Got to go home today......

Monday 25th April 2011

Time for one more trip

Today, we went from the campsite after packing up (and managing to get it all back in the car), down to Newborough Forest. I'd seen this place on the map before, and had planned to make it there on a future sea trip. I'm really glad we went there I will return.

Another long walk as the tide was out, There was a strong constant off-shore wind today.

 

The plan was to keep the shorter boats on the shore edge, and allow the sea boats to go sea-side. I noticed a few people having fun with  the following wind! It was something that they had not experieced before, and couldn't work out why their kayaks kept turning and semmingly having a mind of their own.

Here is Warren in his brand new carbon Tiderace xcite - very tasty

Seemed a bit strange paddling with trees lining the shore but the view was amazing.

Arriving at Llanddwyn Island. I knew nothing about this place until we returned home and there was a program on about Angelsey - the place where the newly wed Royals will live.

Apparently this is lovers island, and is the most romantic place on Angelsey.

A few of us went around the headlands and found loads of rock islands and channels to paddle around.

Loads of young birds on the rocks, not flying off but looking very inquisitive.

Climbing up onto the island the view would have been great if I hadn't managed to get the lens soaking wet on the journey over.

We took over yet another beach for lunch, and then on the way back, I put the camera away as we were to paddle into the wind.

I led the group, trying to slow them down and keep us together. Stopping now and then we did really well, what I did notice though was as I was in the short boat, I got really wet from the bow spray. This coupled with the headwind made my head freeze! I wasn't wearing a hat today, as I was trying to blend my forehead into the rest of my face having worn one all day yesterday and eding up with a perfect lin on the forehead.

Another tiny trip. Good fun, and it shows that whatever you're doing on the sea, theres alway something to learn. My lesson for today was: Wear a hat, cold wet head not good.

I'm definately going to include this area in a future trip - just as soon as the sea boat is in my possesion.

Great weekend - thanks to Phil for the organisation, and everyone else for the great company.

The suns back!

Sunday 24th April 2011

Traeth Lligwy to Moelfre

We awoke after a chilly night, to find the sun beating down again.
Today we were off to the North of Angelsey, a car journey of about half an hour.
The beach car park had a cafe and toilets. A cliff path also runs around the Island, so the campers not paddling could have a walk.

Very wide and long flat beach, I bet the water comes in fast here. The downside of this is the long carry down.

Again today 28 boats 30 people. ( a couple of doubles). It seemed to take for ever to get everyone to the waters edge. The result of which was the younger ones getting fidgety and gagging to paddle.

A massive group to manage on the water.

There were loads of oppertunities for a look at the interesting cliffs, but as before, we were racing after the younger element.

On reaching Moelfre the Lifeboat was out on a jolly. I waited for a ride on the wake, but it had slowed right down and it wasn't to be.

I watched them position the boat stern-on for the ride back up the slip, superb skills, and those engines - they're awesome!

Moelfre beach. We took over for an hour whilst eating lunch. Steep and pebbly, but with a cafe and toilets - perfect.

I had a pot noodle here, nice little lunch.

Paddling back, some of the guys were slowing a little, and it was easier to keep the group together the tide was well in now, and that meant now long drag up the sand - it did mean a longer slog in the short boats though!

Back at the beach there was a sand bar that stuck out and formed a shallow pool, I wondered if Connor fancied a paddle.

He did! He did really well, going back and forth across the 20 metres or so.

I managed to get him doing stern rudders as well as tidying his stroke up a little.

Before we went to Angelsey, I had Connor try is boat, and found he needed the footrest moving 3" or so just to get in! They grow fast don't they?

The sand bar in the background that formed the 'lake'

It was busy with other kids playing, and at one point a girl tried to climb on to the stern! Connor thought it was funny, and obviously didn't realise what the result could have been!

A bit of a longer trip today, and with the sun and warmth it was a cracking day out. One or two comments from the less experience guys were that they really enjoyed the sea, and one evn found that she had felt at one with it, finding being sat in it making her feel part of it - a great leveler.

Last day tommorow.....

Wow! What a contrast.

