Round the Rock!!!!
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
I have come full circle, ending exactly where I started at the public dock in Isle Aux Morts. I have absorbed the essence of Newfoundland now for 3 1/2 months, both on the sea and on land. It is an unforgettable experience, too vast to summarize briefly here, a journey that started on May 5, 2006 and ended August 16, 2006.
I found my car parked where I left it, well cared for, ocassionally driven to keep it working ok. Thanks to Russell and Blanche Lillington from Isle Aux Morts.
Last night, I bedded down in my tent in a storm, high wind, sheets of rain, and flickers of lightning, the rumbles drowned by the roaring surf only 20 meters distant. But when I awoke, there was a hushed calm. The day dawned glorious and unexpectedly. I had psyched myself up for a Thursday paddle.
I paddled with a purpose, the finish line. I could savour the end, but I'm feeling tired. The journey has been demanding, but I have met the challenges. I learned how strong I am, not just physically, but mentally and also emotionally. I realize that I was brave on many ocassions and that I was creative, spontaneous and adaptable. I was focussed and persistent and tried to see the positive in all that happened.
Today, I started in calm water with a gentle southwesterly swell. I paddled away from the Colliers in Codroy in warm sunshine and barely a breeze whispering. Soon, following Stormy Point, where shoals extend quite a distance out, a fog enveloped me, but not a suffocating fog. By Cape Ray, the fog had dissipated, and I approached the final cape in sunshine and light southwesterly breezes. At this cape, the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current meet. I enjoyed large swells but rounded the cape easily. Approaching Pointe Enragee, sand beaches stretched over 8 km in length.
I was on huge swells. I stayed well clear of the crashing surf, but at one point, quite unexpectedly, I stared horrified at a 4 meter rogue swell that steepened into a wave that towered directly overhead, looking as though it was going to whitecap and bulldoze me. Thankfully, it rolled beneath me lifting me like I was on a rollercoaster.I paddled well sheltered at Port Aux Basques, watching people along the channel enjoy the summer weather.
When I approached Isle Aux Morts, I actually did slow down briefly, and ate a juicy Granny apple, the tart flavour swishing through my mouth as a light tailwind blew me towards the dock. The end was literally in sight. As I arrived at the dock, I attracted a half dozen male onlookers. Of course I put them to work;-) toting my gear to my car and lifting my kayak onto the roofrack. I'd paddled 60 km in about 9.5 hours.
I'm now resting for a couple of days at Lillington's house keeping units in Isle Aux Morts, the same place I was in on the first day of the journey, a cool, windy, foggy day back in early May.
After some thought and reflection, I'll continue to post.
I do wish to sincerely thank all my supporters and blog readers who sent words of praise and encouragement. Thank you also to Kokatat for sponsoring me with my expedition Gore-Tex drysuit. The weather was varied and the suit was invaluable. Thank you also to Wenonah-Current Designs for also sponsoring me with a few useful accessories.
23 Comments:
Congratulations!
Wendy, you did it!! Your daughter, your parents, your sister, and niece opened up the bubbly and toasted to you. Now that your trip is done, you'll feel like a fish out of water. CONGRATZ and see you soon! :)
Luv Kathy
Wendy, I was on the water with the club when you called, Meg filled me in. We are so happy and proud of you. It's been an honour to help the little we did.
We'll leave the porch light on for you!
Glenn
Wendy! I knew you'd beat that deadline of yours! You've really got it in you girl! Congrats on your accomplishment!
Awesome! Our hats are off to the first woman ever to kayak around the " Rock". You truely are a free spirit and a strong willed woman. Congratulations, we knew that you could do it in record time. When I told the boys Riley said that's so cool. Safe journeys.
Cheers....
Nancy, Craig, Riley and Andre Collier
Way to Go!!
I stand in awe and appreciation of your effort!
Courage, determination and wonderful spirit! You've used it all in your journeys 'round the rock! Good for you!
Wendy:
It seems a long, long time since we said farewell to you on that little beach in Cuslett, Placentia Bay.
