

I'm not a fan of car shuttles but this one was worth the effort.  We arrived back at Colliers where Dean guarded our kayaks engaged in conversation with one of the locals.  Around 11:00 we were on the water to begin the paddle north to Cupids.

The first 6 kms out of Colliers were alongside massive cliffs of the Harbour Main Group volcanic rocks.  I kept the camera in pocket as the the cliffs are not very scenic but the scenery improved, as well as the clearing sky, when we reached Turks Gut in Marysvale.  It was near enough to ...

... lunch time so we pulled out to take in fuel.  While it was sunny and bright there was still a chill in the light breeze.  Seated on the sunny bank it was warm and very comfortable.

It took a scant 30 minutes to eat lunch before we were off again heading out of Turks Gut pointing our bows northward.

Outside the entrance to Turks Gut the waters had a tropical look.  The sun shining from behind accented the contrast in the andesites, basalts and rhyolites.

The shoreline began to show more character and interest with channels to paddle through.

A stream trickled over the rocks in a small cove a kilometer further on.  Dean was behind me and jokingly shouted to Hazen he was on his way to take his picture.

We arrived at the first highlight of the day, a sea arch.  It wouldn't be the last treat on this shore between Marysvale and Cupids.

Colliers grey foggy day paddle

Today was a cool 2C day with light winds out of the north and, at times, pea soup fog.  Fog and drizzle took turns.

Four of us, Dean, Hazen, Neville and I were not deterred.  We drove to Colliers.  When we arrived the water was near low tide and a good distance from the vehicles.  The wind was blowing towards us as we quickly loaded the kayaks and prepared to head into the grey foggy day.

The plan for the day was to paddle the 12 kms north to South Point and return.  We set off with Man of War Ridge to our left.

The closer we got to Turks Head and more open waters the swell created some great paddling close to the imposing cliffs.

Marysvale is the only place to take out between Colliers and Brigus so we stopped there for a short break before carrying on.  In Bull Cove the battle between sea and land continued.  The swell would take the kayak and sweep it towards the rocks and spent, it pulled us back as it ebbed.

Sticking the bow of the kayak into some falling water drumming a beat on the empty forward hatch.  The falls ...

... behind Hazen in this little un-named cove.

Stopping to look at another cascade of water from the spring run-off.

Timing was everything today with the swell.  We were on to it though.  After three large surges it was doable.  As we paddled up to this arch Dean found it calm.  I waited for him to clear and immediately after the arch became filled with powerful surging water.  I counted to three and scooted through to ...

... wait for Neville and Hazen to also pass through.

This stretch of coast is quite scenic with offshore rocks and seastacks.

Man of War Ridge and the rocks north of Turks Gut are Harbour Main Group rocks composed mainly of Neo-Proterozoic (before proliferation of complex life) extrusive volcanic rocks.  They are predominantly grey and black.  In Woody Island Cove the rocks suddenly turned colour.  These belong to the Lower Cambrian period when complex life on earth made its appearance.  The red and green slates are interbedded with pink algal limestone.

Objective reached.  We paddled around South Point and into Brigus Harbour.  We floated for a short while before retracing our steps to ...

... Turks Gut and the community of Marysvale where we ...

... sheltered behind some trees from the northeast wind that arrived fairly much on time as forecasted.

The seven kilometers return paddle was uneventful pushed along by the strengthening wind and waves.  With the assistance of the wind we halved the time we took on the outward leg of the paddle.

It wasn't the most ideal of days weather wise but each of us enjoyed it nevertheless.  Even if we would admit we're looking forward to putting our neoprene mitts away and paddling in some warmer temperatures.