"Beach Reflection"

 


I noticed this on the way to get my snacks. I just love stopping and snacking during a paddle. It is a chance to fuel the furnace, chew the fat, rest the wicked and pee! I know too that one day there will just simply be too many scratches and smudges to reflect anything.

"MoonRise-Sunset?"

 

Neither. Just a drop of water on the camera lens. I liked the possibility though. It is always nice to paddle into something. Today it was mostly wind and rain.

"Stern-Ender"

 

I always like taking shots by putting the camera above one of my shoulders and pointing it aft. Ya just never know? Steve knew what I was up to as we meandered through some rock alleys.

"Sculpin Point"

 

Tony and Steve paddling en route to Portugal Cove after a jaunt up The Conception Bay coastline on a rainy day with winds that swirled from all directions with gusts up to 50-60km/h.

""Ele-Mental"

 
Sort of a combination of words really. The elements can play havoc with the mind on a paddle. But today the rain, the wind and the cold were just par for the course. Steve here wasn't deterred by any of those things on our 20km paddle on Mother's Day. My mother passed on a few years back but she is very much alive in my heart and in my mind. Today was a great way to enjoy a paddle with her and with friends.

"Quidi Vidi, St. John's Newfoundland"

Quidi Vidi Village was an old fishing village, pronounced [ki dee vi dee], [kwi dee vi dee] or [kwy da vy da]. The reason for the dispute in pronuniciation is unknown because the origin of the name Quidi Vidi is unknown. Some say it comes from the French name Quidville. Some say it is Latin: que de vide or Italian: qui divide, meaning that which divides. There is also a legend that a woman by the name of Kitty Vitty lived in these parts, and she had a house of ill-repute, so it was named after her!

The neighbourhood is named for both Quidi Vidi Lake (where the Royal St. John's Regatta is held the first Wednesday in August, weather permitting) and Quidi Vidi Harbour - known locally as "The Gut". Located in Quidi Vidi is the Quidi Vidi Battery Provincial Historic Site, which had significance as a battery during the War of 1812.

Whatever the meaning it certainly means something to everyone who lives or visits there. To us kayakers it is the place where every Jan.1st we have our first paddle of the New Years, a tradition started by and attended every year by Jim Price. It is a launch place for many starter paddles in the area, especially the one from The Gut to Cape Spear. Malcolm, Linda and Des use this for just that purpose. Tony and I have used it this winter for paddling "in conditions" and on a paddle to St. John's Harbour. I've done it for the same reason when I first moved here. Greg Stamer used it for his departure and return from his fastest circumnavigation of the Island of Newfoundland. I drive by it and hike near it almost every week it is just a scenic quaint little spot away from yet in the middle of everything.

"Valley Nordkapp"

Trying her out on Long Pond on Saturday. The winds had to be gusting to 60-70km. But any day is a good day kayaking. Thanks for taking the shots Tony. I know it was hard with the wind. It sure was for me.

"So Proud"

My son Graduated Thursday from Military College, 2nd Lieutenant in the Canadian Army. I am so proud of him of course I have always been. His partner Charlene was fortunate enough to be there to send pictures. Miss and love you son. See ya soon.....Sir!

"Wow, Flatrock to Pouch Cove"

 

Wow is just one of those words that can slip very easily and subconsciously out of your mouth even before your brain has had time to process all that has made it tell the mouth wow in the first place. Today was a "wow" day. Because I took the day of work to paddle with a group of great people in Tony, Neil, and Isabelle we shared an adventure that one who kayaks can only probably dream of. I do. To have so much to see and do in 13 km of paddling a coastline is to me amazing. The weather in this area though must be just right to enjoy it all and today we were bang on! Little wind, occasional gusts, sunshine, 9 degrees Celsius and enough scenery and paddling adventure to keep us totally engaged for the whole trip. One of those trips that when you are finished.......you never really feel like you are.

At every turn and every so many strokes you just kept saying "wow" inside your paddling mind. Good enough for me on a Friday.

"Fueling Up"

 

Neil and Tony at a rest point along our journey.

"Just The Way It Is"

 
When you see the sea that is what you get, it is just the way it is! The beauty is all encompassing.

"Main Street"

 

Neil's Mainstreet today was the ocean's surface. Cruising at our own pace we need not respect limits for there are none, speed or otherwise and the scenery is impeccable.

"Rock Gardens"

 
I never promised you a rock garden but if you paddle from Flatrock to Pouch Cove you'll get one, or two, or.......

Tony always finds rocks. That might have something to do with all that geology in him.

"Getting Vertical"

The Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland is known for its' steep cliffs that penetrate the ocean surface straight thru the heart of the sea. The rock is colorful and very textured in many amazing ways, with seams of old convoluting their tortuous curves about every face.

"Captivating Caves"

Just to heighten the adventure on this paddling day you can treat yourself along this route to numerous sea cave exploration. Providing the tide and sea state is favorable you can gain entry....and exit to these interesting vacuoles. Some were quite long like paddling down a water tunnel....a dark cool water tunnel.

"Freshwater Encounters-Waterfalls"

Some of the freshness we encountered today from Flatrock to Pouch Cove. Sun for the whole of the paddle. It made you want to cool off.

"We Got The Falls"

Isabelle darts out of the falls after feeling the freshness and cold of it's vertical drop. At one of the Coves we visited today. I did not waypoint our stops on myGPS so I am not sure at which cove all the shots from today were taken. If you happen to get a nice day you will enjoy all of them from Flatrock to Pouch Cove and all coves and all gulches in between.

I am doing a self portrait of "waterfalling" in Newfoundland.

"Bound"

 

Isabelle is Iceberg Bound. This Iceberg sits just outside Pouch Cove harbour.

"Pouch Cove Iceberg, Newfoundland"

Being around Icebergs is just simply magical. Risk is inherent, but so is driving a vehicle with 60 liters of a highly combustible fuel at 100km /hr. Tell me where you'd rather be?

"Huge Rock Alleys"

 

Paddling around pillars and towers of stone today was very humbling. The crust of the earth, so solid, so hard but its visible geological scars revealing tales of ions ago when rigidity was more fluid and as earth stretched its' continental arms it heaved and piled formations that we witness today. Tony here is dwarfed by a Rocky Alley.

"Shoe Cove"

 

Well you might have heard the expression "If the shoe fits, wear it!". We were certainly paying credence to that line today and if this paddle were a shoe I can say with certainty that it fit extremely well today. There were many "wows" on this trip. Caves, monstrous cliffs, waterfalls, rock gardens, quaint beaches, scenic coves and today an iceberg. It was good to be alive today! Tony, Isabell and Neil during the last stop of our days' paddle.