"White" water rafting in Newfoundland

 

Grant "white" water rafting

For my last long week-end in Newfoundland, the May "2-4" week-end, I decided to join some of my friends on a kayaking retreat to learn more about the marvels of sea kayaking. Little did I know what the weather had in store for us that May week-end.

 

The boys in the trunk with their Go-Pro extreme sport cameras on their helmets filming the action.

 

 

Day 1 of the retreat week-end... a normal long week-end at Terra Nova Park

 

Day 2 of the week-end: it looked like we went back in time by a good 4-5 months after getting dumped with 15 cm of snow!

 

Even the snowman was psyched for kayaking

 

 

Though we couldn't go out on water the second day, we still had some interesting workshops on learning how to build and customize your own kayak and paddles.

 

Chris giving a presentation on building a Greenland style paddle. These paddles supposedly work as well as a recreational paddle, but are even better, because they put less strain on the back and shoulders.

 

Beautiful handmade kayaks! People are so talented!

I'm a city girl, so I really just know how to buy things.

 

Photos from day one out on water

 

Taking a snack break

 

Me outfitted by my wonderful caring kayaking community from Newfoundland central. I remind myself slightly of an astronaut- super protected in gear- dry top, wetsuit, neoprene booties and kayak spray skirt.

 

Little Bay on ATV

More on motorized vehicles...

Thanks to Colleen, I had the chance to visit her in Little Bay, to go out on ATV (All Terrain Vehicle), and to explore the hidden gems of the back-country trails. Here are some photos taken back in autumn at the end of October. Just like snowmobile, I found the ATV really heavy and had difficulty steering. In a way, I feel less secure on ATV than snowmobile, because with the rough terrain of the back-country, you are in motion with every single bump off a rock, tree root, or sunken pit. With the snowmobile, at least, it's on smooth surfaces most o the time gliding along.

Little Bay

See the tiny yellow dots in the water? That's a mussel farm.

Beachside, the last village down the Little Bay junction

Day out to the cabin: Snowmobiling in mid-April

It was a mild, sunny mid-April day today - a high of 1 degrees Celsius; a perfect day for spending time outdoors. Even though it is already mid-April, I was surprised to learn that it is still possible to go out on snowmobile (I am accustomed to spring blossom and above zero to 12 degrees temperature of southern Ontario and Quebec). Now the question should be, is this normal temperature and condition for central Newfoundland at this time of the year? Maybe. It is not unlikely for us to get sporadic snow fall all through out April, but snow fall in April this year did not happen to be limited to just Newfoundland. Just Thursday, I was informed by my social media that even places like Toronto, Montreal and other parts of southern Ontario and Quebec got dumped with snow.  

It is difficult for me to judge the weather conditions here. In town, despite fighting to protect my mascara from a snow storm on the way to work yesterday, the centimeter of snow was gone from the roads by supper time. Yet, just 10 km out of town, the woods are still covered in snow. 

Clara and Loyd working together as a perfect team - cultivated through 50 years of union.

Here we are putting in the ramps on the truck to unload the snowmobile. In the winter, people in town can drive their snow machines out of their shed and all the way to their cabins via the snowmobile network trails running at the back of town. We had to drive the snowmobile out to the resource road*, because the snow on the trails have all melted leaving behind puddles of mud. * Resource roads are dirt roads which people use to go into the woods for hunting, wood cutting, or to various ponds for fishing. Cabins can be found a little way off the resource roads.

Moose burger, cod tongue and wine at the cabin - fancy!

My first wood cutting experience. They will eventually make a Newfie out of me, and maybe then, I can proudly wear the red and black checkered "wood-cutting" jackets. 

Even though chainsaws have been invented, cutting wood is still a very labourious chore! After cutting the tree down, you have to saw it into stove size logs and to cut off all the twigs so the logs will stack well. I only had a small spruce to cut (widest diameter around 3cm and 10 feet high), yet my arm muscles were so fatigued near the end of completing my first tree that I had to concentrate on steadying my arm. They tell me this is only a baby chainsaw!  I forgot to take a photo of my pile of wood, but basically, it was only and armful (one trip to bring it in), and judging by the size of the pile, it would probably only last 30-40 mins of burning time.

Wood, sleigh, snowmobile. Note the neatly stacked modest size wood pile by Loyd. Now, when ever I pass the cords of log in the woods, I'll be able to appreciate the work that has gone into it.  

