paddles with an Anas acuta

January's at an end

2012-01-29T18:56:00.004Z

Leaving from Southsea -free parking on the sea front at this time of year- our course was almost due South, leaving Horse Sand Fort to Starboard, Horse Elbow Buoy to Port, circling the Warner Buoy, as the CG helicopter circled us and ending up here. A fine view of one of the less sung corners of the Isle of Wight, a short section of rocky coast and usually in shelter, but with a tide that sets strongly, sometimes even violently along the base of White Cliff. The tide was with us all the way so we averaged nearly 5kt.

Our landing amongst the Bembridge ledges, a short walk from the 'Crab and Lobster'.

On the way back the wind died completely leaving an oily calm in mid-channel.

Crossing from the Warner -my favourite buoy with its upright shape and comfortingly friendly groaning whistle- to Horse Elbow in the picture above...

...continuing home, leaving Horse Sands well to port, once again the tide was with us all the way. Sixteen miles in record time and warm enough for a roll or two and a balance brace before landing. Will February bring the frost?

Whiling away those long winter nights

2012-01-19T10:27:00.005Z

Out on the water.

Even if the weather does not look so appealing from the hearthside,

it is always good once you are out on the sea.

Or the drier (sometimes) alternative, out on the bike, that's not me below, but I am the first to ride into view. A gentle ride because of the conditions; freezing all day, then thawing as we rode, giving a thin layer of liquid mud over hard frozen ruts and puddles. A lethal combination. Thanks Simon.

Post Xmas paddle

2011-12-29T12:39:00.003Z

Nice wintery light as we set off,

and some nice waves to play in.

More details here.

Where can you...

2011-12-16T17:36:00.003Z

Where can you paddle into the rib cage of a wooden ship,

come alongside a lightship,

paddle under...

.. a submarine,

and past the pride of the Royal Navy?

Portsmouth Harbour on a Winter's day.

A calm evening amid the gales

2011-12-08T10:39:00.022Z

Even in the South, the wind had been gusting 40kt during the day on Wednesday, with storm force 10 winds forecast for Thursday. We decided on the shelter of the Hamble for our usual evening paddle. Despite the smoke from the Fawley stacks blowing horizontal down at the entrance of Southampton Water, it was almost calm up here.

The water carpeted in leaves torn from the trees,

and inky black. Roosting egrets just visible as white smudges on their favourite overhanging branches.

On reaching Curbridge, it was disappointing to find that the waterside pub the Horse and Jockey was closed.

The strong winds in Scotland remind me of a camping trip in 1979. I was on my own, camped near the ruined sheiling below Coire Gaothach on the NE side of Ben Lui, and had spent a couple of days on the icy ridges and gulleys of this fine N face, unexpectedly cold and snowy for late November. Coming out onto the summit, I was suddenly struck by strong winds, and decided that the steep slopes were no longer tenable. My plan was to descend via the SE ridge to the col between Ben Lui and Ben Oss, drop into Coire Laoigh and descend the burn to my tent. The wind was knocking me off my feet on the ridge. However, as I reached the flat col between Ben Lui and Ben Oss the wind changed character from being powerful, but somehow enjoyable, to downright dangerous. I was fighting for my life in a swirling tide race of wind pouring from the SW between the mountains. It was difficult to breathe because of the low pressure across my face, lying flat out, my ice axe pushed right into the snow under me in the gusts, barely able to make a controlled belly slide in the lulls. The wind had picked up bits of ice, snow, peat, anything it could tear out of the ground, so I was being paint-ball machine gunned, with no way of fighting back. Flattening myself lower and lower on the snow, making progress a metre at a time. The wind eased a bit as I slid into the relative shelter of Coire Laoigh and my tent was still there. Just as well since that 5km, all downhill and mostly downwind on easy ground, had taken me 5 hours and night was falling.

Next day, with deep drifts of fresh snow, and feeling battered; I decided to stay put and dozed away the day in the tent. In the afternoon, a helicopter overhead sent me scrambling out of the tent to make signs that I was fine. The winchman came down anyway, not at all interested in me as it turned out, they were looking for an RAF Jaguar that had crashed the previous day; but I had neither seen nor heard anything. However, he warned me that more bad weather was on the way and that I would be foolish to stay. I hitch-hiked home after walking out at first light the next day. Central Scotland was suffering a sort of hangover, with broken branches and slates littering the streets.

It turned out that the plane had crashed within a mile of me as I was descending the ridge. The pilot had ejected just before impact and survived but had died of cold, or possibly injuries caused by the parachute dragging him along the ground in the strong wind. Two Jaguars were flying together along Glen Orchy, the lead pilot said to pull up as they were too near the ground for the weather conditions, but when No2 came up above the cloud the leader had vanished and could not be contacted by radio. One of the largest SAR operations in the British mountains in atrocious winter conditions took several days to find the pilot's remains, wedged by the wind in a gulley beside my descent route down the SE ridge. The discovery was made by a civilian volunteer mountain rescue team and caused some controversy because their help had been refused and only RAF and police teams were involved for the first 4 days. It was initially assumed that the pilot was in the wreckage so even the start of the search was delayed until excavation of the crash site revealed that he had baled out. The pilot had most likely died before they started looking for him. Subsequently civilian teams with their expert local knowledge have been involved from the outset in SAR. The wind, cloud and snow had meant I heard and saw nothing, not even the sound of the planes in flight or one hitting the ground close by.

Undisputed Masters of the Solent

2011-12-04T16:44:00.006Z

Wintry sunshine and an empty sea now that December is here.

Jet Skis are a distant memory and the last of the yachts and gin-palaces have retired to their winter quarters, leaving us undisputed masters of the Solent: or so it seems. Five months of lone but not lonely paddles under the silver-grey cloudscape. The mudflats alive with the calls of winter visitors....

...Also the season of silly hats...

It is always a surprise that first warm weekend of late Spring, to see the hibernating flotillas of sails and noisy motor craft breaking their winter sleep.

Cycling in Mid-Wales

2011-11-10T21:35:00.016Z

Away from the sea at the weekend, we did a few miles in Mid-Wales. A mixture of trail centres and some cross country. The Gorlech trail at Brechfa is a nice 2 hr run with the usual exciting downhill at the end to make certain all the memories are good. Coed Trallum at night, like kayaking everything is at least a grade higher in darkness, proved tricky with extensive logging and nasty erosion of the black trail certainly making it 'severe', even the blue trail was hard enough to follow, a wallow of mud and broken branches in places. We were the only visitors.

The Syfydrin trail at Nant yr Arian ticks all the boxes, taking in all the downhill at Nant yr Arian plus a nice cross country loop with some interesting rocky bits on the tracks and fine scenary. Plus the red kites of course.

Syfydrin -Nant yr Arian

Photographs cannot capture the adrenalin and fast moving attraction of the downhills, you are always too busy staying upright to get the camera out. However, a quick search on YouTube will give a flavour of the runs mentioned.

