A birthday treat.

Saturday 11th Febuary 2012

A biting wind

At the end of January I had my birthday, and I fancied a trip over to Angelsey for a celabratory paddle. The weather has not been in full support for the last couple of weekends, so I decided to try this one.

My Mums amazing cake making skills!

(Oh, and I was 40 aswell)

I left home and travelled West at 21:30 on Friday night. Arriving in Holyhead at about 1am I checked out the sea state at Porth Dafarch, I couldn't see much, but it didn't sound bad!

I drove down to Borthwen and bed down for the night in the back of the car.

So when I was awoken at 845am (lazy) with the car being buffeted by the wind, I was most dis-pleased.

Looking out to sea I could make out a mass of white-caps. and a gusting wind that whispered No-go today!

I went and got some breakfast, and decided to have a paddle on the 'inner sea' an almost land-locked area of water created by the Stanley Embankment and Four Mile Bridge - my starting point today.

Arriving at Four Mile Bridge, I found the RNLI flood recue team from Ireland practicing flood rescue techniques in the flow created by the flood tide blasting through the bridge arch.

Here is the Southside of the bridge, the water is being squeezed through the arch by the rising tide.

The resulting white foamy mess on the other side attracts all kinds.

The little engine on the boat was just enough to get over the 'stopper' and into the arch.

Finally on the water I found the white water to be a swirling mess, not really much fun to play in for me, but I had 1 or 2 near misses and got to practice a couple of support strokes!

WOW!

Just look at the difference in height of the water.

On with the paddle, looking ahead I could see all different views, fields, wooded areas and the big ugly chimmney stack from the former aluminium works.

The Stanley Embankment carries the A55 dual carriageway across the Northern end, along with the old embankment road and the railway.

Looking back at Four mile Bridge, you can just make out the water hieght difference through the arch.

I really enjoyed the next bit, it was like being in a valley, paddling on a river.

I saw all kinds of birds, a massive Hawk ( not sure what kind) circling above me.

What an amazing place to live! Just these two houses occupied the end of this inlet, just some grassy sand flats, loads of wildlife and some brightly coloured person in a kayak stuck in the middle.

I made a couple of videos of myself gliding through. If I stopped paddling and just sat still there was no immediate noise at all, just the sound of crashing surf beyond at Treardurr Bay

One common thing I notice a lot as I spend time in the great outdoors, is how we (mankind) always seem to have to build a wall - this one is actually in the water! In fairness, I think it was to keep the water from erroding the ground around the trees.

Over at Stanley embankment. This is the new bridge, it has a fairly big span, allowing water to surge through relatively un-restricted.

Sadly the old bridge did not feature such a wide opening, and thus creates the same standing waves and turbulent waters.

If a kayaker wants to circum-navigate Holyhead Island, you need to pass through both of these!

Now heading into the wind, I had to put on the poggies to keep my hands from getting numb.

Back at Four Mile Bridge I had a play in the white water. It seemed a little strange practicing S - turns in the sea boat, but did allow me to explore how the kayak works in the soupy stuff.

When I got out, I realised I had done the trip with the marker flag still attached from the car journey!

Off for beans and eggs on toast at a local cafe before the journey home.

A great alternative for a windy day, it'll be great to get Connor out on here in the summer.