Saturday 23rd April 2011

Wind, rain and cold

Awakening this morning to the sound of rain on the tent, and then realising today wasn't going to be as tranquil as yesterday, we decided that we would all do our own thing.

Some guys went swimming (at the leisure centre) we decided to take Connor to Borthwen bbeach where he could get in his boat and get some practice.

I must admit, it was a little miserable down here today, I got Connor to wear my hat to try and keep the rain off him.

Just before we launched. The wind was offshore so I got him on the tow line to make sure he stayed with me.

Adele & Cerys well wrapped up! Nothing stops Cerys having a good dig in the sand!

We went out and around the little rock island in the bay, It was FREEZING! Connor's hands were nearly blue, had to get him out.

Still smiling though, he did well, hasn't forgotten how to paddle, its last August since he was on the water.

Looking good, just need some sun and a little shallow water to do a bit of coaching.

We went and got changed at the campsite, and then went to have some lunch at Morrisons (and a warm up).

Then when we came back - the sun came out, and with the wind still blowing we managed to get Cerys' kite flying!

It went well, and thats amazing for us, we can never get them to fly normally.

A very short paddle, I had another lap of the bay, but even my hands were numb.

Lets hope for more sun tommorow.

A flat battery!

Friday 22nd April 2011

No Photos!

Arriving on Angelsey early this morning, we quickly got the tent up and all the kit out of the car.
Sheffield canoe club had around 50 members attending, and it looked as though most had arrived the evening before!

We were ready just in time, 28 paddlers went down to Porth Dafarch beach for a short trip (if you were in a short boat) and a bit longer if you were in a sea boat.

We left with the intentions of going to the old lifeboat station at Porth Ruffydd. When we reached the head  that signifies the exit of the bay and leads around to Porth Ruffydd, I noticed a the strong flow of an eddy carrying us to the point of no return. We were right at mid-tide, and we wern't expecting this.

I quickly gathered the group and had them paddle into the flow. Phil called me up on the vhf, and I discovered now that as soon as I took my hands from the paddle and used the radio, the short white-water boat instantly span around! Oh for a sea kayak!

We made the decision to go across toward Treaddurr bay, and find a beach for a spot of lunch.

The first (un-named) beach was empty, well, it was until we invaded anyway! After some lunch we paddled back to Porth Dafarch. I noticed that the younger people seemed to race at full speed everywhere we went and weren't rock-hopping or looking in the caves etc.

I managed to leave the beach without changing the battery in the camera - it was flat! So, no photos from the sea.

When we got back to the beach, the tide was in, and every person in the vicinity was on the beach, the sun was out and generally everyone had had a good time.

Connor, Cerys and Adele had enjoyed this beach, its very busy but nice and clean with good parking. It is sea kayaking central here, the were loads of cars with empty roof racks.

Cerys wanted to go paddling, so we had a quick trip around the bay.

A very short, but enjoyable trip with loads of paddlers of all abilities - its good to show the whitewater racing snakes how to enjoy the sea!



Ramsey Sound

For Sea Kayking Stuart

I saw on Richards blog, that Stuart had asked about Horse Rock in Ramsey Sound.

I don't feel as I can offer advice or guidance, I'm only learning myself, but here's my take on it all!

Horse Rock! At really low Spring tide August 2010. Photo taken from St Justinians and zoomed right up close

Zooming out a bit you can see the White farmhouse on Ramsey

Now the full picture, I took this to show the line its on. But in reality, when sat in the kayak in the turbulant water that makes this place so exciting, looking at it from this angle counts for nothing!

This was us entering the Sound at Pen Dal-aderyn two days before. We had arrived bang on mid-flow and I was worried - not for me, but for 'us' I felt an awesome responsibility to get us through safely.

Here it is, Horse Rock as we passed it, about 50 metres off I think. It looked nasty. I do know someone who took a couple of freinds over to the Bitches in playboats, and one of them did go for a swim here on the way back when they ended up passing way too close after the mist rolled in whilst they were returning.   

It ended well on that occasion!        

