"Gulls Reel and Dance"

 

From Ship Island to Great ISland in the distance. After a bite to eat a little walk around part of Ship Island.

"NW Side Ship ISland"

 

Pete, Brian and Alison making there way.

"Fox Island, Tors Cove"

 

Alison and Brian checking out the pounding surf thrashing into the SE side. There was a bit of swell all through our paddle today and it made for some fun paddling. Mostly due to the diffeence in water depths as we paddled amongst the islands.

"Rounding Fox"

 

Pete rounding the NE side of Fox Island. Lots of froth from some interesting swell yesterday. Wicked paddling weather though! Just spectacular.

"Retrun to Tors Cove"

 

After rounding Fox Island you come to a bit of a gut where there exists an entrance from sea to Tors Cove between Fox Island and the shore on the mainland. The water coming through here can produce surf waves but there are submerged rocks you have to watch for. Brian and Peter are heading for that spot.

"Getting There"

 

Getting there is usually more than arriving. When you reach a goal, a milestone, a peak, an achievement, etc just arriving there is not it at all, the process of "getting there" is. It is like achieving skills I guess in some ways, once you have them it doesn't seem as great as was the learning aspect. Take bracing for example, learning properly inevitably means you are going over a few times. This can do two things, improve your roll and improve the next brace so you don't have to roll. The good thing about all this is that there is always something to learn and most certainly with kayaking it is a lifetime of education. I like....love that. I enjoy the thrill of it all and the ability to seek it all at my own pace.

Now having said all that, with seasons I beg to differ. Yes I know waiting for the coming paddling season just makes me scheme new ways of getting out in the elements and learning new skills to achieve that end. That is fun. Dreaming about the many upcoming paddles where snow is not an obstacle or the obtrusive cold, makes for arriving, much more pleasurable than "getting there", for me. Cause I just want to paddle mostly. However time and work tend to get in the way and contradict each other especially when weather does have to be factored in.

I guess because of all this, to increase ones time on the water you have to learn how to be able to be there in less than optimal conditions. So again this season it is back to stretching the limits, poking thru possibilities, looking over different shaped horizons, stepping out of the box and reaching for the water's surface whether above or below it! I will look forward to the process, not necessarily always the outcome, which I will have an eye on. I want "to arrive" but I want to "get there" first.

"Wrong Side"

 


Sure is! Thought I'd chuck this in my blog as an afterthought from finishing my Small Craft Operator's Course this evening. As of September 15th, 2009, All operators of any powered craft must carry proof of competency at all times. This also applies to non-residents operating their craft in Canadian waters after 45 consecutive days.

We learned a bit about buoys so I got to re-enforce some current knowledge and compare safety and requirements in power boats with that of kayaking. Somehow I still feel safer in my kayak. At least I am already dressed for immersion.

We also got to see a video presentation on the 1-10-1 rule from the famous Professor Popsicle, Dr. Gordon Geisbrecht of Manitoba. He was taking nine emergency response people...cops, firemen, etc. to his Cold Water Boot Camp and subjecting them to the perils of cold water and documenting the responses from all nine. It was very interesting to see how they all reacted in 5-6 degree Celsius water. The effects of immersion without dry suits was evaluated as they were given various tasks to perform. For instance when asked to jmp in the water and swm to shore which was only meters away, some swam in the opposite direction, still disoriented from inital immersion. It was also amazing to see how unsuccessful most were at trying to put on a PFD in the water at that temperature. Most failed. Actually putting a PFD on in the water is difficult at any water temperature. Try it. There is however a technique. Turn the PFD inside facing out in front of you, rotate the PFD or Life vest so that the neck portion is facing you, then insert your hands through the arm holes and then pull the PFD/Life vest over your head and fasten in 5 degree celsius water one person got it over his head and he was the guy who either new already this technique or learned it quite luckily. 40% of all drownings in Canada happened within 2 meters of shore. Two Meters!!!

Also learned some interesting stuff on flares and signalling.

In the course manual they even mentioned kayakers and paddlers in general, but there is a picture of a kayaker,lol, and regulations state that motorized craft are to give us a wide berth and they are to slow right down, 8-10 Km/h. And leave no wake (I actually like wake). Good luck with that one but it was good to see that they thought of us.

Anyways.....I am taking the spar buoy on the wrong side in this picture...or about to. Red right return....not overly important at this point but it is important when you want to know the directions that boats have to take in navigable waters, so we can avoid them, even if they may not seem totally relevant to us at most times.