Then for some proper cross country; the Doethie valley and surrounding hills. This proved to be hard work, and the bridleways roundabout not always obvious, untraceable in places with farm yards, fences and forestry, but a very rewarding area as well. Altogether, we had managed to complete about 3,400m of ascent, and no doubt the same amount of downhill over the weekend. So had good reason to feel a little stiff on Monday morning.

Whitby

2011-10-30T13:25:00.014Z

Friday we launched from Sandsend just NW of Whitby, plenty of parking and an easy launch at LW. Two days before the waves had been crashing up over the car park and part of the sea defenses had fallen in. Even today, returning at HW was not so easy, this corner of the bay concentrates the swell.

Along to Whitby, the harbour has a complex entrance of an outer funnel outside of the older breakwaters. There is a gap between these on the East side (see just above Liz's bow) , but on the West the gap has a sill with a bridge over it, swell can escape, but not the kayaker. At LW there was little movement, but the pilot says that; 'tidal flow is insignificant within the bay, but 3-4kt may flow across the harbour entrance'.

Sunnyyyy! and a chance to explore blogger etiquette now that we recognise each other from the web.

In the entrance to Robin Hood's Bay a strange sea beast was respiring energetically sending up clouds of spray.

A gap in the swell and the beast reveals itself to be the boiler and engine of a wreck.

Landfall in Robin Hood's Bay, this would not be an easy landing at HW even in the light swell we have today.

On the way back, Liz paddles inshore to look at something.

The swell rises up; hiding; boat, body, head, finally even the hat, and I hear the wave breaking.... Tow rope ready? Yes it is, and I prepare to paddle hard to the rescue.

Still afloat..... the swell had only caught her stern then playfully let her go.

This really is a fine coast.

Back at Whitby,

we enter the port, suddenly so busy after the empty sea, even a rescue helicopter circling overhead.

Now to plan our exit. It is quite busy with shipping in and out and the threatened 3kts across the harbour entrance is, improbably, a reality. Improbable since it should be almost slack water according to the tidal atlas and running East to West if anything, not West to East, there must be an eddy in the bay. This makes a race sweeping around the west breakwater and streaming out through the gap in the east side and cutting diagonally across between the piers in a violent eddy. The moment, in front of hundreds of onlookers, to get the break-in just right. An exit option in the west like in the east would be useful, but the sill is sucking dry in the swell, so a spirited attack on the current at the west entrance is needed. Once out of the tide, a gentle paddle back to Sandsend. Not such an easy landing and an ice cream van strategically parked across the top of the steps didn't allow space to manoeuvre our 5.20m around. Oh well, it was the end of a near perfect day out.

A few days based in Saltburn

2011-10-30T12:26:00.009Z

Wednesday morning was bright and sunny at Saltburn. However, the swell was on the large side, and, despite having our helmets in the car, we decided against tackling it. Magic seaweed had it at 9' and Windguru 8'.

We drove along to Skinningrove, thinking there might be a deep channel out through the waves, but it was closed out with 3m waves dumping a long way out.

From 200m up on the cliffs between Skinningrove and Boulby, the scale of the swell is obvious, with sets breaking over 1/2 nm out to sea. We met the Rainsleys later in the week, at sea, under Whitby light house; they had also decided against launching on this section of coast on 'Big Wednesday'.

Thursday was overcast and threatening, but launching at Runswick Bay posed no problems.

The swell was down to 4', but even so we had to stay well offshore to avoid the well spaced larger breaking sets. The cliffs are 100-200m high. The pilot predicts weak tidal flows along this coast, but at one stage when we should have had maybe 0.5kt with us, it was like paddling through treacle even with the F3 tailwind. We shot back against the wind. Complicated eddies along the coast.

We heard a rumble, and a then crash, as a substantial cliff fall left a cloud of dust blowing along the beach. There were a few fossil hunters on the beaches after yesterday's swell, so we paddled in a close as we dared, hoping not to see a casualty. No-one seemed to be around, so it had not been set off by an incautious geological hammer.

Staithes is a picture post card village, despite the Boulby potash mine behind it. Surf was breaking over the reefs on either side, but a narrow deep water channel leads straight into the harbour.

A rare sight: pintail ducks on the river

2011-10-24T19:50:00.005+01:00

Stormy at the weekend, so we launched from this weir, a stones throw from my parents' home.

Autumn colours, laughing as I let my stern be carried backwards out over the weir. Why do I have to flirt with the possibility of an embarrassing exit from the photo?

Then up river into the tide, 'current' as I believe it is called in freshwater.

The viaduct is the normal Summer limit of navigation, and even then a bump and a scrabble up over a couple of gravel runs. Now with more water and boats that can make way uptide much faster than our playboats, we could master the rapids, even if it was mm by mm at times, and paddle beyond the Ormsides.

Here making use of the side channel believed to have been cut by the Romans as they improved the navigation as far as their fort at Verteris (now Brough).

Dark was falling as we slid home downtide and downwind, practising breaking in and breaking out.

Was that dark head swimming across the river an otter?

First Time on the Water

2011-10-18T10:25:00.010+01:00

Remember that pep talk prior to sitting in a kayak for the first time? The 'Dancer' was the perfect boat and the sunshine last Friday ideal for a first trip on the water with some friends from Germany.

The Continental Ferry Port was busy and we had to wait for an inbound banana boat...

so big compared to us, gliding in with 2 tugs. We kept well clear, fearing some turbulence from the propellers, but at minimum revolutions, it barely disturbed the water.

Then on around Whale Island, passing HMS Bristol, shepherded by the Anas acuta,

and heading off across Portsmouth Harbour.

A lovely day on the water as we made our way to Portchester Castle for ice cream,

then back again to Tipner, still smiling after 5nm.

Portsmouth may not be bucolic, but it is a fine spot for a first paddle; come to that, any paddle.

The last warm days of Summer

2011-09-22T17:55:00.008+01:00

Not on the water, but in the back garden! The last chance to do a bit of gelcoat work to tidy up those on-the-water repairs. Deep in a Corsican cave, an unseen swell swept me backwards onto an equally unseen rock, requiring epoxy putty. So good was the repair that it has lasted all Summer.

The short black keelstrip was an earlier repair to rock-hopping injuries. Now was the time to Dremel out the epoxy ,

sand everything down and mask it off.

Apply black gelcoat with wax .

A touch of cutting polish and as good as new until the next rock.

Liz's Anas had another problem, erosion under her heels.

So some glass tape, and resin, followed by white gelcoat with wax and it will do many another year.

Kayakdemer IV, Le Phare du Four

2011-09-16T12:47:00.008+01:00

Just three of us went for an afternoon paddle from the campsite 3 miles down-tide to the Phare du Four, we had been there in very flat conditions a couple of years ago. This time there was a big tide running as we were well offshore on Springs, and we were at the lighthouse in no time.

The lighthouse was attracting the swell and just beyond, the tide was swirling into a race over the shallow reefs and rocks.

