Home sweet home

Getting ready

The forecast was not very appealing so six of us decided we'd paddle a familiar shoreline that would offer protection from the 15-20 knot easterly winds, and rain. Familiarity may breed contempt but the shore from St. Philips to Portugal Cove is a jewel close to home. There are rocks to navigate around, little coves and a short channel to paddle through.

Some came a bit early and were ready to paddle, waiting for the rest of us to put-in.

And, off they go!

The start of every paddle for me is full of anticipation. Even in familiar places because no two paddles are alike. The anticipation on this day for me was when would the scheduled rain and wind kick in. It was something like waiting for the other shoe to fall but it never did; we had great weather to the end of our paddle.

Even though the forecast was wrong, we took it into account. Better to have more favourable weather than forecasted than to pay a blind eye to the forecast and have conditions change to the point of being unsafe.

Stan

We've missed Stan in the paddling group lately. Stan thought the last time he had paddled was our trip to Ferryland and that was September 26. Its hard to believe that's over two months ago. Sometimes time just slips away and other things crowd our agenda but hopefully you'll get out a bit more Stan. Stan will have some shots of our paddle too on his excellent Kayaking Dreamin' blog.

Dean

This was number 92, 92 times in his boat this year for Dean. He's got a target of 100. The number of days are in the year is dwindling but there's still a chance to make it. Even if you don't make it Dean, you're still going hit an enviable number.

Sean

Just a little bit of swell made for interesting and, on occasion, challenging situations paddling around rocks.

Brian

There was no hurry as we stopped for a few minutes in Beachy Cove. The Topsail fault runs the along the entire coast from Topsail to Cape St. Francis. The amount of displacement in the fault isn't known but the contorted rocks all show the effects of the earth movement.

Clyde

As usual Clyde was in the soup wherever he could. The more time spent amongst the rocks and surge the greater chance of getting wet but also a greater chance of developing skills necessary to paddle in those places.

It was only a shortish paddle of 11 kms on a day when the forecast suggested stay in bed. We went out anyway, the unfavourable forecast didn't materialize and we had a very enjoyable time on the water. It was a familiar place but sometimes there's no place like home, sweet home.

Surf's up

Feeling the bottom

We landed for lunch when we got back into Tors Cove from Bauline Head where a few suggested we go out again to play in the breaking waves between Fox Island and the Cribbies. There was some support for that but it slowly dissipated once we had our bellies full. Instead, we walked over to have a closer look on foot.

The power in the water was awesome. It was near low tide which made the incoming waves really stand up in the approaches to the channel. The closer look reinforced a reluctance to put in again. The low tide exposed rocks. Without a helmet it would have been foolhardy.

At high tide, in the right conditions, its a place to keep in mind for some playtime. Maybe next summer in warmer weather.

The first paddler

Out on the open ocean

Paddle Canada has established a series of levels of paddling proficiency for certification purposes. Students can take courses and be certified up to level IV.

Level I certification means the paddler has demonstrated an ability to paddle in enclosed, sheltered places where there are plenty of easy landing sites in winds less than 8 knots on a calm to rippled sea. That's pretty basic and I think anyone with any athletic ability at all can jump in at that level.

Level IV certification means the paddler has demonstrated an ability to paddle along an open coast where there are infrequent and difficult landing sites in 20 knot winds, in a moderate to rough 1 metre sea state, a surf height of more than 1 meter and a 3 knot current.

I'm totally uncertified, never having taken a Paddle Canada course. I've learned by watching and doing. That raises a question for me: who certified the first paddler? And, if the first paddler wasn't certified, who trained the next paddlers?

See where I'm going with this?

To ballast or not to ballast

Hazen catches me at Tors Cove

The Valley Nordkapp was designed to be an expedition boat. It handles best when its loaded. Normally on day trips I don't have much in the kayak so it rides fairly high in the water and some might say the kayak is really twitchy.

On flat water

This is where my Nordkapp usually sits in the water. The Nordkapp is 21 inches wide at the gunwales but I lose an inch of beam at the water line without extra weight in the kayak.

Not much of the Valley logo to see

Friend Stan, who also paddles a Nordkapp, has at least 60 pounds of lean body tissue on me at 140 soaking wet. Plus he loads a pile of gear in his boat. The extra weight settles it 2 - 3 inches lower in the water compared to mine. That really lowers the center of gravity and therefore makes it more stable.

This is, I believe, how the boat should be paddled.

Question is, should I ballast the kayak? Friend Malcolm would say yes; he adds lead ballast to his Nordkapp. The problem for me is, just dealing with body weight alone, I'd have to put the equivalent of 28 litres or 6+ gallons of water on board. That presents other issues.

Maybe I need to put some weight on!

Double the pleasure

Breaking waves

Today we ended up at Tors Cove after a scouting mission in Brigus South. There we spoke to 3 local fishermen who advised against launching. They wouldn't go out in their 10 metre fishing boat they said. That was almost a dare and the testosterone cut in for a bit but we listened to reason and retreated to Tors Cove

We launched and went first to have a look at the massive waves breaking between Fox Island and the Cribbies on the mainland.

The Cat in the Hat

Clyde in his element. What we saw here was a hint of the conditions we'd paddle in today.

Now I see you, barely

I had checked the ocean wave model on the Environment Canada site. Swell of 2 - 3 metres was predicted. Swell bards north of Tors Cove were out of the ENE and south it was SW. That could be interesting I thought, if it would run all the way to the coast.

We were on the east coast of the Avalon, the closest land on the continent to Ireland, where the ocean has a mind of its own. It was active and entertaining.

Ship Island

We paddled on the outside of Ship Island in what I consider ideal paddling conditions - active water without the wind.

Bauline Head

We paddled on to Bauline Head where the wind began to increase. We thought it prudent to turn back and make for Tors Cove again.

It was a shortish paddle of a tad over 10 kms but it was primarily open ocean paddling with 2 - 3 metre swell, at times from 2 directions, with a helping of clapotis. Because of that, when we got back to the beach it felt more like 20 in comparison to calm protected waters.

Tors Cove today doubled our pleasure. Thanks guys.

Wag your tail

Happiness is ....

Yesterday Sherry and I picked up Aimee's dog and took her for a walk on a trail around Octagon Pond, a local walking trail. The dog pranced along smelling every tree all the while its tail wagging. The dog was happy.

Every now and then we'd encounter people walking the other way. I'd greet them, some grudgingly returning an acknowledgment. The thought occurred to me that people should have tails too so that it would be clear to see who was happy and who was having a glum day.

In a kayak of course, we're always happy. No need for a tail then but when you're not in your kayak, think about wagging your tail.

Digital Selective Calling

Who ya gonna call?

Everything related to kayaking must be beta tested for functionality. Today, I tested the accessibility to the DSC button with neoprene mitts.

Last year I bought a VHF radio because its a desirable piece of safety equipment. I bought a Standard Horizon HX850S radio. Its waterproof, floats and is DSC enabled. DSC is a semi-automated method of making an emergency distress call.

I obtained a Maritime Mobil Service Identity number from Industry Canada and that number, input to the unit, is linked to my personal information I supplied with the MMSI application.

By pressing a button under the red flap an emergency call is issued on channel 70. Bare-handed lifting the flap is not an issue. However, with neoprene mitts on its another matter; its just not possible. Its important to know that and have a plan before an emergency call has to be made. Removing a mitt in icy, cold water may involve other safety issues such a loss of dexterity.

I'll be attaching something like a letter opener to be able to pry open the flap when I'm wearing my mitts.