What an amazing paddling day! I started at 7:30 from the picturesque Little Bay Islands, and found Notre Dame Bay to be dead calm. It stayed that way almost all day long, and thus I headed due north up towards Round Harbour, a 25 km crossing. I arrived shortly after noon, with the Epic wing paddle zooming me to where I want to go. Entering the small sheltered harbour, I found an idyllic setting, old houses and stages clinging to a green, clear bay. Mirror reflections surrounded me on this windless, warm day. I disembarked, dried the soaking wet tent and damp sleeping bag, while I chatted with local fishermen Wayne Snow and Raymond Dicks, who were untangling their fishing nets from the lumpfish season which just ended. I wandered over a narrow pathway along the wooden saltbox homes, up to the most colourful meadow of wild flowers, orange Indian paintbrush, yellow buttercups and mauve chives. Breathtaking splashes of colour. I munched on chives, and returned to the kayak. I decided to paddle to La Scie, since conditions were so calm. I'd round Cape St. John under easy conditions.

It took 6 hours to paddle the 30 plus kilometers from Round Harbour to La Scie, so it was a long paddle with very unforgiving shoreline, steep craggy cliffs and no take outs except at Tilt Cove and Shoe Cove.

As I approached La Scie, I heard a dog bark. It was Jada, Wesley Bath and Caty Chazalon's dog. They were out for a fun family boat ride with Samantha and Brandon. They slowly motored towards me. I asked about places to stay in La Scie, and before I knew it, I was welcome to stay with them.

So, I'm well fed, showered, including the suit which got another good hosing with me wearing it;-) ,and have computer access, and a bed! And the kayak rests in a fishing stage nearby. Life is good "Round the Rock".

My sleepless night in Leading Tickles can be attributed to a lecherous drunk who would not leave me alone to fall asleep. He kept walking into the room I was sleeping in with lustful thoughts. So, after the fourth unwarranted visit, almost 1 in the morning, I stormed out of the house, carried my 200 pounds of gear to a nearby rocky beach, carried my kayak in the dark and spread out my Thermarest under a tarp, wearing a mosquito net, to try to fall asleep. At 5:30, I got up and left.