Requiring an energetic ferry glide at right-angles to the tide to make the mile to the shore without being caught up in the race. As soon as you relaxed your ferry angle, the waves breaking in the race where right on your shoulder. Not a place to mess up. Later in the week a 'Rockpool' lost 50cm of its bow in the rocks here, an expensive day out for the owner, who was lucky to escape with lacerated forearms after a rough water double roll followed by a wet exit. The bow, wedged in the rocks, had been bent double in all three planes by breaking waves during this process.

Kayakdemer III, Aber Benoit

2011-09-16T12:33:00.004+01:00

A windy day at the international meeting and a group of us opted for the shelter of the Aber Benoit, ascending from 'Le chien' at the mouth of the 'river'.

The strong tail wind tempted me to try paddle sailing with my spare paddle on the head for extra sail area. (photo- Yvonne)

The gusty wind made it tricky.

You could have forgotten about the wind at the sheltered limit of navigation, miles from the sea.

Wednesday Night in the Solent

2011-09-16T12:22:00.005+01:00

Wednesday night we met the Waverley entering Portsmouth for the night as the sun was setting.

After this fine sunset, the moon rose and, maybe because of the slightly yellowish full moon, it was very dark on the water by 21.00. We called QHM as the hovercraft seemed to be heading our way, but he had seen us already and turned to pass ahead. Yet another magical night out on the Solent. (and I can recommend the Tektite dive markers we use as being visible a mile ahead from the bridge/flightdeck of a hovercraft at 47kt)

Kayakdemer II- Les Tas de Pois

2011-09-01T14:13:00.008+01:00

A tricky launch at Camaret with the tide out,

returning at HW it was close to the top of the quay.

A fine rocky shore between the pointe du Grand Gouin and Pointe du Toulinguet.

It was a misty day, giving a 'scottish ambience' according to our French companions.

The NW swell made for poor photographic conditions N of the Tas de Pois.

However, the sea flattened off in their lee. (photo- Yvonne)

Lashing rain added to the unseasonal feel as we sheltered in a cave out of the swell. What a great day out. Crozon would be a good location for a week's paddling, rocks, cliffs, caves, stacks and rocky islets, surf beaches, it has it all, and there would always be a sheltered side.

Kayakdemer.eu gathering at Lampaul-Plouarzel

2011-08-20T10:45:00.005+01:00

After Charente, it was nice to see the sun in Brittany at the start of the Kayakdemer.eu gathering at Lampaul-Plouarzel.

Camp established, it was onto the water for the international meeting of some 150 sea kayakers.

Dividing ourselves into 10 member multi-lingual peer paddles with careful records kept at the centre so no-one could go missing.

The Pointe de St. Mathieu where the coast turns east towards Brest

Sandy coves, gentle surf.

More posts to follow, once I'm back from Scout camp!

Charente II, La Charente river

2011-08-20T10:26:00.007+01:00

Paddling from Rochefort we took the falling tide downriver past a storybook style fort.

Our problem was where to land; water ankle deep miles from land, the wind was gusting 6, lashing rain; the shore of a mud which would make Emsworth look like firm sand; the water full of modern and ancient oyster beds invisible in the grey water, just ready to punch a hole in your boat.

Eventually we found a place just below the lowest HGV busy on the oyster beds.

Something surreal about lunch miles from land and in the middle of a traffic jam.

Every picture tells a story, it was a long paddle in demanding conditions.

Charente, La Gironde

2011-08-20T10:04:00.004+01:00

Somewhere different, the mouth of the Gironde. Our plan was to catch the tail end of the ebb from Royan for a ferry glide out to the Phare de Cordouan (just visible in the distance 5nm away). Europe's and possible the World's oldest lighthouse 400 years old this year. However, it was one of the biggest tides of the year, coefficient 120, and after covering about 2 miles we realised that there was a real danger of not making the ferry glide. It is hard to estimate current in open water, but we tried paddling uptide and at full speed found we were making about 0.5kt backwards. The lighthouse was disappearing from time to time in the haze and small races of breaking rollers sprung up here and there due to the uneven bottom.

So discretion was the order of the day; retreat decided, the ferry glide back proved quite challenging as we didn't want to end up too far downtide.

Once on back on the Royan shore, we waited for the tide to turn, then paddled inland along the coast past cave dwellings and fishing stations,

to land at the small port of Meschers-sur-Gironde.

More biking- High Street

2011-07-22T17:56:00.008+01:00

A long climb following the course of the roman road from Askham

Superb views over Ullswater to Helvellyn and more distant peaks, but frustrating soggy under foot (under tyre in fact), so several walking sections despite the gentle gradient.

A satisfying summit (828m/2663') with one of the best vistas in Lakeland (Wainwright agrees with me).

Fast downhill from the top and an easy climb to Rampsgill Head and then High Raise. It was beyond High Raise that it got soggy, so to avoid this, I followed my nose over Low Raise.

A nice fast and not too wet grassy run down losing 400m in 3km,

followed by a delightful steep and technical section, all rideable except this corner by the beck. The exact location of this must remain secret since it is not bridleway and mostly not footpath either. However, you end up on the north bank of Haweswater, on the nicely metalled footpath, cum landrover track, to Burnbanks. Leaving only the 9km road ride back. I was running on empty after 40km and 1100m of ascent; the road passes several attractive pubs; alas, I had left my money in the car!

The Needles

2011-06-27T15:25:00.004+01:00

On Sunday, the Club left Lymington in thick fog and eerie calm, crossing the Solent with visibility down to a cable or less, we passed a couple of ghostly drifting yachts, but thought the sea empty apart from the Needles foghorn and the IOW ferries' regular blasts well East of us. However, once across, an easterly breeze swept the fog away revealing a vast armada of motorboats and yachts, bearing down abreast across the entire width of the Solent, just keeping clear of the fog. If it had cleared 10 minutes earlier we would have been rabbits on the motorway.

The mist added a dramatic quality , the cliffs could have been 1000m high.

Fog still swirled around,

as the Club ended the Needles play session with a fast 'follow-my-leader',

threading the pinnacles and lighthouse. Occasional sets of swell added to the interest, but, only one capsize and rescue amongst the rocks.

Corsica, part 2, The South

2011-06-11T12:31:00.003+01:00

This is the second part of our trip to Corsica, check out part one. We took a week or so to paddle from Piantarella, E of Bonifacio to Capu di Muru, the idea was to continue to Ajaccio, but the long forecast bad weather finally arrived and we scuttled back to Propriano with the wind.

The wind scoured limestone cliffs of des Bouches de Bonifacio, with their deep caves, often looking as if the sea is merely reworking existing cave systems,

and the town itself. Even when it is variable Beaufort 1-3 elsewhere, it is 6-7 in the Bouches.

The granite Lavezzi, tempting close to Sardinia.

Approaching Capo di Feno, we were pleased that the SE F7 was from behind and that the SW swell was meeting the wind blown chop half a mile or so offshore, setting the yachts pitching violently, and not on the headland.

Granite and more granite is my memory of the rest of the coast.

With idyllic beaches,

spectacular views from headland to headland,

fine sunsets, and camping on the cast up sea-grass. Hot by day, but chilly at night.

