"Looking To Ireland"

 
You can't help but wonder when you stand on Signal Hill in NFLD, "looking across the pond", some say, if any in Ireland are looking to us at the same time. Looking back to see if you are looking back at me. At anyrate it was freezing cold when I took it but the sun did peek through momentarily.

"Bannerman Park, St. John's NL"

A 5 plus degrees celsius today in downtown St. John's , NL and the fog created is very good for getting rid of the snow. There is however lots to go and Bannerman Park shows a little bit of what we have left, with more to come for sure. I noticed the Christmas lights still in the trees. Well why wouldn't they be. Added a bit of contrast. Can see them if enlarge pic.Jan. 30th, 2008

"Kayak Polo"

Back in the pool for more play. Tonight I tuned my offside roll, did a few re-enters and roll and practise some skulling in water braces, need a bit of work yet. I hope to paddle in Hibbs Cove area on Friday as I plan to take a day off work. The forecast looks very good so far but it is only Wednesday and that can change fast. Hopefully I'll have some good photo opps.

"PM, Paddler"

Say what you will about one of our greatest and charismatic Prime Ministers but Pierre Trudeau had more than a passion for paddling and the outdoors.

Born Oct. 18, 1919, Trudeau served as prime minister from 1968 until 1984, with a nine-month break in 1979-80 after Joe Clark's Progressive Conservatives won a short-lived minority government in Ottawa.

Ever a controversial and much-debated figure in Canadian history, Trudeau repatriated Canada's Constitution, introduced the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, enshrined both official languages in law and established multiculturalism as official federal policy.

This quote by him sums up his love of canoeing.

"What sets a canoeing expedition apart is that it purifies you more rapidly and inescapably than any other travel. Travel a thousand miles by train and you are a brute; pedal five hundred on a bicycle and you remain basically a bourgeois; paddle a hundred in a canoe and you are already a child of nature." -- Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Don't you just feel it though, when you are in a kayak, immersed in nature, well immersed in anything in a kayak, ......just "giddy", with the overwhelming sense of adventure? I know I do.

"St. John's , NL"

 

The downtown core nestled on the St. John's Harbour.

"Roll Your Own"

Brian in the sea kayak and Dan in the river kayak. The boys rolling their own.

"Saturday Pool Night, Newfoundland"

 

It was a beautiful night to be at the pool. The temp outside was about -17 oC with no wind, not that it mattered to us but it is always nice to have no wind when loading the boats afterwards and then off to the Govenor's Pub for a quick brew. It is always good to hone the skills for the coming year.

"Paddler In The Mist"

 
This is Dave on his way from the pool. As we opend the side doors we let in the approx. -17 degrees celsius outside. Nice and toasty in the pool though. Jan 27th, 2008.

"Sit-On-Top"

 

Well not really. This is Alex after he just climbed aboard from the water, totally unassisted I might add.

You know you are a kayaker when you can't go over a bridge without looking for water under it.

"Pool'in"

 
Saturday Night Pool Session on Jan. 27th,2008 at the Aquaarena of The Memorial University Campus. Pictured are Dan, Brian and Sue adn thanks for all the tips.

"Ralph"

On the Bay at Witless. NL. summer 2007

A nature lover is someone who, when treed by a bear, enjoys the view.

"The Rower"

On the shore of Quid Vidi Lake is a statue of a rower, exerting his trade. It stands testament to the stamina and dedication that some paddlers have to their love of a sport.

"Droplets of Falls"

Cape Broyle isn't all about caves.....it's about waterfalls too. Lots of both to intrigue you on a most awesome paddle. It was so exhilirating to round the next bend to see what was instore for me there.
I was so hot by the time I reached this point that I kayaked under the falls to cool off. Stan Cooks' kayaking outfit was just passing by and one of the guides took a shot of me under these falls but unfortunately it didn't come out, Thanks for taking the time for the shot though Peter.

"Windy at Topsail"

 

Topsail Beach on a very brisk day, at least as far as the wind was concerned. I guess this would be a typical UK day on the water. Bell Island is in the distance.

"Night Dockin"

 
A fishing boat readying to dock in St. John's Harbour.

"Succession"

This is what they are in!

Waves at Chance Cove NL, 2007.

"Cape Broyle, Newfoundland"

Cape Broyle Nautical Chart. The next few shots were taken here during summer of 2007.

"Gull and Geology"

It seems that the lighting, the gulls' backs, and the angle of the rock geology were all in sync for this shot. They stood steadfast as I slipped by their gaze. From a paddle in Cape Broyle, 2007.

"Cape Broyle Shower, Newfoundland"

Well it is very easy getting wet while kayaking from sweating during paddling and water entering from getting in and out of the kayak and of course from cool waterfalls eminating from streams high above. And while I enjoy most times taking the pictures it is sweet to have another paddler glide by and offer his services to get ya in the shot.

"Feather Float"

A Gull Feather adrift on the flat waters of Cape Broyle this past summer. There were various things floating by on this day as well as the Jellyfish in the photo below. It was extremely hard for the camera to focus on this shot and of course the kayak and the wind kept the feather elusive.

