2011: Post 35 – A night at Gulch Pond

The word went out to gather troops for a camping trip in the Placentia Bay.  The e-mails started going around for nearly a week.  Clyde found a trip report by Peter Armitage on the club’s website and sent us all a picture of tents and kayaks on the shore of a place called Gulch Pond and dared us all to imagine ourselves there…  That picture was enough to hook three more of us.

Saturday morning Clyde pulled up in front of my house at about 6:20 am.  We loaded up my gear and then went to Tim’s for coffee to have on the way.  We met Tobias and Hazen at the TCH Irving and we all headed to Garden Cove for the put in.

We took our time packing our gear into our kayaks and got on the water around 10:30 am.  The route had been discussed on the hood of a car at Goobies Irving a little earlier.  We would paddle inside the islands down to Gulch Pond and camp and then come back to garden Cove by way of the east side of the islands.  However, Hazen being himself kept trying to talk us into paddling a little farther to Sandy Harbour.  We kept resisting though.  Hazen is a paddling machine since he got his bionic hip… he keeps enticing us to go just a little farther on these camping trips…

The slipway at Garden Cove

We had been following the shore of Sound Island for a little and decided to cross over.  I was glad we did.   I was in the lead and just as I got to the other side there were three caribou walking along the shore.  I paddled softly while I waited for my camera to turn on and snapped a couple pictures before they found their trial back up into the woods.

Our first stop was Rattling Brook Falls, although we had only paddled 7 or 8 kilometers from the put-in.  We must have been there for about an hour.  We had a little bit of fun splashing in the pool there.  It was a lovely warm morning and Hazen and Tobias got out of their paddling clothes for their dip.  Myself and Clyde both had a little bit of a bug and decided to keep our drysuits on but still enjoyed the little frolic in the brackish water nonetheless. 

Clyde dearly wanted to jump into the pool from the top of the falls but the tide was low and we were not completely sure it was a safe thing to do, although we could not touch the bottom.  But he had to go up and have a look and decided to be cautious.  So he came back down and climbed up a little way from the bottom and at least had a little jump….

I'd say it looked higher standing on top of the falls

All he needs is a Gortex cape and he would be Super Clyde...
up, up and away... 

We continued down the shore.  There was an eagle that decided to stay in the treetop long enough to get a picture…

We paddled down the shore and stopped at La Plante Cove for lunch.  It was a good place as we were sheltered from the wind blowing up through the channels between the islands and the main coastline.

After lunch we had about another hours paddle and pulled into Gulch Pond.  The tide was coming up which caused a little tidal flow into the saltwater pond.  This gave us a little bit of fun as we paddling with the current into the pond where we pulled up to our camping spot.  We had made it to the place of the picture that Clyde had tempted us with earlier in the week.

Clyde straightening up his brand new tent...

Ahhh!  This is the place we imagened we would be...
we were not disappointed...

Hazen must have forgotten that the tide was rising and left one of his shoes too low in the beach… So he had to jump back in his kayak to retrieve it…  we had a good laugh at this.  Good thing his shoe was spotted though as it did float away pretty quickly…

Hazen's shoe floating away.... we joked he could use
it as a spare kayak...

it had floated across the little cove by the time he got
onto the water to retrieve it....

Of course what is camping without a fire on the beach?  It wasn’t exactly a “Tony” fire (see post 21a, 21b, and 31 for pics of a “Tony” fire…) but we were pleased with it. 

The next morning we crawled out of our tents about 6 am to a foggy morning.  It had not rained but everything was covered in morning dew… it was a dreary morning but we got breakfast on the go and got some hot food and drinks into us.

By the time we broke camp the incoming tide had filled up Gulch Pond and we did not have to fight the current to paddle out of the narrow entrance back onto the open water.  We had taken a bearing before we left the campsite and paddled the nearly three kilometers to the southern end of Bar Haven Island.  We encountered a couple otters just as we came around the end of the island.  We just floated there and they would surface to look at us for a little while and then dive under water.  We hung around for a few minutes watching them and then carried on.

We decided to paddle into the south end of Western Cove where we stopped for a while talking to some people staying in the cabins there.  One gentleman told us he had been born in the house there (the one at the right)....   

We carried on up the cove and encountered an eagle sitting on a rock just past Glendon Cove.  Usually they are in the treetops but this one was right on the shore.  He must have been curious about us or considered us non-threatening because he sat there for a long time and let us take pictures. 

After a while he had enough of the kayak paparazzi and took to wing….

From there we paddled up to the north end of Western Cove and decided to pull our kayaks across the sand bar into Bar Haven.  To follow the peninsula shore around and then into Bar Haven would have added about four kilometers.  The morning was getting on and it was four kilometers verses about 10 seconds to pull the kayaks across the sand bar; it was an easy choice at this point of our trip.  We chatted to a couple of friendly fellows there and checked out the graveyard and the community hall.