The Howgills

2011-06-04T20:43:00.013+01:00

The good thing about the Howgills is that they are nearly 100% ridable and the bad thing? -that they are nearly 100% ridable! On the way up the steep gradient, often coupled with energy sapping soft grass or gravel, is punishing; but seldom gives a sufficient excuse to stop or push.

Once on the tops it looks like plain sailing, but there are some spectacular downs and tough climbs. Today was a half day ride from Bowderdale farm, climbing Green Bell, Stockless and Randygill Top over smooth grass. From here I took the steep downhill and trackless hillside towards Kensgriff. This is too steep to ride in a straight line, but can be ridden at speed in zigzags, just watch for an extra deep peri-glacial striation or an over-size tuft of Narduus stricta. The descent from Kensgriff towards Yarlside is the same. Climbing Yarlside, which looks to be overhanging, does require carrying and pushing, initially a welcome relief; the joy of which soon palls.

Nearing the top of Great Dummacks, a mixed push and pedal. Yarlside is in the background, the trackless drop to Cautley Spout (middle distance) requires some strategic planning of the zigzags since the steep slope is uneven and rough in patches. Contouring around to the top of the waterfalls is narrow and technical with a small stepped section to practice carrying the bike. West of Bowderdale/Cautley the hills are within walking distance from Sedbergh, so some attention must be given to hikers. However, the obvious paths could be a welcome aid to navigation if the cloud was down.

An easy pedal over Little Dummacks and Bram Rig Top to join the main drag up from Sedbergh to the trig. point on The Calf.

Then the descent via Bowderdale. I've heard tell that this some of the best natural single track in England. It is true that the initial run down is a fine way to lose 276m in a couple of km; linked and fast curves with quick decision making required on lines and whether to bounce or swerve around rocks and eroded sections. However, once along the bottom , despite some nice sections like the one below,

there is too much slow speed negotiation of rocks and boggy patches. Nevertheless a good way back to the car. About 15 miles and 1108m of height gain. I would recommend the off-piste to the east of Bowderdale over the 'Howgill classic', just follow your nose.

A break from paddling

2011-06-02T12:12:00.008+01:00

An energetic circuit on the mountain bike from my parents' home in Appleby, climbing over the shoulder of Cross Fell,

a break out of the cold wind and blowing mist at Greg's hut;

where I met a public spirited local quad-biker leaving some coal for cold bothy dwellers. The only person I met all day, despite it being Half-Term; though admittedly it was thick cloud and blowy. Then down the Pennine Way to Garrigill.

There is a km of track missing between Metalband Hill and the Cow Green footpath, joining the Tyne Head bridleway to the Tees Valley, so some off-piste through the cottongrass. Years ago there was more trace of trespassing hikers using this obvious route, but nowadays people seem to stick to documented rights of way and it has fallen into complete disuse, not a footprint to be seen. Yet you save yourself 10 miles including a stretch of 'B' road.

Finally along the Pennine Way from Cauldron Snout over High Cup Nick, the brisk westerly was blowing the cloud off the lip, so even a view down the valley. Then, thankfully, down hill all the way through Dufton to Appleby. 55 miles and over 1400m height gain, almost all cyclable.

Corsica; part one: the North

2011-05-29T09:49:00.011+01:00

My absence from the web should not be read as abstinence from paddling, I was away in Corsica for almost a month, taking in both North and South as the purple line shows. Here is a snapshot of 15 days wild camping in the north. Much of the south, west and northern coast is protected by reserves and National Parks, it is these which guard one of the last unspoilt mediterranean coasts, so the rights and wrongs of exploration by sea kayak are sharply in focus. We tried to respect the regulations as far as weather and sea allowed and to practice zero impact bivouacing, taking and leaving nothing. In fact I defy anyone to find a trace of our passage; a 2m swell, strong winds and rain on the last day must have swept away even our footprints.

Cap Corse from the cliffs typifies the wildly eroded rocks of this coast .

Beaches barely large enough for kayaks and camping, with impenetrable maquis behind. Check out the HW mark.

The omnipresent 'tour' .

Historic sites, here Calvi .

Magnificent paddling , choppy or smooth

in the Golfe de Porto .

Scandola, there are kayakers at the base of the cliffs on the left to give the scale if you click on the image.

Surf landings ...

However, the overiding memory of this coast are the caves , caves and more caves

We flock together! three migratory Anas acutas enjoying the calm darkness; though the cave sounds of booming and gurgling are all around.

Caves to the extent that the rough waters around Capu Rossu can be largely avoided by paddling inside the mountain.

The Nab Tower

2011-04-13T17:08:00.012+01:00

We paddled out to the Nab Tower at the weekend, this is about 7nm off Chichester entrance or some 9nm from Portsmouth, but only 4.5nm off Bembridge, Isle of Wight, you can see Culver cliff in the distance. Conditions turned out very benign with a light SE wind and a sea breeze which never really filled in. The tides run south-east, then east, then north-east, north, north-west, and then west, so a circular route from Portsmouth to Chichester Entrance via the Nab makes the most of any assistance. The Nab looks as if it is right in the middle of the shipping lanes, but most vessels pass to the west of it and the occasional deep draft vessel passing east follows the tightly buoyed Nab channel. An approach from Dean Tail keeps you clear of most shipping, but a sharp look out and listening watch on the VHF are still essential. From Bembridge you have a more than 3 mile right angle crossing of water plied by big and fast cross channel ferries to negotiate, although the bigger ships and those with hazardous cargo are more predictable, passing east of the New Grounds cardinal.

The tower itself is very rusty and looks as if bits might fall off if you tried to land. The flooded concrete base, much larger than the tower, creates a swirling eddy as water is forced up and around. A peregrine was in residence and swooped over head checking us out. Trinity House maintain the historic folly as a light house; 1 million pounds in 1914-18, the war over and its purpose redundant before it was completed.

We didn't land, but lunched on the water, gaining 0.5nm in the process; and even experimented with different sea-pee techniques, men only need 2 -3 star ability, but it is 5 star stuff for the ladies!

Once back at Chichester Entrance with the option of a short wait for the tide to turn westbound back to Portsmouth, or continuing with the last of the flood and then the ebb around Hayling Island. We choose the latter making it a more than 23nm paddle. Despite being with the tide all the way, it felt like a long day out on the water. Mike recorded this GPS trace, various halts and the lunch stop are visible by the kinks as we drifted with the tide.

Summer is here

2011-03-31T11:26:00.002+01:00

Summer is here, even if it didn't feel like it launching at Selsey into the fog, where was The Mixon?

Ah, there it is, showing that a little chart work is always worthwhile, even if the mist does clear later.

A week later I took the Tahe Marine out to play in surf at East Head, warm water, blue sky;

what more could you want?

Look, and marvel at your own eyes

2011-02-10T10:04:00.004Z

Paddling in Portsmouth Harbour last night, a dark misty night with virtually no wind, we reflected on the marvel of the human eye. The physical change in f-stop by the opening and closing of the iris, coupled with complex chemistry makes an almost seamless transition from the darkness of the water to the brightness of the skyline. To our eyes, the kayak decks in the foreground were just as light and clear as the Spinnaker Tower.

