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.

Come Hail Or Shine

Bleep bleep went the phone with the latest paddle alert from Taran "Paddle planned from Aberthaw to Lavernock, forecast about F5-7, should be quite lively" mmmm that sounds rough, maybe words like interesting, challenging and scary should have appeared in there somewhere. After a bit of umming and aahing on my part and a bit of encouragement from Taran I decided to go.

We had arranged to meet at Aberthaw by the Power station that I had passed literally days before on my first trip with Taran and Stu, on the way a massive hail storm hit and turned the roads white, with thunder and lightening as well. I wonder if a carbon paddle is a good conductor of electricity. On arrival at the beach all I could see was white but it wasn't snow this time, the sea was alive and throwing a tantrum. After putting my eyes back in, I was let off the hook, phew. The plan had changed, we were going to Barry Old Harbour.

Actually guys , the duck pond is looking a bit 'interesting today' do you fancy that instead, was the thought that passed through my head on the way to the harbour. The weather today couldn't make its mind up, one minute sun, then hail, then wind.

The Old Harbour was sheltered and looked as if it was going to be surftastic.

Ok Stu, it's a camera not a gun :)

We all started to have a surf, some of the waves were quite large but fun. I nearly T-boned Taran when my boat broached on a wave I'd been riding. 

Image courtesy of Taran

As the tide came in the water began to get lumpy, I was happy trundling around the bay getting used to the conditions. Stu and Taran went further out beyond the shelter of the harbour, to be fair they did try and encourage me out further but I was having none of it, the conditions out there beyond the shelter of the harbour looked 'challenging' it was windy enough in the harbour, baby steps for me I think. At one point Stu joined me we were toward the middle of the bay when it hit. The wind speed increased rapidly, snatching at the paddle trying to capsize me, I said to Stu that I was heading for shore to try and get in the lee of the cliffs. In hindsight I don't think he heard me. I slogged into the wind, each push forward on the paddle like doing a press up, the hail was lashing down bouncing off the deck, stinging in the face it was like being sandblasted, but somehow I was making progress. I slogged on and made it to the other side out of the wind. I turned to speak with Stu but he wasn't there oops Lesson learnt must check on other members of the team. Stu had met up with Taran and found it difficult to turn his boat, so they both headed to to opposite side to me in effect going with the wind.

After the storm passed everything went flat, Taran and Stu began making their way over in my direction.

Stu arriving at shore.

As if by magic, Taran conjures up a wave on flat water and does what he does best.

All in all I had a really good time, learnt loads and as usual had a laugh, well worth the frozen hands and another sandblasting from hail whilst loading the car.