"Mussel Pond Cove to Colinet Passage"

Sharing in the kayaking experience 5 of us set out today on a grand paddle. 22 km in length it proved to be a muscle tightener for the first long paddle of our kayaking season but we are coming to realize that all year here in Newfoundland is kayaking season. You just got to pick your day and your spot. Iwas actually hoping to paddle up Salmonier river and get some wnter shots but the river was frozen in many spots. Should have expected this really. So we made the best of it and headed for O'Donnell's and on to Admiral's Beach.

"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.

"One with Shore"

Tony finding Zen I believe.

"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.

"Admiral's Beach"

Good fishing grounds and a sheltered Cove first attracted people to this area. Some resettled from Great Colinet Island across Colinet PAssage. In 1864 there were three families and by 1911 there were 39. Population cebsus 2006 stood at 185.

"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.

"Snow Shoeing The Barrens"

There exists in various parts of Newfoundland especially along the, South Shore, of the Avalon Peninsula areas that are flat with lots of marsh, bog, ponds and rolling sprawls of brush but know trees. Newfoundlanders call these areas the Barrens, simply because they are Barren, especially in the winter. There are huts or cabins for summer visitations and stays also useful in winter for lots of ski-dooing, snow shoeing or cross country skiing but you have to keep in mind should the weather turn there is not much to shelter you. From last Saturday.

"Colliers', Newfoundland: Reflections"

 

We are being blasted with a reminder of winter as I type, mercilessly shattering the quiet of a spring night, are the snow squalls and rain components of something more unseasonal than hail pellets on a warm August day. But we get those too. In this photo such are reflections of paddles in winter under quite gentle conditions if you will. The kind of conditions for taking pictures as you glide through the virgin waters of a crisp winter morning. Taking in reflections of the coming paddling season and reflections of light off objects such as ourselves and hills that slope endlessly to the sea entrance and to submersible points beyond. When spring comes to us again next week the excitement for the coming paddling year will no doubt build again. Highs and lows, like ebbs and flows, we ride knowing one is not right without the other.Tony on one gorgeous winter day.

"Brandy & Riley:The East Coast Trail"

"An Ice Roll, Kayaking Perspective"

May you never find yourself like this in ice cold frigid water. Our Search and Rescue crew had ice rescue training today on Long's Pond. About minus 10 Celsius with wind and snow. Excellent conditions.

If however you are paddling near ice and become one with the water here are a couple of tips. First off if you are paddling near ice you had better be dressed for it. Ice picks are a good safety tool. Two four-5 inch long wooden dowels with a nail in the ends of each will work fine as long as the tip is sharp, (pointed out). When you approach the edge of the ice sheet you will undoubtedly start breaking pieces away.

Continue what you are doing shoving pieces under the ice ahead of you or at the very least moving them out of your way. I actually was able to use broken pieces behind me to plant a foot on to give me that extra little boost to climb aboard the sheet. I wouldn't rely on that but it worked for me.

Getting on the ice sheet is a slippery endeavour to say the least.....after all it is ice! And wet ice! Don't despair you will be able to climb aboard just remember a most crucial thing, a most crucial self rescue technique, like the kayak roll is, when you have a good chunk of your upper body on the ice sheet "roll your body" away from the ice sheet edge. Once you have done this do a quick survey to see if standing is a safe option. If not by displaying and distributing your weight on the ice sheet you spread your body's surface area decreasing the chances of another break through. Wait for help or if safe shimmy to safety. You've just executed an "ice roll" and can now add another roll to your arsenal.