“Paddling Too in Newfoundland"

I guess when you own a blog and do so many posts about others you sometimes might wonder where the heck is the guy taking the pictures surely he paddles too.

Just getting underway in Cape Broyle a few weeks ago Gerard was nice enough to send me photos he took of myself. Sometimes it is kind of neat to see what “you” look like on the water and see how you fit in your boat.  I was curious if it looked like it felt. In some circumstances I believed it did. A leisurely cadence, I think it felt like that.

A little more aggressive stance and I know it felt like that.

My being awed by nature stance and well…….. it always feels like that. Thanks Gerard for giving me a visual of me on the water.

"Kayaking Forever"

If you are going to be on the water you should be prepared to have fun. Tony, Malcolm and I did just that today. It was one of those days with no real destination in mind just friendly paddling under various sea conditions with varying weather to match. Really wouldn't want it any other way. Get too hot in the sun anyway.lol

"What A Paddle"

I know this looks benign, but the waves today were unbelievable at least one of them. Tony and I were at it again paddling from Middle Cove to Outer Cove and back in the middle of a storm lull that boosted winds in excess of 100km/hr. I hadn't been on the water in a while and was glad to get out there. Like Bob said in an email the waters were like a boiling cauldron. Exciting. To top it off on the north side of Middle Cove on the way back I paddled around a bit and neared the north headland and was elevated on a wave that I can only describe as colossal because when I was looking down its face it was the furthest down a wave I had ever seen. Pheeew! Immediately I thought there was another behind it and surely I was heading for a farmers field. When I watched the wave pass under me and head for shore it eclipsed the cliffs on the north shore for its' size. It was spectacular to watch the back of this monstrosity plunder to shore and crash violently. I did have my video camera rolling but when I came down off the wave I darted Left so as to avoid what I thought might be another one behind it so I hi tailed it out of there and missed its' progress. Tony is not in any of these shots because I took video and have to process. I will post some drama when I get a chance under Paddlehand's Adventures In Kayaking.LOL Hee Haw!

"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!!

"Icebergs OF Newfoundland"

Icebergs Newfoundland from Stan MAc Kenzie on Vimeo.

"Winter Paddle"

More of my videos can be seen at YouTube type in "xm64842" that's my YouTube identity where I post some of my "shenanigans".

"Tire Toss"

 Well not actually . I found this tire underwater and reached in with only wool gloves on my hands to fetch it out. Within 3 minutes my hands became pretty much useless not to mention burning. I had enough function to open the truck door and start the engine to warm them up. I purposely done this of course to see how much time I would actually have to make good use of my hands if submerged......not very long at all. Forget about holding a paddle!

"Winter Dip"

Tony doing water exercises practising water angels not the bubbly kind but the ones akin to snow angels.

If I am going to boat in it I figured I might as well get a feel for what it would be like to be actually "In" it. The water is cold make no mistake. I could feel the coldness trying to get through my drysuit but dry it was, and buoyant with the trapped air and of course the PFD. Figured not bad for a February in Newfoundland. A storm just rages outside right now.

"Collier's Put-In"

 Tony lugging his boat over the crusty snow laden shore. I took the day of work to paddle in Collier's today and I must say ........it was worth every stroke.

"Tony At Rest"

 What can I say Tony you are the greatest of paddling companions. Thanks for the float today. Excellent subject matter too. LOL, LOL.

"Hard as Rock"

 Water frozen hard as rock.

"Wood Warmth"

 Nothing like a bit of wood to add a bit of warmth to the paddle. It was cool today but we were nice and toasty inside our drysuits. This retaining wall was lining the entrance to Marysvale, Newfoundland. Went hunting for an iceberg in this area last year. I thought it amazing how a ten story floating chunk of ice could hide but when you paddle in and around these coves you get an idea.