My first snowmobiling driving experience. 

I am always surprised when people offer to let me drive various motorized vehicles. I mean, I can drive a car, but there was a lot of preparation work and a learning period that went into it before I was actually trusted with operating it. It turns out, most parents start teaching their children to drive ATV and snowmobiles around the age of 10...  I guess that makes me seem sufficiently "responsible" for the task. Anyway, I found it quite challenging: I'm use to power steering of small size sedans or the responsive steering of my race bike, and I'm use to traveling across paved surfaces. I was very tense while driving, because I am still not habituated to the air-borne and tipping feeling whenever going across bumps, along the side-banks of the trail, across dried up patches of trail (ie no more snow), and across small brooks.

Winter activities: Back-country skiing and snowshoeing

Solo ski over a bog mid-February

This winter, I didn't expect get any skiing in since I decided against bringing over my skis, and since I knew I wouldn't have a car to hop over to the nearest ski trail a town away. Well I was wrong. Despite not having skis, I was quickly outfitted with some after talking to a few people (not only was I lent skis, but snowshoes too!). I have learned this year that, whenever I seek or need something, all I have to do is tell people about it, and somehow I always end up getting what I was looking for. People here in general all want to help; that's the best thing about small towns. Despite not being able to get to a properly groomed ski trail, I was still able to ski. By hanging out with some of the locals, I learned to think outside of the "groomed-trail luxury" to find my own paths and make my own trail. I learned how to back-country ski: I learned to follow the snowmobile trails; I learned to double pole across glassy ponds; I learned to ski around the edges of lakes. Having said that, I do not advise anyone to go out and make their own trail if they are not familiar with the land. I always wait until someone shows me an area once before going out on my own.

Some photos from last week-end's ski (beginning of March).

Ski buddies on Indian Arm Pond (but really, it's a lake)

See the faint plateau in the background?
That's Mount Peyton at 352m high.

Before this year, I have only gone snowshoeing once, but that was on packed and old snow, so I didn't really understand the point of wearing snowshoes. I quickly found out when I ventured out into the woods one day after a fresh snowstorm. It is significantly more challenging to walk in knee deep snow where with every step you have to pull your entire leg out before advancing to sink anew with the next step. With the help of snowshoes, I only sink around half a foot and not 3 feet saving my legs from needing to lift feet high.

Winter activities: Snowmobiling

If you haven't noticed, I labeled this post on snowmobile under sports. I know what you are thinking, sports do not use motorized vehicles, true. But in this culture (rural), snowmobile is considered a sport. So is dirt biking, so is motorcycling. Every time I tell people I bike, I have to specify that I "peddle" bike. :P     

I made a comment about how the snowmobiles were polluting my walk in the forest, because they emit a very strong exhaust smell. My friends find it funny that of all people, I - a city girl is complaining about exhaust. I admit, a city has a lot of exhaust, but this exhaust was smelly! One factor explaining this is probably I am use to the smell of car exhaust and no longer notice it. Another thing is, car engines and snowmobile engines have different combustion systems. Car engines only use gasoline, but some snowmobile engines, the 2 stroke engine, smaller types of engines common to chain saws and other small power tools, use a combination of oil and gasoline. It turns out, what I was smelling was the oil fumes laced with gasoline.  

Snowmobile racing across Woolfrey's Pond

Snowmobiling is an extremely popular activity here. When I ask my students what their best presents were, almost all of the boys say snowmobile (those that have them of course). I suppose, it is quite the present at a few thousand a piece. The youngest I have heard of a child receiving a snowmobile is age 10, so around grade 5 or 6. It seems a bit young for someone to handle a motorized vehicle, but then again, it is usually the older children who have gained more confidence who are more of a nuisance and danger.

Before coming out in the rural, I have heard of students driving their snowmobile to school, and how everyone wears two piece snowsuits matching their snowmobile. And indeed, what they say is true! (I've even seen an angry bird snowmobile!) Obviously, not everyone comes to school on snowmobile, only those who live with easy access to the network of trails would drive their machines.

A snowmobile actually doing work

I've noticed a lot of household with snowmobiles, not because they kids all want one, but because it is after all a vehicle and has utility. Snowmobiles are used to travel across the land. People here do not limit themselves to travel just on paved roads (which may or may not be drive-able in the winter!) Some people have winter-access only cabins which they can visit once the marsh areas and ponds have frozen over. A lot of men take advantage of the sunny winters to go out into the forest on snowmobile and hull back wood bit by bit which they have neatly chopped and stacked aside during the fall. From what I understand, fall and winter time is a good time to chop wood and bring it back home, because spring is wet and muddy, early summer is buggy, and late summer is for vacationing and berry picking.

