"Aquafort Newfoundland"

Aquafort to Ferryland and Back.

Aquafort has a long harbour and it is one of those spots you paddle when seeking shelter from northerly or southerly winds. Yesterday was one of those times. A group of us got together for a very nice Sunday paddle and what started as an overcast drizzly day turned out to be one with sun and blue skies. Just as forecast. The harbour pretty much heads due east when you are paddling out. Enough fetch to be nasty with a true easterly for sure.

Railing the north shore as we build up a cadence for the rest of the trip. Probably about 18-20km total.



Located on the north side of the harbour is a waterfall that was bustling with energy as remnants of rainfall from the hurricane Igor were thundering down through its banks. Here we are jockeying for position and opposing the current flowing out from the base.

It looks like we may be in ice but not so just lots of froth from the fresh water smacking the seawater below the falls.

Well if you are going to paddle upon the likes of this you definitely have to stop and play. We had a grand time mucking around in the waters here that were more fresh than salt.

Some of the rocky groves were narrow to get through but the waters very calm to allow for close single file exploration.

Eugene is crossing into Ferryland territory heading for Crow Island.

Taking out at Freshwater beach looking back from hence we came, Aquafort.

In Ferryland is an old archaeology dig known as the Colony of Avalon. I guess because that is what it was called in the early 1600's when it was settled. There are unearthed many stone walls and rock partitions that delineate where black smiths, homes, and barns once existed. We decided to walk over to this site for a bit of a nostalgic bite to eat.

Of course the ever present wind kind of intensified so we walked until we found a bit of shelter from it and sat to enjoy our lunches in the light drizzle we are always accustomed to on our outings and the setting of the Colony of Avalon. Just across the road from where we ate the stone walls unearthed from the 1600's extend out into the harbour now. Times and tides have changed indeed. The spot looked directly into Ferryland.

After our bellies were full we packed up and headed for Burns Head which has the Ferryland Lighthouse. In the summer months you can enjoy a gourmet picnic served out of the lighthouse where everything is made on site. Very delicious but no landing spots when trying to access it by boat.

We had a mixture of sea states but for the most part the waters were easy to navigate. A bit of swell and wind waves rounding Burns Head though.

When you round Burns Head there are two huge rock promontories called "Hares Ears". The water was very chaotic around here but nice and tranquil in between so we jotted through having played in the chop for a while then headed back near Freshwater.

On the way back the weather changed as forecast. The sun came out the wind dropped off and the clouds started to file out of the sky in a very layered fashion. Like peeling the covers of a bed.

This is Clyde and Dean passing freshwater on the way back. So guys thanks to the other members, Gary, Eugene and Tony for a grand old paddle in an old environment recently unearthed and laid bare for modern explorers all within an hours drive of St. John's.