2014: Post 5 – Some ski progress

A few weeks ago I tried cross country skiing with my paddling buddies... see Post 1.  Well since then I had bought my own skis but then we lost all our snow.  Then we had more snow but I missed an opportunity to get out with the guys last weekend.  But this afternoon I was able to finally try out my own equipment at Pippy Park...

We started off at one location but the trails were narrow and twisted among the trees.  I fell down twice right at the start and the guys decided it wasn't the best place for me to learn so we decided to jump in the cars and go to a more flatter area where there was a track laid down, it was much more open, and the hills were more gentle.  

In my concentration of trying to ski, I had forgotten I had taken my camera but then remembered near the end of the day...  Neville and Tony had gone up ahead a little way and I took one of Gary who was hanging back with me...

Neville and Tony were having a chat while waiting for us, and when we caught up to them I got another pic of all three guys....

If I gauge my progress by the number of times I fall down I did really well at my second ski outing today.  The first time I tried skiing back in January I fell down at least a dozen times (I think it was more like fifteen) and hurt my ribs the second last time I fell.  Today I only fell down just five times; granted the hills we less steep at today's location but it is progress.  I felt much more comfortable on the skis, and my balance was much better.  I also wore less clothing than before, although it was colder today, and so did not overheat as much.

It was another great day to be outdoors.  In fact, it was a great weekend for outdoors... a paddle yesterday and a ski today...  

2014: Post 4 – Bay Bulls

Clyde, Tony and I went to Bay Bulls yesterday.  It was -11 C on the car's thermometer but it did not feel cold since there was no wind and the sun poured down on us from the cloudless sky.

With plenty of snow on the ground we were able to load up the kayaks near the cars.

We tried to seal launch but there just wasn't enough grade to get the kayaks moving on the snow but it was easy to pull the kayaks down to the slipway.

There were some ice pans at the put in...

We decided to paddle up the north side of the bay. There was some slob-ice in the bottom of the bay for a few hundred feet but it thin so it was easy to push our way through.

Of course there was a little bit of rock-hopping here and there...

... and there were lots of icicles hanging from the cliffs...

We paddled around North Head and continued to Freshwater Cove before turning around.  Once back at North Head we crossed the bay to the south side in a little bit of a snow squall.  On the way back down the shore we encountered some hikers on the trail above,and then some more slob-ice further along...

We were not too far from the put-in but, as per our usual routine when paddling, we found a little beach and took-out for a little snack and a stretch...

... before finishing our paddle back where we started...

In his quest for warmer feet, Clyde tried wearing a pair of
rubber boots over his drysuit socks.  He said it was the warmest
time his feet had been so just maybe he is on to something...

Thanks to Tony and Clyde for sharing another fantastic winter paddle. 

Be sure to check out Tony's account of the day and of Clyde's as well...

2014: Post 3 – The best paddle so far

Maybe I don't remember the other paddles from this winter very well, or maybe it's simply from lack of paddling since Christmas, but today's paddle felt like it was the best paddle I've had so far this winter.

It was a balmy -4 C when I arrived at St. Philips,  it was snowing a little, and there was little wind to speak of.  It was shaping up to be a good day on the water.  Within a couple minutes Tony pulled up, and then Clyde.  Just a few minutes more and Hazen and Neville showed up.... I could feel the anticipation as the guys prepared kayaks and gear.

And then off we went to Topsail Beach, taking our time... 

Hazen

Tony

Clyde and Neville

Da boys

It was high tide and when we arrived at Topsail Beach and, with a little bit of work, we were able to paddle up into the lagoon...  

Clyde

Tony

I've only been able to paddle up the river once before (you've got to hit the tide at the right time) but I was by myself then.  This time I was able to share the fun with friends... and I do believe this may have been the first time the rest of the guys paddled up into the lagoon.  We paddled across the little pond and took out for a little snack... 

Clyde trying out my cag

Hazen and Tony, with Neville in the background

After our snack and chat, we were cooling down and so it was time to get back in the kayaks and warm up on the way back to St. Philips... 

Tony

Clyde and Hazen

By the time we arrived back at St. Philips the snow flakes were bigger and more intense, adding to the enjoyment of winter paddling... 

Tony said he didn't want the paddle to be over and could just keep going up to Portugal Cove... and it was a tempting proposition.  But instead we paddled up the river, cleaned up, and went for coffee...  

