N E W F O U N D L A N D T R I P P L A N N E R When to Go
Late summer is best. We chanced hurricane season and went in mid-September, the least foggy time of year. August is also a good choice. Don’t expect to see much of the coast- line if you go earlier: Burgeo receives an aver- age of 20 days of fog in July (versus nine in September). Air temperatures are moderate throughout the paddling season and the sea temperature rarely rises above 10 degrees Cel- sius. Drysuits are recommended.
Difficulty
Te distance between reasonable landings (es- pecially between Burgeo and Francois) makes this route suitable for advanced paddlers only. Between Rose Blanche and Burgeo, the sea is a minefield of reefs (locally known as “sunkers”) where swells may break in otherwise decent paddling conditions. Less experienced paddlers can get a taste for the Southwest Coast by ex- ploring the more sheltered Burgeo Islands.
Access
Marine-Atlantic offers daily ferry service from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to Port-aux- Basques, Newfoundland. From the Port-aux- Basques ferry terminal, follow route 470 east to the village of Rose Blanche, a distance of about 40 kilometres. It’s best to launch from the sheltered water of Harbour Le Cou, at the end of the road just beyond Rose Blanche. Burgeo can be reached on a four-hour drive from Port-aux-Basques via the Trans-Canada Highway and route 480.
Egress
Passenger ferries, which will take kayaks on deck, run regularly between Francois and Bur- geo, and Burgeo and Rose Blanche. However, the boat doesn’t run every day and schedules are obscure, especially for routes west of Bur- geo. Visit
www.tw.gov.nl.ca for schedule de- tails. Be sure to call and speak with a represen- tative for confirmation.
Maps/Charts
Canadian Hydrographic Series charts (1:75,000): 4823, 4824, 4826. National Topographic Series maps
(1:50,000): 11-O/9, 11-O/10, 11-O/11, 11- P/10, 11-P/11, 11-P/12
Guidebook
A Guide to Sea Kayaking in Newfoundland and Labrador by Kevin Redmond and Dan Murphy (Nimbus, 2003)
Guided Trips Coastal Adventures
www.coastaladventures.com, (877) 404-2774 Accommodations
Burgeo Haven Bed and Breakfast
www.burgeohaven.com, (709) 886-2544. Te proprietors also run a guesthouse in Francois.
www.adventurekayakmag.com 55
ILLUSTRATION: LORENZO DEL BIANCO
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