2013: Post 31a – New World Island - Day One

See 'Post 30' for the drive to the park prior to Day One...


It was sunny and warm, and the wind was low when we got up.  I had a bit of trouble getting my stove going so was a little slow before I got my breakfast on the go.  Luckily I had partially packed my kayak the night before...

Before long we had the kayaks loaded up and we were on the water about 8:30 am, pointing our bows east to take a counter-clockwise route was per our original plan.

In no time we saw an Osprey's nest built on a little island.  We would see more of these during our journey.

We paddled on...

Brian

Tony

Neville

When we reached Ninepin Arm it was a little early but decided it was a good place to stop for lunch anyway.

We continued our paddle, crossing Milliners Arm.  After mistaking one point for another we added an extra kilometer to the day's paddle, but got ourselves straightened up and were soon entering Cobb's Arm. 

Hazen

Brian

It was around mid afternoon when we reached the campsite in Cobb's Arm.

Neville

Brian and Neville 

Tony

Hazen and Neville

Our tents were set up, supper was finished, firewood was collected.  Nothing left to do but get the campfire on the go...

What a view!

Tony

Hazen

We had a few drinks, a few laughs, and turned in for the night.... 

(See Tony's Blog entry on our journey to the park and the first day of paddling)

2013: Post 30 – Neville, start the truck!

Saturday had arrived!  I had my kayak and gear at the end of the driveway and was waiting for Neville to pick me up for the drive out to Dildo Run Park.

We drove to the TCH Irving Station as planned and were the first ones there.   Shortly after Brian, Hazen, and Tony showed up.  Myself and Neville were sitting in his truck and the other guys were out of their vehicles alongside of Neville's open window.  There was a bunch of chatting going on and after a while I became anxious to get going.  I figured we could chat all we wanted once we got to the park.  So, hoping that the guys would take it as the sign to get in their vehicles and get moving, in a lowered voice I said "Neville, start the truck."  This turned into a bit of a joke during the trip...  Anyway, off we went, stopping for coffee in Clarenville and lunch in Gander before finally arriving at the park....

The guys having another look at the maps

Brian had a hammock that he used for the night.  I had been looking at these on-line wondering how comfortable they would be.  We all had a turn lying in it to try it out and it did feel pretty comfortable. 

We decided to take a little drive, had supper in a restaurant, and drove up to Devils Cove Head.

We would be rounding this headland in a couple days
and it was interesting to see it from both perspectives

Back at the park we had a little fire and a couple drinks before turning in for the night.

I did not sleep well the night before and only had about four hours of broken sleep during this first night in the tent...  

2013: Post 29 – Christmas time's a comin'!!

On Saturday morning (June 22) Neville will pick me up before 8 am.   I'll have my gear waiting at the end of the driveway.  In 10 or 15 minutes we will have my kayak and gear loaded and be on our way to meet Brian, Tony, and Hazen at the TCH Irving Station.  We'll probably grab a coffee and then head down the road for this years big adventure.  

We are going to paddle around New World Island and plan to include Twillingate Island as well.  We have done our pre-planning and preparation.  Some of us purchased some new gear, like siltarps, a cag, and fancy rubber boots.  I think most of us have our gear all ready to go, except for Hazen who has been out of town for the last couple weeks.  He has a little bit of work to do tomorrow...  Think I'll pack in a little extra food and rum, just in case.  

I am psyched!  Six or seven days of paddling, cooking my meals outdoors, campfires with a few drinks, and sleeping in my tent.  Waking up in the early morning to the sounds of nature and taking craps in the woods.  I'll have a few chats on the water with the guys as we paddle along and sometimes just paddle along in my own little world.  

Here's a map showing our start point (the X) and intended path and direction of travel...

... but the latest wind forecast may dictate we do this trip in a clockwise direction.  The final decision will be made on Saturday.

I can't wait to start.  I'm like a kid anticipating Christmas morning, except that Christmas will be 6 or 7 days in a row...  

Oh yeah, and one of the best parts is that I'll be doing this trip with North Cape Jenny...

Yee Haw.