"Water Things"

I love taking pictures above water, on ocassion it is nice to see what is going on underneath too. This was shot by a waterproof camera, sort of a hit or miss scenario, as I just saw this Jelly pass by under the boat and stuck the camera under there and took the picture. It wasn't until I got home that I realized I even had an image. This was a warm summer day and leaves me longing for dunking the hands again. Time to start hitting the pool.

"Harbour Calling, St. John's, NL"

The Lights are on but nobodys' home! As I walked along the water front in St. John's on a very snowy day, this phone booth actually looked like a welcoming shelter from the elements, with its' lights very visible through the snow giving a little warmth to an otherwise cold shot.. The dock and harbor in the background.

"Harbor Lights"

 

Lights reflecting of St.John's harbor look like they may be shining thru from underneath the water during a snow squall today. Jan. 20th, 2008.

"Out Of The Fog"

 

On one such day in foggy NFLD.

"Canso, Nova Scotia"

 
This is where it all began for me. I know vquite a bit of the coast line in this area. It sure is beautiful to paddle in. There are tons of Islands to explore and sheltered coves. Lots of lobster and other shellfish too. Catching fish on a kayak outing is not too hard. There are currents to play in and use to your advantage especially on the flood and ebb tides.

"Old Business"

This is literally old business. As I sit here and day dream I am taken back to the days when I had a little Kayak operation out of my home in BC, with a partner Bruce Lantz, we had some times. I believe I miss those days but not the pressures of working two jobs for paddle money and gear money. Dream on.........

"A Little Bit Of Heaven"

This is what I call the confluence of the Williston Lake reservoir. It is where the Parsnip, Finlay and Peace Reaches of the Lake meet. I am about to paddle down the Peach Reach part of the lake with the Mishinchika and Muskwa Mountain Ranges in the distance. June 2001.

Men may dam it and say that they have made a lake, but it will still be a river. It will keep its nature and bide its time, like a caged animal alert for the slightest opening. In time, it will have its way; the dam, like the ancient cliffs, will be carried away piecemeal in the currents. -- Wendell Berry

"The Parsnip Reach"

This is an evening shot of a week long Kayak paddle on Williston Lake, the largest lake in BC. This is actually the Parsnip Reach part of the lake. There are three reaches The Peace Reach and The Finlay being the other two. This lake is actually a reservoir created during the construction of the WAC Bennett Dam. The reservoir extends 200km north from Mackenzie along the Parsnip and Finlay Reaches of Williston Reservoir. These join to meet the Peace Reach which extends 100km east to WAC Bennett Dam near Hudson’s Hope. I thought it was neat that when I made the trip I would be following the route where Alexander MacKenzie had put in during his quest for a passage to the sea. He followed the Peace River and later hooked up with the Great Slave Lake and the Mackenzie River that bears his name which he followed for 6987.5 kms to the Arctic Ocean. I saw his name and date he had carved on a rock at my put-in site for this trip. I felt as though I was travelling in his time as I only met one other person on the whole expanse of the lake during the trip. It was spectacular.

"St. John's Bay"

Well it sure is nice to look at pictures on a blog but sometimes you never get to see the geography of it all. I take pictures of The Cabot Tower on Signal Hill in St. John's NL, a typical landmark, of Cape Spear Lighthouse, another landmark and on this map I pointed out where the Ice Berg Image that is on my header of this blog was photographed. Just a perspective for those new to NL. Click on image to enlarge.

"Cabot Tower, Newfoundland"

Cabot Tower on a cold St. John's day. This is actually my second attempt at this shot. My first attempt saw me climb the rock face from where this second shot was taken, the wind was just howling cold. I slipped going up but got to the top only to discover that I left the memory stick out of my camera which is something I rarely do. I decided to go get the memory stick but deep down, well not even very deep down, I decided, I probably wasn't coming back. On the climb back down I stepped on an icy bit of packed snow and landed flat on my back, cursing and now sensing the cold even more miserably I got up, put my cap back on, and hussled to the truck.I sped off home and was ready to settle down in the warmth of the house when I realized I must have dropped my sunglasses when I fell. Off to Cabot Tower on Signal Hill I go, to look for the glasses on that cold morning. Up I climb, watching my footing all the way and off to the right I spot my glasses. I grab them and realized I left the camera in the truck, but I did have the memory stick in it now. Off to the truck, back up the grueling hill, and voila! A picture. I was actually able to take a few nice shots from my vantage point and the lighting was spectacular and constantly changing. Tears from the wind were freezing down my cheeks but it's times like this when pictures seem to have so much more in them. Certainly a lot more back. Ha!

"The Narrows In Newfoundland"

Early this morning driving thru down town St. John's NL I came upon this spectacular sunrise at the entrance to The NArrows of St. John's, yet the beginnings of another winter day. Only about -5 Celsius but a nice morning to be out and about. Jan 14th, 2008.