Cliff Walking

Amongst some of the sea paddlers at Glam Boaters there is an 'in' joke that some people take up cliff walking after paddling with Taran, today was my turn to experience that feeling.

We had arranged to paddle form Sully to Penarth, not a long paddle by any means but it was going to be a bit of a slog against the prevailing South Easterly wind.

Arriving at Sully Taran was nearly whooping with excitement when he saw the western tip of sully island, to be honest, at that point, I can't say I shared the same enthusiasm.

We paddled out, Taran charging into the playground and me cautiously making my way to try and skirt around it via a much calmer route. When I did eventually have a peak around the corner I saw even bigger waves, I quickly made my mind up that the only way I was going to get around the island was on foot.

As I turned my boat I caught sight of Taran playing in the race, his boat was pretty much vertical on the face of a wave, and I could see water from bow to stern, it was one big wave.

Taran's playground at the western end of Sully Island.

 (Apologies for the quality of this one but something was up with my camera, not focusing and making everything curved. The little black spec on top of the wave is Taran)

After completing my 'walk of shame' I was back on the water and paddling into the wind. Not long after this I found myself walking yet again, I had spotted the Rannies and they looked messy.

The Rannies. Image courtesy of Taran.

   By now I was getting good at this walking and shame action I had going on.

The Rannies not looking to bad from shore

After an eternity I manage to find a suitable launch spot for my kayak and continued on to Penarth.(I think my camera was playing up again as it's flattened the sea this time)

I have to admit though this leg of the journey was the roughest conditions I've paddled in since starting sea kayaking, it was uncomfortable and it certainly tested my comfort levels not to mention my low brace but in some respects was fun in a bizarre way.

Taran catching a wave at Penarth.

 Cliff walking ?  Not for me just yet anyway.    

        

Two Weeks In May

Imagine just drifting, sitting there alone in the complete silence of the moment. Not the slightest sound from any direction, not a breath of wind, not a ripple on the deep clear crystal water. The sensation of warmth on your face as the sun wins its battle with the early morning mist and still has enough strength to penetrate deep into your soul, today was going to be a good day.

This was not some figment of imagination, these were the conditions I encountered during one early morning paddle off the south east coast of Ireland.

Whitesands, Garrylucas.

For two weeks in May I found myself in Ireland, having agreed to help a relative with the restoration of a property that was in need of some major work, a bus man's holiday of sorts if you like. With little time to commit to a full days paddle I had to resign myself to catching an hour or so before work, the only fly in the ointment that I hadn't planned was that I really had to wrench myself away from this coastline, it truly is a wonderful place.

Northern coastline, Courtmacsherry Bay 

Unknown Cove Courtmacsherry Bay

The section I paddled the most stretched from Kinsale to Courtmacsherry, which includes the

Rock Gardens, Courtmacsherry Bay

 Old Head of Kinsale, the most  prominent and famous headland along this stretch.

Having paddled more days than not I  inevitably took hundreds of photo's and went to enough places to keep me writing for a very long time indeed. Thankfully it's not my intention to write a day by day account, I've just selected some photo's and words that I think portray the beauty of the area and its affect on me.


The secrets of the Old Head are slowly revealed as you make your way around, it's all about a dramatic coastline with sea caves, sheer cliffs and an abundance of wildlife. I saw my first Otter happily swim by without a care in the world, until of course I tried to take a photo, seals played tag with me popping up in front and behind my kayak but ultimately wouldn't get too close. The eastern cliffs teamed with sea birds that made sounds more reminiscent of a national geographic documentary in some far flung corner of the world. I was centre stage in the greatest theatre in the world.

Western cliffs, Old Head

Evidence of the geological activity that helped shape this coastline.

The Old Head Lighthouse

A grinning face hidden in the rocks ?

Sea Caves, Old Head of Kinsale

It would be amiss of me not to mention the most famous incident that happened off the shores of the Old Head. It was 7th May 1915 when the RMS Lusitania fell prey to the German U Boat, U20. In a matter of minutes 1198 people lost their lives, with only 761 surviving the incident.

The sinking shocked the world and turned opinion against Germany, which helped America enter the war. Legitimate military target or not, the debate still is ongoing today. 

The situation is complex though, as the Lusitania was carrying rifle ammunition to the UK as part of the war effort under an obligation to the admiralty. A popular conspiracy theory has it that British intelligence agents leaked information to German agents in the US thus sealing the liners fate and helping nudge America into the war. Whatever the truth it is a shame that such a dark chapter in human history should touch this beautiful area. 

As mentioned I feel as if I could write forever about this area but for now that's it. I am planning to add a Further Information section including maps to assist anyone wishing to visit this area, which I would thoroughly recommend if you have the chance. 

Grand Slam

As the Welsh rugby team prepare for their encounter with France,Taran, Jules and I head towards Aberavon Beach for our own surf encounter, little did I know I'd be having my own grand slamming a few hours later.

The surf at Aberavon was smaller than expected (Phew) but nevertheless provided us with some good fun.  I wanted to explore some surfing skills and get used to the characteristics of my boat in this environment, Jules was going to meet up with us later on.

A feel for the conditions and a grand stand view of the mess coming towards me, I tried to capture some of the larger green waves before they broke but they just looked flat when I viewed them on the computer.

After an hour of messing around Jules arrived and got stuck straight in. Jules catching some air time on the lip of a lovely wave.

As the water wasn't too cold I decided to actually swim in the water and see if I could get some shots from that angle. Taran was out of the water messing around with his big lens and new camera, so Jules had to be the model on this occasion. After I told him what I was planning he said I was mad, maybe, but lets give it a go anyway.

 The result....see nothing to worry about.