Hazen sent me this pic he took of me during today's paddle so I thought I would add it to my entry....

Thanks Hazen, Tony, Neville, and Clyde for making today another memorable paddle.  

be sure to check out Tony's entry of today's paddle...

2014: Post 2 – First paddle of this year

For this year's first paddle we had almost no wind and a temperature of right around 0 C...  It would of been a good day to paddle anywhere around our neck of the woods, but we decided to do a short paddle close to home - we chose our familiar route from St. Philips to Topsail Beach. 

A few pics to share...

Brian

Neville

Tony
(this is one of those 'put the camera behind the neck and click' shots)

Tony

Three paddling amigos

The river flowing from the lagoon at Topsail Beach

Tony and Brian

The young boy within each of us compelled us to carry our kayaks over the beach into the lagoon and then ride the little river back to the salt water...  Brian went first (so I did not get a pic of him), but I was second and waited for Neville and Tony  with my camera ready, just in case someone took take a spill... 

Neville

Tony

... with the bit of swell coming in and the water rushing out it created some waves now and then that could have knocked a fellow over... but all paddlers made it safely out of the little rivers current without incident, and so we poked our way along the shore back to St. Philips where Tony treated us to coffee.

Thanks Neville, Brian, and Tony for a fun and relaxing paddle this morning. 

Well there you have it... our first paddle for 2014 is now under the hull.  Neville's truck has been started, and this year's paddling adventure has begun!!

2014: Post 1 – It ain't quite like paddling, but it'll do...

December 26th was the last time I paddled.  We've had wind and some poor weather during the weekends which is the only time I can paddle unless I take time off work during the week... yeah, I have done that on occasion.  It was supposed to be windy again today.  Soooooo.......

A bunch of my regular paddling buddies are cross country skier's and they decided to get together this afternoon to do some skiing.  One of them had some older gear and offered it to me to come along to give it a try.

We only covered about six kilometres.  I was overdressed and fell down on every hill except one. It certainly wasn't anything like paddling.  But as I was huffing and puffing along in the back of the pack, doing my best to stay upright, and keep up, my mind often drifted back to when I started kayaking...

About five and a half years a go, without ever paddling a stroke, I decided I was going to be a kayaker.  I went to one of the local outfitters, got a kayak and all the basic gear, and began my paddling journey.  I was skill-less and didn't know a thing; I couldn't stay up-right in the kayak, couldn't keep up with others, couldn't go in anything that resembled a straight line.... I sometimes wonder what the other paddlers thought of me in those early stages of my paddling life.  But I stuck with it, and I learned.

And so now I have decided to become a cross country skier.  In fact, even before today, I had ordered up a set of skiing gear from the same place I bought my kayak(s) from!!  During the winter days when it is too windy to paddle on weekends it will offer a fun alternative to getting out there.  And if I am skiing with my paddling buddies it will give us something else to talk about when we do paddle or go on camping trips.

I can see it now...  We'll be sitting around a campfire during a paddling trip somewhere this coming summer, or the next... and someone will say "hey, remember that time when Dean tried skiing with us for the first time and he kept falling down..." and we'll all have a good laugh.  Well, that's what it's all about.... getting out there in the great outdoors and sharing some laughs with some good buddies, whether it be paddling, or attempting to ski...

Thanks Hazen, Tony, Gary, and Neville for the fun, tiring, and even a bit painful ski trip this afternoon.... oh, my poor ribs!

Wish I had remembered to bring my camera.

2013: Post 61 – Last Post for the year

Well, this kayaking year is over.  In 2013 I decided to just paddle whenever I was able and ended up with my best year of kayaking since I began paddling in June of 2008.

After consulting my log book, I found that I have paddled forty-four weekends during the year, and fourteen of those I paddled on both Saturday and Sunday.  The rest of my day paddles occurred on weekdays…  And of course there were plenty of St. Philips Thursday evening practices, some pool sessions, and the Level Two Safe Kayaking Course in September.  Here is my tally for this year:

69 day paddles on the ocean (totaling 1190 kilometers)

20 Thursday practice sessions at St. Philips

9 Tuesday pool sessions

5 days for the Level Two Kayaking Course

There were four camping trips this year which accounted for fourteen of my day paddles. The first trip was a circumnavigation around New World Island and Twillingate at the end of June, which was followed by an overnight club camping trip to Pinchgut in early July.  In August a few of us went on a one-way, four day club camping trip in Trinity Bay. The forth trip for the year occurred during the Thanksgiving weekend at Gulch Pond.  The second weekend of the level two course comprised of a two night camping trip at the end of September, but I did not count the distance covered or the days on the water in my day paddle tally. 

