A change of plan paddle

The wind forecast yesterday, Friday, for today, Saturday was 15 - 20 knots so I suggested a bounce in the waves and some surf rides.

Dean, being the only friend to respond positively, and I met at 12:00 which would have allowed sufficient time for the seas to fully develop.  When we got there the wind was nowhere near forecast so we decided to paddle south and if the wind did pick up we could easily turn and paddle back in the following sea.

I was back in the kayak fresh on the heels of my winter come spring paddle on Thursday.  The temperature was just above 0C but still not warm enough to met the snow and ice that still decorates the rocky cliffs.

Though there wasn't much wind there was some nice action along the shore.

Clyde had said he was passing on today's paddle but Dean and I were pleasantly surprised on our return to see him paddling towards us.  No sooner had Clyde joined us when the wind picked up and sea built almost instantaneously.

Unfortunately, none of the shots I took do justice to the changed conditions.  There were times I was looking down on top of Clyde's helmet.  No exaggeration.

Paddle finished we washed the salt out of our gear in the cool, fresh water of the river.

What started out as a bounce ended up in a most entertaining paddle.  Only 13.6 kms but in this case it was quality over quantity and the third paddle in eight days.

Paddling through the spring equinox

It was to beautiful of a day today not to paddle so Hazen and I put-in at St. Philips.  We put-in almost 1:30 pm.  It was still winter with a temperature of -2C and -7 with the wind chill.  There wasn't much wind but it was out of the NW.

Forty minutes later we were across the Tickle and arrived at Bell Island.  Where we had left in winter, we were now in spring.  Spring had officially began at 2:27 pm.

The plan was initially to paddle to Topsail Beach and be on the water when spring came in but with the gentle breeze we opted for Bell Island.  Spring had set in but tell that to the weather  At "The Beach" ice still clung to the cliffs but the sun was gaining strength and as it did it we heard bits of ice and rocks fall off.

Massive walls of ice were draped over the 200 foot cliffs but ...

... some had already cascaded into the sea as mini bergs.

Near the north end of Bell Island we left the towering cliffs behind to ...

... cross back over but this time to Portugal Cove.  In the distance just over Hazen's bow we could see Brocks Pond Falls were still frozen.

On our crossing to Portugal Cove the gentle breeze we faced earlier had completely dropped out.  To starboard the sun shone strongly in the sky which really warmed us up after paddling in the shade of the cliffs.

Forty minutes later we were back across the Tickle just before the ferry from bell Island came in.

Paddling southwards back to St Philips the bright sunshine from the southwest really brightened the icicles.  Hazen and I took our time finishing our paddle under the most pleasant of conditions.

Today was my last paddle for the winter and, coincidentally, my first spring paddle.  That was what appealed to me today - a paddle through the spring equinox.

Last winter paddle? Maybe.

Every Monday I start looking at the long range forecast with an eye on weekend paddling.  Then I schedule the things I have to do around that.  If Saturday is the best paddle day then other duties are assigned to days other than Saturday.

During the week as each day passes I keep an eye on the forecast hoping the optimistic forecast holds.  It held ...

... so, I mailed the gang to see if I would have company on such a perfect paddle day.  Only Neville was free to paddle.  The rest had chores to do or were ill.  Saturday dawned a beautiful clear bright but cold day.  The slight breeze out of the north had a biting sting as it ...

... blew across an expanse of sea ice of off the northeast coast.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky.

A week ago the sea here was frozen solid.  A southerly had blown it out of the bay but it was still cold enough to form ice crystals.  The north breeze blew it onto the coast at places where it formed pools of slush that was just like trying to paddle through wet concrete.

Neville and I took our time and paddled through this kelp bed and into Portugal Cove ...

... where we met paddling colleague Mike K who snapped this shot of us approaching.  Again the slush was pushed along the shore to our right.  It stood between us and a beach we intended to take out for a break so we became ...

... icebreakers, sort of.  Thanks Mike for the pictures.

We took out in the cove and sat in the sun which is slowly gathering strength as the winter ebbs away.  Thursday is the first day of spring.  Cool conditions will still prevail but the paddle on this day will likely be the last one that is technically in winter.

So, the message for my friends that missed paddling on the day is you have to make hay when the sun shines.  And guys, don't hurt yourselves too much as you kick yourself *lol* for missing out.

I'll start looking at the forecast again Monday morning for our first spring paddle next weekend.

