A familiar trip - solo

Sunday 16th October 2011

A little bad planning!

If Dad had been 100%  we were going to pack up the gear, and drive North to Dinas head and paddle there, then drive back from there.

I thought we'd save Dinas for when Dad is fit again, so he drove me around to Porth Clais.

I had run through the trip in my mind....along the South coast from Porth Clais, through Carreg Fran, and Carreg yr Esgob. Leaving the harbour, I knew it would be a bit rough out there.

A rare shot from the shore, you can see the wind sweeping across the water surface.

Must have been a rubbish photo to take, Dads boat on the roof of the car.

Hope the back is good to go soon.

I wish there was a better way to capture the size of the conditions on the water, it looks flat calm here, there won't be much picture taking today.

As I approached Carreg Fran, I suddenly had this nagging thought that the conditions around Pen-Dal-Aderyn were going to be interesting/challenging/dangerous/exciting - delete as necesary!

Getting through the submerged rocks at Carreg Fran was hard work, with a massive foaming torrent pushing through with each swell, I din't fancy trying to go out and around the head.

I never thought I would be so pleased to see the seemingly 'tranquil' Ramsey Sound.

Passing around and into the sound was not too bad. But just before it, with a gusting South Westerly and the big swell I was way out of my comfort zone! I raced through the overfalls that I had expected to be subsiding now, I'm sure they were bigger earlier on, but the swell was causing them to rear up nicely each time it passed through.

I could see that the Bitches looked pretty calm, the ebb tide was inside an hour from starting, I decided to stay over by the mainland and go through the centre of the counter eddy in the bay below St Justinians. There was a little confused water, but had mostly gone as the tide was going to be turning anytime soon.

Dad had stopped by at St Justinians, and there were a few passengers waiting to go to Ramsey for the day.

I was tempted to get out here, I was battered after being a little tense for most of the journey (if Scott is reading this, I no how you felt)

Dad got a couple of shots with my phone camera.

I decided to paddle around to Porthsele, the carry up the lifeboat stations steps would be worse than the paddle around the point.

I made it around! But not easily, with tired arms, and a slight pain developing in my right arm I had to battle the gusts and the now wind over tide Ebb flow. It wasn't going much really, but what I had not banked on was the flow coming out of Whitesands bay and emptying into the Southerly Ebb between Carreg-Garfeiliog and the mainland. I havn't seen this before to this extent but it was hard going. See map below.

It really was pouring out, and I could only just make headway against it, there was a lobster pot boat sat right were I wanted to paddle aswell, so I had to work around them, I did get the slight feeling of comfort from someone else being close-by though!

They say 'do something that scares you every day' today didn't disapoint!

Sorry that Dad could have experienced that! Lol!

Here's to next time. We had booked the caravan for the weekend, so were committed really, although it was nice to be back in the best place in the world.

Still windy but we had plans

Saturday 15th October 2011

A Disasterous day for Dad

Having gone to bed with the wind howling around the caravan and having to have ear plugs in to even sleep, I wasn't expecting to be going anywhere today.
When we finally awoke, at erm (coughs), 0930! The wind had died off quite a bit, and was now just gusting every now and then.
We decided that rather than waiting around for tides to paddle in Ramsey Sound, we would drive up to Abercastle, and paddle under the shelter of the cliffs there.

As we were getting our kit together, Dad bent down to pick something up, and I heard a distinct cry of pain, his back had gone!
Watching him hobble and struggle around to get ready, I was pretty sure we wouldn't be going anywhere today.
Dad said we'd give it ago, so we went North to Abercastle.

All set to leave the harbour. 

The idea was to go out of the entrance and go North and do some rockhopping.

 

Not too much of a carry, but at least I can carry this boat easily.

Dad gingerly leaves the beach, he was hoping the back pain would subside.

It din't.

Dad was worried in the windy conditions that if he needed to put in a support stroke or any sudden movement he would be in trouble. We turned back.

Heading in to the wind as we paddled up the Harbour mouth was a challenge, I considered a tow here but we made it back.

To Rub salt in the wounds...the sub came out!

Dad very kindly offered to let me go back out for a bit, so although I felt I was having all the fun, I hatched a quick plan.

Paddle down to Porthgain, whilst Dad drove the car down.

There was a massive swell, not really breaking, but a good 5 feet of rolling swell constantly.

I really wanted to fell the security of being close to the cliffs, but was aware of the clipotis effect aswell.

I really wanted to go through the arch, but although it can't be seen here, there was a surge of white water coming through periodically.

I decided to give it a go, I couldn't see the exit properly because the low sun in the clear sky was straight in my face.

Made it through.

Another 'chance it' run through the rocks.

