Let it rain

The forecast for Saturday was no wind but it would be raining cats and dogs.  I checked the precipitation forecast which showed the heaviest rain would come in around 2:00 pm.  So, I suggested a paddle in the rain for that time.

When we arrived it was wet but no downpour.

We got on the water and the rain stopped.

In fact it was the most pleasant of conditions which ...

... I found disappointing.  I was hoping for sheets of rain so hard that the drops bounce off of the water.

It turns out we missed the heaviest rain that came down in the morning.  No matter; we still enjoyed a leisurely paddle.

Clyde and I hugged the shore for the most part while Dave, Hazen and Paul spent some time further offshore but ...

... not all the time.

When we got back to the take-out Paul said he wanted to do a self rescue with the paddle float.  I suggested a back deck scramble on but he was adamant.  It was totally calm as he jumped out of the kayak but let go of it.  I suggested he put his leg in the cockpit even though it was calm because in windy conditions the kayak would blow away an he'd never be able to swim fast enough to catch it.  So he did.

The rest of the self-rescue went well after which we got into our street clothes and went for a coffee.  We all agreed that we all enjoyed the paddle.  Though, the rain would have been welcomed.

The young Turk

September 6th and I hadn't had a day paddle since August 2nd when we did a cut-short paddle of 12.3 kms to Great Island.  Its been a strange summer paddle wise.

I checked ships log for the past 7 years and I've averaged 600 kms up to the end of August each year except 2012 when I had a shoulder issue and only paddled 460.  So far this year its been an anemic 390.  Its been a combination of things.  I hope to set it right this fall.

One bright spot is Shane.  As a newer, but accomplished paddler, Shane brings fresh energy and pumps me up when I'm less enthused.

I haven't been as regular at Wednesday evening kayak sessions this year but since early August its the only paddling I've done.

Shane and I paddled ahead of the other six staying close to the rocks trying to take in as much of the wave action as we could.  At one point we looked back and the group was well back having stopped to do some rescue practice.

I looked over at Shane and he was getting out of his boat.  He jumped out, clipped onto the bow of his kayak and started to swim towards the rocks, kayak in tow.

Once he got there he climbed out and pulled the kayak up onto the rocks beside himself.  Assessing that exercise worked out fine he got back in the water, I dumped the water out of the kayak (as pumping is so much fun) and we paddled back to the rest of the group.

Back in the cove at St. Philips, Shane does a bit of instruction leading Craig through an assisted rescue and the right way to dump water out of a kayak.

As the sun went down the small waves died and another Wednesday was in the books.

There are a few regulars and a handful of us pushing the envelope.  Sometimes someone new comes along with the same outlook as Brian, Dean and myself and brings fresh, youthful enthusiasm that I, for one, have fed off of.  Sometimes I need that.  So, thanks Shane, you young Turk.

In memory of Brian

This morning the Newfoundland and Labrador Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association held their Tickle Swim for Mental Health.  The event is a 5 km swim in ocean water between Portugal Cove and Bell Island.

The call went out to the kayaking community to provide on water support for the swimmers.  I believe the swimmers numbered 21 and 24 kayakers attended.  One kayaker for each swimmer and three to act as floaters.  We arrived at Portugal Cove in the early morning hours before the sun had fully risen.

The swimmers huddled on the beach waiting to commence the swim; supporters stood on the breakwater while ...

we were ready to match up with individual swimmers.

Brian was a friend of mine who took his own life on 29 November 2003.  I met Brian while training in the gym.

And they were off at 7:15.

Brian was the type of person everyone takes an immediate liking to.  He was the life of the gym when he was there; always cracking a joke and laughing.

The wind started off calm but there was still  bit of chop to get through.

On my 50th birthday party he came with a custom baked cake, some oddball gifts and a bottle of Lambs rum.  He was the type of person who'd take a few drinks and leave the rest of the bottle.  Kind beyond words.

