2015: Post 6 – Bay Bulls

While at Hazen's yesterday (see previous post) Tony suggested Bay Bulls for today's paddle destination.  I haven't paddled there since October so that was just fine with me.  As we left Old Wobbly's we told him he would have to live vicariously through pictures we would take today. Tony e-mailed a couple fellows when he went home but only Brian decided to join us...

Well Hazen, here's a few pics of the splendid day you missed...

Tony has a few of his pics posted from our morning paddle as well.... click here.

2015: Post 5 – Old Wobbly gets new gaskets

Today was too windy for paddling.  I suppose we could have gone to St. Philips and played in the waves, but instead Tony and I went to help our buddy Hazen replace gaskets on his drysuit...

Tony removing a wrist gasket

Setting up the new wrist gasket for attachment

Application of aquaseal

Working on the neck gasket

Inspecting the work

Old Wobbly doesn't have a need for his drysuit any time soon though... he is recuperating after having hip replacement surgery.  So today was more of an excuse to just get together on a windy day, have some coffee and a bit of lunch, talk about kayaks and kayaking, and replace gaskets while we were there.  

It was a good way to spend a few hours earlier today, but I think there may be some paddling tomorrow...

2015: Post 4 – Away from St. Philips

All of my paddles so far this year have been out of St. Philips... That does not bother me though; paddling is paddling.  But today we decided a change of scenery was in order.  So we drove a little farther and paddled out of Long Pond, over to, and around, Kelley's Island.  

It's been a while since I have been to Kelley's Island.  I just checked my log book and it seems I had not been there at all last year.  In fact the last entry I can find on Kelly's Island was in June of 2013!!  I looked through my blog but I have no entry for that paddle... must have forgotten my camera.  Rest assured though, Tony has an entry for that day ... click here.

Anyway... today Terry, Tony, Clyde, and I met this chilly morning in Long Pond and had a fine paddle...

Some pics to share...

The put-in

Kelly's Island in sight

By the time we had crossed to the
island we were getting a little iced up

Icicles clinging to the cliffs

Tony

Terry

Da boys

Terry

Clyde

Frozen waterfall

Da boys again

A nice beach for a break

The Kometik was anchored about
two-thirds of the way over to Kelley's Island

While we were checking out the Kometik, Clyde realized he had forgotten his glasses on the beach where we had taken out for a little break.  With much grumbling and complaining from the rest of us, we reluctantly paddled back with him to retrieve his glasses.  Perhaps the next time Clyde paddles with us I think one of us may leave something on the beach too... seems like a fantastic way to extend a day paddle.

2015: Post 3 – Yet another paddle out of St. Philips

Clyde instigated an e-mail to see if anyone was interested in a short paddle out of St Philips.  So Brian, Terry, and I met Clyde at the slipway for a 9 am launch yesterday morning and we pointed our bows toward Portugal Cove...

Terry showed up with his newly finished Greenland paddle
complete with green plastic tips... I think
we should call it the Peppermint Stick

Clyde

Brian

If there is any action along the shore Clyde is sure to get into it

Brian coming into Portugal Cove

We hung around Portugal Cove for a while

Clyde

Brian

Terry

Brian

My paddling amigos for the day

Clyde

Clyde and terry rinsing off in the freshwater at St. Philips

I consulted my log book and the last time I had paddled with Clyde was back in November, and the time before that was in June... too few and far between, Clyde...

Thanks to Brian, Terry, and Clyde for another splendid day on the water.

2015: Post 2 – Another paddle out of St. Philips

Tony was looking for a paddle away from St. Philips.  But I couldn't commit to a whole day and neither could Terry.  So yesterday the three of us met and paddled from St. Philips to Topsail beach again....

A few pics...

I do not mind paddling out of St. Philips... there's a few places to play a little, and depending on the wind and swell it can be an interesting place along the shore.  It's a good place for those days when you only have a half day or so to quench the paddling need. 

But perhaps next weekend we'll get a little farther from home....

2015: Post 1 – And so it begins

The strong winds we had Friday night were to die down on Saturday afternoon.  So Tony e-mailed looking to see if anyone was interested in a Saturday afternoon paddle, but it did not look good for me to partake.

About 10:30 am on Saturday Tony called my house... "can I interest you?" he asked with the sound of hope (or was it a little desperation) I heard in his voice?  I checked things out on the home front and I was cleared for take off.

We met at St Philips at 11:30 and Terry showed up a few minutes later.

A few pics to share:

Getting ready in the falling snow

Terry

Tony

Terry

Tony, lots of icicles hanging around

The snow in the trees along the shore made things very picturesque

Tony with Topsail Beach in site

Having a little stretch at topsail beach

We didn't hang around at Topsail Beach too long in the chilly air before heading back.

Terry was out on the annual New Years Day club get-together at Quidi Vidi, but this was the first paddle of 2015 under the bows for myself and Tony.  I expect we'll get in a few more paddles before the 'official' kayaking season begins.