"The King Island Eclipse"

What a day in Placentia Bay last Friday. Gave more meaning to the "Good Friday" as we come to know it. King Island is an Island in the Iona Group and though there was no astronomical eclipse of moons or suns there was mine, sharing the earthly beauty and tranquility this day provided and sense of connectedness you can only experience by being out there.

"My Eclipse"

My kayak, my old faithful, never seems to have a dry hatch anymore despite my re caulking efforts. She is getting her fair share of scratches and perhaps those alone would slow her down a bit. Perhaps my own engine is revving a bit lower. We have both shared many waters and kilometers together. Many muds, mucks, seaweeds and sands. However I am still captivated by the beauty of a kayak, the back-packing of the waters in many ways, not just a means to an end but a modem of companionship as the more you get to know her the better she'll perform and more responsive she will most likely be. Soon I'll have another but The Eclipse will always be that boat that turned me on to kayaking the most part of the family of paddles that has come to be her own.

"Long Harbour & Placentia Bay"

 

Tony and I decided to do a paddle out of Long Harbour today to take advantage of the good weather. Almost any place would have done you well today. It was a beautiful paddle which was in a spot we had never paddled before which always tweaks the curiosity and explorer mind in a kayaker. We were treated to some calm weather, some sea life and a good bunch of hours of paddle camaraderie. A bit more than 20kms, with slight overcast skies and virtually no wind.

"Long Harbour"

 

On our return from Placentia Bay today I did a little loosening up paddle around our take-out spot. Sometimes after a great paddle I find it hard to let go. Just when I feel I have kinks worked out, my mind set for paddling I get this ensuing feeling of loss knowing I have to leave something behind, especially if it was very enjoyable, like today. I know that I will take the experience with me and have it for ever like I do all my kayaking trips, short and long. So when I return it is sometimes as enjoyable to do a little round about to savor every last drop of all those natural endorphins and all natures beauty and smells knowing that there will always be another day. I can't imagine life without water. It's funny that I should say that because my Mother always said that, "if God made anything better than water, he kept it for himself." Today I believe her, as I always have.

"Long Harbour"

 

Long Harbour comes by it's name earnestly. It is in fact a long harbour. We put in at Mt. Arlington Heights which is a bit of a ways inside the harbour and we still had a nice paddle to get out. In the distance you can see the group of Iona Islands with Merchant Island and Burke Island being the predominant ones. To the west of this group of Islands in the distance is Argentia where the ferry from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia begins its' run in June to Sept. The ferry in Port Aux Basques runs year round.These bouys are marking some sort of fish farming perhaps mussels.

"Bit of a Reef"

 

Bit of a reef near Shag Rocks in Long Harbour.

"Shag Rocks"

 

As you pass Crawley Island on the way out of Long Harbour you come upon Shag Rocks...well if you aim for them. This is a bit of a shallow area with some hidden reef and gnarly waters around the head of the rock formation on the north side. We passed through the "reefy" side and the Shag Rock Head side and was met with a bit of turbulent water and this on a relatively calm day. This area would be treacherous in rough weather.

"KIng Island"

 

King Island was our lunch spot today as we paddled from Long Harbour about nine miles of calm water interspersed with gnarly headlands, reefs, shoals and interesting wave action between Islands. For the most part very calm paddling with little breaks just to take in the sounds of the water, waves, birds and two Minke Whales we observed along our route.

"Hole In The Wall Island"

 

From King Island you can glance over to Hole In The Wall Island which is a stone's throw away. These Islands are part of A group of Islands called the Iona Islands. Some have beaches and take out spots others like Burke Island, does not.

"Beachcomber?"

 

Yeah he was but not for long. Amazing the amount of drag. We cut Tony's booty free, so that he could be free.

"Sassy Little Burke Island"

 

When we departed King Island today we decided to paddle around the western side of Burke Island and the head back into Long Harbour. As you do this Little Burke is on it's northern shore. There is a fair bit of clearance between Big Burke and Little Burke but the water in between is just nasty. We decides to round the west side of Little Burke but made a mental note to come back and play in the summer.

"Dry Dock"

 

Well when we left this dock this morning at about 1030h it was obviously high tide as we slid directly into the water. On the way back we knew it would be max ebb when we docked. Not much of a problem really as we just lifted our boats on the dock. Excellent paddle today Tony. A good 20km or so on a Good Friday. Thanks my friend.

"Red Of Night..Quidi Vidi"

 

A stroll around the village of Quidi Vidi last evening allowed me to take this shot of a full moon. Of course I've played with the image but the evening was so serene, the water so calm and the mood excellently tranquil....the temp about 8 degrees.