Five kms and two hours later the tail end of the fastest swimmers reached the beach on Bell Island and the end of his swim with cheers and applause.

Brian was the last person anyone would think would take his own life.  I can still see him on the last Friday I saw him.  He shouted out and waved as he left the gym.  Saturday I got a call he was gone. 

There were still swimmers in the water so I paddled back to see if I could help with them.  Roy has in support of this girl that was finding the swim was taking forever.  We paddled on either side to offer encouragement.

I'm not saying Brian suffered from a mental illness because up to 98% of persons with a mental illness do not commit suicide.

Almost three hours after setting out her swim came to an end as she was greeted with cheers, applause and her supporters.  I know she suffered the last kilometer and to not give in deserves so much respect.

But more than 90% of people who commit suicide have been diagnosed with a mental illness.

The swimmers took the ferry back to Portugal Cove while almost all the kaykers paddled back.

I was glad I helped out but most of all, I developed a great deal of respect for those in the water.

Brian used to raise Cornish hens.  He wouldn't have them slaughtered when they were, you know, Cornish hen size.  He'd grow them as large as he could before getting them processed.  One day when I came out of the gym I found one on the seat of my vehicle.  I found it tragic that he would do that but not be able to ask me, or anyone, for help.

What can we do?  We could learn about signs of mental health issues and maybe, just maybe, find a way to reach someone who is having trouble.  Here's a link to to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

I think of Brian often, never more so than this morning.

A tale of two humpbacks

Its been a while since I attended Wednesday evening practice at St. Philips.  Early in the year the turnout had been very thin and I honestly lost interest.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to find two newcomers last evening.  Wednesday evenings for me are all about a safe environment for newer paddlers to build on their skills.  As such then, if there is even one new paddler showing up its an incentive to keep it going.

As it was flat calm we decided to go for a relaxed paddle.

I really like the colour scheme on Jenns kayak, after the orange of mine *lol*.

Paul, one of the newer paddlers.  He spent a lot of time in the pool last winter which indicates to me he wants to learn.

I generally want to paddle with people with good kayak skills, especially when conditions dictate.  But, I also want to give people who want to learn an avenue to paddle.  I'm certain Paul will get invites when the conditions are right.

Also new to the Wednesday evening group is Mark.  Another reason to keep these sessions going.

And then we got the surprise of the evening.  Paddling slowly along the shore we spotted two humpbacks out in the bay.  We paddled out to where they were feeding and waited or them to surface which ...

... they did with regular frequency.  I hoped for a tail shot but they were too busy feeding near the surface so this is pretty much all we saw of them except the occasional spout.

After sending some time with the whales we paddled back to St. Philips as the sun was setting totally thrilled with the close, unexpected encounter with the two humpbacks.

So, I'm reinvigorated for Wednesday evening practices.  They will continue into October.

Jenn sent me a couple of video clips she recorded of the whales surfacing:

One whiff of a whale

Wednesday was a municipal holiday in St. John's.  Five of us decided to go for a paddle rather than take in the festivities at the annual Royal St. John's Regatta.  Clyde, Dean, Hazen, Ron and I drove to Tors Cove with the hopes of seeing some humpback whales around the islands of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve.

We left the beach in Tors Cove and paddled through the Gut between Fox Island and the mainland.  There was a bit of swell running creating clapotis, rebounding waves, off of the island.

There didn't seem to be a plan but we just headed for Great Island in the distance.  Away from Fox Island the confused sea settled down.

We arrived at Great Island at the ...

... Cribby Rocks which we ...

... paddled around.

The intention was then to paddle along the exposed eastern side of Great Island where it got rather large.  It was a good spot to practice a rescue before we decided to return to ...

... and paddle through the Cribby Rocks.

Along the east shore of Great Island it was calm under the guano covered cliffs of sandstone.  It was along here that we spotted the one and only indication of a whale and that was only a solitary spout in the distance.

