"Weather Or Not..."

Just now the weather in St. John's is frightful. Glad I was able to hit the pool last evening and after a dinner at a friend's I didn't thing I would make it. An Iranian and an Italian dish for the meal was simply exquisite and the wine delicious. Some of the guys I knew this morning were getting together for a short jaunt but I didn't make it.  This photo is not from today but epitomizes what the current conditions are outside. This is Tony and Dean getting ready to wash off in some fresh water at St. Philip's. "ya just gotta make hay when the....."

"Just Do It"

Finally on the water and finally a kayaking blog entry.

It was a blustery day in St. Philips. A late put-in at about 1:30pm and gusting 50km winds made for some mini wave action and a bit of surfing. Brian and I caught this odor with an accompanying huge brown spot on the water and decided to investigate. ???????



A bunch of bows and I have to say that my camera is on its way out as the quality of pictures seems to diminish eveytime I use it. Too many dunks in the sea water  guess.

Brin and I took a bit of respite from some wind. We were paddling hard most of the time against the wind hoping to catch "the wave" for a decent surf back. You can do this in St. Pilips when the wind is SW. You paddle like the dickens out round a small headland then surf back. Why not? It's Saturday!

After so many times out and back everyone needed a bit of a break.

Some of the gang paddling into the waves and a brisk SW head wind. Great to be back on the water with a good bunch of people. Thanks Tony, Dean, Gary, Clyde, Brian,Tobias and Sean for another good one at St. Philly.



"A St. Philip's Trek"

Stroking against the wind on our weekly outings on Thursdays in St. Philip's.

"Main Thorough Fair"

As you can tell by the backdrop, same spot different paddlers. Clyde above and Tony below.

This spot goes down the guts of Conception Bay, Bell Island Tickle, or St. Philip's. However you frame it the waters are shared and shared by kayakers alike.

"St. Philip's Or Bust"

Waves for everyone. Hard not to smile when gliding on their tops.

"Paddling Modes"

I just thought I'd follow Sean a bit on our outing in St. Philip's on Thursday Night. The wind was howling and gusting up to about 30kt SW. A land breeze I guess. We were just exercise paddling I think. Exerting energy for the fun of it. Practising squares, triangles and every other angle into the malestrom. Sometimes even paddling backward gave better progress. Go figure!

Sometimes dipping in troughs....

executing extended paddle turns in the wind.....

my stealthy presence goes undetected. I certainly could not be heard, the wind was too loud for that. It was just sweet to be on the water no matter what was flying in our faces.

"Another Day"

We shall be back.

"Wave Rider"

The weather outside is horrendous. We are currently in the middle of a 50cm snow storm with blizzarding conditions. No paddling tomorrow either as winds will be high.

I've revisited this photo. It always humbles me as I am lead to think on the size of waves. This is actually Tony, one of my best photo subjects and avid paddling partner, coasting down the side of a big roller. This image is actually waves on a wave.

When I kayak, I feel as much in touch with the sky as I do the water and most times they seem to be one, just separated by a horizon. Our eyes are always on both for different reasons. The sky for weather information and just plain eye aesthetics. Of course the water for clues on how to control our boat as we paddle along. Where sky, paddler and water meet is where I can find some harmony.

"Spirits"

Spirits or at least their meaning I will leave open to interpretation. Tempeatures may be low these past few weeks in St. John's (-6 to -21 C, with wind) but the spirits of some paddlers like Neville here seem to remain high. These guys have been practising rescues and rolling in some pretty less than ambiant conditions in the past few weeks. I would say they are and have prepared for cold water immersion and what it is like to do different tasks in those conditions. This was shot just after a re-entry and roll in minus 10C.

I know others are paddling in the cold and I respect that. I also know that they are most likely doing it safely, at least the ones whose blogs I visit are and that is what kayaking is all about to me. Getting out there when you can, doing it safe to be able to do it tomorrow and sharing it with friends or paddling pals that just seem to make the sport everything it truely is.

Sean, Clyde, Dean, Tony, Gerard, and Robert are helping making winter paddling another day on the water in this area, namely because they are doing it right. Sweet!

"Drifter"

nough said....

"Just The Beginning"

Well Tony, we may have missed the session on the water yesterday but the guys made it out for a session that looked both a little cold and fun. They were undaunted and red faced, and all after the rolls, exited the slip way for a paddle in Conception BAy.

Robert is seen here tailing the group as they head out. You can winter paddle and if you go over in it and practise that well, you just get a feeling for what it is like.

"Kokatat"

Well we all wear it. Or at least some form of it. Especially on days like yesterday. "Kokatat" is actually a Native American word meaning "into the water". It only seems fitting that it should brand a company designed to produce paddling gear. Couldn't have found a better one really. Today the literal affirmation of that word was approached by some paddling dudes who felt the need to be 'in the water' on a very cold day. About -20 celsius I guess. I actually liked my vantage point. The wharf.

"Positioning"

HAve you ever done a roll and coming up banged your head on a floating sheet of ice? No, me neither. But the possibility was there yesterday, hence the helmets. A handful of guys got together to practise just that, rolling and assisted rescues. It was chilly and here they are just jockeying for spots to roll in the Gut at St. Philips. How come I'm not in the water? I just came from work but didn't want to miss the photo op so Tony and I are planning fo a colder day! ;-)

"Who'd Know"

Well I would and I am here to tell you that they were rolling in -16- -20 degrees celsius yesterday just to get an idea of what it would be like and what it would feel like. Some rolls seemed fast(just get me out of here) and others more controlled. HAd to be careful not to bang your head on floating sheets of ice though. Sea using his stick to take him through the motions.

"It Does Get Frosty"

When you winter paddle it becomes clear instantly that things are just a little bit different. The water is cold, the air is cold, and well you simply have to be more aware because things just are not going to click and snap as readily as they would in warm weather. Clyde exiting the Gut to the open ocean outside yesterday.

"Rock and Water"

Surrounded by rock and water on a winter's day with a light snow we were. This was the header of my blog for a few days and now I just want to archive it to my site.

"Y"

Becasue they can!

"iMMERSION"

Tony and Dean Cleaning the salt off in the fresher water.

"Vignette"

Ralph with Tony in the barely visible distant kayak in Conception BAY.

"Distant Headlands"

Visible to us now the distant headlands were a range point. Soon though they were lost to the snow we enjoyed on a nice leisurely winter jaunt to Portugal Cove.