"Steady As She Goes"

 

One of the first Icebergs to glide by Cape Spear I got a snap of. It was quite small by Iceberg standards I guess and appeared to be trapped in pack ice floating just offshore. The sun was quite bright and although there was little berg drama it is the beginning of the transit of Icebergs down what is known as Iceberg Alley here in Newfoundland. The yearly migration of Bergs shed from the mother of all loads, Glaciers, in Greenland, make their pilgrimage of sorts to their death in the warmer waters of Newfoundland where the Labrador Current and Gulf Stream Current flowing over Canada's Grand Banks meet. The warm Gulf Stream which originates in the Gulf of Mexico seems to be the silent killer of 10,000 year old chunks of ice leaking pent up ancient climate traces as they slither by seemingly unwary of their coming demise but not going totally unnoticed as the larger monstrosities scrape the underwater seascape and leave their own indelible marks in parting. Many are secured longevity in the hoards of cameras that captures their arrivals and departures under all marine conditions and if you think you've seen all the wonders you must truly add these to your list.

"On Approach"

 

It happens all the time when you paddle on the ocean and want to return home. When conditions change or maybe don't you still have to determine an approach. An approach in a kayak is sometimes I guess like landing an airplane, not that I ever done so or ever will, in my mind just seems similar to some degree. There are calculations probably most done subconsciously, like what stroke to employ or what edge to take, now these calculations may be more important near shore. Granted most bodies of water, coves, bays, inlets, tickles, harbours etc you enter when returning from sea have pretty big entrances to a kayak. Sure, but things like clapotis, shoaling, current, covered hazards (rocks)that may expose and cover with swell and or waves, huge cliffs with down drafts, gusting winds,or constricted entrances (such as Quidi Vidi) can all provide interesting and challenging passages at different times of day during different conditions such as fog, wind, rain, snow sleet etc. If you use rudders or skegs there may be parallels to similar components of an aircraft but certainly not as complicated. Now the paddle in concert or individually with skegs or rudders can provide degrees of lift when needed and certainly propulsion and depending on the paddle, employ similar lift characteristics as those of wings on a plane, well we do have winged blades.

Things such as viscosity(solute concentration in H2O), drag (imperfect surfaces), flutter(improper paddle stroke), not to mention boat design all to some degree influence an approach. Skill as in flying anything especially a kayak by the seat of your literal ass is most times fun, challenging, calculated, engrossing, enjoyable and able to be done at a pace suitable to your skills and suitable to conditions hoping you have one to meet the requirements of the other.

Negative G's are most likely to get you wet but proper skill and maneuvering will only allow that to be a temporary sensation with the execution of a quick roll to keep you going on your way.

In reality on this paddle we were trying to stay afloat and enjoy the scenery of Cabot Tower on Signal Hill approaching the entrance of the Narrows to St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland, with good pal Tony!!! lol

"A SOF Display"

 

This is a kayak from the Coast of Labrador. You can notice the "D" shaped cockpit. It seems that the cockpit evolved in many forms from round, oval, D shaped etc. Sometimes as varied as the shape of hulls. Boat design depending to a large degree on availability of materials such as whale bone, seal skins, walrus skins, tools, etc during a given year. It is amazing to me to realize that kayaks have been around for so long. Like in the early hundred's A.D.

So next time when you paddle, sit back and dream on the history of your craft and feel the ocean beneath your own skin and be taken back to a time when this vehicle, this mode of transportation and hunting platform helped an ancient society flourish into our modern day.

"Ballistic Nylon, SOF"

 

At the kayaking exhibit in The Rooms Museum in St. John's NL, one of our club members had his SOF on display. It is made of ballistic nylon and stitched together over a wooden frame whose pieces are tied together. It is a very solid looking structure and didn't require the wife to chew any materials or skins for pliability like in seal skinned kayaks of Greenland origin.

The first lecture was by Kevin McAleese, curator of Archaeology and Ethnology on Ancient Craft that gave us a look at these ingenious skinned boats and the Inuit who invented them. I found the lecture very interesting and learned a bit more about the ancestry of the boats we paddle today. It was cool to look upon an old photo from the late 1800's of about 30 sealed skinned boats all rafted together knowing that each of them at some point served as a unique hunting vessel.

"Downtown, St.John's Newfoundland"

 

During a visit to The Rooms for a Kayaking Exhibit I stepped outside in the overcast day to capture downtown.