Then there is the image stabilisation, a mixture of saccades and micro-saccades, moving the eyes in controlled but very rapid jerks, coupled with 'smooth pursuit', keeps things perfectly still. For the first photo I was rafted up to try and keep still for the camera, fast as the digital exposure is. Then in the second, the faintest ripple from the Gosport ferry and the camera gives up, not so the eyes.

Knee bumps

2011-01-20T15:34:00.006Z

I have had some enquires about our knee bumps, here is my template on 1cm squared graph paper. The bumps are made from six layers of good quality roll mat (genuine Karrimat that comes in yellow and white, luckily for us) laminated with Evostik.

The result is about 5cm thick, they are stuck on with Evostik, together with a square piece for that extra knee comfort paddling with bare legs in summer.

Seasonal Greetings

2010-12-23T14:24:00.004Z

The nights before Christmas, cold on the beach and cold on the water.

The nights are already growing shorter, but still dark enough.

Where will the boats take us in the coming year?

Wintry Paddling

2010-12-19T17:15:00.004Z

Snowy, frosty, weather at Eastney; warm enough on the water,

but cold sorting out the boats. At least the salty water draining from the boats helped de-ice the carpark.

(a longer account here)

Winter Paddling, Fog and a Hovercraft

2010-12-06T11:11:00.018Z

A window in the bad weather allowed us to paddle across the Solent from Eastney to Ryde on Sunday. Winds were light, temperatures below freezing in the fog, but pleasant when the sun poked through. Perfect tide, launching near HW and catching the powerful flow westbound and setting off back with the gathering eastbound flow, having lunched over slack water, HW +2.

Leaving Eastney.

Banks of fog were rolling slowly ESE around the Solent, with Southampton and Portsmouth on intermittent 'fog routine'. Such a bank enveloped us near Horse Sand Fort, once the fort was found we waited in its eddy; the tide runs strongly over the shallow water and the wake of unseen ships sometimes gave surfable standing waves. We were waiting for an invisible outbound ship to pass before crossing the main channel, moving at minimum operating speed, it regularly updated its position to Southampton VTS on Ch.12, and seemed to take forever to clear our course. From time to time we had glimpses of what appeared to be the ship, but it didn't move; not surprising, since it turned out to be No Man's Land Fort on the Isle of Wight side of the channel! Eventually the ship reported itself east of the forts and we could set off, as we crossed the main channel, the sun came out and we saw the ship, showing us it's stern and making about 6kt away from us.

Near Ryde we had to wait for the hovercraft from Southsea to go ahead. This is the Solent Express, GH2142, the larger of the two hovercraft operating the only scheduled hovercraft service in the world. In service since 2007, carrying up to 130 passengers and weighing 75 t., it can operate at 65kt but does not exceed 45kt in the Solent. Once you hear it start up, and it can easily be heard across the Solent in calm weather, you have about 7 minutes if you are on the far side or 3 minutes if you are in the middle, to consider your position. Unlike other shipping it doesn't necessarily stick to the deep water channels, but it keeps a sharp watch and, at night, if it knows we are paddling nearby, will ask for an update on our position. The service has an incredibly good safety record, with no incidents except one in 1972 when force 9 winds coupled with wind against the ebb tide in the Swashway, caused a craft to capsize with a loss of 5 lives. Despite this, we have often wondered if the best option when faced with collision would be to capsize and wait as long as possible before rolling up. You might not even notice it flying overhead, or rather 'overhull', as the pressure it exerts is very low.

Snow in Petersfield at Last

2010-12-02T15:47:00.006Z

Petersfield was the last place in the country to get it, but it snowed heavily last night. Liz, Steve and myself made the now traditional trek to Butser Hill. Swopping the A. acuta for a playboat, no BA or spraydeck required, but hard work on the way up.

We joined the sledges and snowboards at the top,

had fun on the way down,

snowy landings;

and then the long walk home as light faded.

The Selkie

2010-11-29T18:12:00.007Z

Someone has been selling off old school Palm Selkies on fleabay, an investment that proved its worth on Sunday in -3C a light dusting of snow and sharp wind. More pictures of the fashion icon in question and the day's paddle can be found here. Thats me in a fetching shade of red, third in the line-up of snowy Anas acutas. Does my 65kg become 130kg in this? At any rate it is as warm as toast.

Thanks to Simon D for the pictures.

Ships that pass in the night

2010-11-25T13:26:00.003Z

A black black night last night, luckily the wind at 4kt wasn't inducing much wind chill, or it would have been very cold. One of the joys of paddling a busy place like Portsmouth Harbour is the interest of passing shipping and being only a few yards away from large ships whilst keeping things safe for everyone, crossing deep water channels responsibly and letting QHM know your intentions.

Here is the Bretagne, 24,500 tonnes, 2000 plus passengers (but only 400 tonight), 130 man crew, creeping up behind 7 kayaks, 0.5 tonnes and 7 passengers and crew. It has engines generating 18,000 kW, how many kW can we manage between us? Its 26m beam almost exactly measures 50 Anas acutas side by side, but it is only 20 times longer; how sleekly the kayak slides through the water.

Watching each other, it passes as we head outbound to No.4 buoy

and continues into the night for France, whilst we cross astern, back towards the shore and a well deserved drink at The Wellington.

Getting in and out

2010-11-21T17:52:00.006Z

A couple of posts ago I talked about getting in and out of the water.

Here are a couple of messing about videos taken today at Langstone Bridge in calm conditions, water 5C, air 8C, wind NE 2-3. However, what you can do in the Tahe Marine Greenlander on the flat is easy enough in the super stable Anas acuta in pretty choppy conditions.

Getting in, and getting in and out!

Incidentally, there was a magic light over the sea for an Anas acuta leading the Greenlander; just to prove that we did go for a paddle as well.

Autumn in Lakeland

2010-11-17T14:29:00.008Z

Mist rising over Buttermere soon after dawn on Saturday.

Rough tracks....

Rougher tracks....climbing over to Ennerdale

The top of Black Sail pass.

Well deserved rest on the climb out of Wasdale to Styhead.

My nice new Orange 5 in orange, what else?, and it matches the Ground Effect merino top.

Onward and upward in the shaddow of Scafell.

The inevitable puncture on the way down.

We reached the valley at dusk and took the road back over Honister in darkness.

Sunday at the Whinlatter trail centre involved much more cycling and less walking and carrying. Fun for a couple of hours, but less satisfying than a day out on the fells.

Tricky Landings in the Isles of Scilly

2010-11-17T14:11:00.004Z

The lovely sandy beach,

and yet another; however, rocky shores are more common than white sand.

Practising getting out of the cockpit on the water

is a more useful skill than the eskimo roll,

allowing landings,

getting the lunch out,

and launching from the rock shore.

How does the A. acuta take to freshwater?

2010-10-31T13:38:00.007Z

Gale force winds last week diverted us away from the Solway to try our hand at fresh water paddling. The picture shows our colour co-ordinated knee bump aids to edging and rolling very clearly. Easy launching; the tide is never out.

