"Into The Harbour"

 

Looking into St. John's harbour at Fort Amherst, our put-in for a 2 hour hike to Freshwater Bay and points beyond. The hike is on the East Coast Trail of Newfoundland and well worth a trip to Newfoundland if you are an avid hiker. We met lots of hikers and amazingly mountain bikers along the way. Google it, you won't be disappointed.

"Far Out"

 

On the distant headland to the left of the picture is Cape Spear as we stopped for pictures and water on The East Coast Trail of Newfoundland. The Trail is 540km long. Covering about 32 communities along it's route. A beautiful rugged and challenging trail in spots. Just an amazing vantage point looking to Ireland...couldn't see it though.

"La-De-Da-Dee-Dumm"

 

Merrily hiking along with about 80 pounds on my back.

"Atop A Trail"

 

Carla was almost twisted around from the wind howling on this part of the East Coast Trail Yesterday looking to Cape Spear.

"Trail Break"

 
Carla and I stopped for a photo op during our hike from Fort Amherst in St. John's to Freshwater Bay part of the East Coast Trail.

"Freshwater Bay"

 

Freshwater Bay is located on the East Coast Trail and on the way to Cape Spear Lighthouse in Newfoundland. This was our destination today after about a 4-5km hike over some pretty rugged terrain but spectacular in beauty.

"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!!

"Wrong Side"

 


Sure is! Thought I'd chuck this in my blog as an afterthought from finishing my Small Craft Operator's Course this evening. As of September 15th, 2009, All operators of any powered craft must carry proof of competency at all times. This also applies to non-residents operating their craft in Canadian waters after 45 consecutive days.

We learned a bit about buoys so I got to re-enforce some current knowledge and compare safety and requirements in power boats with that of kayaking. Somehow I still feel safer in my kayak. At least I am already dressed for immersion.

We also got to see a video presentation on the 1-10-1 rule from the famous Professor Popsicle, Dr. Gordon Geisbrecht of Manitoba. He was taking nine emergency response people...cops, firemen, etc. to his Cold Water Boot Camp and subjecting them to the perils of cold water and documenting the responses from all nine. It was very interesting to see how they all reacted in 5-6 degree Celsius water. The effects of immersion without dry suits was evaluated as they were given various tasks to perform. For instance when asked to jmp in the water and swm to shore which was only meters away, some swam in the opposite direction, still disoriented from inital immersion. It was also amazing to see how unsuccessful most were at trying to put on a PFD in the water at that temperature. Most failed. Actually putting a PFD on in the water is difficult at any water temperature. Try it. There is however a technique. Turn the PFD inside facing out in front of you, rotate the PFD or Life vest so that the neck portion is facing you, then insert your hands through the arm holes and then pull the PFD/Life vest over your head and fasten in 5 degree celsius water one person got it over his head and he was the guy who either new already this technique or learned it quite luckily. 40% of all drownings in Canada happened within 2 meters of shore. Two Meters!!!

Also learned some interesting stuff on flares and signalling.

In the course manual they even mentioned kayakers and paddlers in general, but there is a picture of a kayaker,lol, and regulations state that motorized craft are to give us a wide berth and they are to slow right down, 8-10 Km/h. And leave no wake (I actually like wake). Good luck with that one but it was good to see that they thought of us.

Anyways.....I am taking the spar buoy on the wrong side in this picture...or about to. Red right return....not overly important at this point but it is important when you want to know the directions that boats have to take in navigable waters, so we can avoid them, even if they may not seem totally relevant to us at most times.

