Top 10 paddles of 2010 - #8

Beautiful day in Bay Bulls

A paddle I did with Dan, Derrick, Leslie and Pete on August 14th is my #8 paddle of the year. I've paddled Bay Bulls lots. A couple of times we stuck our noses out past North Head but had to turn back because conditions were not suitable for all members of the group. Its on my list because on this occasion Derrick and I did get out of the harbour as we made our way to a natural attraction (the Spout) along a very exposed coast with no take-outs.

In Freshwater Cove

A kilometer past North Head at the entrance to Bay Bulls we entered Freshwater Cove, an old abandoned fishing community. Years ago the predominantly Catholic community of Bay Bulls forced the Protestants to move to this location but they have moved on again.

Derrick haul out

At the end of the cove behind some low rocks Derrick found a small take-out no bigger than a whole in the wall.

Room for two

There wasn't much room but just enough for Derrick and myself. We had a lunch here and it was good that we didn't need this for an emergency exit because there it would have been extremely difficult.

I was using an old dry-use Canon kept in zip-locked baggie to take pictures on this paddle as my waterproof Olympus was in for repairs. I noticed the zip-lock baggie was no longer watertight so I had to stow the camera in a drybag in the day hatch. No more shots on the day but Derrick and I continued on to a sea-run geyser know locally as the Spout.

We were halfway to Petty Harbour and could easily have made it had we placed a car there. Reaching the Spout by seakayak was reason enough to make my top 10 list. Next year I'll do the entire stretch from Bay Bulls to Petty Harbour. I know a few guys who may be interested also!

Top 10 paddles of 2010 - #9

Three islands on the horizon

There are three islands in Conception Bay. On October17th we had a clear sunny day to do a kayaking tour of the three islands. We first visited Little Bell Island (center), then to Bell Island (left) and then Kelly's Island (right).

Here are a few previously unpublished pictures from that memorable day.

Leaving Little Bell Island

We stepped out of our kayaks on Little Bell Island as if to tag first base on the first island visited.

Announcing our arrival at Bell Island

Arriving at Bell Island we looked for a suitable beach to land and have lunch.

Rocky outcrop

A rocky outcrop showing the bedding in the sedimentary rocks of Bell Island overlooks our lunch beach.

Departing Bell Island

Our bellies full after lunch on Bell Island we made for our third stop of the day.

Green waters of Kelly's Island

Having left Bell Island we arrived at the third island for the day. It was the jump in our hop - skip - jump paddle.

Making our way back to Topsail

Leaving Kelly's Island we made a straight line crossing back to Topsail Beach where we launched from earlier in the day.

It was a paddle of four crossings to visit three islands on calm waters. It was something I've had in the back of my mind for some time and because we pulled it off on that day its my 9th top paddle of 2010.

More pictures of the paddle can be seen in my "Three island hop" blog entry from October 17th.

Top 10 paddles of 2010 - #10

Its getting near dark

A short practice paddle at St. Philips on 7 October is my #10 paddle of the year. If I were compiling a list of scary paddles, it would be #1.

It was windy with winds off the land at SE yet the wind waves were coming out of a SSW direction. We paddled towards St. Thomas Cove where we turned to go back to St. Philips. I dropped my skeq to surf the 1 metre wind waves. Clyde and Tobias stayed near the cliffs; I a bit further out into the bay. Gradually, the wind pushed me further offshore developing some separation between us.

Darkness fell and I lost sight of the other two. It was un-nerving. Starboard wind gusts threatening to knock me over with wind waves overtaking me on my rear quarter, all in darkness. I was on my own should anything happen.

Near St. Philips I lifted my skeq and the wind pushed the stern downwind allowing me to paddle into the cove where I met Clyde and Tobias coming down the coast. I felt a tremendous relief.

Racking the boats took three of us, two to hold the boat onto the roof rack and one to tie it on. The wind was that strong. A number of lessons were learned.

I have a list

Serene waters

Its getting near the end of the year and time to reflect on this year's paddling activities. I have a list of my favourite paddles for 2010. There are more than 10 paddles on it but tomorrow I'll start to both count down to the end of the year but also my top 10 paddles for this year. I have a list and I'm checking it twice!

What a difference a year makes

December 18, 2010

The weather is unseasonally mild here yet in Europe they are experiencing one of the coldest and snowiest winters in many years. What's up with that?

Turns out there's a large high pressure system stalled over Greenland. The rotation in a high pressure system is clockwise. This clockwise rotation is pulling cold Arctic air down over Europe.

That same high pressure system is keeping a low pressure system stationary over eastern North America. The rotation in a low pressure system is counterclockwise. Its winds are sweeping out over the ocean where its picking up heat and water and dumping it over the Avalon Peninsula.

December 14, 2009

The normal scene this time of year should be icicles instead of running water. We'll have that yet but its looking like a green Christmas. We'll take the mild weather, we have no choice and we'll have a short winter.

Christmas shopping

Can you believe it? December 18th

Seven shopping days till Christmas but are we worried? No. Some of our paddling buddies had to bow out because they had shopping to do or other last minute Christmas stuff. Four of us had ours done or weren't concerned. We went for a paddle.

Cruising through

The center of the shopping universe where we live is the Avalon Mall. Today and every day until Christmas will be like a zoo there. Parking spots will be far and few between. It was something we avoided.

The fog crept over the hills

The crunch is on to get that special something for that special person. Hustling and bustling with the hoards of shoppers today would have been something like the fog of war.

It brightened up

I'm glad I had my shopping done so I could take advantage of this unusually warm December 18th. I hope the guys had luck with their other duties today and cheer up guys ... there'll be more days like this yet.

At the pool

Playtime at the pool

I've only been to the pool a couple of times to attend club clinics. There are pool nights on Tuesdays and Saturdays but I haven't attended mainly because I saw it as too much bother.

Two weeks ago I finally gave in because I felt a lack of confidence in my roll. It went well and I went back this past Tuesday. I've developed a "system" to make things a bit less of a bother.

I throw my paddle, PFD and skirt in the cockpit and cover with a cockpit cover. The gear I wear I throw in a knapsack. In one carry I've got the boat with the stuff in the cockpit inside the Aquarena. The first week I forgot a towel; not this week and even brought a snack to eat after getting out of the pool to stave off those hunger pangs.

And, I have the luxury of backing the car with boat into my garage, crawl in bed and put everything away the next day.

Pool sessions are over for this year until January 11th. Now that I've made it convenient for myself I'm looking forward to the next session, four weeks away and I'm impatient. Isn't that always the way?