And right there for the action.

I get back into my boat and start having a mess around.

By accident I make a very late take off and my bows start to pearl,

Going vertical, yeee ha

With no chance of a recovery I try to do a pirouette. (Looking at this pic now I can see that my body an boat are rotated in opposite directions, I think I needed to use the the other blade to pull the boat around. Any thoughts anyone?)

Just about to crash, and the next wave lining up to get me, better be quick with the roll.

Aberavon is a lovely beach that seems to go on for miles and miles and was a superb location for todays paddle, clearly waves don't have to be massive to have fun in a seakayak. Today I simply wanted to improve my basic surf skills, but I left with a taste for getting the boat vertical who'd have thought.

My thanks to Taran as usual and Jules for capturing my grand slam moment.

Celtic Adventures

It all started with a text, just a simple one to Taran congratulating him on winning a very nice new Valley Etain. A few texts later and I'd swayed him to join me on a trip down west. I'd been wanting to do this part of the coastline for some time now but I hadn't envisaged doing it quite the way Taran had. His plan involved me, yes me, CAMPING, and in March. (It was only a few weeks ago that I made a comment about camping in February brrrrr and here I was weeks later contemplating it myself). There followed a frantic rush to get bits of camping kit I remembered having, but were now lost around the house after years of non use. Eventually I managed to sort my gear and began to pack my boat, camping wasn't going to be the problem, sinking was, my boat was that heavy.

  Seconds away from the moment of truth, it could be a very short trip indeed.

Amazingly it floated, and I began my first adventure in the Celtic Sea. By the time we had got to this point I was beginning to get used to the weight of the boat and the different handling characteristics, good job really because we would be paddling dirrectly into the wind from now on.

Approaching Caldy Island. And I notice Taran has put his helmet on, mmmmm always a cause for alarm, something going on that I hadn't noticed.

Nope, nothing going on, he just wanted to get out of his boat quickly after landing on this stunning beach. I've never been to Caldy before, it looked amazing but there was no time to explore today we had to crack on.

On leaving the beach we were once again exposed to the wind on this dramatic coastline which really epitomised the rest of the journey.

The colours in the rock layers were also very striking.

Eventually our home for the night comes into view.

After setting up camp I get an imprompttu lesson in bushcraft from 'Ray Tyla', that is after he'd stopped laughing because I'd brought a pillow with me, oops, apparently a camping faux pas on a much larger scale than bringing a suitcase.

 After a good nights sleep (the pillow made the difference) we set off into the eerie mist that had decended overnight,  shapes began to loom up just on the verge of vision making it a very atmospheric paddle.

Taran finds a cave to have a play in.

We decide to stop for a break at Manobier, thankfully not much surf there today. Somehow though we both manage to catch the same ride in, I could see what was going to happen so I break left and we both avoid a collision.

The Norman castle at Manobier, constructed in the 11th century, with the stone fortifications added in the early 12 century.

We continue on from Manobier, the mist has lifted and the sun has come out happy days indeed.

 Approaching St Catherines Island, to tired to go around so instead we decide to go through it.

A welcome break for a quick coffee and some chocolate on the beach at Tenby.

And shortly afterwards we arrive back at Saundersfoot, both totally shattered. I thorougly enjoyed this adventurous paddle a first for me on so many different levels, thanks Taran for planning this one I certainly wouldn't have been as ambitious.

Three Brass Monkey's

It's always been in the back of my mind and to some extent was inevitable, what I didn't realise was how soon it would come. The weather was good, the tides were good and I was feeling considerably more confident with my boat and ability, everything was spot on for a trip to Steepholm and Flatholm islands, premier league indeed.

Nate from Glamboaters was going to join Taran and I for this trip, it was going to be a superb day out. But everything came to a grinding halt when we arrived at Sully Island, the channel looked rough white horses were everywhere, Steepholm was off. Whilst looking over to Flatholm I could see some large waves breaking and I think they hadn't bypassed Taran either, Flatholm looked off as well. I must admit I was a bit disappointed that we couldn't get out there this time, but safety first. Instead we decided to head on down to Penarth and see how we get on, as the wind was strong it was going to be a bit of a slog, oh and nobbling as well.


Conditions in Sully bay it's going to be bumpy.


A little bit of shelter being offered by Sully Island. Red Triassic marl is clearly visible, it's hard to believe I am looking at over 100 million years of time represented in these rocks. Things get a bit bumpy over the sully sandbar my boat is rising and falling over the waves, no photo's I'm afraid, thought it prudent to hold onto the paddle.

Approaching Lavernock point, and things have calmed down a bit. It is bitterly cold, I've heard words such as challenging, interesting and fun but invigorating is a good word to describe today's conditions.

Nate slogging on against the wind, Flatholm and Steepholm in the distance.

There was nothing going on at Lavernock point, but a change of course to Penarth puts us sideways onto the wind, not long after turning we stop for lunch. It's taken 2 hours to get to this point.

Did I mention it was nobbling? Despite the sun we all begin to feel the cold and if we stay any longer the three monkey's would be looking for a welder. Despite about 4o mins left of the flood the decision is easily made to turn and head back home.

Back into the wind, although only for a short time this time....

As soon as we have the wind behind us and the tide turns everything flattens out like someone has literally switched the waves off, but the bitter cold was still there.

It's so cold I think Taran began to hallucinate about a warm cup of coffee.......


and then he regressed back to primary school, do you think he wanted to ask me a question.


Shortly afterwards we head back to the cars and after a very rapid change indeed, we find ourselves sitting in the warmth of the local pub 'The Captain's Wife' having a few drinks. A fitting conclusion to a  short, enjoyable, and bitterly cold paddle.