A relaxing evening

South West Wales

Saturday 30th May 2009

After the trip to Porth Melgan this morning, I had few snacks and a lay down, I drifted in and out of sleep for a while, but thought I ought to get up and do something.

I came across into Richard who had been looking for me whilst I was out.

He suggested we went for an evening paddle, how could I refuse?

We met up 1/2 an hour or so later and left Porthsele beach heading West towards the rocks known as Gwahan.

The Southerly flowing tide was fairly easy to cross, and we rested behind the rock in an eddy.

Then we re-joined the South flow letting it take us South To the Northern tip of Ramsey Island.

This cave goes through one of the headlands on Ramsey, but today the water is too low to pass through, just look how small Richard looks sat in there!

Next we re-joined the south tide, and headed for the Bitches, its clear to see where the high tide marks are on this deadly reef of rocks.

Here I am on the last 'bitch', the most Easterly rock, nearest the mainland. As the tide has not really built up yet, I can sit here comfortably without having to paddle, we then ferry glide over to the mainland.

As this is my first trip around here in a touring kayak, I am amazed to see how much more there is to see when you're not having to 'force' a white water kayak along.

I will be forever gratefull to Richard for taking the time to guide me around his 'neck of the woods'.

As we head North past St Justinians, and the St Davids Lifeboat the sun is low making it difficult to see anything ahead.

When we left Portsele beach earlier it was full of families enjoying the sun, now it is deserted.

An eye-opening paddle for me, being able to cruise along enables a little more time to enjoy this ever suprising coastline.

Many thanks go to Richard, I would be down here every weekend if I lived closer, but don't worry, 279 miles is much too far.

'Scuse me, are you a life guard?'

Saturday 30th May 2009


South West Wales


After yesterdays tidal battles, and getting back late, I had gone to bed early and slept in aswell.
I decided to get lunch together, and paddle over to Porth Melgan.
This small by straight across from Porthsele beach is about 1 1/4 miles across the water.

Today was flat calm, and the sun was beating down.
I had managed to miss the fore arms just around both wrists with sun block yesterday, so I would need plenty today.

I made my Jarlsberg & Salami on french sandwich up, brewed some coffee and carted it all down to the beach.

I paddled across with a very slight quartering wind on the bow, which I noticed everytime the gusting breeze blew. The skeg did work well to counter-act the effect but there was still some extra work to do with the paddle work.

There was very little swell this morning, but there were a few surfers out hoping for a ride at Whitesands.
I arrived at Porth Melgan at the same time as a small inflatable with an outboard and 5 or 6 people.

With a couple of sets of rollers breaking in front of me I decided to wait and see how these boaters faired, they made it so I landed to their right.





The beach was crowded! There were people coming down the cliff paths, two families already there, the boaters, and it seemed everyone of them had a dog!

I managed to get a spot on a rock, I had a coffee and decided to sunbath for a while. I'm not very good a just doing nothing, so i managed about 10 mins!

I thought I might try a swim at one point, but I knew it would be cold!

So I ate the fancy sandwich and gathered my self back together for a paddle across to Porthsele.


Whilst I was sitting on my rock, a lady approached me and said ' scuse me, are you a life guard?'

To which I obviously said.... 'no I'm not sorry', 'Oh' she said... my son thought you were, and what with my hair colour and white skin, I have to stay out of the sun, and I need to know that if I put up my sun canopy that it wont suddenly be washed away with the sea coming in'!!!


I replied that I was pretty sure that it would be no problem as the tide was going out.

Her son and husband now proceeded to inflate a small kids play dinghy which I though may provide some excellant entertainment. I waited
I watched for a while expecting them to get tipped in or something, but it never happened, then when I was leaving I noticed them dragging back to shore a somewhat deflated boat.

I over heard the son telling mum, 'the paddle blade just snapped off, the sharp bit of plastic it left went straight through the side of the boat'.

I missed the 'kodak' moment.

With my ego on a high after being mistaken for David Hasselhoff, I returned to Porthsle beach.



Not a big paddle, just 2.5 miles or so. Good to be on the water though.

South West Wales

Perfect weather but a near miss!

Friday 29th May 2009

After deciding to make a last minute trip down to Pencarnan, and try and get some more time in the kayak, I was pleasantly surprised to awaken to the view below, but also that there was no swell and little wind.

