Placentia Surfing

Yesterday a few of us went out to Placentia again to get one more day in the current before the guys do their level 3 in July.  I've spent a lot of time in Placentia this year but every time I go its something a little different.  The forecast had said 40km/h SW winds so we guessed we would get a few bigger waves from the wind against tide effect, but the main reason for going was the current under the bridge.

As I drove down approaching the bridge in Placentia I instantly got excited when I saw the water knowing it was only going to get bigger as the day went on.

I took a picture before I got all geared up and it was getting large then.

This is about as fast as the current got.  Not as challenging as some of our past trips out here but it was fun to play around on the rolling waves coming in.

Ron having a go at it.

Neville cruising on up.

We stopped to have a rest and some lunch before the tide got too low so we didn't miss anything exciting.

The bys relaxing and enjoying the sunshine!

Our Beauties!

Ron's Aquanaut, Neville's Victory, and My Nordkapp RM. 

We went back and forth from the larger waves out by the buoy to playing under the bridge when we needed a little rest to catch our breath haha.

Here is a few stills I took from the video.

The waves weren't following one direction.  You'd be surfing along one way then a wave would smack you from the side.

At times I would get up some good speed and catch the wave in front of me.  It was pretty cool to watch my bow dig in to the wave ahead of me as I passed through it.

This wave was SO close to putting me over I surprised myself when my braces kept me up.

You'll see in the video this hits me then I almost go over on one side, brace then almost go on the other. 

Fun day for sure!

By far the most challenging conditions I've been in so far.  I know I've said that before but I guess that's the whole idea of progression.  Its been almost a year since I met a great group of friends/teachers and started sea kayaking.  Its pretty cool to think about last year this time vs. now and the difference in what I'm willing to do and try. 

So thanks guys its been an AWESOME year!!!!

Check out the video of our trip:

https://youtu.be/urAK1xAm_Os

Great time in Placentia Neville and Ron ... Thanks!

Baboul Rocks

I get off work at 12:30p.m. on Fridays during the summer months and today I decided to kill the afternoon with a paddle out of Bay Bulls up to Baboul Rocks.  I sent out an email to see if anyone cared to join me but I had no takers so it was another solo paddle for the books.

I couldn't see the iceberg anymore so I figured it was melted away or floated off by now but as I made the turn around the breakwater I saw...

A bit of a change from a few weeks back when I went out for sure

I didn't spend too much time messing around as I made my way up the shore.  I had a specific goal to get to Baboul Rocks that my friend Tony has mentioned a few times.

http://mynewfoundlandkayakexperience.blogspot.ca/2016/05/baboul-rocks-rock.html

I loved the trip out here.  This is a very scenic place and well worth the 5km paddle.

The sea was calm today so I had no troubles exploring some of the bigger caves alone.

Some small caves hollowed out of the cliff face.

I came across a few of these little falls during my trip.  I like this picture.

I just had to stick my nose in...

I like making videos so I put together a collection of small clips from my trip.  Nothing too exciting but it goes to show how gorgeous our little Island can be.
https://youtu.be/xmPLJb-2mBA

Placentia Round 3

Dean e-mailed us letting everyone know that him and Neville planned on having another go at Placentia this weekend.  I've been to Placentia twice so far this year but it's a lot of fun so I said I'd be in for round 3!

When we got all geared up and on the water Dean, Neville, and myself went for a little warm up paddle down the southeast arm.

We paddled a fair ways down just to pass some time and to check out a spot I thought would make a decent camp site.

We paddled until we thought the tide had dropped enough to give us a decent flow under the bridge.

On the way back we stopped to try out a little eddy before testing our skills in the faster moving current.

We each had a go at breaking in going backwards...a little tricky to get used to.

After a few runs at this we carried on and met up with Terry and Ron.

Here's Ron.

Terry having a go.

Neville.

We had a little rescue practice in the current to see how it would go.

Dean volunteered to be the rescuee.

Here is a lesson on the heel hook.

And Terry towing us out of the main flow.  Notice how far we drifted from the bridge.

We all enjoyed the practice and learned from it but this was a pretty cool exercise for me.

Last year this time I remember a day in St. Philip's and Dean and Brian were hanging back.  All of a sudden Dean yells "SWIMMER" so we all stop and turn to go back.  As I get there Deans telling me to help Brian and I can hardly keep my kayak right side up myself (this was not a rough day, I was just very new and this was part of Wednesday practice).  Anyways Dean talked me through it and learned how to put a swimmer back in their kayak.  Since then Dean and Brian pulled me out of the water and got me back in my boat well over a dozen times from all my capsizes so it was awesome to be able to "rescue" the teacher for a change.  Obviously Dean didn't NEED my help but it was great that we played the event through for a laugh.

Me just breaking through the eddy line.

Here I am mid ferry glide.

And here I am a half a second away from needing to roll trying to break through backwards.

Great day in Placentia as always!

Dean, Neville, Terry, and Ron... Great fun, Thanks for the day!!

I put together a little video, you can check it out here:

https://youtu.be/gi1BvulwZ4k