Autumn Paddles

I've not posted for a while and haven't done much paddling either.  Since my last post we've welcomed a new baby into the world, Alfie Yendle.   I've also been training for a new job and I've finally treated myself to a new SLR camera which has kept me busy on land.

I have however managed to tag along on some local paddles to keep my blades wet and my head sane.  I have a Christmas paddle to write up next and a round up of the last 12 months.  I wont be paddling now until the new year so happy new year to everyone and a belated merry Christmas.

Here is a short selection of pictures from the previous months, thanks for the company everyone who came along and hopefully see you on the water very soon...  

13th October 2013 - Llantwit Major to Ogmore-by-Sea

25th November 2013 - Flat Holm from Sully

1st December 2013 - Llantwit Major to Tusker Rock and return

Here I Go Again On My Own...

Another very brief spell of high pressure meant I was able to get out for a quick paddle this weekend.  A front was due to come in around 1300 bringing strong winds.  For now the forecast was force 3-4 slight in the east, veering 5-6 becoming moderate.  Another drab looking day however.

First school boy error, I took the tide times from the wrong tidal port and I was rushed and a bit behind time.  I arrived at Llantwit Major about 1.5hrs before low water.

So far the forecast was correct, slight and a bit of a head wind.  I got a little bit anxious here, should I go on knowing the conditions are going to deteriorate.

To late I was rounding Nash Point, no turning back from here even if I wanted too.  I figured the wind will be with the tide on the return journey so even if it did whip up it would be on my back.

And there's always plenty of beach to escape too, mind you I wouldn't fancy the walk.

Witches Point, Southerndown half hour before low water.  I decide to take my lunch here on the more secluded east side of the head.

I went off to explore the caves up on the cliffs.

Small crab.

First cave, great view from up here.

Second cave a bit bigger.

The rock here has been worn smooth and almost looks like it's flowing.

I sit under the overhanging cliff with my lunch looking out over the Bristol Channel to the north coast of Somerset and Devon.

Retracing my steps back on the water the wind and tide pushes me nicely along.  Nash Sand bar is clearly visible and with no sign of the wind picking up I venture out. 

Never feels quite safe standing on what was once the sea bed only an hour ago, but a privilege only us kayakers can enjoy.

The sea swirls and breaks as it brushes up against the shallows of the sand.  Back on the water and my speed drastically rises as I'm taken past the end of the bar....   

7.7 knots the top speed for today.

 The wind does pick up and the swells rise as always around the tip of Nash Point.  It's a good following sea all the way back to Llantwit Major.

Only a short paddle today but a long walk back to the car park.  10.52 nautical miles/19.5km, 4.4kts average and 2:27 hrs total time.

Kayakers In The Mist

I reluctantly had to turn down a an invite for a trip around the Isle of Wight with Eurion and company.  But with the weather looking so promising I had to make an effort to get out on the water locally.  Practically no wind, minimal swell and the early morning mist forecast to clear up into a bright sunny day.

I meet up with Jules and Taran around four hours before low water, springs.  The plan is simply to head west with the ebb.  I had it in mind that I wanted to get out to some of the off shore buoys when the mist clears.

We make the most of the tide being high and explore the caves around Tressilian Bay.

Back out on the water we handrail the shore, the mist showing no sign of clearing, if anything it got worse.

Witches Point, Porthcawl rises out of the white mist.  I think we were all anticipating a bit of surf.

We were disappointed to find barely a couple of feet of surf so we make a landing and have lunch.  Visibility is becoming worse, if it wasn't for the GPS we wouldn't know what beach we were on.

I wanted to get us out to Tucker Rock some two and half nautical miles off shore from our current location, so I take a bearing and lead the way into the white out. 

Half hour later the sound of waves washing up on shore becomes clearer but it's not until we were about 100m off Tusker that a dark line comes into view.  

First landing for Jules so we take some time out to explore the wreckage.

Normally there would be a great view out here from Porthcawl to Nash Point, today however the other side of the rock was out of sight.

Jules contemplating a leap to the boiler.  

Not soon as we were back on the water a bull grey seal pops up behind Taran.  We sit in silence for a few minutes as curiosity gets the better of him.  It's quite rare to see a seal out this far east.

We take another bearing and head for the sound of crashing waves offshore to Nash Sand Bar. 

It's always a pleasure to land in this surreal place.  It's not every day you get to walk along the sea bed on freshly laid golden sand so far offshore.  

We follow the sands until they come to an abrupt end.  There's no barrier stopping the waves now and the fast flowing tide creates a strong current sucking us back toward them.  Quite unnerving when you can't see land!  Nash East Cardinal Buoy comes in to view so we decide to make a dash for it.  Unknowing to us we make a circle around the buoy paddling into the flow.  This mist is so disorientating.  

We follow the route taken on the way out via our GPS track.  Large waves come into view signaling Llantwit reef.  We land on the sands not entirely sure how far up the beach we are.  We ask a couple of fishers just to make sure before hauling the boats up the beach.

16.21 nautical miles in total (30km) and the mist did clear....when we were loading the kayaks!  Not what I expected from today but it goes to show one trip is never the same twice.  Great practice for the navigation in good conditions and in all a good day on the water.