Looking at the tide tables, I decided that I would wait until 11am then go south through Ramsey Sound on the last of the Northerly flood tide, pass around into Porthlysgi bay and then through the rocks called Careg yr Esgob, eventually ending up at Porth Clais. The plan then would be to await mid tide and head back with a view to going through the sound on the last of the Southerly flowing Ebb tide.
How wrong I was! Just to show what the mind can do when it really matters most. I have been avedly reading the book that Richard (http://www.seakayak-porthsele.blogspot.com/) had sent me at the end of last year, and I had thught I had a full grasp of the differences in tide times in the Sound. Just before I started to get ready for the trip I had read a page that said something about tides being 0030 after Milford Haven times. So leaving Porthsele beach at the time I did meant I was about 2hrs 30 mins too early.Rounding the corner to St Johns point, I could see some smallish overfalls there that I wasn’t expecting, and also a sea mist that wasn’t visable from the campsite or the beach

As I headed into the overfalls, it set alarm bells ringing in my head, why was this flow seemingly so strong? Anyway, I paddled against the flow watching a transit point on the land to my left, I was gaining some momentum so I carried on, rounding the worst of it and staying close to the rocks I made it to St Justinian
Through the sea mist there appeared a small launch, possibly the daily landing on Ramsey Island?

I now had to paddle around the South Westerly tip of the land, out of the sound and into the Bay at Porthlysgi. Now knowing the Northerly flood was still going to be against me had me a little nervous.
When I got there I found this point to be a little challenging, with a little bit of swell I found that as soon as I hit the moving water it grabbed the bow of my boat and I had to work hard to get it back around and stay pointing the way I wanted. I made it though and as I tucked into a bit of slack water behind some rocks I noticed a paddler sat sunbathing with his kayak up on a rocky ledge. I went over to say hello, this guy was desperate to go across to Ramsey and spent 5 mins or so trying to persuade me to join him. I told him that I was heading to meet someone later so had to keep going and left him to it.
My thoughts here were that of some sort of drama happening whilst paddling in the turbulent waters of the Sound, and making the evening news, possible because of someone else’s actions or ability.

I paddled on to Careg Yr Esgob and made a video of me passing through the rocks at various points. I was very tempted to go through the leaning natural arch, but I could see sometimes three waves coming through after each other and not having a helmet with me I left this one…maybe later.

I paddle on to Porth Clais and found again that we were still on the flood tide, as I had an easy time getting passed the harbour wall entrance, I have been here before and with the harbour emptying, had a real battle getting in against the flow, (in short river boats I must add).

I figured now that Richard( ) would be well on his way back, if I hadn’t somehow already missed him. He could easily have gone through the sound on the Northerly flow this morning the ‘other-side’ of the mist.
I left Porth Clais and went back to Porthlysgi and headed to the smaller of the two beaches. I got covered in tiny pieces of black seaweed here and as I poured my coffee and looked out to sea….there was Richard! I could clearly sea the shape of his Valley Nordkapp even at this distance.
I swallowed my coffee down, and quickly got back into the kayak. I knew it was a long shot, but he didn’t seem to be going too fast, I would have go like mad though. I also knew it might be in vain if I arrived at the entrance to the sound with a strong Southerly ebbing tide and no energy to get around the point.

I did make it, and managed to spot Richard under the rocks in Carn ar Wig, when I arrived I explained how I’d seen him pass me whilst I was on the beach, we paddled back to Porthsele together said we’d see how the weather was the next day.

Around 8.5mile (statute) My GPS Won’t down load to P.C

Pugneys waterpark

Monday 25th May 2009









A bit of paddling, and some rescue practice









Not living anywhere near the coast always means that I'm hankering after some more time in the kayak, so with the weather looking promising we decided to take a trip up to the Pugneys lake at Wakefield.




Adele and the kids would be able to do a lap of the lake, and I would paddle around, have a picnic on the bankside, and then do some rolling practice and if the water seemed warm enough maybe a bit of self rescue work.









The car park on arrival was gwetting quite full so much later and we wouldn't have got in.




I got all the kit together and headed down to the water, there was a strong constant wind coming across at me so I decided to have a go at paddling into, away from and across the wind in various directions. This allowed me to deploy the skeg, and experiment with different amounts to combat weather cocking etc. It really surprised me how difficult it is to stay on a heading when there is a cross wind at an angle.








We all made our way to the far end of the lake and found there was a small pebble beach, and if I'd have know it would have been a good place for Connor to get into his little sit on top kayak. Maybe next time!