Your voyage is an incredible accomplishment on many levels, and we know that you have left a string of people like ourselves for whom the summer of '06 will always be "...the summer Wendy went around".
We, like the rest of the people here who've followed you, send our congratulations and all good wishes for the future. We have a strong hunch you'll be back; Newfoundland is, as a friend of ours says, "...more-ish". We'll see you then.
Regards,
Rick Hayes/Chris Mousseau
Congratulations Wendy, I have been following your trip with great interest and disbelief that you were actually doing it. This was an incredible feat that you accomplished and all of us at PCPO are really proud of you.Hopefully we can meet and perhaps paddle with you again in Pictou County as we did after your circumnavigation of PEI last year.
Jim Hiscott
Wendy,
Congratulations! So glad to hear you have finished your journey-what an accomplishment!! We have followed you Round the Rock and want you to know how proud we are of you.
Hopefully we will meet again. Until then take care.
Linda & Gordon Farrell
HI Wendy,
Congrats on a job well done. It's too bad I missed paddling with you, which only means that you'll have to come back for a visit.
Enjoy your trip home.
Ian
congratulations wendy!!
WELL DONE!
You've completed something very big indeed. We're all incredibly proud of you.
Keep in touch about the book.
Safe trip home,
Neil
Congratulations! I've certainly enjoyed your blog. What a fabulous adventure. Seems like you did a great job of balancing challenging paddling with really getting to know the area you were traveling in and the people you met. Best of luck from a fan in NC.
Dee
It's been a windy summer, or at least August - I've been pushed back by winds in several bays (e.g. around Baie Verte, Change Islands/NDB, and Trinity Bay) and am thus in awe of your amazing feat. Well done Wendy.
Alison Dyer, Nfld.
Ah! Congrats! Standing ovation to you. I am standing in spirit on the shores of isle aux Morts singing the Ode to Newfoundland to you, Wendy. All the best to you and your family. Lots of love,
Patsy
Thanks to all for reading my blog. I hope it encourages others to reach for their dreams. It's been a pleasure reading the positive responses.
I just arrived in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia where Glenn MacKay and family are hosting me and where I'll get to meet the Pictou County Paddle and Oar Club.
Congratulations Wendy!
Josh Teitelbaum
Terra Santa Kayak Club
Israel
Wendy,
We just got in from two weeks between Port aux Basques and Hermitage on Sunday and heard that you had completed your journey. Congratulations on a tremendous feat! Everyone we talked to indicated that this summer has been one of the wettest they can remember, so it is even more of an accomplishment. We had a lot of wind and rain on our trip - one day off the water for thunderstorms.
It has been great to follow your progress and fun to relate my own experience along the coast with those I read about in your accounts. What a great place to paddle - challenging conditions, wonderful people and incredible scenery!
Thanks again for your chronicles.
Have a great trip home, and the best of luck in future endeavors.
-Will
Congrats Wendy!
I have been following your blog for the past number of days (I was a little late in finding it) and I have to say that you are an inspiration. I am also one who pushes hard to achieve personal goals and highly respect your dedication.
I just picked up my first sea kayak today... a beautiful Evergreen Triton in mango. I can't wait to play! (like I really needed another new adventure sport!).
Keep on paddling.
Jon
www.jonthorpe.com
Congratulations Mrs killoran on the amazing journey. I just read your Blog and i was amazed by what you did. I have to stop in at your class room when i go in to visit all my old teachers, to say congratulations....but anywayz Congratulations.
WAY TO GO on a job well done.
Sarah Lane
HI Wendy, I just heard about you today after getting a Current Designs product brochure and read your comments on the back cover. I visited your web site & listened to your radio interview. WOW! Congradulations on taking it to the next level in kayaking, if you write that book I`ll buy it.
I make wood sea kayaks & paddle in Long Island Sound & can only imagine how much joy/work/terror/peace going around the Rock must have been.
Best wishes
John Killoran
Does anyone know a good sea kayak adventure tourism company in Western Newfoundland?? Someone mentioned My Newfoundland Adventures at www.mynewfoundland.ca
Have you ever heard of them??
http://www.mynewfoundland.ca
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