A bit of everything in Bay Bulls

The forecast for today was winds from the north at 20 kms, gusting to 40.  I suggested a paddle in Bay Bulls.  A paddle along the north side of the harbour would moderate the affects of the wind.  Jenn and I met shortly before 10:00 in Bay Bulls with not a breath of wind apparent.  So we set off along the south side knowing that should the predicted wind materialize we'd just cross over to the north side.

Exploring the world from the bottom of a cave.  First I had a turn, then Jenn and then further on ...

... another.

Investigating this rock to paddle around but ...

... not this one, another one.

As we paddled east along the south shore we reached and went around Big Cove Point and the open ocean all the way to Ireland.  From the put-in we had paddled east, first past black slates of the St. John's Formation and then the greenish grey sandstones and, here, the red sandstones of the Signal Hill Formation.

A whispy waterfall fell from above where both Jenn and I grabbed a shower.

The wind waves began to grow as the wind began to pick up.  But, we had come this far and I wanted to show Jenn some of the Baboul Rocks so we paddled south among them and sheltering behind one to have a quick snack.

The forecasted north wind was more NE as we left Babou Rocks.  We set out for the north shore of the harbour into a stiff wind and breaking waves.  We paddled side by side across the 2 km open mouth of the harbour with occasional waves breaking over the kayaks and plastering us with salt water.

The trick is not to look at the destination but merely just paddle and eventually ...

... there's an assurance calmer waters will be reached.  Water drops on the camera lens testify to salty spray.

We paddle around Useless Bay, past Bread and Cheese Point and 4.5 kms later we were back at the take-out.

It was a bit of everything - caves, rocks, open ocean paddling and calm inner harbour waters.  I knew Jenn was a good paddler as I was so told.  Today she proved it; huge respect!

Making a new friend

Some years ago friend Eleanor from Nova Scotia visited our province and we shared a paddle with her in Cape Broyle.  Recently Eleanor contacted me to say a friend of  hers would be in the province for six weeks.  Today Cathy, Gary and I met Jenn for an introductory paddle.

As I didn't know her I thought we should be flexible for our first paddle as to distance.  We had two targets in mind.  Reaching Portugal Cove we could decide whether to extend the paddle further up the coast or turn around there.

Gary approaching Portugal Cove where we ...

... can paddle through Two Tower Passage between the vertical cliffs and ...

... an offshore outcrop that provides protection from breaking waves.

Satisfied everyone was doing fine we decided on paddling a little farther.

We explored this cleft and cave and were content to make this our turnaround point.

Returning to Portugal Cove we got out to stretch our legs on this beach and also decided to clean up and remove various bits and pieces of plastic flotsam.

After getting out of our paddling gear the four of us stopped for a choice of coffee or tea and a nibble of fries etc in the warm sunshine.  We chatted for some time and left having made a new friend.  I'm certain we'll have more opportunities to show Jenn some of the other kayaking hot spots on the Avalon Peninsula of our province.  That's the kayaking community for ya wherever ya go!

Beating Dorian to the punch

Those reading from North America will be very familiar with Hurricane Dorian that decimated the Bahamas earlier this week.  It lashed the east coast of the US as it made its way north and was due to arrive in Newfoundland on Sunday.  A club paddle out of St. Philips was squeezed in on Saturday before it arrived.

Eleven paddlers showed up to enjoy a sunny and calm day on the water.

It was a short paddle of 10 kms to Portugal Cove along a shoreline in shadow with the sun to the est.

While it is a short paddle there are numerous rocks that can be paddled around that add to the entertainment value.

I lurked behind rocks to catch different members of the group as they passed by.

Its a paddle for me but its also about keeping my eyes open for photo ops.  Sometimes the other senses lose out during a paddle or a hike when the emphasis is on sight of picturesque scenes but attention to smell and touch is also important.  The sea has its own unique smells and the feel of water temperature on the hands adds to the experience.

Cathy joins me among these rocks.

At Beachy Cove the gang stopped to enjoy the sun's rays in front of the contorted rocks mangled by the heat generated by the Topsail Fault which defines the shoreline here.

An hour later after a relaxed paddle from St. Philips we came to Portugal Cove where we took out on a small beach to break up the paddle before the return to St. Philips.

Dorian arrived on Sunday but we had beaten its arrival with another super day on the water.

Burgeo Day 5 - Foggy post rain paddle

There was no paddling on day 4, Thursday, as we had strong winds and rain.  Rain wasn't the issue however because Brian, Hazen, Sue and I went for a walk along beaches from our campsites to Aaron Arm.  Overnight it poured rain but by morning the rain had stopped after 40 mm had fallen.  It was foggy and damp when we got up.

Nine of us started the week.  Wednesday Terry and Sharon left.  Thursday Clyde hit the road and Friday morning Brian, Neil, Sue and Ysabelle departed.  That left Hazen and myself to figure out what we'd do on our last day.

We opted to retrace the route of our Thursday beaches walk.  After leaving a car in Burgeo we drove to Aaron Arm to begin our paddle.