A snowmobile trail in Gander next to the highway

The snowmobile trails in town even have signs telling you the distance and direction to hotels and gas stations.

Winter activities: Skating

Nature's gift to skaters

Curling

Lewisporte Curling Club

The last post on beer is a good transition into the post on curling, because curling isn't curling without the beer. Although I'm not sure if mixing alcohol and going on ice is such a good combination, but maybe that is why curlers wear flats instead of blades like skaters.

I didn't use to think much of curling, since in the city there were always a dozen other activities to choose from. However this winter, since I decided to refrain from bringing out my winter sporting equipment in anticipation of my flight back home where in addition to my suitcases, I have a bicycle and camping gear, I decided I would stick with doing activities that did not require me to ship home any more equipment than what I already have; hence curling. All I need is duct tape for my shoes and the brooms are provided at the arena. No equipment to ship home!  

I didn't know much about curling since I just started this winter, but can say with great enthusiasm that I enjoy it immensely as curling is a very social sport, and is quite easy to pick up for beginners. Each team is composed of four people and all the members work together to make a successful play. The "skip" who is the most experienced player, assess and calls all the play for the team, which means as a novice, I have the leisure to focus on building my technique and not have to worry too much about decoding the game right away. Eventually as I master the technique, I should be able to asses the game and manipulate my techniques for a more strategic play. Since I've determined I am no good at playing any sports involving balls, I thought I might find it challenging to throw the rock, since it is almost like a ball, but it turns out a 40 lbs rock with its flat bottom and weight travels fairly well in a straight line. Whew, no gutter ball embarrassment like with bowling. Not only is curling a cooperative game which can accommodate plays of all levels, it is also a game which promotes good camaraderie outside of the game. The rules are, after every game, the winning team will buy the losing team a round of drinks; everyone wins. :)



   

Fishing expedition

I guess the cod population is fairing well this year, because the recreational food fishery, a two week leisure fishing period,  returned this fall after already having one over the summer. This year's fall food fishery were held during the last two weeks of September. Here are some photos taken on the last day of the recreational fishing period.

Green Bay.

For someone like me who rarely travels by water, it was not initially evident to me that a two week fishing period is in fact a very short window of time, since all expeditions depended largely on the wind conditions of the day. It is no fun being out on water during high winds, nor in the rain. Out of the two weeks, there were maybe four occasions where the weather was deemed agreeable to go out on boat for the recreationist, which might I point out may not have necessary landed on a week-end day, or on a period after the work day. We were lucky that we had lovely weather on the day we chose to out go, which incidentally was also the last day of the food fishery. The day turned out to be a full day of adventures.

I saw a huge jelly fish as we were unloading the boat into the water.

The fish head adds just the right touch to the snap shot.

We got lost for awhile when the GPS stopped tracking us,
and eventually ended up on Little Bay Island.

After being out all morning, we had needed to use the washroom, so we had decided to dock and see what options were available to us. Not too far away from the marina, we came across a cute old fashion Bed and Breakfast: Aunt Edna's boarding house. The decor of that place helped take you back in time. 

The wind organ with its 40ish keys, two pedals,
and knobs for various instruments, was a common parlour item.

Fisherman at work: gutting, skinning, and making filet.

As you can tell from my outfit, I am quite the fisher-lady. 

Here is a photo of my only catch of the day. It must have been beginner's luck, because within 10 minutes of dropping  my hook, I had caught a cod. I kind of felt bad for this fish, because it was so small, maybe 1lb, that it deserved a longer life span. Unfortunately my hook had caught it in it's belly, and it was as good as dead. I learned from Jerry that only about one in a million of the eggs actually survive to maturity. (The amount of eggs laid is proportional to the size/weight of the fish, where the average fish can lay around one million eggs.) Many of the fish get caught, or consumed within the food chain before having the chance to reach maturity.

After 8hs of being out on water, we returned home with five fishes; not quite the personal limit of 5 fishes per person/ 15 fishes per boat exceeding 3 people. Regardless, we had a great day out enjoying the last bit of sunny mild weather and we did not come home empty handed.