I used the chart to help plot onto the map above, approx where the rock does lay.

By placing the blue line, and the lilac one from known points on the land, where the two cross (marked with a purple spot) is roughly where it is.

If there is any chance that there will be strong flow, ie. Spring tides I would always try and pass the way I did in the pictures above. (Along the thick red line)

Wind, tide, sea state and million and one other factors would dictate if I was even there in the 1st place though

This is a capture of the chart software I use (bluesend) Its old and has limits with GPS but is fine for information.

I thought I'd add this last picture (thanks to Richard). Its NOT Horse Rock! It is however Carreg Gafeiliog, and is just up from the overfalls at St Johns Point. Until the day Richard took this photo I had never seen it like this, and is now always foremost in my mind when passing Northwards up the Sound. If I don't get over to St Johns Point and out of the flow, then the next thing I'll encounter is probably this!

Hope this helps you readers, as I said, I'm only learning, and (disclaimer) I hold no responsibility for any 3rd parties' encounters whilst having fun in Ramsey Sound!

You can always rely on the weather!

2nd day of kayak testing

Saturday 9th April 2011

After a long day yesterday, I had a good nights sleep, and infact, slept in until 0830 when I woke due to the fact the sun was burning through the tent walls!
Packing everything away and eating a couple of croissants and a big mug of coffee, I drove down to Porth Dafarch and got the boat down to the water. The tide was out, but would be an hour or so into the flood now.

The weather forecast all week had said '3 to 4 mph winds yesterday (Fri) and picking up a bit today, I was hoping for a bit of swell, maybe some rollers coming through the mouth of the bay - Nothing! Totally flat calm, no wind and really hot in the sun.

Looking straight out to sea - glassy and calm.

The Kayak felt far better today, I felt instantly at ease with it.

I was going to go in a Westerly direction, toward Trearddur bay, but I could here at least three jet skis hurtling around, and with thaving spent yesterday listening to jets and helicopters, I decided to head East toward Penrhyn Mawr.

Looking on toward the Rocks that create the famous and popular Penrhyn Mawr overfalls.

A small but seemingly powerfull cruise boat was sat in the surf.

I let the current take me toward the first gap, nearest the main headland.

As I got nearer, I could see the route through was easy, no standing waves, but I had to decide do I drop down through or stay this side? After all, I needed to get the kayak back to Brookbank at Stockport before 1730.

I decided to pass through, high water was at  2pm, it wasn't far to get back to the car.

As I paddled with the flow, I realised I'd definately have to wait for the slack water! The water was really pushing through, and the drop from one side to the other was a good 10".

I sat and surfed from side to side for a while, and had a go at picking my way up the eddies back to the top.

I didn't waste the energy trying to get back up at this point.

The Reval did seem to accelarate pretty well though, I'm still impressed.

Looking toward South Stack lighthouse, I knew I didn't have the time to get up there and back. So I resigned to paddling around the coast edge of Abraham's Bosom.

I had noticed this morning as I got myself down to the waters edge that the seat in the kayak was sat on what looked like a 30mm thick block, fibreglassed into the hull in the centre. I reached down into the water, and felt the underside of the boat. It felt as though I was sat a good 50mm away from the outer hull, maybe this is the cause of the tippyness?

I just paddled about gently, it was good to be out again.

This rock formation had me staring at it amazing shapes for a while.

I'm not sure I'd like to have been around when this rock face collapsed.

Big entrance, tiny exit.

I was thinking - I really owt to find a beach and get out for a stretch and some lunch.

I only found steep rocky beaches, and full of part submerged hull scratchers to make the approach dicey

I eventually found a little beach with a solitary rock in the approach, I paddled alongside it, and leaned over onto it. Undoing the deck and getting my feet off the foot pegs was good.

I decided I would wait until the rock was completely submerged before starting to make my way back, its surprising how quickly the water rises when you sit and watch it like this.

Within 40mins I was on my way. Passing around this stack, it was black in the shadows around the otherside, but alive with lichen growth on the sunny side.

I found that the kayak responded very well to some good strong edging and some bow rudder strokes when weaving around the rocks - good. I enjoy rockhopping and exploring close-in.

