After joining Walter Emrich for the aerial monitoring on September 19th, we discussed the possibility of venturing out for another sea kayaking expedition before the season was over. Walter said he would keep an eye on the weather and get in touch when the weather was looking good. About a week later, he contacted me by email about kayaking to the Western Isles Nature Preserve on Saturday, September 27th. He couldn't have picked a better day! The water was calm and the sun felt like it could have been mid-summer.
We took the ferry over to Deer Island and were able to get out on the kayaks by mid to late morning. We left from a beach along Richardson Road and made our way between St Helena and Beans Islands. We crossed over to Simpsons Island and looped around Mowat Island. We paused at the top end of Mowat to view Little Mowat and Barnes Island. Mowat, Little Mowat, Barnes, and Nubble Islands together make up the Western Isles Nature Preserve. From Mowat, we made our way over to Nubble Island where we stopped to stretch our legs. After visiting Nubble, we were still up for some adventure, so we continued past White Island and between Spruce and Sandy Islands. You can see the path we took on the map below:
We took the ferry over to Deer Island and were able to get out on the kayaks by mid to late morning. We left from a beach along Richardson Road and made our way between St Helena and Beans Islands. We crossed over to Simpsons Island and looped around Mowat Island. We paused at the top end of Mowat to view Little Mowat and Barnes Island. Mowat, Little Mowat, Barnes, and Nubble Islands together make up the Western Isles Nature Preserve. From Mowat, we made our way over to Nubble Island where we stopped to stretch our legs. After visiting Nubble, we were still up for some adventure, so we continued past White Island and between Spruce and Sandy Islands. You can see the path we took on the map below:
This brought us out along the tip of Campobello Island, where we got a good view of Head Harbour Lighthouse. We also came in contact with a large number of porpoises, some of which were surfacing quite close to the kayaks. What a tremendous experience! After taking in the sights and wildlife, we began to head back. This began my first experience kayaking against tidal currents. It renewed my respect for the power of the ocean. It was a longer paddle back to Sandy Island where we caught our breath again before returning to Deer Island. Here are some snapshots of the adventure:
Since the kayaking adventure, I've been working on a few different paintings at the same time. But one of the paintings recently completed is from this adventure. After looping around Mowat Island, I was really captured by the rock cliffs as we passed by on our way to Nubble. I was quite sure that it was going to be the subject of a painting as soon as I spotted it. Here is the progress and the completed painting (30 x 40") in my home studio:
I want to take this opportunity to thank Walter Emrich for leading me on yet another great kayaking adventure! Very grateful for having met so many amazing people on my journey through this project. Thank you Nature Trust!