Kayaking

[mollybawn]

I've developed a new addiction!

This past weekend myself, boyfriend and 6 friends went on a 2 hour Sea Kayaking adventure outside of a little fishing community on the south coast. If anyone ever decides to venture this far east I highly recommend this little adventure in your travels.

We launched from a slipway and headed down the coast of the town paddling through shallow water a tide pools. It was absolutely amazing to see marine nature that close up, completely untouched and untainted. I saw the biggest sea star I've ever seen in my life and spotted a few different species of anemones. This might sound gross but I actually ate raw sea urchin roe right out of the water, on my splash skirt. apparently it's called Umi and is a delicacy which sells for about $35 an oz in parts of Asia. Believe it or not it tastes like cantaloupe with a burst of salt.

After a couple of photo ops, exploring around a waterfall, we crossed the bay and ventured back down the opposite side of the coast. We paddled through a couple of sea caves and witnessed an american bald eagle take flight from her nest on the cliff.

Even though paddling was hard work and I'm still having issues with sunburn after affects, I found the whole thing to be incredibly invigorating and can't wait to start saving money in my "Kayak fund" so I can go when ever I want.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/michelle_meehan/waterfall2.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/michelle_meehan/double.jpg

[Wingin' It]

Umi you say...hummm...wierd...lol

Pics look awesome! Sounds like a wicked way to spend a couple hours!

Thanks for sharing!

[CACAdmin]

Great pics! :yes: What a fantastic experience! To see so much life in the tidal pools would be so neat. If I ever get to Newfoundland, that will definitely be something on the agenda.

At this point, I've only been kayaking once (took a lesson one afternoon last year). I plan on taking another lesson (this one is capsize and recovery) so that I feel confident for any eventuality but have yet to do so.

[mollybawn]

Capsize and recover is the most important! I plan on taking a few courses too before I actually buy a boat. Hopefully next year.

[GaryofMontreal]

My wife and daughters have become addicted to sea-kayaking, even if they only get to do it when we visit the family in NB. They got into it last year in the Bay of Fundy, and again this week in the Gulf of Maine. If we lived along the coast, I expect we'd be doing a lot of it.

[mollybawn]

If we lived along the coast, I expect we'd be doing a lot of it.

It's great exercise, but it's an awfully expensive investment! Boats can run up to $6000, not to mention the other equipment!

[CACAdmin]

No wonder rental places do a great business. Renting a sea kayak here usually runs $30 for the first 2 hours and $13 per hr. thereafter, or $90 for the day. Of course, these are not your high end light-weight kayaks and require more effort to paddle.

[GaryofMontreal]

I'd never looked at the prices. Aye caramba!