The fog persisted but there was no wind.  It was great paddling and soon we were at the tickle leading out of Aaron Arm.

We stopped at the beach that was the end point of Thursday's hike.  I got out to get a picture of ...

... the mineralization on the surface of the large boulder.  The surface was covered by huge crystals of quartz and orthoclase feldspar.

Sandbanks Provincial Park is aptly named.  Most of the coast we paddled by were high sandbanks and where eroded, sandy beaches.

I recognized the point where we walked out onto another beach on a trail bypassing a rocky headland.

We were told we could access this part of the coast from our campsites by hauling our kayaks to the swimming hole in the park and then to Heron Pond and thence via a small stream.  When we got to where the stream meets the ocean Hazen and I decided to see how far it was navigable.  We were on a rising tide and made considerable headway but not all the way.  We did however ...

... reach a bridge that the waking trail goes over.  The tide had not reached its highest point and had it done so we were convinced we cold have gotten into Heron Pond.

Not all of the coast was sandy beach.  Here at Grip Head the massive cliffs cut one beach off from the string of beaches.

Three hours after leaving Aaron Arm we caught sight of the first houses of Burgeo.  We continued our paddle within sight of the houses of Burgeo, made our way up short reach and ...

... had a short chat with two sailors from the Netherlands.  I had spotted the red, white and blue flag on the sailboat from the ferry to Ramea on Wednesday as it sailed west and wondered if I'd have a chance to meet it and get the story.  They had sailed the Atlantic and were on their way to Chesapeake Bay in the USA.

Several minutes of practicing my rusty Dutch, Hazen and I moved on and took out at the fish plant, stowed our gear, drove to Aaron Arm and picked up Hazen's car.  Here's the track for the day.

It was just Hazen and I by the fire on our last day at the park.  We burned all the remaining wood we had and had a few swallies.  Saturday morning I was up early to break camp, have breakfast and begin the 900 km drive home.

It was a super week doing something every day.  Thanks to Brian for instigating the trip and Clyde, Hazen, Neil, Sharon, Sue, Terry and Ysabelle for sharing the adventure.

Burgeo Day 3 - Ramea with a paddle chaser

The weather forecast wasn't favourable for a paddle so some of us decided for a ferry ride to the island of Ramea.  An hour and a half after leaving the dock in Burgeo we sailed into Ramea.

The ferry backed into the dock at Ramea and we started a walking tour of the town.

The end point of our walk was a lookout on one of the highest hills overlooking the town.

On the voyage back the predicted winds had not materialized so when we got back to Burgeo at 2:30 we decided ...

... on a paddle that would keep us in more or less sheltered waters if the wind did pick up.

Our route took us to Aldridge's Pond, the site of Farley Mowat's book "A Whale for the Killing" which I read a number of years ago.  The pond has a narrow entrance with a rocky ledge at the entrance.  An 80-ton fin whale chasing herring got into the pond on a high spring tide and then couldn't get out.  It was trapped and did not survive.

Aldridge's Pond was the feature of this paddle for me and I paid particular attention to the environs.  Paddling into the pond I noted the shallow ledge as I paddled in.

Neil and Ysabelle consult the map to establish location.

The exit at the the other end of the pond is only passable by kayak or small boat.

Leaving the pond we paddled towards the fjord of Bay de Loop.

We didn't make it into the dramatic fjord paddling to Buffets Island at the entrance instead before ...

... returning to the put-in ...

... as the light began to fade.

Wednesday, day 3, in Burgeo was a full day and we got a short paddle in regardless of the misleading forecast.  I had paddled in the area in 2010 but missed Aldridge's Pond.  I was happy to have been able to tick that off my list.

Burgeo Day 2 - Burgeo islands

South of Burgeo is an archipelago of islands.  Tuesday it took some time to settle on a paddle plan so it wasn't till after 2:00 we got our at together.  We decided to paddle out around the Burgeo islands.

There was no slipway at the chosen put-in location, it was a two foot step down into the kayak.

The islands beckoned in the short distance.

The first stop was Baggs Island with a narrow passageway.  We scoped it out and ...

... paddled thru.

Exiting the passage we faced a broad open swell.

Under sunny skies and a little chop.

The next destination was Rencontre Island.

There were a few paddle throughs on our way to the ...

... bowl shaped harbour on Rencontre Island.  I got out and climbed a hill to get a shot of my paddle buddies on the water below.

We hung out for a while before leaving through the narrow entrance.

We made one more island visit at Cuttail Island on our way back to Burgeo.

I had paddled around these islands in 2010 but missed Rencontre Island so I was glad to tick that off my list.

Our trip to Burgeo wasn't only about paddling.  After supper Brian, Hazen, Sue and I hiked to a lookout at the top of the hill overlooking the main beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park and ...

... descended to walk some of the beaches stopping at ...

... Potato Point.  The setting sun lit up the red granitic rocks and added a red hue.

We returned to our campsites, had a campfire and happy hour ensued.  It was a fine end to day two at Burgeo.