Overland to the Spout

If you read my last post the sea was frozen solid where I intended to paddle on Saturday.  Today wind kept us on shore.

I know this is not a kayaking post but it is an out-of-doors adventure and I hope I'll be given a bit of latitude to show a few shots from a ski and snowshoe trip to a sea run geyser.  Its a stretch but I'll use the excuse we went out to scout for a kayak trip later this summer.

Hazen, Neville and I started our trek at Middle Pond on the Southern Shore highway.

The first section is steeply uphill.  Before long we stopped to address a couple of equipment issues - Hazen's poles and some kick wax for me.

After the terrain leveled off a bit we came out into the open barrens where the northerly wind blew bitingly.

Four kilometers after starting we caught sight of the sea and it was down hill the rest of the way.

Hazen and I took off our skis and walked and snowshoed as we descended.  Neville continued to ski which amazed me.  My glide wax made my cross country skis too fast and made for harrowing skiing so I took them off.  Neville has done a lot more bushwacking than us whereas I'd rather ski on a groomed trail with a classic track laid in.

A shot of happy Tony (thanks to Hazen), featuring my multi-coloured hat knitted by my daughter Lisa.

As we descended we entered the trees and got cover from the wind.

Hazen crawling under a windfall over the trail.

Spout reached.  We were disappointed.  There was no show running today.  Only a snow and ice cone of the sea run geyser's previous work.

A sea cave lies directly under our feet with a hole extending down into the roof of the cave.  Water runs down the blow hole and as waves compress the air in the cave a spray belches out many meters high depending on the sea action.  Today, the sea did not cooperate.

We had a lunch and made the two hour trek back to the cars in reverse order.  Again uphill, along the level barrens and then downhill.  A coffee was our reward for a day well spend outdoors.

I'll start looking at the long range forecast tomorrow with an eye on my next kayak adventure.  Fingers crossed.

The breadcrumbs.

Paddling cancelled

Its been bloody cold around here the past week with the temperature close to -20C and -30C with the wind chill.  It has caused the salt water in Conception Bay to freeze.  I've lived overlooking the bay for 25 years and have never seen it caught over like this year.  I went to St. Philips to have a look.

The ice in the cove was thick enough to walk on and there's no way we'll be able to force out way through in kayaks.

Ice right up to the shoreline.

The channel from the harbour out into the cove can barely be seen with it also covered in ice.

There was an almost imperceptible swell.  Imperceptible as in if this was open water a paddler wouldn't even notice.  But, there was enough to make the ice creak and groan.

Bell Island, 4.5 kms in the distance is a place we often paddle to.  This weekend we may be able to walk over there with enough daring.  Kidding!  So, sadly it looks like there's no way we'll be paddling this weekend.  That is disappointing.

Still winter, still paddling

Saturday night I went to bed knowing the forecast would finally cooperate Sunday for a paddle.  For three weeks its been windy and seemingly a constant track of winter storms marching over our area.

I met Dean and Neville at St. Philips for a paddle to Topsail Beach.  Familiar territory but it fit the bill.  It was close by which meant we had enough time to get our paddle in before heavier winds were forecasted to rise.

The harbour was clogged with ice so we put-in on the beach.

It was -8C with a wind chill of -14C as we left on calm seas with Bell Island as a back drop.

The rocks were covered in snow and ice.

The wind freshened a little driving slush and chunks of ice along the shoreline.

Some icicles were massive while some were more fragile like lace.  While it was cold, a little water ran making slender icicles.  Though not picked up by the camera, the ice had a beautiful hue of indigo blue.

The drag on the hull increased as we paddled through the slush and icy bits.

We had a short stop at Topsail the length of which was dictated by the speed the cold penetrated our clothing.

The wind did pick up but slick planning meant we had it behind us for the return leg.

  
I waited for Dean and Neville to catch up as I waited in the protected, calm waters behind this rock.

The water had dropped while we were away showing how much ice encrusted the pilings of the wharf.  Dean and I paddled into the harbour to see if we coud get up into the river to wash our our gear but ...

... there was no way to get through this jumble of ice.

I returned to the beach to take out and walked the short distance to the river.  I managed to break through in one place where I immersed myself in the fresh water and washed the salt out.  It was cool but not totally unpleasant.  A good test of my thermal protection.

Neville treated Dean and myself to a coffee before we headed home.  It was three weeks since I paddled and as promised by Dean, I would enjoy it the next time out.  And, I did, immensely.