We had lunch and it was time for me to get wet. The bank side was now a mass of picnicers, some of which had obviously not packed their sun cream, they'd know about it in the morning!

I got back into the boat, and paddled over to the safety guys boat to let him know I was going to get in and not to flap about me.

I did a couple of nice straight forwards rolls and came up well.

I always like to do my practice rolls with some forwards movement if I can though, as its not often a kayaker ends up rolling whilst sitting still. I didn't quite make the 1st attempt, so I dropped back under and composed myself, this time I made it. I noticed some cheering, and some laughing from the crowds!




Now I had to get wet, and do some self rescue practice.......

I'm useless at this climbing on the stern type rescue! Ive fell in every time up to now, quite good at paddle float rescue though will add a vid tommorrow.

A small boy, and 19 Km!

Saturday 23rd May 2009

I still carn't believe he did this:

I took Connor out to Ladybower, starting at Fairholmes car park we set off up the tarmac closed road as we did the last time.
The difference now was that I had altered the gearing on Connors bike makinbg it easier for him to pedal. He was flying up hills that a couple of weeks ago he was struggling with.
We went way on past where we had managed last time, and when we reached the gate where the tarmac gives way to the gravel path beyond I had to make a decision: 'do I risk going all the way around or do we turn back'.
It would be easier to pedal back, but is actually shorter on the gravel side. We took the gravel side.
Soon after we rounded the top end and crossed the bridge Connor started asking me to go back, its difficult to reason with a young child, as they don't see the reality like we do. I knew it was now shorter to get back this way.
I managed to encourage Connor by joining him in riding through all the puddles we could find, the wind however kept gusting in our faces and it felt cold on our exposed skin.
I had taken a drink but had not remebered to put in any snacks so the thought of getting back for a hot dog was playing on my mind.
I lost count of the number of people that asked if Connor had been all the way around and 'how old is your son'? When I answered just 4 they were all amazed.
We reached the car park, and Connor had two hot dogs and a bar of chocolate! He'd earned it.

I wandered over to look at the map of where we'd been and was shocked to discover that the distance was listed as 19 Km!

Keep it up Connor!

A stressfull biking night!

Thursday 21st May 2009

A real long ride, some road rage and a useless light

Tonights ride was going to be hard from the start, leaving the garden centre at Abbeydale road, Sheffield and heading right out to Redmires reservior and back.

The majority of this ride would be pedalling, with very little descent, and when we would it was right back down low again meaning: MORE climbing.

We did 'the drop of doom in Ecclesal woods, it is a longish track down a bank to a stream that is quite steep. There are now 2 fallen trees near to the bottom, which would test anyone who tried to get over them.
Geoff tried on his 1st attempt, came off but managed to run it out!
He placed a rock before the last log for his second attempt, this should allow a bit of a kick to help clear it. Oh yes! He cleared it, but the landing.... well it wasn't really a landing, he ended up hurtling over a steep drop minus the bike which suffered twisted bars.
Adam had a go but managed to avoid the log all together, finding an alternative route just before.
We left the woods now and climbed up to Wirlow Park, and on to Ringinglow, where we had a Range Rover driver overtake us all 10 metres before a junction with motorbikes and cars coming the other way, hand on the horn all the way! Amazing the driver waited whilst we had turned the opposite way to them and started shouting abuse through the window at us.

Laughing we headed along the road across the top of Porter Clough, numerous cars and motor bikes passed us without incedent, but as geoff and myself approached the switchback narrow bridge, a white van passed Geoff, and then to my surprise drew along side me just as I entered the bridge.
Now any one who knows the bridge will agree, it is not a place to pass, so rather then get knocked off I sped ahead to get clear, this was not the result the driver was hoping for, and he began to press the horn, shout through the closed window, and wave an angry looking dog at me!
I attempted to stop, he stopped, so I set off again (uphill) so did he, now attempting to squeeze me into the bank i was left in the edge as all the other riders passed him on the outside.
My atempts to appologise (whatever I'd suppossed to have done) this didn't work, so I just carried on. He had pulled over his van and appeared to be on the phone or something so I made haste to catch the others up.
It was a couple of minuits later when I looked back that I noticed Andy way behind. Had he been held up by the driver?
It turned out not, and upon catching us up he said you guys are fit! Not fit, just SCARED!

My legs were now burn't out, and knowing how far we still had to go I was not happy. I thought about how I could cut the ride short but could do it without using footpaths instead of bridal way.

