2019 - Post 1 - Starting off the paddling year

Generally, on the first day of the New Year, our local paddling club does their first years club event by meeting at Quidi Vidi Harbour for a little social float.  I did not see it advertised on the Calendar of Events, nor did I see it posted to the local paddling newsgroup.  However, yesterday Shane sent an email saying he was gonna paddle out of St. Philips at noon for the first day of the New Year in the afternoon and was looking for company.  Later he also suggested to meet at Pippy Park at 9:30 am for a little bike ride before the paddle...  A full day of things to do on the first day of the 2019...

We met at Pippy Park and Shane said he wasn't gonna paddle in the afternoon (it was a chilly day and he has issues with cold feet).  Hmm.. Psych me up and then let me down! 

After about an hour and a half of peddling around, we had enough and went for a coffee to warm up.  It was such a nice day - the sun was up and the wind was low - and I told Shane he probably would be sorry if he didn't paddle this afternoon.  He goes back to work the day after tomorrow, and tomorrow is gonna be a windy day and he would not be able to get out to paddle... The seed was planted and he finally came around.  The power of suggestion sometimes works very well.

Ashleigh was also interested in paddling but couldn't get free until 2 pm. So that gave us enough time to get home, get the gear ready, and head out to St. Philips.

I don't have any pics from our bike ride, but here's a few from this afternoon's little paddle...

Ashleigh's very first winter paddle

Shane

By the time we got back to St. Philips, Ashleigh had little icicles formed on the front of her cockpit...

Back at the slipway we had to re-negotiate the ice pans still hanging around in the boat basin...

After loading up our gear, Shane admitted that he was very happy he changed his mind and paddled.  Ashleigh said she had a great time paddling in the colder season.... And I was feeling quite contented, having spent the day doing a couple of activities I enjoy.  The only way to have made this day any better would have been to go for a little hike as well... but then there are 364 more days left in 2019...

Hope everyone else had a great first day of this New Year.