"Diggin"

If all things were easy life would be boring to me. So it is when on the water that some paddles require more effort than others. Sometimes it feels as though you are not so much riding or gliding on waves but digging thru them to get out the other side. This is more times than not likely to be occuring when you get a strong head wind or a sudden gust that seems to last for minutes on end. Just paddle on...it works.

"Wave Rider"

The weather outside is horrendous. We are currently in the middle of a 50cm snow storm with blizzarding conditions. No paddling tomorrow either as winds will be high.

I've revisited this photo. It always humbles me as I am lead to think on the size of waves. This is actually Tony, one of my best photo subjects and avid paddling partner, coasting down the side of a big roller. This image is actually waves on a wave.

When I kayak, I feel as much in touch with the sky as I do the water and most times they seem to be one, just separated by a horizon. Our eyes are always on both for different reasons. The sky for weather information and just plain eye aesthetics. Of course the water for clues on how to control our boat as we paddle along. Where sky, paddler and water meet is where I can find some harmony.

"Niceeee Hat!"

Getting ready for the shot. lol Good job Neville.

"Holding Pattern"

The beach was not big enough for us all to land at once so it was done pretty much one at a time to keep it clean and safe.

"Quick Stop"

A quick stop to kick start the energy reserves and be on the way again. Bacon Cove was a tease really as a few of us were discussing how nice it would have been to have bacon and eggs and a hot cup of java at this point. Next Time.

"Long Pond...Put-In"

 

Put-In today for a 16 km paddle was at Long Pond connected to Conception Bay. We were to paddle around Kelly's and Little Bell Islands on a beautiful sunny day in the middle of the week. Where else should one be? Tony and I took adavntage of the swell weather and the close proximity to town to stretch the kayaking muscles before I head to the kayking retreat in Lewisporte this long weekend. Really looking forward to the trip which will be hosted by the central chapter of our kayaking club.

"Starboard Tern"

 
Couldn't resist the name but this spar buoy was a perch for some of the only wildlife seen on the trip other than floating jellies.

"The Vindland.The Tony. The Island.

 
Tony paddles cross Conception Bay with the tanker The Vindland in the distance anchored of Kelly's Island.

"Little Bell Island, Conception Bay Newfoundland"

 

Way in the distance is Little Bell. What a view of the BAy.

"Conception Bay Newfoundland"

 
What a day. Not a breath of wind. We paddled 10 miles this morning with a bit of a lunch break on a beautiful sunny day.

"Kelly" Island"

 

Part of our Island hopping today. We were going to paddle to Little Bell Island, then to Bell Island and over to Kelly's Island and back to out take out. Not enough time as I had an appointment down town but we did get to Little Bell and Kelly's Islands in Conception Bay Newfoundland.

"The Vinland"

 

Vinland was the name given to an area in North America by the Norsemen. Actually in 1960 archeaological evidence was found of a Norse Settlement on the northern tip of Newfoundland at L'Anse Aux Meadows. The only known settlement in North America outside of Greenland founded around 1001 CE. Now if you are not familiar with "CE" it refers to common era or christian era. It is used because not all humans follow AD which literally means "anno domini" (latin), "in the Year Of Our LOrd". It makes no sense for non chritians, a Jew, Moslem, Hindu, A Witch, A druid or atheist to refer to a date as being "in the year of our Lord" when they don't follow him, hense CE. AD 2009 means exactly the same as 2009 CE, except that AD or BC comes before the date and CE comes after.

Anyways it is always enlightening to me how far we have come in boat design and construction and in this shot so much history is encapsulated in this small area, with the name of the huge tanker being Vinland of Norse origin, the Nordkapp Kayak a Norwegin name but also probably related to The Norse as they did settle in parts of Norway, and also the connection of the Nordkapp kayak design to the early Greenland style kayaks and also the fact that Greenland was settled by The Norse. What a flood of thoughts as I drifted by.

"I Get Lifted"

 
My pictures came out really crappy on this paddle as I realized I had a metered setting or something like that. It is a shame because I had what I thought were good shots of Tony, Brian and Dean on out little Saturday morning excursion in St. Philips Newfoundland. But in the 45km-60km winds there was a fair bit of air time.

"Digging Through"

 

LAst Saturday saw a few of us out paddling in 45 gusting to 60 km winds. The sun was shining the water was relatively warm in Conception Bay and the winds were straight out of the west blowing to St. Philip's harbour, perfect for surfing in the strong westerlies. This was true to a point. It was a good old slug to get out of the harbour and the waves were fairly big 1 and half to two metres but confused and not great for surfing but still there was the odd good ride. Still was a blast though and I was very tired by 12:30 after a 9:30 put in.

"All - In"

 
After the Regatta was over the Dory boat races finished, lobster pot pulling contests done and the boat parade and wreath laying(to remember those lost at sea) completed it was time to cool off. Steve Meade has a dock that seem suitable to all. Down went the beer and in went the bodies. This is where I took the pictures of the jellyfish that follow and the picture of Matthew in my header.

"Swimming With Jelly"

This one really wanted to sting me and was trying to maneuver to do just that but I think I was proving just a bit elusive......this time!

Sometimes these Jelly Fish seem to be carrying quite a load. I am not sure of all the components of the "sea nettle" or chrysaora quinquecirrha, but there are tentacles, a structure that acts as a mouth and an anus, the bell of course and oral arms that contain components needed for digestion. They have a polyp and larvae stage and breed sexually I think. No brain or complex nervous system just a few nerve fibers. The venom is in their stingers or tentacles and will continue to release until tentacle is removed even if it isn't still attached to the bell.

They can get to a fair size in diameter and flare out like a peacock to make themselves look bigger, whether or not they actually do this as a defensive mechanism in nature I am not sure but they are captivating and graceful to watch.

"Gull Cannibal"

 
This Gull brought new meaning to the term scavenger. As we were paddling the shore line Wayne noticed lots of feathers in the water. I thought it was nothing. It may have been a gull scrap and if so, this was ones' fate. The gull floating nearby was digging at the not so lucky gull's chest as we paddled near and he wasn't willing to fly away none too soon either.

While swimming in Fox Island the Atlantic this time home wasn't so cold and when you ducked under water, we use to call it "getting your ducking", you could see these little minnows.


At first I was alarmed when Wayne yelled that there was a black cloud moving in to shore and that it was moving around quickly. Well, exposed up to my waist I wasn't too happy about any black cloud moving uder water that I couldn't see. So I ducked under again and saw the huge school of fish swimming around our legs. Very cool!

"Glasgow Pond, Aug 10th, Canso Day 2"

Matt getting ready for his first rolling lesson. What a day, what a friggin day!!

"Then There Was Three...."

As we turn into spring it becomes time to hit the water and "limber up". As I type most of the snow in St. John's is gone but there is a storm warning for 20-40 cm forecast. I am anxious to get out there and practise some strokes and shed some of the winter stiffness. Maybe lots of close to home paddles for warm ups I figure.