Ullswater, and the Autumn colours of Lakeland. Hard work into the wind, but what joy surfing back.

Rocky islets

Perfect luncheon spot

Fun paddling, the boats enjoyed the choppy water, but all of us missed the tide and that sense you always get on the sea of maybe, just maybe, being able to paddle beyond the end of the World. The land imprisons a lake, there is always a shore.

The places the boat takes us...

2010-10-04T10:43:00.006+01:00

This weekend we were out on the Thames, a quick call on Ch 14 and the Port of London Authority switches on the lights to show us which gate to use outbound.

On the way back to Putney, the volume of river water, following the recent heavy rain, was holding back the flood tide making it a slow 15nm, luckily we had our lights with us.

Only a week or so before, how different the view over the foredeck as we were paddling around Mull.

London to Mull, all paddling, all great in different ways.

Return to the Lakes

2010-09-02T21:33:00.004+01:00

A trip up to see my parents gave us a chance for a walk.

Visitors have become more concentrated in both location and time over the 40 years I have known the Lakes. Leave the car before 07.30 and you are on the tops before 09.00, the first person you see will be as you are coming off your 3rd or 4th peak around 11.30. In the old days there was always some other early birds who had maybe bivouaced nearby. Many areas slightly distant from a car park are quieter than in the 1970s, with what were well worn paths barely visible in the bracken. However, Helvellyn is always busy in the afternoon, just as well we had an early start.

Brittany weekend

2010-09-02T21:18:00.006+01:00

Busy this summer, but hopefully the Autumn will give me some time to be blogging. In the meantime a taste of a long weekend in Brittany.

Lunch miles from the open sea in Lannion, you might just be able to see the tide powered slalom course behind the bridge. Is this the only one in the world used for international competitions?

A tide race as friendly as they get.

Twenty paddling companions from several countries on one wave.

Just hanging out in the kelp.

Just a taste of Jersey

2010-06-08T14:09:00.008+01:00

Letting the experts try it first,

Mixed weather, from hot sunshine to cold rain

Exploring caves,

a few moments later, Liz was battling the 'swell of the day' deep in this crevice, but came out upright and unscathed.

Another spot requiring careful timing...

Rounding the SW tip of Jersey, La Corbiere, in a sea fret on the last day.

A. acuta Weather

2010-05-14T11:41:00.004+01:00

This is a boat which seeks out some movement in the water;

be it playful seas off Southsea,

or surfing into Newtown creek after crossing the Solent with an F8 up the tail.

Temptation

2010-02-20T11:31:00.003Z

Far from my usual paddling haunts and a thousand miles from the sea I have been busy working on irrigation development in Mali for the past few weeks.

Trying to concentrate on work in the blazing sun, 40C in the shade, if there was any, the temptation of a local pirogue on this little side channel of the Niger river is hard to resist.

Even now, as the water nears its lowest in the year, there are many channels and inlets asking to be explored.

The boats have finely up turned bows and sterns, making them even harder to resist, but I must, MUST, get back to work.

London by Night 23 January 2010

2010-01-28T07:19:00.006Z

After dark on the stairs at Wapping near the 'Prospect of Whitby', no longer any need to fear the press gang, though their ghosts haunt the foreshore. The architect who designed this part of the redevelopment was no waterman, he or she was someone who liked LOOKING at water. The get-in is overly steep steps down to a small square inlet in the curved sea wall. The shape focusses any chop into the inlet, where it swooshes endless forwards and back. The tiny beach has eroded concrete standing proud of the sand, waiting to tear a hole in your hull.

However, once on the water, dry and upright, all is forgotten, country mice in our kayaks marvelling at the cityscape.

Andrew's tide calculations were spot on as the tide carried us up to Big Ben,

in time for the chimes.

In this part of the Thames, the more lights and reflective clothing, the better.

Past HMS Belfast, under Tower Bridge,

gliding at speed as the ebb gained momentum.

All too soon back to Wapping and a drink at 'The Prospect'.

The only other production boat which might come close?

2010-01-04T15:22:00.006Z

A shiny new Tahe Marine Greenlander.

Fun to paddle as a day boat, it will not replace my main love,

but so coquette! Langstone harbour at the weekend.

Just before Christmas

2009-12-31T09:58:00.004Z

Some father-son bonding traversing Cross Fell, led to 4 hours in thick cloud walking on refrozen slush. On the way down a party of 4 walkers came in from a strange angle and seemed very pleased to see us. They were even more pleased to hear that we believed that we knew where we were going, they having made an unexpected tour of Upper Teesdale after some navigational errors. We came out of the cloud 200m away, but in parallel with the path. In the days of the 'one inch' OS this would have been good navigation and we could have patted ourselves on the back, but with a modern 1:25,000 map and compass, we could have done slightly better. The GPS user must really miss out on the self-congratulation at finding the summit or coming out of the cloud just right.

Later on we met classic conditions in North Wales, 5 hours in thick cloud around the Snowdon horseshoe. No navigational problems, and not too much ice,

but gale force gusts slowed progress. It was pitch dark before we arrived back at Pen-y-pass, and no torches.

Back on the water

2009-12-31T09:50:00.004Z

The long break in posts was because work reared its ugly head and I was away in warmer climes for 3 months. Instead of a gentle introduction, month by month, it was straight into cold water.

Paddling in a wintery scene off Hayling Island.

There was a clean swell, which encouraged waiting around, paddle parked in its usual place.

Three Anas acutas under a leaden sky.

Steve waiting for a ride as the waves curled along the beach.

Another lighthouse

2009-09-28T13:59:00.004+01:00

Calm, lazy, conditions this weekend,

for another lighthouse.

Beachy Head, but what foredeck is this?

A demo Tahe Marine Greenlander from Shoreham Seakayaks . The demo, always a dangerous activity, can prove expensive. You may be seeing more of this deck, but in black!

Home waters

2009-09-17T09:12:00.004+01:00

We launched in evening sunshine last night at Dell Quay,

followed by a fine sunset off Chidham Point.

With no moon, it was dark on the way home.

Philip Plisson

2009-09-16T09:46:00.004+01:00

Philip Plisson took some photographs as we left the Aber Ildut on the way to Ile Molene. Liz is a white boat, red cag and blue BA, myself blue cag with fluo yellow hood, yellow boat.

Capturing the atmosphere of slight trepidation, but growing confidence.

As nice as the Anas acuta? This is the Tahe Marine Greenlander, not so versatile, but a lovely day boat.

CKmer meeting in Brittany

2009-08-29T16:48:00.011+01:00

We were in Brittany for the CKmer international gathering and after a few days on our own, made our way to Landeda near Aber Wrac'h. Here are just a fraction of the 120 boats.
Taking advantage of local knowledge, small sub groups made a great variety of interesting trips.

Ascending the Abers from the open sea to fresh water, here the head waters of the Aber Wrac'h.

