"Common Guts"

Sometimes "Guts" are innocuous, that is, you can get through them without too much difficulty. A "gut" is a narrow passage or waterway. On the Southern Shore of the Avalon Peninsula about 30 mins from St. John's Newfoundland you will find the Tors Cove "Gut" between mainland Tors Cove and Fox Island. In St. John's itself you will find Quidi Vidi "Gut" which exits the small community of Quidi Vidi to St. John's Bay. Two "Guts" and sometimes, 'no guts, no glory', for different reasons.

The Quidi Vidi Gut is a send off rendezvous for trips to Freshwater Bay, St. John's Harbour and The Cape Spear Light. It opens to the open ocean and the waters sometimes there are treacherous and not without some thrill getting in and out, even on seemingly calm days. This is where we also have our annual January 1st New Year's Day paddle. You can see a video of one of those on YouTube under XM64842. Tony in the bottom image is looking from the ocean into The Gut at Quidi Vidi.

The Gut in Tors Cove is there if you want to go through it. Unlike Quidi Vidi you do not have to go through it to get to open ocean. Tors' Gut is variable depending on tide levels and ocean conditions of course. More exposed and jagged rocks during ebb tides. The waves that can flow through here in various conditions can make for some fun kayak surfing. Can also make for some interesting rescues. I lost a digital camera to the salt here. Pete is looking in from the ocean throught The Gut at Tors Cove in the Top Image.Tors Cove can also be a launch site to Ship Island, Pee Pee Island, Great Island and points beyond but it is always fun on a return paddle or trip to play in The Gut at Tors Cove. Also a nice spot when the Icebergs are Floating down Ice Berg Alley.

"Timing"

 

Well you know timing can be everything when you are kayaking and Brian Duffet one of our level 1V paddlers here in Newfoundland can demonstrate that on any of his outings. As I particpate and watch the rock hopping in shoreline swell I am aware that a bit of luck doesn't hurt at all either. More over having the bracing skills is what cinches the success of meandering through any obstacles and having a reprtoire of paddling strokes to fall back on and using them in combinations is what keeps you out of the dunk in those kinds of areas.

"Holding Pattern"

 


Tony and Steve are in a holding pattern as we wait for the rest of the group to group up for the Tors Cove paddle today. About eleven of us made the trek.

"Exit... Stage Straight Ahead"

 


Heading out of Tors Cove in kayak formation. Another beautiful day on the water.

"Great ISland Bound"

 

We were leaving Tors Cove today rounding Ship Island and Great Island, both part of a bird sanctuary in the area. Traces of fog but warm temps made the paddle enjoyable.

"Lemon and Lime"

 

I liked the look of these colors together. They stood out in the fog.

"Dr Bob"

 

Coming up to Ship Island in the distance. There was fog today but visibility was not bad. However when we finished at days end the fog rolled in quite thick.

"Visitors"

 

I can only call them lemon and lime, a mother and daughter paddling duo joined us today from Ontario, visiting the Island, as this was the color of their kayaks.

'Birds and Such"

 

Birds in continuos flight today as we paddled in Tors Cove past the Bird Sanctuary. Lots of movement in the water and the air. Tucked in one of the small coves and under a rock outcropping we too can seek santuary from their bombing arsenal if ya know what I mean! My boat was getting a new paint job of .......well ya really don't got to know.

"Open Water Rest"

 

Sometimes you just need to take a wee break. Leaning on each others kayak in a bow to stern position is one of the best ways I know how to relax your back and your muscles while on the water. Sue and Brian do just that in our fog infested enviro today.

"Puffin"

 

Not much zoom on my camera and Puffins are hard to shoot anyways because just as you think you can get near them, they are gone.

"Fox Island"

 

Brian and Pete rounding Fox Island today. To follow Pete or Brian you need many skills, I took pictures, no small feat with these guys. They rock hop hard core, fun to watch and was able to follow on a couple of occaissons mostly was impressed by watching them...and learning. Pete is in my blog header entering one of his "rock hops".

"Looks Familiar..."

 

Well I never like looking at myself in photos, just others and other things like scenery. Sometimes I can cover myself with gear and it ain't so bad for me to look at. Pam Burry took this shot on a paddle in Tors Cove not too long ago. It was an excellent paddle and I and everyone I believe had a great time. This was a candid shot so she caught me "unawares" which serves me right for catching so many others in similar shots. Thanks Pam and I like this picture.

Now this brings me to the subject of taking pictures on the water. I realize that some do not like to be in photos, especially closeups, (myself), so when taking photos in a group I always try to do with some sense of decorum as I believe most would. The groups we paddle with are pretty good for allowing me to post their images on my blog and certainly my blog would be boring without those I paddle with. I thank them but ya just never know when I might pop a candid shot of you....unawares, heh, heh, heh....;-).

"The Whole Picture"

The part of the story behind these images besides the beauty of the day and the sea state, is the person and the talent. Brian is without a doubt one of our most excellent paddlers in Newfoundland and besides having a level 4 PAddle Canada certification, that I know of, he is also very talented at kayak construction. I wonder what you think the boat in these pictures is made of? Brian has made a Greenland style kayak out of ballistic nylon, which I have pictured in a previous post, he has made a beautiful wooden strip, a surf kayak out of wood and this boat pictured. He may have more but this is what I know. This boat is made of wood as well and painted white with a marine type paint I think, he told me once what kind but having a mind like a sieve, I prefer to think of it as baline just to maintain the nautical connection lol, but I am drifting from my point. Which is that we have very talented paddlers in the province as most places around the world do. Those paddlers that stand out for more reasons than is ever in some cases known. Most seem to like it that way and exhibit their skills through their accomplishments on the water and off. Our club is fortunate to have such people and even though they do not seek the limelight, they do radiate the essence and infrastructure of kayaking and when you are witness to it......you just know something good is happening around you.

"Sun Paddling"

The Tors Cove Crew.

"Great Island"

 

Our Nautical Destination yesterday.

"What -A-Day"

 

What more be said?

"Tors Cove Put-In"

 

A kaleidoscope of colors as we put-in in the late morning sun of Saturday April 25th, in Tors Cove Newfoundland for a group of ten paddle under near perfect conditions. Thanks to all who planned and successfully completed a wicked group paddle.

"Beautiful Day"

 

An awesome day heading out of Tors Cove yesterday for about a 2-3 hr paddle. The sun was out the temp was about 14 degres celsius with a 2 meter swell in 11 sec periods. Sounds like ingredients for a paddle to me.

"Great Island Bound"

 

Heading for Great Island yesterday. A beautiful day for a paddle. There were lots of people on the waters paddling in Newfoundland yesterday. Taking adavantage of the three straight days of sunshine is a must if a paddler here. About ten of us headed out Tors Cove for this paddle to Great Island, and Ship Island.