"Over and Back"

On the way to Green Island on Sunday. Clyde and Tony after we had our bite to eat and heading down the south coast of Witless Bay for a small crossing to Green Island. The waters actually turned out to be kind of gnarly over there and we realized that Clyde's' day hatch cover had popped off some where so we headed back. Interesting enough when I was trying out Malcolm's Nordkapp before I bought mine, I forgot to put the day hatch cover on after a short break. We then paddled out into some gnarly conditions, then too, and realized the cover was off but it was tethered and the hacth filled to the top with water. I didn't even know the hatch cover was off til Tony pointed it out. Nordkapps I find, and I discovered this at the pool last week with a cockpit full of water, remain remarkably stable with water in them. I don't recommend paddling that way but good to know when in a bind. As compared to other boats I've paddled with water in them, the Nordkapp is by far more stable. This may be true to a point but one must understand that once sloshing for whatever reason starts to happen inside the boat you can be rest assured that the stability will change for the worst drastically.




Returning from Green Island. Clyde, the distant kayak, paddled across without hatch cover in place but when we hit shore on the other side he did a nifty jerryrig on the hatch by rearranging the gear inside and inserting his inflateable paddle float in the hatch, with the valve sticking out and inflating it to make a tight seal on the hatch opening until we returned to our takeout. Pretty cool I thought.

"Then There Was Two"

The sterns of Tony's and Macolm's boats.

"Paddling In The Lull Of A Storm, Part2"

If you pay closer attention at times 3:35 and 4:11 you will see the waves start to hide the horizon, and then crash on shore, respectively. Too bad pictures mask some of the actual sea state and I suspect they do to a degree save that you just have to have the right angles to get quality shots. I most certainly did not, especially since the drops were starting to mask and coat the lens as was obvious by the water blobs and streaks in the video. Kind of fun to try and capture something though.

"Middle Cove To Outer Cove"

Last weekend Tony and I had a paddle from MIddle Cove To Outer Cove in the lull of a storm. It was an exciting paddle wrought with a few challenges however conditions were not too crazy. This video is launching in Middle Cove and then making our way to Outer Cove and back again, and does not have the wave I spoke of in a previous post. If you like bronc-bucking, kind-a-paddling........paddle in 'The Lull Of A Storm'.

"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!

"I Need Water"

 
Paddle this Staurday if I have to put the kayak in the tub!!!!

"That Time Again!!"

 
It is soon that time again when paddles get way layed because of weather and time constraints. I've been preoccupied lately and the shorter days of daylight make it hard to get on the water after work. This is when you count on your kayaking pictures files from all the great paddles you had in previous months and try to make posts of pictures you haven't posted yet. I'm sure I may have posted this one but it reminds me of the calm of the mroning Tony and I had on a trip this summer right before we crossed Fortune Bay. Seemed like yesterday really. Winds are high tomorrow but hoping to put in somewhere. Just have the need to get on the water and it is clawing at my will to make a concerted effort to get out there ...somewhere....

I got a new camera...definitely not for kayaking but a sweet distraction. Silbs I heeded some of your advice and went with the Nikon D700 totally not disappointed but finding I may have to work the hand muscles to hold the darn thing for any length of time. Hopefully the quality of some of the pictures on the blog will improve a bit more. I plan to actually start another blog that will cater to just my other side.......photography. Somtimes only pictures work for what I want to say. I guess I really have to figure that out.

"Rolling, Strokes, Re-Entry and Rolling"

Just a fun video I did before our Thursday paddling sessions at St. Philips on Sept.17th,2009. I was also practising with adding narration and fading in titles and such using my video maker program, so therefore this is rough. Had fun passing the afternoon on a Saturday though. So as I am re-entering my kayak in the video a couple guys show up and start asking questions, slowed down the rentry process just a bit. All in good fun.

"Nordkapps,Newfoundland"

 
There are four Nordkapps in this photo. Des's is on the far left and thenfrom the left is mine, Tony's and Malcolm's(LV). We had a nice evening on the waters of St. Philip's this past Thursday mulling around in boats again. The weather was spectacular and the sun was very intense. I thought I'd try something in photoshop to reverse or invert the image so that the shadows become bright and of course boat colors change to give this effect on the launch pad in St. Philip's.

"Ya Gotta Like Nordkapps"

 
Had to put you in here today Tony. You are my 1292nd post. It's kind of traditional. I named my Nordkapp today. It will be "Gull Feather" and I am having one air brushed on the deck of my kayak. Why you might ask? Simply because on any paddle I do on the coast I am always sure to have a paddling companion in a seagull and therefore I am never truely alone on any paddle. Thanks for the company bye's!

"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!

"Rock Hopping"

 

Rock hoping in this area near near Madelaine Point is so neat because there are rock islands and little inlets everywhere and hidden rocks beneath the surface. A place where only a kayak would feel at home and I sure did.

"Rounding Little Dover Island"

 

Also known as White's Island, Little Dover Island is the bigger Island as you enter Dover Harbour. There are many rocks and shoals. The Lumsden shoal is one near the entrance to the bay. I could see these waters being nasty to paddle in a strong easterly or south easterly wind as the shallow waters would make for some interesting lop. Actually it might be quite fun.

"Seaweed Carpet"

 

Lots of seaweed as you paddle through Dover Islands. Acts as a bit of a protectant when landing or maneuvering around rocks.

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

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

"Valley At Glasgow"

 

My mode of transport today much different than the Gallions that plyed these waters in the early 17th and 18th centuries looking for the cod and finding it so plentiful they used buckets to hoist there catches. Times have changed. In the very distant right is Grassy Island where a fortress once stood and where many a cod was salted on flakes and many a boat from Europe visited these waters. History not as old as the kayak's but as intriguing to me. At Glasgow Head today I helped Matt with his roll.We had much success. I was proud of his quick learning abilities but I sometimes think that MAtt has gills some where on him anyways. LOL I bet when this boat was being made in Scotland there was no idea that it would be paddled in a very distant Glasgow with a name derived from British Ancestors, plying over the waters where rusted cannon balls and cannon lie and where remnants as artifacts remain to vilify a life gone past but truely not forgotten.

"Tickle Rolling"

 

My Dad got a kick out of seeing me roll as did Charlene's Mom and Dad. I was getting a sore throat from rolling so much in the salt water. No nose plugs. The "Tickle" seperates main land Canso from Durrell's Island. I enjoy paddling it's length in a kayak, certainly more than I did in a row boat as a kid. We use to chase the squid in a cove and corner them then fish them out with a mop and then go home with our clothes dripping in black ink.

" Some Coves"

 

Some Coves were just too lush with a rocky and hilly contrast to pass up. This was one. You could also swim in the dunk in your dry suit to cool off for the next leg of the small journey.

"Bay de L'Eau, Newfoundland"

 

Bay deL'Eau looking towards Harbour Mille on the other side of Fortune Bay. A great spot to stop after an hour and more crossing.