2012: Post 17 – Great Sandy Harbour

This past weekend four of us went on our first camping trip for this year.   The forecast for the Placentia Bay area was for sun and clouds, but no rain, although there would be wind from the northwest.  The plan was to drive to Davis Cove in Placentia Bay and paddle up to Gulch Pond to camp for the night.  Along the way we would go into Great Sandy Harbour and maybe try our hand at a few sea run trout while there. 

It was about 10 am when we pulled into Davis Cove and we had the kayaks loaded and were on the water about an hour later... 

Clyde decided he would use a Greenland Paddle for the weekend so he could give it a really good test…

Our first stop was at Prowseton... 

We sat behind one of the little sheds there to stay out of the wind... 

Before getting back in our kayaks we decided we would find somewhere in Great Sandy Harbour to camp instead of continuing to Gulch Pond.  The day was moving along and we figured by the time we explored Great Sandy Harbour (our main goal of the trip) it would be about time to set up camp... 

Clyde and Neville

Once in Great Sandy Harbour we followed the shoreline (north side) and looked for possible camping sites along the way...  

We got all the way to the falls and did not find anywhere suitable for camping.  We hung around the falls for a while…

Hazen

Neville

Then we followed, and scouted, along the south shore of the harbour until we found a place that would be suitable for four tents, but we would not be sheltered from the wind.  It was about 5:30 pm then so we decided we would paddle the few kilometers along the shoreline and chance we would find a suitable place to set up camp in Little Sandy Harbour. The distance to Gulch Pond would have been farther and we would have had to paddle into the wind as well. So off we went with our decision made…

Along the beach in Little Sandy Harbour Neville spotted a couple places that, if we removed some branches, would make a suitable spot for the tents.  Although we had paddle approximately 25 kilometers at this point, Clyde decided he would continue further along just to see if there was anywhere else for camping; I think he was just in GP mode and found it hard to stop... When he returned he reported there wasn’t anywhere further along but he did come across a moose.  So Neville and Hazen broke out their saws and quickly cleared away a couple spots for the tents...

This spot would become the location for mine and Clyde's tents

Before too long we had the tents up and supper on the go... 

Clyde and I are canned food campers - beans for Clyde, chicken and rice soup for me... just open the can, warm up the contents and you’re eating within minutes... I think Hazen and Neville like to eat a whole lot better though….

Hazen

Neville

After our late supper Hazen made some Irish coffee…

Cheers

… and then we got a fire on the go... 

... and had a few drinks…

Neville produced some jiffy-pop popcorn and soon had it ready... 

Clyde checked the time.  It was 2 am.  Time for some sleep.  We woke up to a blue sky and sunshine.  The wind was still blowing but we were protected from it...  

We did not have far to paddle back to Davis Cove and so we took our time with breakfast and breaking camp…

We left the beach at about 10 am to head back to Davis Cove, a short paddle away.  Once we paddled far enough from the beach the wind was in our back and really pushed us toward Dunn Cove where Clyde jumped out to look at another potential camping spot.  We rounded Nan Point and the wind continued to help push us along...

Hazen and Clyde

Neville

At one spot along the way Neville asked me if I could see the eagle sitting in the trees.  I could not.  He told me where to look but I just could not see it.  He finally gave up and told me I would be no good to take hunting.  Well, good thing I am not a hunter.

I think the eagle was somewhere along this area...

Before very long we were rounding Calls Point into Davis Cove.  Again we had the wind in our face and had a last little push before we were back at our starting point...

The guys before reaching Calls Point

Before long we were all packed up and back on the road heading for home...  

  

Thanks for another great kayak camping trip guys.  I look forward to the next one.