It was close to noon by this point but we continued up to the end of Bar Haven Island.  The fog was dissipating and the sun was out and so we stopped for lunch before crossing over to Little Woody Island.

From that point we were about half-way back to Garden Cove.  We paddled onward past the Woody Islands and stopped about six kilometers from Garden Cove for our last little break on the beach. 

This point had us at about 24 kms for the day...
we were all feeling tired by now...

The last six kilometers after our break were the hardest.  Generally I like to get into the little coves to see what is there, but I had had enough by then and started to paddle from headland to headland opting for the shortest distance.  Clyde said he was auto pilot by then too.  Hazen was just ticking along.  Tobias found some energy there somewhere and had pulled ahead of us for a while.  We wondered what was in the granola bar that he ate during our last stop...

Finally we made it to the starting point.  The tide was coming up but the water line was still below the slipway and we all had to be careful getting out of our kayaks...  

Hard to believe all this gear fits into the kayaks…

It was a long couple of days - 53 kilometers for the two days.  This trip would have been better done in three days.  That would have given us the time to go to Sandy Harbour (we'll get there yet Hazen, don't worry) and poke around the islands a little more...  But it was a great trip nonetheless. 

Thanks Clyde, Hazen, and Tobias for another memorable kayak camping trip.

2011: Post 34 – A change of plans...

A few of the guys I regularly paddle with decided they were going to meet at 9 am this morning and make a final decision where they were going to paddle (the plan was most likely Brigus to Cupids…).  I went to the Thursday practice, then did the night paddle on Friday (see Post 32), then paddled to Kelley’s Island yesterday (see Post 33). 

I guess I was a little paddled out and I just did not have interest in going very far today for a paddle.  However, I set my alarm last night with intentions of getting up at 7 and meeting the guys at 9 am.  The alarm went off this morning and I hit the snooze, felt rather tired, and rolled over.  I thought to myself “I’ll get up when it goes off again.”  When it did I just turned it off and thought “no, I’ll pass on Brigus today” and went back to sleep.  I woke up a little past 8:30 and got up and showered.

It was a nice day, not much wind.  I checked the weather.  Good day to go to St. Philips, maybe paddle up to Portugal Cove… a couple hours on the water, maybe 10 or 12 kilometers, and back home for a planned BBQ for supper.  I sent out an e-mail and posted to the newsgroup to see if anybody wanted to join me.  Only Gary responded.  We met at St. Philips at noon and got on the water.

The put-in / take-out location..

We paddled out and across the cove and could see that Portugal Cove was enveloped in fog.  Gary said he had never been to Bell Island and suggested we paddle over as an alternative.  I had paddled over a bunch of times but figured it was just the right distance for a little paddle and so we turned our bows to make the crossing.  I took a bearing for Dominion Pier just in case the fog decided to move in… but it did not…

Gary with the fog along the shore...

We took our time going over and when we reached Dominion Pier we got out for a little stretch. 

The beach at the left side of  Dominion Pier

The view from Dominion Pier towards Portugal Cove...

By the time we had a little snack and some water, and relaxed a little almost a half hour passed.  We got into our kayaks and headed towards where the ferries dock.  The Beaumont Hamel was not running today and I was able to get a nice picture of her...

We continued down the shore, stopping in the area of Ragged Head...

Gary checking out a little cave just past The Beach...

... and then decided to make a diagonal crossing from there back to St. Philips.

Little Bell Island (left) and Kelly's Island (right) in the distance...

Gary checking out the Flanders making
her crossing to Portugal Cove...

We rinsed off in the fresh water from the river and loaded our kayaks and gear back on the cars.  We watched the hub of activity of the boaters taking advantage of the nice day and the last day of cod fishing before heading home.

Cod fishers....

Thanks, Gary.  It was just the right paddle for me today... close to home and not too long... We'll make it a point to get you around Bell Island one day, but at least you can now say you have been to Bell Island!

[I do hope the other guys had a great paddle, too.  I'll be looking their blog posts to see what I missed...]

2011: Post 33 – Kelley’s Island Circumnavigation

Last year we did a paddle in Conception Bay whereby we left Topsail Beach, paddled to Little Bell Island, then to Bell Island, and then to Kelley’s Island, and then back to Topsail Beach.  When we got to each of the three islands we landed and stood on the beach for a little break.  I had paddled around Bell Island (the largest of the three island in Conception Bay) the year before and have since wanted to paddle around the two smaller ones. 

Today was a very nice day and so Tony, Gary, and I decided to paddle out to and around Kelley’s Island.  When we got to the Long Pond at 1 pm the put-in area was maggoty with boaters… most of whom were going fishing as this is the last weekend for cod fishing until the season opens again later in the fall.

From the put-in to Kelley’s Island is about four kilometers, but the first kilometer is inside the sheltered waters of Long Pond. 

