Hurricane Maria

Giddy up

There was a TV program on the national broadcaster a while ago entitled "How do you solve a problem like Maria". I don't know how it turned out but today Dean and I had a solution to Maria, the hurricane.

Winds today hovering around 26 - 28 knots with gusts to 40 meant there'd be no day paddle . Dean and I opted for an hour and a half at St. Philips to do a bit of surfing. It was interesting but felt like another day at the office. An hour and a half well spent.

I'm off to the Baie Verte peninsula tomorrow to spend a few days with my sister who also has a kayak. Iceberg finder shows 9 bergs in White Bay and while I'm out that way I hope I'll get out to some of them and have a few shots to show for it. So, the next post likely won't be till coming Thursday unless I can find an internet connection.

Keep out of trouble till then!

In a trance

Simplicity

I find it interesting how conversation stops when we do crossings.

When we handrail and take our time to explore or when we first get underway there's always conversation with paddle mates to catch up on news or just marvel at the excellent day.

Crossings seem to be a different experience. I get into a rhythm and slip into my own world as we silently paddle as a group towards a distant objective. As the blade cuts through the water it becomes hypnotic and I enter a trance like state where there are no problems, deadlines or commitments. Its a high, all without a prescription.

A moonless moonlight paddle

Sundown

There are four ingredients to a moonlight paddle. Three things that are nice to have and one must have.

Waiting

One: Calm water. Darkness adds a degree of difficulty in itself; no need to add active water into the mix.

Last light

Two: light wind - for the same reason as calm seas.

Dark stranger

Three: fellow paddlers. I'm afraid in the dark *lol*. There were 10 of us, even Stan whom I haven't seen since April was there.

Reflections

Four: Moonlight. Doh! Forgot to arrange for an appearance by the moon.

Dean paddles into the dark

All the ducks seemed to be lining up early Tuesday. Calm wind and seas and a crystal clear blue sky with bright sunshine. Then, later in the afternoon it began to cloud over. I knew then we wouldn't have the moon for company.

What are the probabilities of having all the ingredients on any full moon night? I don't know but not good I suspect. We went for a paddle anyway and still enjoyed the night.

Disappointment salvage

What now?

Today we headed down to St. Mary's Bay hoping to do some kayak surfing. The remnants of Hurricane Katia had passed by on Saturday and huge swell was forecast along the south coast of the Avalon.

A check of buoy data at the mouth of the bay indicated a swell of 2.2 meters straight up into the bay. I fully expected to find good surfing conditions at Point La Haye. Huge disappointment. There was huge swell alright but only where it broke over the shallow underwater extension of the point. No green water at all. Only water being stood up and turning to foam. There would be no surfing.

I felt bad for suggesting the location. We had driven over an hour so we were going to paddle anyway. Once everyone had gotten on the water safely we decided to paddle down to St. Mary's, the community.

Wide berth

The swell at the point was awe inspiring. Getting caught in it would have meant getting trashed and possibly seriously injured. We steered a wide berth.

Heading north

Once out of danger of getting caught in the breaking swell we turned and headed north to St. Mary's. While it wasn't suitable for kayak surfing, the swell did make things interesting along the shore.

Around the stack

Paddling around rocks and this sea stack meant careful timing. Mistimed and there would be a surprise.

Almost there

We made it to St. Mary's and stopped on a beach just out of sight for lunch. The wind came up and made for a bit of a slog on the return paddle. It was only 13 kms paddled today (felt like more though) but we made the best of it. I'm reminded of the Stones song ... "you can't always get what you want ... but if you try sometimes ... you might find ... you get what you need."

And, that today, was to get on the water.

Sean's new SOF Disko Bay

First look

Sean just recently finished his second kayak build of the year. Its a skin-on-frame Disko Bay from plans by Dave Gentry. Sean has a number of blog entries detailing the build.

We got our first look Thursday evening at St. Philips for our weekly playtime.

Two craftsmen

Sean is a craftsman and as they say around here "he can put an as* in a cat". Derrick, as craftsman himself, was there last night in his strip built and took a keen interest in what Sean had done.

Sculling balance brace

Sean's an able builder and paddler. He put the boat through its paces and was very pleased with the results. When we had enough as daylight was running out, we washed off our gear in the river. First Dean got into it for a test fit, then I had a turn. I was swimming in the cockpit but still found it rolls effortlessly.

I'm green with envy and may build one myself eventually. Maybe Dean too? Great job Sean, you can be proud of the result.

A unique cave

Left or right?

I've been in a number of caves over the last few years. A lot are the same, just openings pounded into the rocks by the waves. There are a few notable exceptions. One north of Flatrock opens up into an inner room that's like a cathedral. On Sunday, I got into a unique one. From the outside it looks like two separate caves next to each other. Which one to explore first? Made no difference because while they look to be separate when you enter you find ...

Conjoined

they come together at a little beach at the head of the cave. I paddled into the cave on the right and Neil, the left. At the end I saw daylight and then Neil's bow. A little higher water and I could have gotten around. Amazing bit of sculpture completed by Lord Neptune.

Rest interrupted

Flatrocks

Saturday Dean and I did a 16 km paddle out to Little Bell Island and area. I wanted a relaxed paddle due to a couple of weeks of intensive labour. I planned to take it easy to recharge my batteres on Sunday. Then Neil posted a paddle from Flatrock to Outer Cove. Too much to resist.

Inside channel

We rounded The Beemer and pointed our bows southerly paddling between cliffs to starboard and a string of rocks to port.

Massive sandstone cliffs

The sun was in our faces bathing the cliffs in brilliant sunshine.

In the shade

Caves along the way towards Torbay meant respite from the sun and heat. The difference in temperature emerging from the caves was marked.

Caves to explore

This is really a cave paddle. I was here with a few of the guys a couple of weeks ago and posted a bunch of cave shots then.

Cross to Middle Cove

We didn't paddle into Torbay proper, rather we crossed the mouth of the cove towards Motion and Middle Cove beyond.

At Motion

Motion was very placid Sunday. Normally any amount of swell produces active water and therefore its name "The Motion".

Prospective kayakers

We took out at Middle Cove for a stretch. We recruited some future kayakers who wanted to sit and try it out.

Low headroom

After a brief rest stop we were on our way again towards Outer Cove exploring the caves along the east side of Middle Cove. This cave didn't have much headroom and is impossible to get into with any swell.

Moving on

We took our time moving from cave to cave and as we did we were building up the mileage under our hulls.

Dark world

This cave must have been 200 feet deep. At the end it was so dark none of the light reached and even the camera flash couldn't fill in the cave details.

Timing is everything

A narrow slot and even a little action means stopping to look and time the run through.

Heading back

We entered Outer Cove, explored a cave there and decide to cross to a point halfway between Torbay and Flatrock.

A little breeze came up for the run in to Flatrock but its cooling effects were welcomed. A day that started out as a day of rest turned into a fantastic 24 km paddle. On a day with the right conditions it is truly a jewel so close to the city of St. John's. Thanks Neil for posting and thanks to Dean, Paul and Ysabelle for the company.