"Rafting Up"

Now I can't say enough about this little informality on the water. Now sure it is nice being out there in our own space and finding our individual zen on the water and well hey it can probably even be found in groups. However, "rafting-up" while sometimes essential during trips to make sure everyone is on the same boat so to speak, (or not) is also essential in other ways. Certainly as a stabilizing platform should you need one in times of trouble (boat repair, first aid administration, rescues to name a few) or just simply bad weather like a squall you may have to link together to ride out. 

But there is no better or probably no less enjoyable reason other than to stretch the legs, relax and shoot the s&%t. Sit back, recline, read a mag, have a drink check out the scenery and just simply be in the zen of "rafting up"!

Now Gerard here is introducing a more lounging pose, looking comfortable, relaxed and most certainly engaging while sharing his enthusiasm for being nothing other than on the water in a kayak. Ya gotta like that. I do. Not bad for January 1st, 2011 in St. John's Newfoundland at the exit to The Gut at Quidi Vidi. 

"In The Gut, Quidi Vidi"

This weather in St. John's has got me reminiscing about our Jan.1st paddle. Our club has one every year at Quidi Vidi, no matter the weather. We should be well prepared for it this year as the weather sucks! Lost count of the Gale warnings we've had in the last three weeks, but there are windows of opportunity and you just have to be ready for them. Tony has been getting out, he is able. Soon we'll be in the throws or winter you gotta take your paddling sessions when you can get them. Well there is always the pool and those sessions have started as well. It's just that time of year.

Here Jim Price is slicing through The Gut on Jan 1st, 2009 dawning his sou'wester as it was a very miserable cold day if I recall......perfect for a Jan. 1st paddle in Newfoundland.

"Quidi Vidi Summer"

 

Quidi Vidi looks quite quaint in the summer time. More times than not my postings of it are foggy, drizzly, windy or wintery, today however was summery. In Newfoundland this year we are having the most spectacular weather. Call El Nino or La Nina responsible, even though we are not in the pacific,we'll take it. Now add to this towering bergs in Twillingate and whales now around our coasts, it sure makes for spectacular paddling. Oh well it sure sucks being on call right now though at work. Rain for the weekend forecast....I can dig that.

"Red Of Night..Quidi Vidi"

 

A stroll around the village of Quidi Vidi last evening allowed me to take this shot of a full moon. Of course I've played with the image but the evening was so serene, the water so calm and the mood excellently tranquil....the temp about 8 degrees.

"Lookin"

 Looking for a put-in in Quidi Vidi Gut today as we set out on an early Saturday morning jaunt on January 31st, 2009. This site was used for the JAn. 1st paddle but we have since had a bit more snow.

"Put-In, Quidi Vidi Newfoundland"

 This was obviously a much better put-in than our previous picture where we put-in on January 1st, 2009. It was a nice day to have a chance to finally beat some winter blues and hit the water, in some places it was literally with the ice. All totally avoidable though. A bit of fresh air after the old recirculated air that one tends to breath for a lot of the winter. Just part of our institutionalisation mentality I guess and a need to work so we can do more of this. If that is the case...I will work till I drop.........my paddle.

"Gut Return"

 We decided to return to the Gut and paddle around its' harbour for a bit, taking in the calmness and low temps for an early Saturday morning paddle on January 31st in the Newfoundland.

"Outside The Gut, Of Quidi Vidi"

 Quidi Vidi, a Small village nestled in the heart of ST. John's offers up it's own brewery if you hit there when it is open. It also offers up some pretty interesting waters when you paddle outside her sheltered harbour into St. John's Bay. Today of course was no exception. There was little issue with paddling out of the harbour and we decided to take a peek. Rough water but typical for that area however there was some huge swell. We decided to tackle that closer to summer months when the waters get a trifle bit warmer should we decide to take unnecessary dunks.

Quidi Vidi Ice"

 Since we are just pulling out of a cold snap that lasted for about a week and a half it is any reason that there is ice in the gut of Quid Vidi. Not enough to totally seal off the harbour from putting-in but some to let you know that the water is probably chilly. There was even this narrow channel to provide a route up the side of the dock.

"Good Mooring"

 I guess some boats are still sailing in this area or just perhaps they weren't hauled-up. Whatever the case maybe this Saturday morning in Quidi Vidi Gut Jan 31st, was nice enough to be out in any boat. A bit more rough beyond the protection of the gut walls though. However if you are going to dock a boat....docking next to a brewery ain't so bad, especially when you have to while away those cold days.

"Gull Respite"

 Well I posted a moose picture earlier of an Albino moose my friends said they took a picture of, wasn't their picture just a joke, but keeping with the winter and animal theme I thought I'd continue to post my own. This is a walk at Quidi Vidi Lake today, downtown St. John's. Even gulls which are always in flight around here need a bit of a rest at times. I guess this is their idea of sun bathing because the sun has not been out for long lately. 'Tis the season.'

"Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland"

 After my paddle in Fermeuse Newfoundland I came to watch another group enjoy their New Years Salutation at the traditional New Year haunt.

"Quidi Vidi Gut 2009"

 Jan 1st paddle at The Gut some real dedication on a most miserable day.

"Jan. 1st, 2009 Quidi Vidi Gut, NL"

 Some members of our kayaking group here in St. John's Newfoundland playing at Quidi Vidi Harbour entrance on New Year's Day. The weather was simply miserable. Rain, sleet and wind combined to make for interesting paddling conditions. The waves outside the cliffs in the image were huge as the expanse of the ocean thrashes to a very narrow opening and when the winds are easterly, as they were, the full brunt of the Atlantic is felt. I will have a You Tube clip of this spot and some of the guys darting in and out of the opening posted soon. My you tube handle is xm64842. Interesting enough this identification number used to be the "ham operator" number to a neighbor years ago in our community called Leo Kennedy. He had polio as a child and was slightly disabled but throughout his life remained a very active and colorful figure in our area and died tragically with four other prominent members of our community in a van accident when they were on their way to a Lion's Club function. He was known around the world to a lot of Ham Radio Operators and was proud to show you the calling cards he would receive from them. Since You Tube is pretty much world wide communication format I thought it only fittng to continue with his identification and his love for meeting new people from around the globe. Here's to you Leo.

"One Day At A Time...."

New Years Eve Day, Wow! Where did it all go? Everywhere I suspect. I don't make New Years resolutions however I do have New Years hopes. I wish that the warmth of these sun's rays could permeate the hearts of the world and stop fighting and killing. I simply can't imagine a day with war in my yard and others can't imagine what it would be like to have a yard without war and terror. I'm beginning to hate land not the beauty it can provide but the "possession" aspect of it all....... the borders. I believe the earth belongs to all of us. I own Africa as much as Africa owns me. We are putting more "dumb" in free-dum, and very much less "free". Where are the lands of "freedoms?" I saw a poster a while back, it was an RCMP officer holding a dead child at a car wreck with beer bottles around the accident scene, the caption, "Who is the Pig now?" What really does it take for people to "get-it"? I know, spoken like someone who has never had a battle in his back yard, but my back yard is yours and even more so as more and more dead Canadians fly home to their families to be entombed in the very soil they fought for from a piece of land as foreign to them as "my Africa" would be to me, and as my son heads for boot camp on January 17th, 2009 in the ROTP of the Canadian Forces, my heart is full of pride and despair, what conflicting emotions! I believe in a new word, "sacrificedom", with sacrificedom there is no hint of reward for having achieved something, like getting your freedom because......every man and woman should be free regardless of the land. Sacrificedom, you may never be free but everything you do every part of everyday is worth something to everyone and it is now... not something you may get in the future like freedom, sacrificedom may set you free but it will reward you in the now, because you know how valuable you are all the time everyday cause sometimes just breathing air when others may be unable to....is a sacrifice.

Which brings me to water. No visible borders or walls, sure they exist in someones mind. Not mine. Kayaking is as close to freedom as I feel I will ever get..... my sacrificedom. To some, how insignificant, self indulgent and non-relevant to the grand scheme of things it must be, whatever the grand scheme of things is......

I know I'm going into the New Year confused but I look forward to finding my way as the year progresses probably depending on many "compasses" to guide me through. One day at a time, one day at a time..........

"Greg Has Landed"

 Greg Stamer has finished his circumnavigation of Newfoundland this evening in Quidi Vidi harbour. There were people on hand to great him and share in his accomplishment. Newfoundland in 43 days. Just friggin' amazing. At dinner with Greg and some Kayak Newfoundland Club Members it was interesting to hear the highlights of his trip and the details of his long crossings in sometimes near treacherous conditions. Gerg was more than happy to finally be able to chow down on some green colored food namely a salad after many moose meals. The unfortunate thing for me is that my camera battery died just as he was entering the harbour wall of Quidi Vidi. So much for photo op. Gregs accomplishment puts him well ahead in the fastest kayaking time around the rock. Can't wait to see some of his shots.

"Trapped"

 
Trapped in the entrance and the exit to Quidi Vidi Gut this diminishing Iceberg is in the throws of decay. It is laboring in this small area where kayakers and fishing boats come and go to the Bay outside. It has share rock cliffs on either side. The Iceberg was bobbing up and down to the confused waters rushing in from the bay and the clapotis rebounding back out to sea it was kind of sad in some strange way.....like it was dying or something.......perhaps it is time to die when you are 10,000 years old.

"Quidi Vidi Lake"

 
This lake is smuck in the middle of St.John's NL and is home to the paddling club that resides there and they were out practising today in the fog that hung low over the lake's surface. These boats are more for advertising than anything and are on the lake's shores all season.

"The Rower"

On the shore of Quid Vidi Lake is a statue of a rower, exerting his trade. It stands testament to the stamina and dedication that some paddlers have to their love of a sport.

"January 1st., 2008 KayaK Quidi Vidi"