"Steady As She Goes"

 

One of the first Icebergs to glide by Cape Spear I got a snap of. It was quite small by Iceberg standards I guess and appeared to be trapped in pack ice floating just offshore. The sun was quite bright and although there was little berg drama it is the beginning of the transit of Icebergs down what is known as Iceberg Alley here in Newfoundland. The yearly migration of Bergs shed from the mother of all loads, Glaciers, in Greenland, make their pilgrimage of sorts to their death in the warmer waters of Newfoundland where the Labrador Current and Gulf Stream Current flowing over Canada's Grand Banks meet. The warm Gulf Stream which originates in the Gulf of Mexico seems to be the silent killer of 10,000 year old chunks of ice leaking pent up ancient climate traces as they slither by seemingly unwary of their coming demise but not going totally unnoticed as the larger monstrosities scrape the underwater seascape and leave their own indelible marks in parting. Many are secured longevity in the hoards of cameras that captures their arrivals and departures under all marine conditions and if you think you've seen all the wonders you must truly add these to your list.

"A SOF Display"

 

This is a kayak from the Coast of Labrador. You can notice the "D" shaped cockpit. It seems that the cockpit evolved in many forms from round, oval, D shaped etc. Sometimes as varied as the shape of hulls. Boat design depending to a large degree on availability of materials such as whale bone, seal skins, walrus skins, tools, etc during a given year. It is amazing to me to realize that kayaks have been around for so long. Like in the early hundred's A.D.

So next time when you paddle, sit back and dream on the history of your craft and feel the ocean beneath your own skin and be taken back to a time when this vehicle, this mode of transportation and hunting platform helped an ancient society flourish into our modern day.

"Ballistic Nylon, SOF"

 

At the kayaking exhibit in The Rooms Museum in St. John's NL, one of our club members had his SOF on display. It is made of ballistic nylon and stitched together over a wooden frame whose pieces are tied together. It is a very solid looking structure and didn't require the wife to chew any materials or skins for pliability like in seal skinned kayaks of Greenland origin.

The first lecture was by Kevin McAleese, curator of Archaeology and Ethnology on Ancient Craft that gave us a look at these ingenious skinned boats and the Inuit who invented them. I found the lecture very interesting and learned a bit more about the ancestry of the boats we paddle today. It was cool to look upon an old photo from the late 1800's of about 30 sealed skinned boats all rafted together knowing that each of them at some point served as a unique hunting vessel.

"Thanks To Barry"

Us heading out into St. John's Bay. You probably can't see us even when you click to enlarge, but we are there, heading out into the expanse of the ocean. Thanks Barry.




Passing through the Gut of Quidi Vidi on Sunday. Tony and I are captured. When we returned to Quidi Vidi after our paddle to St. John's harbour a note was left on my windshield. It indicated that pictures were taken of us and if we wanted to view them to contact the number on the note. So I did and Barry was kind enough to email them to me.

"Near Distant St. John's"

 


Tony and I decided to have a paddle from Quidi Vidi to St. John's Harbour. ABout a twenty minute jaunt under good conditions each way. We had gusting winds but clear blue sky and had a great day on the water. It turned out to be some what of a boating exploration for me as I meandered aroud the boats docked in the harbour. Tony of course had his own perspective. Oh the joys of seeing things through different eyes.

"Red Right Return"

 


No problem for me. Some of the boats from the paddle today however must have wondered how they were going to fit through. Most ikely not. They have the charts afterall. Oh yes, harbour pilots too.

"The Fishing Boat: Downtown"

 


The beginning of a "boatiful" day.

"OK, OK, .you get the right of way!"

 


You Betcha!!

"The Great Swan"

 

It was truely a Big Boat day on our trip from Quidi Vidi to St. John's Harbour. I felt like a little kid playing around the big boats. Well maybe not but I did have fun zig-zagging in and around them and pddling up close to their rudders and bows and wondering what seas they would not be able to sail in.

"A Russian Boat"

 

Not to sure on this on but the lettering on the side was indicative of some country from the Russian Federation. Probably just refueling before it goes to claim our Arctic. Lots of interest in that area as of late. Watched a program not long ago on the North West Passage being free of ice very, very soon year round. That is going to be a contentious area over the next few years probably after the economy rebounds and country's can afford to send navy vessels to claim their respective waters. Better send subs too. Ooooh that is what this boat does!! lol