Getting back toward Penrhyn Mawr, there seemed to have been an increase in swell.

Not far now, and I'd no if I was to get back.

It was pretty clear I wouldn't be getting back up yet, the flow was still there, and so was this group of kayakers, 3 trainees with an instructor. I had a chat, and listened in to what they were doing. Pushing their personal boundries! I certainly didn't fancy pushing mine today. I passed up the 'chicken shoot' and headed up the eddies, I had a go at getting up through the flow this time - no chance, I made reasonable progress but the channel started quite narrow between two rocks causing the water to speed up considerably as it squeezed through.

I contemplated having a play, but opted to carry on breaking in and out of the flow where I planned to pass back over the flow.

A group of play boaters arrived out in the big standing waves and all seemed to be enjpoying themselves.

I noticed that I could work my way up the eddies and into this little inlet.

I managed it, and got some lunch whilst he flow slowed, only the last hour left now.

Anyone reckognise this? Its the brake disc, driveflange and caliper from a mini cooper S! It looks as though someone had thrown it over the cliffs and its been slowly decaying ever since.

The trainees paddled in and joined me for lunch in what the leader decribed as 'the classroom'

In the general chit-chat they asked where I was from, and as normall I got' oh, Sheffield, that great sea kayaking city near the sea! It surely is a long way to the water, but it certainly makes it special.

Eventually I said my goodbyes and paddled out into the chicken shoot and passed easily now up through the last of the flow.

I wished I was staying another day, but hey, ho. Got to get the boat back.

Conclusions:

Well, what do I say. I had great expectations of this kayak, and by and large they were fullfilled. It wasn't that I disliked the vally Aquanuat I have been paddling, in fact far from it.

I Have been considering getting a composite boat for a while, my main worry was that I would feel restricted when rockhopping due to not wanting to damage the gel coat. Having paddled in this one over these two days I think those worries are unfounded - I didn't put any extra effort into avoiding contact, I think I have always tried to avoid the best I can, and I didn't have any scrapes.

I love the boat, I like its lines, I know thats not what its about, but it looks good to me. I like the generous rocker, I expected it to be agile, and it was.

I didn't expect the tippyness though. I still think the seat to be a little high, and would have liked to have had another hour, without the deck bag and my stowed gear in the hatches to see how it went unladen. I did feel much more comfortable over the time I had it though. Suppose you can't have agile without some degree of instability.
Lastime I demoed a boat I didn't even take it off the roof racks! Theres no way thats going to happen this time though, for a start this one is all white, I don't know why, but I'm not keen on white things some of the bits on my Mountain bike are this colour and I hate em!
I got back to Stockport with time to spare, and handed the boat back. I was thinking if I had the money I would have bought (or ordered) one there and then.
I did enquire as to what the stock was, and in what colours. Not white or Pink, would love one in the Lime green, or orange, or even blue. There stock was limited in store, but across the group there were blue and red. They also had the Orange one below.

Well, decisions, decisions! I like Orange! I like the boat, I like paddling it.

I perhaps need to shed a stone in weight, but I've been looking for something to motivate me on that subject for a while anyway - perfect reason!

I had a sit in this one. It felt totally different, I got out again and spotted why: the seat was a different design, the moulding was nicer, and even better, it was fitted much lower in the hull - no 30mm block under it. A much nicer backrest also. Sitting back in it agian, I found there to be more footroom, and my legs where in a better more relaxed position, my knees seemed to fit nicely under the thigh grips.

Looking at the general condition, ( it is ex-demo) the deck is in very good condition, a couple of bits here and there. The hull has what you'd expect from a demo boat. The keel is scratched, but I intended to affix a keel strip to any boat I bought anyway.

Long story short and all that...........I have put a deposit on it. I now seek sponsership, gifts etc to gather the rest of the balance together, Brookbank have very kindly allowed me time to do this, and are to allow me to pay as and when  I can. I hope this is going to be quick, I'm gagging to get out again.

Not a massive paddle, but a big day for me. Start of a new era............