By contrast an open sea crossing to Ile Molene, paddling 7 miles due west from Aber Ildut, the tide carried us 4 miles south to the island. The return was 3 miles following the islands and skerries towards the south-east, like crossing a series of fast flowing rivers. Followed by 4 miles paddling due east across the Chenal du Four, in which time the tide had carried us 5.5 miles north back to Aber Ildut. The week flashed past as fast as the 110 coefficient tide.

The ship graveyard in the river Aulne.

It was nice for me, as there were many greenland style paddlers and we could go along in a group maintaining our rapid but effortless cadence. A blind paddler in a double recognised us individually by our stroke pattern, but we felt as if we were in time. Along with the greenland paddles were a good collection of Anas acutas, almost every colour Valley supplies. Here I am, admiring a rarer boat, paddled to good effect by a 12 year old with a scaled down greenland paddle, it is an Anas chick.

Ile Vierge, Aber Wrac'h

2009-08-29T16:41:00.003+01:00

This one is the tallest lighthouse in Europe, 82.9m, with a magnificent spiral staircase occupying the empty centre.

Phare du Corn C'hai

2009-08-29T16:36:00.002+01:00

Another lighthouse Phare du Corn C'hai, 2nm off Portsall

Phare du Four

2009-08-29T16:33:00.003+01:00

Another Brittany lighthouse for our collection, Phare du Four 1.5 nm off Argenton, calm except for a lazy swell, though the tide was running at a good speed. Philip Plisson was there in more demanding sea conditions!

copyright Philip Plisson

Baie des Trepasses

2009-08-29T16:28:00.000+01:00

Attacked by a strange sea monster,

Steve fights it off with his paddle

Raz de Sein in a calm mood

2009-08-29T16:14:00.005+01:00

Raz de Sein? yes it is, we had hit a day without swell, the sea like a mirror, and waited for LW slack (Brest -1 hour). An hour earlier it had been standing waves falling in white sheets, but now was an eerie calm.

We circumnavigated the two lighthouses.

Philip Plisson, as always, was there in stormy weather, this image is from his website.

Then, as the tide started to run, already forming strange eddies and boils, we headed back into the Baie des Trepasses, the Bay of the Dead. An hour later it was all white water again. A Breton kayaker said that it was no place to play, a quiet and respectful passage over the many dead mariners was more appropriate.

On the way back, the quiet sea allowed deep passage into the caves.

Loch Scavaig and the Cullin

2009-08-10T13:27:00.003+01:00

Next day we left the boats at Coruisk,

to go for a walk.

By now the wind had dropped to nothing, and we met several basking sharks

on the way back to Glen Brittle. A great end to the week.

Lizzies 50th Birthday

2009-08-10T13:16:00.002+01:00

More settled weather let us paddle to Soay

for Liz to cut the cake, looking out to the Cullin,

but we paddled round to the windward side to camp, out of the midges,

before the celebration evening out.

Lunch in Loch Bracadale

2009-08-10T13:12:00.002+01:00

Next day the wind was SW5-6 with a large swell, so a short paddle in Loch Bracadale and some island walking kept us occupied.

Glen Brittle to Loch Harport

2009-08-10T12:54:00.004+01:00

The forecast was SE 4-7 and it turned out near the upper end,

blowing us along the coast in fine style. Around every salient point, the long fetch and clapotis made for tricky seas and it was always a relief to glide into the shelter behind the stacks, here Stac a' Mheadais.

Lunch at Talisker,

sunbathing 'August in Skye' style.

McFarlane's rock was the final obstacle,

and a sheltered cave gave respite from the wind.

However, the swell kept trying to sweep me deeper into the inky blackness to who knows what horrors judging by the sound behind me.

Round the corner in Loch Bracadale we were out of the wind for the final few miles.

Last Week on Skye

2009-08-10T12:44:00.003+01:00

It was a mixed bag of weather last week,

Loch Dunvegan,

and the arch at Rogheadh which we could just paddle through.

Once back at the 'wigwam' the sun came out.

IOW circumnavigation

2009-07-07T10:17:00.003+01:00

Last weekend we made an anticlockwise circumnavigation, starting from Lee on Solent. Reeth Bay just after St. Catherine's, with 31 nm under our belts, proved to be the perfect spot for the night. Leaving only 24 miles for the Sunday. Tides with us all the way and ideal conditions with just the right amount of movement in the water. Plenty of time to enjoy the scenary and paddling, rather than the head down slog that this trip can become.

A New Toy to Play With

2009-06-28T18:58:00.008+01:00

The club had an old boat gathering dust, broken cockpit rim, flaking paint and varnish, but basically sound.

A couple of days work and she was on the water, recognise it?

It is a boat with a reputation for instability so I tried a set-up roll. Despite being a bare wood cockpit with no seat and nowhere to wedge your feet, knees or hips, it came straight up. You can see that my bottom slid to the side and needed a little wiggle to get me stable again.

It is an Angmagssalik, designed in 1960 by Ken Littledyke, who invented the stitch and glue method of plywood construction whilst making it. Despite the passage of time, plans and kits are still available and it was used for the first circumnavigation of Britain.

After half an hour you feel completely at home,

and it is stable enough on flat water, but I would like a seat, foot rests, and something for my knees or hips to brace on before venturing far offshore.

Liz liked it as well, A faster boat than the Anas acuta, but very far from being as comfy.

Paddling in the Rain

2009-06-18T11:06:00.002+01:00

Last night, 11 of us went paddling in the rain and wind. The sea was a warm bath covered in white horses. It was too gloomy to take pictures, but it reminded me of a Summer day last year.

Calmer conditions, but it rained,

and rained,

and rained!

Paddling around Hayling Island May 31st

2009-05-31T20:08:00.001+01:00

Sunday 31st May the club met for a paddle from Langstone Bridge. Some of us continued to circumnavigate Hayling Island in hot sunshine, the greenland paddle encourages a lazy action which nevertheless covers the miles at a good speed.

Salcombe Weekend

2009-05-26T14:16:00.001+01:00

This weekend the Club meet was at Salcombe, near perfect weather with a calm sea and just enough swell to make rock hopping fun. We were a large group as this lunchtime scene shows. Over the 3 days we took our time, covering the coast from Brixham to Bigbury, investigating every rock and cove.

A cloudless sky on Saturday and Sunday, here I am amongst the rocks.

A grey start on Monday turning to bright sunshine. My wife is paddling ahead of me. What boat does she paddle?

It has an upturned tail.

It has to be another Anas acuta, what else?

Stercorarius skua

2009-05-21T14:28:00.001+01:00

Out on Rubha Coigeach this bird was one of a pair starting to defend a nesting area, but it let me come within a metre to take this photograph. The great skua is one of my favourite birds, along with the pintail duck of course.

So understated, rather tubby looking, but letting you walk up to them is based on confidence rather than laziness. They know that they can out-fly any bird in the sky and beat off any ground based predator. Back in the 1970s I hitchhiked on fishing boats and ended up on Foula. Once there, it proved hard to get off, and the best place for my tent was amongst a colony of these birds. They attack unmercilessly if defending eggs and chicks, coming in low and sweeping up into your face, raking their clawed feet across your scalp. However, after a couple of days, they accorded me my own territory around the tent, so I was free to watch them.

