LaManche through the backdoor

After a while it get difficult to find a stretch of coast I haven't paddled before.  There are lots but not many that are close to home suitable for a day paddle.  I've been to LaManche a few times, always leaving from Tors Cove.  Today Clyde, Dean, Hazen, Neville and I went back to LaManche but left from Brigus South.

Clyde, Dean and I waited for Old Wobbly to put-in by checking out some action at this rock in the entrance to the harbour.

 
A number of years ago I paddled the same stretch of coast but well off shore.  This time we hugged the shoreline all the way checking out every nook and cranny.

Staying in close made for entertaining paddling in the waves and clapotis.

Officially its spring but winter hasn't yet released its icy grip.

It still felt like winter with an ashen sky overhead but not bitter cold.  Melt water is starting to flow.

Nor was the scenery brightened by the grey to black slates that run like a ribbon from Brigus South northwards for some 65 kilometers as far as Torbay.

Hanging out is a small cove which we did at every opportunity.

Having logged almost 12 kms we reached LaManche, the site of an abandoned fishing community that is now dominated by an impressive suspension bridge as part of the East Coast Trail.  We started to see patches of blue sky as we rounded Cape Neddick.

Bathed in brilliant sunlight we ate our lunch warmed by the sunbeams that fell on us in this protected though cramped take-out.

After our lunch we turned our bows south sped along with the wind which had picked up from the northeast and ...

 
... before long we were back at Brigus South.  Hugging the shore gave us 11.7 kms, doing so less rigorously on the return netted us 8.5, a sizable difference.

This will be the last paddle for March.  Winter is behind us.  Some were looking forward to warmer temperatures.  I think they'll be disappointed - there's another 15 cm of snow in the forecast in the next two days.

Cape Broyle in winter

Clyde the icebreaker

The plan Saturday was to paddle from Cape Broyle to Brigus South. We were going to put in at the slipway at Cape Broyle because our normal access was not cleared of snow. When we got there I was dismayed ... ice for about 250 metres before there was clear water. We're such babies with fibreglass boats aren't we?

I followed Clyde, in his plastic boat, to open water through the channel he broke.

First stop

The first stop when paddling in Cape Boyle is the falls in Shore's Cove. Its always fun to stick the bow of the kayak into the falls but not today. There was still some water running but it was much subdued compared to normal. The tide was falling during our paddle as evidenced by the high water mark nibbling off the ends of the icicles clinging to the rocks.

Nooks and crannies

Dean floats on the crystal clear green waters of this a notch in the cliffs.

Along the north side

Cape Broyle is a familiar paddling destination to most paddlers on the Avalon. Most cross at The Narrows over to the south side to explore caves and have lunch at Lance Cove. On this day we kept to the north side where there is also lots to see and explore.

Raising the roof

Around Admiral' s Head on the north side we entered this small enclave that at one time would have been a cave. At some point the roof collapsed allowing the elements in. We stayed clear of the icicles clinging to the walls overhead for fear of being skewered.

Frozen still

It was a glorious day evidenced by the blue sky and bright sunshine, excellent paddling, spectacular scenery and friends to share it with.

Brigus Head

To get to Brigus South from Cape Broyle means a short paddle across an exposed headland. It was a little bumpy but overall today it was pretty mild. We are such small insignificant specks in this environment with the backdrop of 200 foot high cliffs. An eagle soaring overhead probably thought the same thing of us.

Lunch stop

Having rounded Brigus Head we considered lunching in the community of Brigus South so as to be in sunshine. Coughlan Cove just outside of the community had just enough sunlight falling in it to allow us to have both a bit of heat from the sun and a bit of privacy.

After lunch we returned to Cape Broyle to check out a number of caves and more waterfalls. But I'll leave that for another post.

A coast less paddled

Stan with his new Greenland paddle

Cape Broyle was the paddle destination today for seven of us. Its still winter on the calendar but we had weather that was more spring-like than winter.

I got a late call from Stan as the crowd was leaving for Cape Broyle. I thought I'd slept past the meeting time but with haste I could meet them in Cape Broyle. I was 15 minutes behind them but in racing mode I pulled up as the last of the boats were being taken off the cars. Made it!

Made it and glad I did, thanks to my good friend Stan. It would be a glorious day.

Salty water on ice, neat

Fresh water pours over the falls and floats on the heavier salt ice and freezes over. The falls here are the first stop for paddlers when paddling in Cape Broyle.

At the falls

After punching through some rotten ice, we were able to get close to the falls. Hard frozen ice can be rotten to get through but when we call ice "rotten" its because it has started to meld and is crumbly.

We took turns paddling up to the falls to let the falling water sound out a beat on the deck of our kayaks.

In unfamiliar territory

Cape Broyle is the usual destination for Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador's annual Fathers' Day paddle. Normally, we would cross over to the south side of the harbour at the narrows at the point behind Neville. We decided to continue paddling along the north side to see what treasures we pass up on Fathers' Day. We weren't disappointed.

It was a bright sunny day

Here we discovered a cleft in the cliffs that had at one time been a cave. The roof had long ago caved in to let the bright sunlight pour in.

Paddling between the rocks

We had just a little bit of swell that made paddling between the offshore rocks and cliffs safe but still interesting. The shore here was protected from the swell but things would change on the south side of the harbour.

Massive cliffs

The cliffs here are part of the black shales of the St. John's formation but caught in the bright sunshine the weathered surface reflects in purple and bright grey. It was a day of just enjoying the scenery and taking our time to let it sink in.

Another picture of kayakers stopped for lunch

We stopped on a small beach just outside of Brigus South. Lunch is a chance to heed the call of nature, stretch legs and refuel with what goodies were packed for lunch. On a day like this there was lots of back slapping about what a fantastic day it was for March 14 and how good it was to be out on the water.

Checking out a cave

Back on the south side of Cape Broyle we checked out the caves on our way back to the take-out. On the north side we were in bright sunlight but here we were in the shadows under the tall cliffs.

Some of us did some rock hopping. Some of us, meaning me, have to learn to be a bit more patient and read the situation before paddling into tricky situations. No damage done and rescue techniques which we've practiced were found to be effective. Enough on that for now.

After we lashed the boats back on the cars and stashed our gear we stopped for coffee at the local restaurant where there was more basking in the afterglow of a wonderful day. Thanks guys.