Looking toward strumble head on a rare calm(ish) moment.

Every headland was a battle of South flowing Ebb tide, the amazing swell, and an unpredictable gusting wind that seemed to be following the shape of the cliffs.

A few times, I had got around the rough on a head, and thought I would get some shelter in a bay, but getting there I would find a seemingly amplified wind wistling around the bay. Twice I had to turn back North in a bay to head into, rather than across the powerfull wind, and then following back under the cliff for shelter.

Looks like a different day here! The water is being blown flat here, and I find that my kayak is really unstable when just sitting.

At the entrance to Porthgain Harbour, I tried and tried to get a descriptive picture of the swell breaking over these rocks. I just felt as though I was going to end up swimming.

Looking into my destination, a short trip, but really lively! I was completly soaked when I got to dry land.

F4-F5 Gusting 32.......That says it all really

Friday 14th October 2011

A walk instead.

After travelling down to Porthsele late last night arriving at 12:30am, we were not too impressed to feel the rather blustery conditions.
Rather than get rattled around on the sea, Dad and me decidied to go for a walk.

We waded around to Whitesands from Porthele at low water.

What started with 6" of water soon became over the knees, and then the inevitable happened with just 10 metres to go. One big swell later we had rather wet shorts and even the bottom of my shirt was wet.

Shoes and socks back on, we headed up onto St Davids head for a spot of Geocaching, theres a cache on there thats been there since 2003, and has 4 full note books of log entries.

I picked up a tavel bear from origonally from Australia its covered over 22,000 miles on its journey!

After leaving St Davids Head we decided last minute to go up to the top of Carn Lliddi - first level.

From here I had watched with envy as 4 kayakers came back from out of Ramsey Sound, wondering if we should have gone, I watched them load onto their vehicles. The lighter van is sea kayak guides.

Always worth the climb to the top!

Hoping for better conditions tommorrow.

Supposed to be going home!

Saturday 13th August 2011

A bit more time on the water.

None of us look forward to the final day of our holidays do we?
Having not had the weather in our favour for lots of sea trips, I packed the car and trailer, but left out all the kayak gear. Adele took the kids to the beach for a last dig. I decided to go across to Porth Melgan.

Leaving Porthsele beach for the last time, the surf was pretty small.

However, after paddling for 5 mins. or so, I soon began to worry as the swell was massive, and every now and then a white-topped wave broke close by.

I made it over to Porth Melgan OK, and had a few moments watching the surf on the beach, it was being blown directly onto the beach and a times was big 4 ft rollers.

I landed, and took some time to contemplate things. Awaiting back at home would be some bills to pay, and although theres some work waiting, there are lots of little jobs, but theres been no big jobs lately.

I need to think hard about where we go with the business, might need to get a job - who knows right now.

Back in the kayak, I sit and wait out some big sets that are rolling in, and after getting a good soaking leaving the shore its back across to Porthsele to load up for the 300mile journey ahead.

I always find it really difficult to walk away from the beach, I get a real strong emotional pull to just stand and stare out to sea. Today was no exception, and as I did finally turn away, behind me was a couple from a caravan close by having exactly the same problem. An amazing place.

One things for certain, we will be back here next year whatever happens, hopefully before.

Still windy! Only a day left.

Friday 12th August 2011

Porth Gain

Looking out of the caravan window it looked like rain was likely, and the white capped water in the sound didn't look too inviting.
We decided to paddle out of Porthgain, and use the heads as shelter. I fancied a trip down to the Blue Lagoon - it wasn't to be!
You'll note from the distinct lack of pictures that the weather and the sea wern't all that good.

Leaving Porthgain, it looked promising - apart from the murky skies.

We were going to turn South and head down to the Blue Lagoon, but there was a massive swell at sea, and it was breaking over the head at Penclegyr. We turned North instead, and being close in to the cliffs suffered with clipotis and the effects of a gusting SW wind following us.

Tucking in to Trwyn Elen out of the wind, we disturbed a large bull seal who came very close to us, I don't think he was upset, just very inquisitive, we left him to it!

Dads head below the horizon......

Dads head above the horizon!

Thought I'd try a new hair colour, might need to grow it first though.

We only went as far as Aber Draw, and then afte a brief rest we battled back against the wind.

Arriving at Porthgain harbour we had a play in all the little caves and inlets, we even got some burst of sun coming through!

Dad puuting in a text book paddle stroke. We were feeling a little battered by the weather, so we packed up and headed into the Sloop for a couple.

Contemplating a couple of weeks in and around the wonderfull Pembrokeshire coastline.

A bit of a dismall end to a funny old couple of weeks where there was more sufing than sea trips.

Time to squeeze the kit back into the car.