Tony and Gary with Kelley’s Island in the distance about three kilometers away…

When we got to the island we found a place near the west end that we were able to climb up to check out for potential camping spots and have a look around.  Someone had even installed a rope to aid climbers getting up the steep bank.  It was a fine view looking out across the bay back toward Long Pond.

Tony found a rock perch to take inthe view...

We climbed back down and continued on our way.  At the west end of the island Tony called out to me “is that a seal?”  I looked and first thought it was just the rocks but as we got closer it lifted its head.  Indeed it was a seal.  It showed little interest in us as it bathed in the warmth of the sun.  We were able to paddle fairly close up to it and snap away with our cameras!  We decided it's name would be Kelly...

We continued on.  There were a few places to play in some waves along the north side of the island where the gentle swell met the shoal…

It was a hot, windless day.  A couple rolls or sculls and you could cool off in the ocean water…

Tony finishing a roll...

When we got to Martin’s Cove on the Northeast corner of the island we were able to climb up again to check out another potential camping site… 

Our kayaks on the shore of Martin's Cove

Gary with Bell Island about 4.5 km away...

We got back into our kayaks, did a few rolls to cool off, and then finished our circumnavigation of the island.  We decided to paddle over to the tanker that was anchored in the bay.  This only added an extra kilometer or so to our paddle.

Gary at the stern of the Jasmine Knutsen...
She is a big boat when you get up close to her...

This is a great little paddle, it is close and convenient.  The total distance from the put-in on Perrins Road in Long Pond, a straight crossing over, a full circumnavigation, and then a straight crossing back is only about 15 kilometers.  If you decide to make this trip, I recommend you take the time to climb up onto the island for a look around; the view is outstanding, especially on a beautiful calm and sunny day like the one we enjoyed today.

2011: Post 32 – This years club night paddle

The first summer that I bought my kayak I read on the KNL Calendar of Events that there was a scheduled night paddle in August.  I remember thinking to myself “why in the hell would anybody want to paddle around in the dark?”  Well I went on that night paddle and found out why people do it… I don’t believe I have missed any of the club’s August night paddles since.

Last night (Friday 12^th) nine of us met at the wharf in Avondale for a scheduled put-in at 8 pm.  Myself and Hazen decided to drive out a little early to get a little water time before everyone showed up.  We were geared up just as people started to arrive and we got on the water while the others got ready.

Hazen ready to go just as Alex and Cecilia arrive (about 7:30 pm)

Hazen and I got in a couple kilometers wating for the others...

With glow-sticks attached to our sterns so we can keep track of each other in the darkness, eight of us floated on the water, waiting for our leader, Alex.  But I think it was about 8:30 pm before we got under way...

We took the usual route for this trip. We paddled up the east side of the shore, and then crossed over to Ballyhack point.  From there we paddled back down the shore a little way and then crossed over to the west side of Conception Harbour to have a look at the shipwrecks that are there.  We floated around shining flashlights into the darkness of the water below so we could see the submerged wreckage just below the surface.  From there we crossed back over and then paddled into Middle Arm.  There was a lady on one of the boats there that was very excited about seeing us.  She told us how amazing it was to see all the kayaks with the glow-sticks floating around in the dark…

We then paddled north along the shore, came around Ballyhack Point, and pulled up on the little beach there for our usual rest spot.  Alex got a little fire going and some of the participants roasted marshmallows. We sat around, talked, had a few laughs, had a snack, and wondered why more people did not join us.   Then we got back into our kayaks and paddled the short distance back to Avondale….

A nice little fire on the beach...

 

It was a near perfect night for the paddle.  The wind was non-existent for most of the paddle, except for a little breeze blowing into our faces as we paddled back to the wharf in Avondale. The sky was overcast so we could not see the stars and the full moon.  So we had to make do with being amazed at the bioluminescence in the water; which was spectacular in certain places along our route.  If you have not experienced bioluminescence in a kayak before, that alone is worth the trip.

Here are a few of the guys I regularly paddle with that came on the night paddle... it was fun to paddle with you guys in the dark...

Hazen

Tobias

Sean

This is not a long trip in terms of distance – generally about ten kilometers on the water.  From the time we leave the wharf in Avondale, paddle the route, listen to Alex tell a few stories, have some laughs, have a fire on the beach, and then get back to Avondale, four or five hours will pass by.  Add another couple hours getting your gear ready and loaded on the car, drive out to Avondale, unload it, get on the water, and then do it all in reverse order to get back home… 

Well, it does seem like a lot of effort.  But the purpose of this trip is not to see how far you can travel in your kayak or to see sheer cliffs and eagles or whales… there are other days for those types of paddles.  The Avondale night trip is a social paddle.  It is about experiencing paddling in the dark in sheltered conditions (often for those who have never paddled in the dark before), looking at shipwrecks by dark of night, having a fire on the beach, and sharing a few laughs with fellow paddlers.  It is about experiencing kayaking in a way that cannot be experienced during a paddle by day...

Thanks to all who showed up and thanks to Alex for leading this paddle every year.