It was a nice morning in Merry Harbour when we awoke. The usual morning routine followed... breakfast, check the weather forecast, break camp, load the gear back into the kayaks, and get back on the water…
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| The guys ready for the days adventure |
Today we would do a paddle to Tack’s Beach, which would be our shortest paddle of the trip; only about 12 kilometres. We paddled across to Lower Gray Gull Islands and followed the west side upward. Tony and I did a crossing to the end of King’s Island while Clyde, Neville, and Hazen paddled closer to South Tilt Island. We paddle between King`s Island and Green`s Island and into Smith’s Cove. Then we hand-railed the shore to make the paddle as long as possible, and went into the farthest reach of Doting Hole where we got out for a little stretch. Our break over, we continued hugging the shore into Grandies Cove where we came across another caribou on a little beach. We pulled up on the same beach and had our lunch. I think it was Hazen who left an offering of half a bagel, hanging on a tree branch, for the caribou if it came back. He named it Bagel Beach as we were leaving.
Further along the shore we came upon a caribou on one of the little islands. It took to the water when it seen us and swam the short distance to King’s Island.
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| Clyde checking out the caribou's swimming style |
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| Once on shore the caribou ran off into the woods |
We paddled into broad Cove where there were a few cabins…
Then we paddled past Tack’s Lookout and on to what we thought was Tack’s Beach, where we would camp for the night. There was a spot under the hill that was level and had the grass mowed short that was perfect for our tents!! An older gentleman was working on his boat on the beach in Bests Harbour (on the other side of what we were calling Tack’s Beach). He told us that where we were was actually called ‘The Neck’ and that Tack’s Beach was a little cove just before The Neck. This gentleman, named Ern Penny, had said to me that his wife had gone back home to Arnold’s Cove a month ago but he just couldn’t seem to leave!! He went back to his boat as we set up our camp…
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| Our tents set up on the north end of 'The Neck' |
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| Looking down The neck towards Tack's Beach. You can just make out one of the two graveyards... |
…but he did come back a little later after we had our tents up…
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| Hazen and Ern Penny |
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| Ern and his boat |
Note: there is trip report from 2006 by TA Loeffler and Karren Warren on our clubs web-site (Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador) in which you will find a picture of a slightly younger Ern. Scroll down to June 10 in the report, but the whole report is a good read….
Neville, Tony, and Hazen later walked around to Best’s Harbour and had another chat to Ernie. They soon came back and we had supper under Tony’s tarp that we tied up in the trees in case it rained…
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| Neville washing up his supper dishes (that's his clothesline beside him) |
Then Clyde, Tony, and I took a walk over to Tack’s Beach for a look. I took a picture from the other end of The Neck, looking toward our camp site…
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| To the right of our tents is a trail that leads over to Coopers Cove. Not too far along it there is a well from which the guys filtered some very clear looking water.... |
Tack’s Beach is a beautiful place. You could see the owners of the cabins there took a lot of pride in the place. Things were well kept up with manicured walking trails and lawns…
This stage reminded me a lot of the one my grandfather had years ago…
On the way back I snapped a picture of a rabbit. There were plenty of them around, Ern had told us earlier, and we had seen several. Wouldn't be terribly difficult to catch one if you were so inclined….
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| His name is Steward.... one day it may be shortened to just Stew |
It would be worth the trip just to paddle over from Davis Cove and spend a couple nights in the vicinity of Tack’s Beach, The Neck, and Best’s Harbour. From Davis Cove to The Neck, by way of Gooseberry Island, would be about 12 kilometres....
Later, we all pitched in to gather wood for the night’s fire. Towards the end of the night Neville ‘surprised’ us with a pack of Jiffy-Pop popcorn that we knew he had brought; we just did not know when he would produce it…
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| Neville has become our camping popcorn supplier... |
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| Tony lurking behind us looking for some good campfire shots.... |
With the night getting late we spread the coals of the fire down the beach and turned into our tents, wondering what the next day would bring…
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