: Hello Roger,

: No suggestions for you, but isn't Nova Scotia where they found that giant
: squid washed up on the beach?
Try a little further east - Colliers, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, to be precise. About a 30 minute drive from where we live, and about 10 minutes from our old home in Harbour Main. We collected seaweed on the beach there for years, and have spent a lot of time on the water in the area. The giant squid seem to have a habit of washing up here - one appeared at Memorial University when I was a student there, and I got to do some pix for the student paper. Later worked with Fisheries and Oceans in St. John's, where there was a pretty decrepit specimen pickled in a main lobby showcase. Havn't seen one out paddling yet, God be thanked :->))
Re N.S. paddling places - we spent a couple of magical days paddling around the Merigomish area - what a spot - a huge, protected barachoix, sandy/muddy bottom, very shallow and warm water (mid August, blazing hot sun), with small salt marshes along one side and reed bed beaches along the other. Lots of birds - saw my first blue heron and cormorant among others. Stayed at the Cranberry Camping grounds at Lower Barney's River - nice, quiet spot despite the big campers - the lady who runs it has a no-generator policy after a certain hour - and she took the trouble to give us the campsite right next to the nice reedy opening where you launch. We'll be back there soon as the ferry's bow door hits the ramp in North Sydney the next time we get across the Gulf.