2014: Post 37 – Another November Paddle

On Saturday past there was a plan to spend a couple hours in St. Philips playing in the wind and waves.  I set my alarm... but didn't hear it go off.  Those who know me won't believe it but I had actually slept through my alarm sounding and had slept in!!  By the time I woke up and got on the go I decided to pass on the day.  So I missed the fun but you can see some of it if you check out Tony's blog.

Yesterday I sent out an e-mail to some retired paddlers to see if anyone was interested in paddling today (I had taken today off work).  But all the retired folk were busy with the other things in life.   However, Julie e-mailed that she had an appointment but could meet after lunch, which suited me just fine.... The last time I had seen or paddled with Julie was September 6...

I arrived earlier then our scheduled meeting time at St. Philips and got ready.  Just before I closed up the car my phone rang.  Julie was running late and so I jumped in Jenny and we headed along the shoreline in the direction of Portugal Cove.

We can usually paddle inside these rocks but things were a little messy today.  I sat and watched for a while and almost went for it once or twice when things seemed to calm down a bit.  But I kept thinking if I ended up swimming, or something worse, then Jenny would be left to the perils of the ocean.  So I just took a couple videos instead... 

I paddled on for another while and kept a watch on the time, turning back toward the cove when I figured I had gone far enough.  Julie was just about ready when I got back to the slipway.  She found herself with a second Greenland paddle and without reservation she removed her old Euro (spare) paddle from the deck...  

We turned toward Topsail Beach and chatted as we paddled along...

Julie had a time constraint this afternoon and so when we figured we had gone far enough we turned and started paddling back... 

In no time at all we spotted Tony coming our way.  He had a class today and knew we were paddling.  He decided to get on the water after his class, expecting to meet us along the way...

I took another couple short video clips as we paddled back to the cove...

When we arrived at St. Philips Tony decided his paddle was just too short and he would carry on up to Portugal Cove... You can see the rest of his paddle on his bog entry if you click here.

Julie and I packed up our gear and headed for home... 

2014: Post 36 – November Paddle

It's been three weeks since I have paddled... unless I count the times I have been paddling in my mind...

Today Brian, Neville, Hazen, and I meet at St. Philips and paddled up to Portugal Cove for our first paddle of November. We had some wind, rain, swell and clapitus; we even had a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder on the way back.

Pics to share...

Hazen and Neville

Brian

Neville

Hazen

When we arrived in Portugal Cove, Brian pulled out a little emergency shelter.  It was a bit of a dreary day so he figured it was a good time to try it.  The four of us were able to fit under it although I think it was meant for two people. In no time at all you could feel the heat building up under it...  

Neville

Back at St. Philips the sun peaked out for just a little while as we packed up the kayaks...

2014: Post 35 – Thanksgiving Weekend Paddle

Gerard (a.k.a.The G-man) took it upon himself to organize a club paddle for this weekend.  He posted to the newsgroup to see if there would be any interest in a fall club paddle in Bay Bulls on Thanksgiving Day Weekend...

So yesterday six of us showed up to meet The G-man for what I think was one of the most interesting and fun club paddles I have been on in a while.   We paddled out Bay Bulls, around South Head, and into Witless Bay where we had lunch in Bear Cove.

 Some pics to share...

Here's a short video of The G-man coming out of one of the many caves in Bay Bulls...

The day was a blast.  We had sunshine, a bit of wind, some swell, plenty of caves, an otter, and a dog to play fetch with during lunch.  It was a small group to watch over which allowed paddlers to push themselves into elevating their line of comfort.

I am thinking this was most likely the last club paddle of this year.  Thanks to Chris, Sharon, Dale, Ekaterina, and Janet for sharing the day.  And a big thanks to Gerard for organizing this club paddle. 

2014: Post 34 – A finished stretch of coastline

A while age we paddled form Pouch Cove to Bauline... click here for that post, and I have paddled a few times from St. Philips to Brocks Pond Falls.  But I had not paddled the coastline  between Brocks Pond Falls and Bauline.   So for today's paddle Tony suggested we paddle to Bauline, with our start point in Portugal Cove, thus covering the portion of the coastline I had not seen...

Tony, Lev, and I met in Portugal Cove this morning and were soon geared up.  

We had just got on the water and were about to paddle away when we heard a voice calling out... Old Wobbly had decided to join us and so we had a delayed start while he geared up.  

Before long we were a pod of four kayakers heading up the shoreline...

Along the way an eagle flew ahead of us.  I took a bunch of pics, trying to get a good one, but this pic below was about the best I was able to manage...

We were supposed to have wind all day and some rain by lunch time but the weather person was a little off.  There was some gusty spots along the way and the skies remained clear...

We pulled up onto the slipway at Bauline and had our lunch...

A tour bus showed up and one of the ladies came over for a chat.  She was very friendly and quite interested in us kayakers.  She told us of the wonderful time they were having during their visit, how great the weather had been, and how everyone wanted to live here...  Tony gave her a link to his blog and I took a picture of them chatting... and promised she would see herself on my blog if she followed a link from Tony's....  

We finished our lunch and got back on the water for the return trip....

It was another glorious day for a paddle, and the first time I had been in my kayak for two weeks!

2014: Post 33 – St Philips

The weatherman called for wind today, so a few of us went to St. Philips to try to catch some surf rides this afternoon.  

Instead of pictures, here's a couple video clips to share...

After a couple hours of playing around the cove we went to the nearby restaurant for a coffee and a chat. 

2014: Post 32 – Aquaforte Club Paddle

Yesterday was the annual Aquaforte Club Paddle.... I thought I heard someone say they had counted twenty-two kayaks, but my count was only twenty-one... Sure hope we didn't lose anyone yesterday!!    

Here's a few pics of the day...

Group chat before heading out

It was high tide and going up the nearby river was very easy

After the river excursion we floated for another
group chat before heading out the harbour

Gerard

Hhazen in front of another waterfall!!!

Lev 

Heading in to the beach for lunch

Fueling up 

Some of us paddled up just a little farther around the headland

Lev, Julie, and Terry

I had not planned to attend but then made a decision later Friday night to make the drive down.  I was glad I went... it was a relaxed paddle and the weather was very cooperative, making it another great day to be on the water.