"Setting Off"

Heading out of O'Donnell's in St. Mary's Bay, myself, Tony, Sean, Dean and Gerrad seen here leaving the cove were headed on a kayking paddle that would take us to Admiral's Beach and Great Colinet Island and beack again for an approx. 22km paddle in stellar conditions. Sweet way to spend a Staurday.

"More Times Than Not"

More times than not I am extolling the virtues of kayaking. The beauty of the scenery and mans harmony with ocean, land, and sky. Well more times than not when I kayak that is how it is for me. But trust me, if something is going to be rotted on land, sea or sky, you can be rest assured that it will be man that will do it. Not sure if any other creature would treat earth this way. So there it is in stark contrast to the natural environment and the aesthetics of kayaking........a seaside dump. Would be a good area for a kayak clean up one day I think.

"Hugging Coastline"

It is where the outdoor sounds are sharp, where sea meets land and where that extra little ummph can push you along and where time can be spent zig-zagging amongst rocks. A gentle passtime today.

"I Love Kayaks"

You should too!

"Lunch"

Why do we take blasted images of kayakers eating on a beach? It is the one time when you can take a picture when you are not moving in all directions out kayaking. I figure! Besides I bet we were the only people having lunch on the beach at about 1330h on a Saturday in February in St. Mary's Bay, maybe in Newfoundland. Heh. Heh.

"Rock Chafe"

Well I think Tony got a little stern chaffing here as he loves to ride the shore sometimes with the surfs edge. Tony and I both hugged the shoreline quite a bit today and I slid over more than one rock this day as I cringed at the sound on the hull. Gotts do what ya gotta do. Scrapping my hull absolutely would not stop me from playing near rocks or shore. Just don't want too big of a gash. Dean in the foreground looking on.

"Gerrard"

If kayaking were a religion, Gerrard would be a priest. He is such an advocate as well as an awesome ambassador of the sport of kayaking and when you paddle with him you are kept in the moment and the excitement that is there no matter the conditions. He is fun to photograph because he always seems to be smiling and having fun, kayaking just does that to a person, eh Gerrard? Amen brother!

"Mulling Around In Boats"

We like doing this!! In the distance is Great Colinet Island in St. MAry's Bay on the southern tip of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland. On the other side of Great Colinet you could cross the rest of St. Mary's Bay to Acommunity called Branch. I did a awesome paddle out of there a few years back and the sea life there was amazing as was the scenery. I didn't quite make it to Cape St. Mary's Ecological Bird Sanctuary but I did have stops at Lance Cove and Gull Cove along the way.

"Great Colinet Island"

Dean rounding the head land at Great Colinet Island for Regina's Cove.

"Regina Cove"

Gerrard looking into Regina Cove on Great Colinet Island in St. Mary's Bay Newfoundland. After an uneventful cross of the Colinet Passage we took a break in the sheltered waters of the cove. The crossing was only 15 minutes but winds were starting to pick up along the way. They died down once we crossed back again to Admiral's Beach.

"Only 4 hrs"

Seemed longer on the water today but there were not many land breaks. One for lunch on a beach across from little Colinet Island which you can see in the distance on my header image of the blog. Sean, Dean and Gerrard heading for home.

"Whirlpool?"

Not really, just a bit of suction that results from the effects of a wave washing in then out creating a vaccum. When a succeeding wave comes in again it gets sucked in the vaccum, looking like a whirlpool. Usually created near rock outcrops so if you see them they are good to avoid unless your timing is good and you can ride over top.

"Working BacK"

With the sun in our back we headed NE for O'Donnell's from Admiral's Beach. Lots of close shoreline paddling for a little wave action in the otherwise flat calm waters.

"Days' End"

Well it was another nice paddle on Saturday. This was our put-in and take-out at O'Donnell's in St. Mary's Bay. We guesstimated about a 22km jaunt. Certainly enough to work out the kinks and to really stretch the muscles.

"Returning To Branch , Newfoundland: Part Two"

 As I finished my walk down the cove and scanned the flotsam for booty, all I could salvage was this old plastic Black Duck, a very quiet paddling companion. Since I planned to do all the talking I figured it may well work out.lol

As I prepared to leave Gull Cove I quickly reflected on my thrill of having come to this area to paddle on the weekend of Sept. 27th and 28th. I was fortunate to have had good weather, which I had previously researched, and at this point looking forward to the leisurely paddle back to Branch and hoping for adventures along the way as I always do when I paddle. I was not to be disappointed. Please read on and enjoy the last segment of my paddle which really got it's beginning in St. Bride's one day ago. The images of this journey follow.

"The Elusive Ones"

 As curious as these seals were and as often as they showed their heads to me, bobbing up and down in the sea as they tread water, they were very hard to photo. It was as if they new what a camera was and as a result were camera shy. They were very playful throughout the trip and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them, especially the little ones who mimicked the splashing of their parents, as perhaps a warning to me, as they were being schooled in only ways I guess seals would understand.

"Descending Color"

 The lichen on the rock and the kelp of low tide provided as much color on a foggy day as I am sure it would on a sunny one. As I leave Gull Cove behind I am reminded of the beauty of this day and the good fortune I had to be part of this journey. As I look at the Black Duck on my bow I am reminded of the teaming life that abounds in this area of St. Mary's Bay and the coves and inlets that provide shelter for life to thrive.

"Floating Orbs"

 These jelly fish encountered as I left Gull Island provided much enjoyment for the solo paddle back to Branch. Their presence, like the seals' made me feel welcomed in their domain and I felt I had to proceed cautiously less they shy away from my kayak and I loose a paddling companion.

"Rock Solid"

 I found it hard to imagine life living so close to cliffs as thunderous waves must crash here often and confused seas must chaos create. But thriving below was another world of wonder and color on this magnificent Sunday in September.

"Jelly-Life"

Though I could not see at the time all that was going on beneath my boat I knew there was much life. You could feel it as much as see it. I saw lots of these Light Blue Jellies floating by but none seemed to linger long enough to photo. As I paddled to the cliff's edge their domain became more familiar and the clear waters allowed for some awe inspiring shots of some of the life below.