A Gentle introduction
Moelfre
10th April 2009
Arriving bright and early at the Angelsey Outdoors campsite on Good Friday, we found that none of the Sheffield canoe club guys had risen yet!
So we set off for a look around to familiarise ourselves.
We reached the bay of Porth Dafarch, there was a fair swell and big dumping surf that didnt look very freindly!
We drove down the coast a mile or so and came to Treaddur Bay, a nice little village, with loads of parking, and lots of slips for boats.
We headed up the coast now to South Stack Lighthouse, an impressive building on an island, linked with a small footbridge, we didnt head down, as it was blowing a very cold wind striaght at us.
Heading back to the campsite now we found Phil our host for the weekend was up and about so we introduced ourselves and got the tent up. By lunchtime, a good number of other campers had arrived.
The plan was to head to the main Angelsey isle, and got to just South of Moelfre to Traeth Bychan.
This little bay was in contrast to the dumping surface this morning 'like a millpond'. we got ourselves sorted and carried down to the water, there were numerous groups, some learning sailing, others in kayaks.
We paddled out of the bay and around the small island of Ynys Moelfre.
Both mine and Dads boat were now on their maiden sea voyage! Mine felt quite good, moving forwards and tracking really well. Dad looked the most comfortable I have seen him in a kayak! His boat is only 12' long but doesnt struggle to keep up. I experimented with the skeg a little to see how it felt with the moving water, its definatley worth having, although its worth paddling in different conditions both with and without to learn more about the effects of weather cocking etc.
We headed for a bay that seemed close but was actually quite a slog, and had a following wind to make it more interesting.
At Traeth Lligwy we beached for coffee, and had a rest ready for the return journey, it was windy enough to blow hats off wasn't it Dad!
On the return we hugged the cliffs and rocks and managed to do a little rock hopping. A bird on an island was drying its wings for what seemed an eternity, it only put them away when I got the camera out!
We passed Moelfre life boat station which has a Tyne Class, and a D-class inshore boat, always good to see the stations and reminds me of what I'm actually doing and how potentially dangerous a place I am.
Heading back around to Traeth Bychan all the kayakers were out practicing, we stopped for a couple of pictures the one below showing the dried private harbour, it was now Low tide on springs
We paddled back to the beach, and faced a short but steep walk up the road to the carpark, Phill from Sheffield canoe club produced a very simple set of wheels which he attached to the stern of his boat and just dissapeared to his car, 'make mental note, 'need one of those!'
All in all a very enjoyable afternoon, back at the Angelsey Outdoors campsite we had dinner, and dropped into the Paddlers Return bar, and almost fell asleep, (we did leave Sheffield at 0355). so it was off to the tent for 12hours sleep!
Moelfre
10th April 2009
Arriving bright and early at the Angelsey Outdoors campsite on Good Friday, we found that none of the Sheffield canoe club guys had risen yet!
So we set off for a look around to familiarise ourselves.
We reached the bay of Porth Dafarch, there was a fair swell and big dumping surf that didnt look very freindly!
We drove down the coast a mile or so and came to Treaddur Bay, a nice little village, with loads of parking, and lots of slips for boats.
We headed up the coast now to South Stack Lighthouse, an impressive building on an island, linked with a small footbridge, we didnt head down, as it was blowing a very cold wind striaght at us.
Heading back to the campsite now we found Phil our host for the weekend was up and about so we introduced ourselves and got the tent up. By lunchtime, a good number of other campers had arrived.
The plan was to head to the main Angelsey isle, and got to just South of Moelfre to Traeth Bychan.
This little bay was in contrast to the dumping surface this morning 'like a millpond'. we got ourselves sorted and carried down to the water, there were numerous groups, some learning sailing, others in kayaks.
We paddled out of the bay and around the small island of Ynys Moelfre.
Both mine and Dads boat were now on their maiden sea voyage! Mine felt quite good, moving forwards and tracking really well. Dad looked the most comfortable I have seen him in a kayak! His boat is only 12' long but doesnt struggle to keep up. I experimented with the skeg a little to see how it felt with the moving water, its definatley worth having, although its worth paddling in different conditions both with and without to learn more about the effects of weather cocking etc.
We headed for a bay that seemed close but was actually quite a slog, and had a following wind to make it more interesting.
At Traeth Lligwy we beached for coffee, and had a rest ready for the return journey, it was windy enough to blow hats off wasn't it Dad!
On the return we hugged the cliffs and rocks and managed to do a little rock hopping. A bird on an island was drying its wings for what seemed an eternity, it only put them away when I got the camera out!
We passed Moelfre life boat station which has a Tyne Class, and a D-class inshore boat, always good to see the stations and reminds me of what I'm actually doing and how potentially dangerous a place I am.
Heading back around to Traeth Bychan all the kayakers were out practicing, we stopped for a couple of pictures the one below showing the dried private harbour, it was now Low tide on springs
We paddled back to the beach, and faced a short but steep walk up the road to the carpark, Phill from Sheffield canoe club produced a very simple set of wheels which he attached to the stern of his boat and just dissapeared to his car, 'make mental note, 'need one of those!'
All in all a very enjoyable afternoon, back at the Angelsey Outdoors campsite we had dinner, and dropped into the Paddlers Return bar, and almost fell asleep, (we did leave Sheffield at 0355). so it was off to the tent for 12hours sleep!
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