The descent from Stanage edge, a rocky steppy thing that is meant to stop errosion is a bone jarring ride to say the least, it was pretty quick tonight, and most of us also tried the rock jump at the bottom, the Lake District skills coming in again.
We now had to climb out of the valley and make our way to Fox house, and up some more to the woods leading down to Dore.
on reaching the woods Geoff anounced he was doing it with out lights, I would have normally but was so tired from the long ride and the terror induced sprint earlier that I decided to use mine.
WRONG! The light appeared to be flat or broke or something, so it was decided, I'd do it in the pitch dark.
The fast flowing track initially has a good surface but has ruts and muddy sections here and there. Both my self and geoff made it though.
Through Dore village, and past a really nice smelling indian restaurant, hunger had set in now, just one last blast in the very dark woods to the vehicles at Abbeydale.
All relieved to be back I think, we packed up and headed for the pub.

My performance: All things considered, not bad, managed to climb all the hills in the end and all the downs without lights.
Thoughts on the bridge incedent? If I was given a second go at the same situation I'm pretty sure I'd have done the same thing. Its not normall to stop when someone is over taking, but i'd better watch out for vans next time.

Paddling the 'Mac'

16th May 2009

16 miles on still water

At midday Friday I suddenly though that the weather wasn't going to be good for family stuff, so maybe it was a good day to exicute our planned trip on the Macclesfield canal. I sent a message to Dad, who agreed it would be a good day, if it wasn't going to be torrential all day.

I checked the web for forecasts, and found they all differed but generally it would be mixed.

So, we decided to do it. I went shopping for snacks and lunch late on Friday night, and by the time I returned it was too late to be rattling around the house gathering my kit together, so I decided to get up early, make my sandwiches, and chuck everything in the can.

So much for early, I was meeting Dad at 0700 and managed to not awaken until 10 past!

What followed was a blurr, of frenzied panick, and the constant thought I would forget something really important. I have noted this mentally, it wouldn't hurt to not have some item or other on an inlnad canal, but could make a life or death situation difficult or deadly at sea.

SET the ALARM, get EVERYTHING ready the NIGHT before.

So we arrived at the car park at Higher Poynton in glorious sunshine!

Getting on the water can be testing on a canal, some of the edges being quite high, we made it in without incedent. We hoped there wouldn't be too much traffic on the canal, as we thought we would be travelling at the same speed as the barges and boats. We noticed a boat backing out of a yard, waited but were called forwards by the guy at the helm, we paddled past and he came behind us in pursuit. Next time I looked back we had left him.

All along the canal the bridges are of a design that radius's back around into the water, there were 'stop' boards and their slots in the edge stones on every bridge.

These 'stop' boards are nescesary here as there are no locks for nearly 20miles, therefore if the canal needs to be drained for maintenance etc, it would require all the water draining without the boards. They are slotted into the edge stones and hold back the water enabling the section below to be drained.

There were also very deep rope grooves in all the bridges from the ponies that once towed the boats.

Further along the canal we found this overflow drain, it is designed so that if there is excess water in the system it slowly diverts into a drain and keeps the levels correct.

We had planned to stop and eat lunch at the old Clarance Mill just before Bollington, but when we arrived the landings were all taken, and in any case the step would have been amusing to say the least. Also the cafe appeared to be a trendy modern affair that we would have been way to over dressed for in the kayak gear!

We paddled on and soon found a little canal side cafe, the guys here were really welcoming, and even allowed us to eat our own food whilst sipping the fresh coffee they provided. A most civilised lunch stop!

On the return leg the weather held out, it had rained on and off all morning. We cruised back to Higher Poynton in no time at all, so we went straight past and on to the road bridge a mile and half further on.

Here we had a coffee stop, just as we were packing up to head on back, the heavens opened, and we had to get back in the boats and quickly head under the bridge for shelter.

It wasn't long before we were on our way, and the short run back into the wind was a bit of a strain on the body now.

All in all I really enjoyed this trip, no moving water at all had worried me initially, thinking it might be a little taxing but there are so many interesting things to see it is actually really good and eduacational.

The one thing that really stood out for me was at one point I looked out in a Westrly direction, and I could see a long way out towards Manchester airport, and the ground was dropping away from me. Not spectacular I know, but its not often that you get to look down at anything when your in a kayak, normally looking at sea cliffs or river banks.

We managed 16 plus miles all paddling and surprisingly my back held out very well, I had made some adjustments to the seat base since Anglesey and it seems to have done the trick.