Harrassing a bird like a gannet to get them to release their catch, they fly so fast and turn so tightly, the larger bird has no where to go. If that doesn't work, I have seen them grab the tail or wing of the bird in mid-air sending both into a death-tumble to the ground. Once the gannet drops the fish, the skua breaks away and swoops to catch it in mid air whilst the other bird is still struggling to regain control before hitting the ground or sea.

Cailleach (Dalek?) Head

2009-05-21T14:15:00.001+01:00

Approaching Cailleach Head, just above these rocks and above HW, a large dry and comfortable cave has been kitted out with wooden herring boxes, these were abundant until the mid 1970s and I guess some gangrel lived there for a time 40 years ago.

The Head itself, with the Tardis awaiting the next coming of the daleks. Click to zoom in and you will see what I mean.

Round the Head, the wind was whipping across from the east.

Squally weather

2009-05-21T13:58:00.001+01:00

Not what I wanted, a F6 squall approaching from starboard,

giving a choppy sea with plenty of white horses.

Stattic point

2009-05-21T13:53:00.001+01:00

Stattic point with wind funnelling down Little Loch Broom.

Landing for breakfast.

Red sandstone pebbles and a narrow beach out of the swell

Gruinard Bay

2009-05-21T13:34:00.001+01:00

It was a 2.5 nm crossing to the tip of Gruinard Island, now safe, even delightful, to land on, after being decontaminated in 1990. A sea eagle soared close overhead being mobbed by hooded crows. Top tip, buy a boat with a shapely bow, you will be seeing a lot of it.

My final landing was in the small cove just north of Gruinard Bay.

Zoom in and you will see both boat and tent, Gruinard Island in the background.

Gruinard Bay next door is, as ever, the best beach in Britain.

Still in tandem

2009-05-21T12:35:00.002+01:00

Having thought of our honeymoon, here we are, still clipped in together.

Landfall at Mellon Udrigle

2009-05-21T12:15:00.000+01:00

It was so calm that I could brew up on the beach.

A honeymoon couple took a picture of me in glorious spring sunshine, 17 hours that day. Thoughts of our own honeymoon, 30 years ago, camped high on Snowdon in the snow in late November....

Despite hesitating to recommend any paddling gear because it is so much down to individual preference, the Liquid Blue trousers with latex sock feet, made in Britain with British fabric really do the business for me.

Greenstone Point

2009-05-21T12:06:00.001+01:00

Greenstone Point was calm except for the swell,

but I was pleased to be passing it and only a few miles to go to a beach after a long stretch of coast with no possible landing places in the swell. Mellon Charles to Mellon Udrigle is about 8 nm of rocky coast and Slaggan Bay and Leac Mhor were closed out. It was Spring tides and peak flow with me, about 1kt, so easy paddling.

Ocean swell

2009-05-21T11:58:00.001+01:00

The sea was calm except for a lazy swell,

however, it was sufficiently active for me not to try the arch.

Elsewhere the foam was building into rafts and lines.

Brief encounter

2009-05-21T11:50:00.002+01:00

Zoom in on the image and, despite the limitations of my snapshot Pentax Optio W10, you will see a fin cutting through the water. A Risso's dolphin broke its rapid progression down the coast well offshore by suddenly shooting towards me, fin and back out of the water. Submerging just when collision looked inevitable, it came up on the other side, circled me at speed for a minute, then resumed its course. An animal living life in the fast lane.

Campsite on the Isle of Ewe

2009-05-20T13:53:00.001+01:00

My campsite near the north end of the island

had a fine vista of the Torridon hills from just offshore

hard frost for mid May

but good neighbours, the grey-lag mother goose was initially suspicious but soon settled down and had the ducklings out on the water 24 hours later.

Ground nesting herons on the other hand made noisy neighbours but I was up soon after dawn at 0500 for the shipping forecast anyway.

Solo Paddling in Scotland

2009-05-20T13:27:00.001+01:00

Just back from a spot of solo paddling along the coast. This is the entrance of Loch Ewe last week. Despite having done plenty of solitary mountaineering, even in Winter, I started my trip with some trepidation. Was lone kayaking for me? The swell looks larger, the waves steeper and the rocky shore less inviting for a forced landing when you are on your own. Is a 101% record for self rescue in practice sessions valid for real life? It took a couple of days for me to relax into the trip.

More posts to follow.

The Anas acuta in its native habitat?

2009-05-08T11:44:00.001+01:00

Modelled on a Greenland boat, the Anas acuta appears perfectly at home in the ice.
The finely up-turned bow rises onto the ice and slowly opens up a lead under its own weight

Allowing exploration of this largely frozen lake in Norway.

Not just sea kayaking

2009-05-07T20:38:00.000+01:00

Just to prove that I have other interests, here I have swapped the yellow boat for a yellow bike. Cycling up Snowdon last December. The railway is an easy gradient but soft ballast in places slows you up.The alternative involves a certain amount of walking.
You can see that my bike is the same great colour as the Anas acuta.
We reached the top in about 2 hours.
And were down again in 20 minutes following the Snowdon Ranger path. Where the track zigzags just above the snow line it is very steep and rocky, but we were all in one piece and only two pinch flats between us.

Portsmouth Canoe Club 30th Anniversary

2009-05-07T20:00:00.000+01:00

Last weekend the Portsmouth and District Canoe Club celebrated 30 years of paddling with a trip over to the Isle of Wight, on the way over we had to wait for a ferry near the Horse Elbow buoy.The bivouac was on the HW mark near Culver Cliff, stretching a tarp between the boats when it came on to rain in the night. However, we woke to a cloudless sky. A gentle surf was breaking on the ledges giving a tropical feel, further enhanced by several herons out on the ledges, for all the world like tropical reef herons.
On the return we rested in the lee of No Man's Land Fort for a while as a force 4 headwind had sprung up.
Then paddled on across the channel 'between the forts' landing at Eastney to meet some other club members who had been on a day paddle in the Solent. A barbecue on the beach rounded off the trip nicely.

Night paddling

2009-05-07T17:05:00.000+01:00

Now that Summer is here, the fun of Winter nights is becoming a distant memory. Here is the Anas with my Wife's Skim and a friend's Cetus, come together for a January night on the tidal Hamble with pack-ice an unexpected hazard.

Shapely even on land

2009-05-07T15:32:00.001+01:00

Upside down, helping anchor the tent in a force 6-7, the Anas shows the slim curves that give it that perfect blend of quick turning, stability and speed.

The Anas in expedition mode

2009-05-07T15:24:00.001+01:00

All the kit for 3 weeks wild camping and 10 days food somehow fit inside. The 'traffic over gold' colour is also perfect for a low tide landing in the kelp. Circumnavigating Skye in April sunshine.

On the Solent again

2009-05-07T15:12:00.000+01:00

When waiting for the others or just enjoying the water, my favourite distraction is paddle balancing. It is surprisingly easy to balance a greenland paddle on your head, but winds above force 3 often create a tricky helicopter effect.