The seabirds are nesting at this time of year.  The sky seemed full of puffins and hundreds floated on the water, though, to get the idea, you will need to click on the picture to enlarge.

We arrived at the south end of the island.  I decided to paddle out far enough to catch sight of the great leaning slot.

That was pretty much the day.  We left Great Island for Ship Island where the other guys stopped for a break whereas I carried on back to Tors Cove with other plans for the remainder of the day.

The whales are about but its often a hit or miss situation.  This day was a miss but still a good day in the kayaks.

Isle Valen: A summary

Blogger lets you put in labels for each post but if the same label is used for a series then the posts come up in reverse order.  Therefore, I'm posting a summary of my four day solo trip to Isle Valen with links to each day so the posts can be viewed in sequential order.

Day 1; July 17: Garden Cove to Ship Island - 24.7 kms.

Day 2; July 18: Ship Island to Isle Valen - 32.1 kms.
                          A look around Isle Valen

Day 3; July 19: Isle Valen to Browns Cove, Bar Haven Island - 41.3 kms.

Day 4; July 20: Browns Cove to Garden Cove - 16.9 kms.

Four day total of 115 kms.

Totally awesome trip and experience!!!

Isle Valen: Journey complete

Wednesday I landed a Browns Cove on Bar Haven Island.  As I set about making supper it began to drizzle lightly.  It eventually stopped and I had my campfire.  During the night I was awaken by rain beating on the tent.  Oh well, I thought, I'm 17 kms from completing the trip and rain wasn't going to put a damper on it.

Morning came and I must have paid my dues because I woke to sunshine.

The tent was in shadow but south of the cove the sun was making its mark.

I was only 17 kms from the take out and I had only one stop to make on the way.  I had lots of time to have a leisurely breakfast and take my time breaking camp.  I put-in and left the cove heading back to the mainland on the Burin Peninsula.

I was back at LaPlante Cove where I stopped for lunch four days earlier on my way south to Isle Valen.  This time I didn't stop but paddled inside of a small island claimed by a cabin owner.

To starboard the tip of Bar Haven Island was left behind and Little Woody Island floated on the horizon.

As I made my way north I kept an eye on the map to make sure I identified Soldiers Cove.  Here it was, not much of a cove but people made an attempt to settle here in 1911.  It was a small "community" as the census for 1921 listed 18 individuals in 3 families.  I didn't see much room for expansion and maybe it wasn't such a good idea in the first place as the cove was abandoned in 1945.

And so I arrived at Rattling Brook Falls.  I was stopping here for a dip, for, if you only checked this out from the seat of your kayak you missed the best part.

In 2009 I was here with Allison, Peter and Stan.  I was newish but Allison and Peter knew about the swimming hole above the falls.  Then I didn't have swim gear so I had a dip in my drysuit.  This time I came prepared with swim trunks.  I got out of my paddling gear, put on my trunks and light footwear and walked up around to ..

... what is a natural infinity pool.

I had a sweet swim and a most enjoyable treat on the last day of my solo expedition to Isle Valen.

I was sped along the last four kms by a tail wind that created small surfable waves.  The end of the trip was close at hand at the north end of Sound Island.  I turned around the point and made for ...

... Garden Cove.

Like all good things, they have to come to an end.  I had four super days with a bit of everything.

Its not recommended to paddle alone.  IMHO, its not recommended for unexperienced paddlers to paddle alone.  I've paid my dues with practice in all kinds of conditions.  I had two short solo trips last year.  This year it was building on what I learned, not only about solo tripping but also about myself.  I was alone but never lonely.

I checked the weather forecast each day the previous week.  It was clear a stable air mass had moved in.  I planned a four day trip but I had supplies for more days.  There's always some risk involved in every undertaking.  The key is to minimize the risk through good judgement, skill development, reliable back-up plans and all the recommended safety gear.

Its up to the individual to assess the risk - reward equation.  When the rewards outweigh the risk its time to take the leap.

I'm glad I did with this trip!!!