2013: Post 28 – A one-way paddle today

Tony emailed around yesterday to see if there were any takers to do a one way paddle form Middle Cove to Quidi Vidi.  I've only paddled a couple kilometers on each end but have never seen what was in between.  The shoreline is as exposed as you can get and you have to pick your days.  Tony picked a very good day for this paddle.

Some pics to share...

Seven of us were on today's paddle

Tony and Clyde coming around Torbay Point

Sean

Stan

Brian

Gary

Clyde

Paddling through a channel before Logy Bay 

We took out on the slipway at Logy Bay for a lunchtime break

The research facility at Logy Bay

After our break some of us got into our kayaks in a more standard, although less fun, manner...

But Gary decided to seal launch backwards... 

 ... despite all the seaweed he still managed to leave some of his hull behind....

Tony and Clyde both decided to seal launch their fiberglass kayaks!  Tony was already on the water before I got a pic but I got one of Clyde...   

It looked like fun but the thought of doing it
myself just did not appeal to me

We carried on.

Stan

Sean

I must of been having fun because the time seemed to past rather quickly because next thing I knew we had arrived at Quidi Vidi.

 And then one fellow forgot to switch to his land legs before getting out of his kayak....

We always have a bit of fun when we paddle. But then it's hard not to have fun when paddling with a great bunch of guys...

2013: Post 27 – North Cape Jenny's first outing

It's Thursday.  You know what that means.... St. Philips evening practice/social.  This was mine and Jenny's very first paddle together.

A few pics...

There she is, waiting.

This will be a view I'll be seeing a whole lot more.

Tony paddling his Nordkapp, looking for a surf ride.

Jacob was out with us for a while.

Sean in his Black Pearl

Clyde in his Nordkapp LV

Clyde... well at least  part of him. 

Sean giving Jenny a little hug.

Well, the wind and waves made for a good evening to really get a feel for my new kayak.  I think Jenny and I will do a lot of happy paddling together for a long time... I'm am one happy paddler.

Tony has some pics of my first paddle with Jenny on his blog... 

2013: Post 26 – I'm a new kayak Daddy again!

About the middle of last year I came to the conclusion that I wanted a different kayak.  I decided I would get a fiberglass kayak this time around.  There were a few that were in my mind.  But I have been keenly watching several of my paddling companions paddle their Valley Nordkapps over the last few years. 

After a lunch break during a paddle in Ferryland I attempted to fit into Clyde’s Nordkapp LV as best as I could.  He has a foot pump in it, and minicell foam on either side of the pump in front of the bulkhead, and my legs were a bit too long to fit in properly.  Despite being perched above the seat, instead of having my butt settled into it, I paddled along the shore for a couple minutes and could feel how nicely it moved through the water.  I began to think and read about the Nordkapp a lot more.   

Then in early October last year I borrowed Clyde’s Nordkapp RM and went for a little paddle by myself.  Long before I finished that paddle I decided the Norkapp was a kayak I would enjoy.   I was sold; all I had to do was to buy.  Then I found out what I really had to do was to wait…

Well, here we are at the beginning of June.  In about the same amount of time as it takes for the conception and the birth of a new human baby, my new kayak baby finally arrived today.  Her hull, with full length keel strip, is white.  Her deck is Maroon coloured and her trim is black.   And thankfully, she has all her deck lines, bungee cords, and hatch covers where they are supposed to be. 

She is pretty, all shiny and new.  Makes me want to just keep her in my shed where I can appreciate all that newness whenever I am out there.  But the overwhelming desire to paddle a different kayak is too strong.  I will just have to endure the horror of those first few knocks and scratches.  

I expect to be a bit of a gingerly paddler in her for a while, partly until I get the feel of a longer, sleeker kayak, but mostly to avoid the dreadfulness of those first few scratches and dings.  Guess I’ll stay away from rocks for a while.  But before too long, after that first scratch or ding, the cautiousness will wear off and then the business of regular paddling will get back underway.

Anyway, here is the new addition to my kayak family…

Her name?  I had several in mind.  But I have decided it will be North Cape Jenny.