"Mussel Pond Cove to Colinet Passage"

Sharing in the kayaking experience 5 of us set out today on a grand paddle. 22 km in length it proved to be a muscle tightener for the first long paddle of our kayaking season but we are coming to realize that all year here in Newfoundland is kayaking season. You just got to pick your day and your spot. Iwas actually hoping to paddle up Salmonier river and get some wnter shots but the river was frozen in many spots. Should have expected this really. So we made the best of it and headed for O'Donnell's and on to Admiral's Beach.

"One with Shore"

Tony finding Zen I believe.

"Admiral's Beach"

Good fishing grounds and a sheltered Cove first attracted people to this area. Some resettled from Great Colinet Island across Colinet PAssage. In 1864 there were three families and by 1911 there were 39. Population cebsus 2006 stood at 185.

"Cape St. Mary's Lighthouse, Cape St. MAry's Newfoundland"

The day is September 27th, 2008 and I am looking at this lighthouse and the fog and wondering where all the birds are. It is my first time at "The Cape" and I couldn't even see the lighthouse when I was only 30 meters in front of it, I heard it loud and clear though. There is a sign posted indicating that the foghorn can damage your hearing. I understand why.

I attempted this morning to paddle out to The Cape from St. Bride's in Distress Cove. I was forced to turn back because of the thick fog that had rolled in only 1 and a half hours into my paddle. I just played around St. Bride's for a bit and decided to head for a community on the east side of the pennsula called Branch and on the way there I stopped at Cape St. Mary's Eclogical Bird Sanctuary to see if it was foggy there to...of course. Thicker than St. Bride's. All I could see was this lighthouse....once I tripped over it that is.

I left here and headed to Lance Cove where I paddled for about 3 hours and played in the surf and will post those pictures tomorrow. The sun came out in Lance Cove at about 1500h so I headed back to Cape St. Mary's and was able to take the following pictures. I was so gald to have made the decision to return to view "The Cape" on a sunny day. They say that if an eagle hoovers overhead you will be blessed with luck and so I was for the rest of my weekend journey.

"Cape St. Mary's Ecological Bird Sanctuary, Newfoundland"

Looking East to the cliffs in the distance you can see the white bird colonies of Gannets dominating the color of cliffs edges.

Located about 200 km southwest of St. John's, Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve also known as "the Cape" is one of Newfoundland and Labrador's major seabird colonies. During the breeding season, it is home to 24,000 Northern gannet, 20,000 black-legged kittiwake, 20,000 common murre, and 2,000 thick-billed murre. In addition, more than 100 pairs of razorbill, more than 60 pairs of black guillemot, plus double-crested and great cormorant, and Northern fulmar nest there.

You really do feel humbled by nature when you are able to experience first hand such a spectacular place on earth.

"Cape St. Mary's, Newfoundland"

Cape St. Mary's in Newfoundland is a most amazing and spectacular place to visit, especially when it is sunny. After about a 1.8km hike you can look back to the West and see The Cape St. Mary's Lighthouse standing unimposing on the edge of The Cape.

"The Gannet Colony"

Thousands of Gannets occupy the ecological bird sanctuary at Cape St. Mary's. http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/parks/wer/r_csme/

It is spectacular the view of the animals you receive on a sunny day at The Cape. The sounds of the birds are constant and loud as you watch them carry on their everyday lives. They can mesmerize you with their acrobatics in flight and you can sit and watch them for hours....as I did! I didn't make it to this area by boat today because of persistent fog in the am but the fog lifted at around 1430h and I drove to The Cape to enjoy the rest of the day there.

"Currents of Flight, Cape St. Mary's, Newfoundland"

The Gannets of this ecological reserve were in the thousands and it was difficult to isolate one to get a solitary shot. This gannet was having just the grandest time catching the warm air currents of The Cape on this Sept.27th day at Cape St. Mary's. It was just amazing to watch these birds at play on such a sunny day here. The Cape usually gets 200+ fog days a year. This gannet was flying high and just to the left of his white form you can see his dark shadow cast on the cliff as he soars by.

"High Perch"

This gull had found the perfect spot for viewing the action of the Gannets frolicking in the warm air currents of The Cape. The feeling of solitude is not easy to find in this area but this gull had achieved just that, perhaps taking a break from it's own flight through the cliff's crevices. You can understand why the birds feel so safe from prey when you look upon the immensity of the area.

"Free As A Bird Now"

This Eagle folowed me back to the parking lot from the cliffs of Cape St. Mary's and as I continued my walk I constantly looked up to see it there. I am not sure what interest it had in me but it was an amazing site to watch this bird as it so majestically made me very aware of it's presence. The sun was so bright I didn't know until the evening when I checked my pictures that I had even captured it in flight. As I neared the parking lot it flew off into the sun.