2016: Post 3 – Calling all kayakoholics...

There were no paddle plans for this weekend!!

I woke up this morning and laid in bed for the better part of an hour before I decided to get up and have a cup of tea. I looked out the window and then checked the weather... looked like a decent day to get on the water... 

The weather forecast was calling for west 20 km wind this morning and I guessed there should be some residual energy in the water from the bit of a storm we had on Friday and Saturday.

I thought I might just go for a little solo water time out of St. Philips, but then decided to send an e-mail to see if there were any kayakoholics that were available to get ready on short notice and paddle in the chilly -8 C (-11 C with the windchill) morning temperature.

Within a few minutes I had an e-mail from Derek that he would be there.  Then Tony called the house wondering about the meeting time.... Then I sent a text message to Shane that woke him up, and he replied back that he would be there as well.   Yep...  there sure were a few kayakohlics up this morning!!!

When I arrived in St. Philips Derek was already there.  Shortly after Brian showed up - one more kayakoholic to add to the group.  Before very long Tony arrived, and the four of us busied ourselves with preparations while we waited for Shane to arrive.

Tony elected for a seal launch off the slipway...

... and then Brian followed.

We decided to head down to Topsail Beach.

When we arrived at Topsail people and kayaks were slicked over with ice...

... but everyone was all smiles.

We didn't stay on the beach too long in the chilly morning before getting back on the water and heading back to St. Philips.

I think that some of the memorable paddles tend to be the ones that just happen without planning... they are like a surprise, or a gift, that you did not expect to receive.

Thanks to Tony, Brian, Derek and Shane for getting ready on such short notice and joining me on a fun morning paddle on the last day of January... you guys all get a star beside your name in my kayak book!!!

2016: Post 2 – Second paddle

For the second weekend in a row of this year we paddled... Six of us met in Holyrood this morning for a paddle up to Indian Pond....

When we arrived at the slipway in Holyrood it was pretty much packed in with ice, but Gerard had picked out a much better spot from which to launch from and so we jumped in our cars and met him at the put-in... 

It was a little chilly but as everyone readied themselves they were all smiles in anticipation of some water-time...

Gerard

The shoreline along this area is not exactly spectacular, but I didn't hear one complaint from anyone...

Cathy nearing the jetty near the Holyrood
power generating station

Dave passing under the jetty

As we came abreast of the generating station there was some fog over the water...

As we neared the entrance to Indian Pond there were a few good sized swells that came in and curled as they neared the beach.   We wondered if we would be able to get into the pond for our planned lunch break, but once we got near the entrance we sized things up and we made our way in one by one...

We had our lunch against some rocks that made an effective break against the bit of north wind that was blowing...

Gerard, Tony, Dave, Cathy, and Derek

By the time we ate and had a few laughs we were chilled, and so we got back in our kayaks and took a spin around Indian Pond to warm up before heading back out to open water...

Derek

Gerard

Tony

I didn't take any pictures on the way back to Holyrood.  But just before we got to the take-out I noticed Gerard had something on his back deck.  As I got closer I asked what it was and he picket it up, held it in front of himself and proclaimed... "I was framed"

The G-man

Another successful paddle...  Thanks guys, and gal, for a fun few hours on the water today.

2016: Post 1 – First paddle

On January 2 a few of us got together for a paddle from St. Philips to Topsail Beach... I've not made the time to look at my pictures until tonight... so here's a few I selected to share.....

It was a good day for paddling.  Better still, it was the first time Shane had his new Nordkapp RM on the salt water.  When we got back to the cove in St. Philips he had to do a first saltwater roll in her...

Shane in his new Nordkapp, 

which he has named Jucy Lucy

[Tony has a write-up and pics on his blog entry... click here.]