"A Closer Look"

As you come into Styles Cove from Faltrock side you are entranced by the falls. Seeing only part of them at this angle. The sun seems to always shine in this area. I guess we just pick our days right. It is a beautiful spot and one that allot do not get to enjoy. LAst year we washed off under these falls. Realising the dangers of falling rocks being rained down from above, we opted out this year. But it is an excellent stop for a food break and fairly sheltered from all but easterlies.

Isabelle is about to join Neil here who is checking out the landing site. I linger for just a little while capturing all I can with my senses, enjoying the raining down sun and sloshing in the gentle swell of the cove.

From the header picture, on this page of Styles Cove, if you look closely you can see a walkway going across the top portion of the falls. I didn't see this during the paddle but ocated on my shot when I got home and realised that the East Coast Trail goes past this beautiful location. That trail I walked part of last weekend on ly out to Shoe Cove. This point is beyond Shoe Cove from the trail access point in Pouch Cove. I will reiterate that the East Coast Trail is a beautiful trail to hike on the Avalon Peninsula. The neat part about that is that there are lots of possible day hikes especially if you shuttle.

"Flatrock"

On Saturday April 3rd, Neil, Isabelle and myself put in a Flatrock for a paddle to Pouch Cove about 14kms away. The waters were a little bit gnarly for thorough exploration like we did on this leg last year but the weather was beautiful and the paddle exhilirating, a great day to be on the water. Thanks Neial and Isabelle

"Stiles Cove"

Coming into Stiles Cove is very scenic. There are waterfalls and colorful cliffs and it is sheltered from nagging winds blowing any direction other than easterly.

"Cape Spear"

 
Yesterday!

"Brandy The Brave"

 
Mommy was wandering what the hell I was doing way over on the other side taking these pictures. I uh...welll...I was tr...we got seperat....no excuses!!!

"Good Posers"

 
Riley and Brandy at FlatRock Point.

"Now Don't Tell Mommy..."

 
I am sure if Mommy knew they were out this close to the edge at Flat Rock Point we'd be in a little hot water which would have felt a lot warmer than the 7 degrees today with strong winds blowing right off the ocean. The winds must have been gusting to 50-60 km or more today for sure. Gale warnings were in effect. This didn't hinder our little stroll but if Mommy new they were as close to the edge today as they got...as I got...we'd be in a little bit of hot water.

"More Than Ocean"

 
Riley sniffing more than the ocean in Flatrock Newfoundland.

"Not So Wild Life"

Riley and Brandy and I went on a hiking trip in Flatrock Newfoundland yesterday. The winds were high and the wave action on the waters was intense. The girls loved the trek. We also went out to Cape Spear and had a bit of a hike there as well. The winds there were even more intense and the spray from the crashing waves on the shore could be felt all along the trail. The dogs loved it......so did I.

"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!!

"Wow, Flatrock to Pouch Cove"

 

Wow is just one of those words that can slip very easily and subconsciously out of your mouth even before your brain has had time to process all that has made it tell the mouth wow in the first place. Today was a "wow" day. Because I took the day of work to paddle with a group of great people in Tony, Neil, and Isabelle we shared an adventure that one who kayaks can only probably dream of. I do. To have so much to see and do in 13 km of paddling a coastline is to me amazing. The weather in this area though must be just right to enjoy it all and today we were bang on! Little wind, occasional gusts, sunshine, 9 degrees Celsius and enough scenery and paddling adventure to keep us totally engaged for the whole trip. One of those trips that when you are finished.......you never really feel like you are.

At every turn and every so many strokes you just kept saying "wow" inside your paddling mind. Good enough for me on a Friday.

"Fueling Up"

 

Neil and Tony at a rest point along our journey.

"Just The Way It Is"

 
When you see the sea that is what you get, it is just the way it is! The beauty is all encompassing.

"Main Street"

 

Neil's Mainstreet today was the ocean's surface. Cruising at our own pace we need not respect limits for there are none, speed or otherwise and the scenery is impeccable.

"Rock Gardens"

 
I never promised you a rock garden but if you paddle from Flatrock to Pouch Cove you'll get one, or two, or.......

Tony always finds rocks. That might have something to do with all that geology in him.

"Getting Vertical"

The Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland is known for its' steep cliffs that penetrate the ocean surface straight thru the heart of the sea. The rock is colorful and very textured in many amazing ways, with seams of old convoluting their tortuous curves about every face.

"Captivating Caves"

Just to heighten the adventure on this paddling day you can treat yourself along this route to numerous sea cave exploration. Providing the tide and sea state is favorable you can gain entry....and exit to these interesting vacuoles. Some were quite long like paddling down a water tunnel....a dark cool water tunnel.

"Freshwater Encounters-Waterfalls"

Some of the freshness we encountered today from Flatrock to Pouch Cove. Sun for the whole of the paddle. It made you want to cool off.