My Nordkapp arrived in early June, so I was in it for about two-thirds of my day paddles, about half of my Thursday practices, and I used it during the level two course.  I have spent enough time in it to say it is a great kayak; I have not been disappointed with my decision to purchase it. 

I only remember capsizing two times, but did not swim, and only did two solo paddles this year.  I do not paddle alone very often, but I do like the ability to paddle at my own pace when I do decide to paddle by myself. 

I made my first all-cedar Greenland paddle this year, complete with plastic tips for protection, but I have not paddled with it yet.  I am not completely happy with the thickness of the blades so I will have to reshape it a little before putting finish on it.  I also added plastic tips to one of my existing, well-used paddles which will increase its lifespan... the ends were quite frayed from use. 

Oh yeah, I also sold my Current Designs Sirocco.  I did not have any misgivings about selling it, even though it was my first kayak and it is what I paddled and learned in for the first five years of my kayaking life.  It served me well and the new owner has an appreciation of the Sirocco, so that made it very easy to let it go.  

The group of people that I regularly paddle with are a great bunch of paddlers.  If I start listing off names I am sure to leave someone out... they know who they are.  And whether they paddled with me just once or fifty times in 2013 they have all contributed to some great experiences on the water this year.  I’ve also met a few new paddlers this year and I have been watching to see what type of paddlers they will become… perhaps we will have a few more kayakoholics among us...

Well, I do hope any avid readers of my blog have enjoyed taking the kayaking journey with me this past year.  I know I've enjoyed this year’s journey immensely. 

I wonder what paddling adventures will come my way in 2014…

2013: Post 60 – Paddling each side of Christmas Day

On Tuesday (Christmas Eve), Brian, Tony, and I got together for a short paddle from St. Philips to Portugal Cove.  

The cold is hard on my camera battery and so I have not been taking many pictures... I have to tuck my camera inside my cag to let it warm up and then I take it out now and then to snap a picture here and there.   I also find it difficult to use the camera with my neoprene mitts on, especially in more bouncy waters... But here area few pics from Tuesdays paddle...

We had a good bit of snow on Christmas Day to add to the usual festivities.  I wish I had taken a picture in the morning of the clean, white snow that had fallen.  But anyway...

I woke up this morning (Boxing Day) and looked out the window.  It was a clear sunny day. I had my breakfast and checked the weather forecast on my computer.  Not too much wind called for and it was supposed to drop a bit in the afternoon.  I piddled around in the basement at this and that and then looked at my kayaking gear that was hung up.  I decided I wanted to be on the water.  

So I went out and loaded my kayak on the car.  It was a chilly morning and I decided I would slip a plastic bag over the car seat so when I got off the water I wouldn't have to take off my drysuit in the cold, and could just jump aboard and drive home.   Then I came inside and put on my drysuit, neoprene boots, and skirt, and even my tow bag.  I threw the rest of my gear in my plastic tub and headed for St. Philips.

Once there it was just a matter of unloading the kayak, grab my paddles, pull on my skull cap and cag, lock the car, pull on my neoprene mitts and hit the water.  I paddled out of the cove and turned toward Topsail Beach (it has been almost a month since I have paddled up to TB).

Again, it was a chilly day, and a little bouncy in places, and so I did not take too many pics;   here are almost all the the ones I took.... 

When I got back to St. Philips it was just a simple matter of pulling off my ice-clad cag, take off my fairly dry PFD, skirt, and tow-bag (kept dry by my cag), and toss my other gear in the car.  No need to take off the drysuit in the chilly air with the plastic bag on the seat... 

But before loading the kayak on the roof I noticed someone had placed a knob of snow on top of my foam saddle; I thought it was an odd thing for someone to do.  Then as I was attaching my bow line I noticed someone had written a message on my windshield, which simply said "Sneaky. I knew it".  I am pretty sure I know who the author was, and I had a little chuckle to myself.  Then I hopped in the driver's seat and headed for home.  

How chilly was it?  Well, here is a pic I took of some knobs of ice still clinging to the sleeve of my cag hung up in my warm basement....

I wonder if this will be my last paddle for this year... the weather forecast is calling for some wind over the next few days...