Absolutely Superb

Toady I find myself back at Oxwich, only this time with Taran and Stuart. The plan for today's adventure is to turn right and head on down to Llangennith.  The sun being very welcome at Oxwich after the cold early start that we all had to make to get here. We weren't the only ones though, as we were loading the boats Stu noticed a seal basking in the water, absolutely superb.

St Illtyd's, a 13th century church that overlooks Oxwich Bay.

After passing Oxwich point we start heading west with the tide.

Our next land mark, Port Eynon in the distance. We begin exploring every nook and cranny on the way,  there is simply so much to see. 

The coastline along this whole section is very impressive and just encourages you to keep on exploring. Its perspective is just lost on camera though, you really do need to paddle this section to appreciate it. 

A dove croft or a place to stash smugglers ill gotten gains? Probably initially built for the former and then used by the later, who knows. Culver Hole is just west of Port Eynon and featured in one of the BBC's Coast episodes.   

Probably the most famous part of the Gower Coast, Paviland Cave secured it's place in history when the oldest human bones to be discovered were found here. Initially thought to belong to a female they are now confirmed as belonging to a male. If you want to find out more you could always use the Internet, but better still pay a visit to Cardiff museum, certainly the last time I visited, there was a whole display devoted to the 'Red Lady of Paviland'. (I believe the actual cave is the one on the right of my bows)

Taran and Stu discover this gap between rocks which periodically fills with a maelstrom of water. Can you spot Taran, you just know where he is.......

Yep right in the middle of it.

Stu has a go as well.

Our next target, Worms Head in the distance. There appears to be some large waves forming to the left of the head, but it's difficult to work out actually how close in they are.

Me taking in the view..

And at the headland, the height of this is just amazing, you can just make out Taran on the left. You simply don't get this perspective from walking on paths at the top of these cliffs, it's simply on a jaw dropping scale. 

Heading down towards Llangennith again just absolutely superb scenery.

This was my last shot before my camera battery went flat. You might not believe this but there is a seal keeping a eye on us in the above photo. Zoom in if you can, its to the right of the breaking wave, on the line between the water and cliff.   

Heading back in the direction of the car, tired but with two obstacles still to negotiate.

One a surf beach........

It was rude not to have a play, although small they certainly packed a punch. The other obstacle, well with the tide out that was just an horrendous walk back to the car. I think we were all impressed by this one, I know I was. For me the title of this post says it all.......thanks guys.

Taran's 'Rescue Rangers'

It's been on my mind that I really need to start doing some rescues, so earlier in the week I volunteered my services as guinea pig to Taran so that he could practice some rescues/tows for his impending 5* assessment. Glam boaters were having a sesh down the bay on Saturday so count me in Taran.

I should have known though ice on the boat in the morning and a bitterly cold January day, hints at a bit of madness for any form of rescue practice, so in the end I didn't get to do any. Instead I gate crashed Taran's school for paddlers.

It was a chance to meet up with Peter, Carol and Laura, who are very friendly and welcoming people indeed. I had a laugh with Peter when his first words to me were "Hi Noel, do you know your famous", "What do you mean" I said, "well you've been out with Taran twice now, most people take up walking after their first time". That did make me smile and set the tone for an enjoyable paddle.

It was good to brush up on some skills and practice new ones (cross bow rudder) couple this with a bit of messing about trying to cause Taran's boat to spin off course really encapsulated an enjoyable few hours on the water.

An obvious lack of photo's today, yep, I forgot my camera and didn't remember to pick it up when I returned home after forgetting my spraydeck as well. Cold water shock had started before even I had.

Update: Taran has kindly forwarded me some of the photo's he took of todays paddle.

C.S.I Gower

On paper the weather conditions today looked perfect for a paddle, but where was I going to go. I know I'll have a stab at a paddle I aborted a few months ago 'Stupid o'clock'. Today however was going to be different.

Setting off from a deserted Oxwich beach on a lovely winters day.

As planned the conditions were perfect, the only fly in the ointment being that the tide will be against me all the way.

After a short while I make it over to Great Tor. I have read that this is the highest point on Gower, but I'm a little sceptical about that claim, more research I think. Despite that it is an impressive formation which towers over you, a perspective which is lost in the above photo, my camera does not (or more likely I do not know how to) take a shot with the same perspective as the human eye.  

Conditions are completely different to last time as I approach Shire Combe.

Passing Shire Combe the shoreline continues with jagged looking rocks, with nowhere easy to land, I'm glad I aborted last time. The solitude of this section was intoxicating, with the exception of the odd wave breaking there was silence, just pure bliss. I picked up a friend to, a Cormorant kept within about 30ft of me, diving as I approached and swimming in front of me surfacing either in front or to my right. I tried to take a photo but the quality wasn't up to much.
  

As I approach Pwlldu Head, the first signs of the industrialised south coast comes into view. The steel works at Port Talbot bellowing its cloud of horribleness into the atmosphere.

My target in the distance...

Approaching Caswell, time to stretch the legs and have a coffee.

Out with my new flask and at last a warm cup of coffee (Thanks Kate, the Turkey coffee is way better than the ham variety) I then noticed the house on the left and thought I was seeing things....

My other car is, well, a helicopter. How the other half live. By this time with the added coffee I was busting for a pee, there were a few people out and about here so to save any embarrassment I decided to pop behind a nearby rock outcrop. I was mid flow when.....

I noticed this, a severed hand and boot with a foot inside, ooops was I peeing over a possible crime scene, bet you don't see that happening on CSI Miami.

My boat was eager to get back in the water and so was I, Neptune was calling.

A little bit of messing around with the rocks on the way back.

The conditions on they way back were flat calm, almost like a millpond.

Passing Three cliffs Bay.

 Last push against the tide, heading back across Oxwich Bay with the sun starting to get low in the sky.

A final look back at where I had come from, made all the better with the glorious weather. Oh and by the way, the hand was a rubber glove with bits of seaweed inside which gave it bulk, no crime scene after all, phew.

Sennybridge

I meet up with Chris on a rather mild winters day to paddle the Sennybridge section of the Usk. Although it's an easy section of river, it does have 3 ledges that have to be negotiated by either foot or paddle.

Although the river levels were low today, we nevertheless decided to continue. It's a good section to expand Chris's river skills.

 Chris leading the way and showing me how it's done.

The water is crystal clear and very inviting.

 Me making the eddy above the first ledge. The second ledge is not far now....

And at the bottom of the second ledge.

One for facebook then Chris.

I Must improve my timing, Chris negotiating a bumpy bit. No eyes popping out this time, just smiles. After a short distance, we both get out and inspect the third ledge which today is looking very low. We both portage around this one but not before stopping for a quick brew, infinity and beyond, hey Chris. Would you believe it, I actually forgot to take a picture of the ledge, oh well there's always next time.

 The rest of the river is mainly flat with a few bumpy bits in between....

Like these....

Near the get out I notice this tree, balancing on another. To be honest Chris's skills are coming on leaps and bounds, no swims and lots of smiles, clearly fear gave way to enjoyment on this trip. Another great day.