Welcome To Go Sea Kayak

Welcome To The Go Sea Kayak Blog...
This Blog is A Record Of My Personal Adventures And Wonderful Kayaking Lifestyle. It Is Also A Taster Of What You Can Expect If You're Adventurous Enough To Tag Along. Why Not Get In Touch And Join One Of Go Sea Kayaks Guided Trips On The Beautiful Mediterranean Island Of Sardinia, You Won't Regret it!

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Caswell Bay 30/11/10

I'm consoling myself today, I sold my sit on top kayak in swansea last night so I camped at Caswell Bay on the Gower with the aim of a morning paddle to the Mumbles to cheer me up. Though to be honest just being in such a beautiful location had me skipping for joy...
 Heading out of caswell I could see turbulent water on the horizon...
As soon as I was out of the lee of the cliff's & rounded the head the wind hit & was really quite strong. I decided that it was probably quite a lot rougher at the Mumbles in Swansea Bay so decided to go rock hopping in Caswel Bay Instead...

 I was gutted turning around but a local popped out to cheer me up...
 And so did this Turnstone who wasn't really bothered by me, he only flew away when my bow hit the rock cause I was too busy trying to get his picture (LOL). It's proving to be a wonderful day...

 A little more rock hopping for about an hour & I head back...
Driving past the Mumbles on the way home I could see I made the right decision, the wind was howling with plenty of white horses & waves breaking over the prom. Next time may be...

Sunday, 28 November 2010

Sully To Penarth 28/11/10

A Chilly Start (BRRRRRR), was predicted to be minus 4 last night which I could believe as the insulated pipes in my campervan froze & so did a dish I left soaking in the sink (LOL)...
Was gonna paddle to Steep Holm but further out wasn't  looking as calm as this so I decided against it & paddled to Penarth instead...
I stopped briefly on Sully Island to put my wellies & gloves on as it was obvious I wouldn't last five minutes without them, then set course for laverknock...
 A quick look at where I wanted to be paddling, next time may be...
Laverknock point was bumpy enough to put a smile on my face, got the camera out soon as I was out of the bumpy stuff...

 Time for a snack though I was quite chilly soon as I stopped Paddling...



 I've lived near to the coast all my life & you don't get to see this too often, beautiful...
Heading back & I'm trying my rudder out at this point as I was struggling in the wind. I'm not a fan of rudders but I may start using it for now as I was able to stay on course & just paddle. Got rather lumpy in the rip at Laverknock & I nearly surfed (unintentionally) into the cliff (LOL)...
Nearly there, I must of caught a rip from St Mary's bay at this point as I shot up from around 4 knots to just over 5 knots. Didn't last long though & I was soon back in my van with a cup of tea not to mention a smile on my face (Bliss)...

Friday, 19 November 2010

Flat Holm Charity Bash...


Thought I'd better upload this movie to explain my attire in my profile pic. On the 8th of August 2010 I paddled to Flat Holm wearing a wedding dress with Richie Mead & Stuart Yendle from the Glam Boaters. We were raising funds for Ty Hafen, a local  childrens hospice. Although the event has passed you could still make a donation at www.justgiving.com/taran-tyla . Ty Hafans a fantastic charity so if you could spare a little cash that would be great. Cheers, Taran...

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

The Knap to Aberthaw 16/11/10

 Up before sunrise is definatly the way to go if a little chilly. 7AM & all ready to push off...
 Point the wrong way to admire the pre dawn glow...
 Pointing the right way & its still night time & I keep playing with the camera instead of paddling...
 A little mist under Porthkerry Aqua-duct...
 I guess most people here are still snoozing in their caravans...
 Looking back at the knap. When I'm not pissing around taking pictures I'm plodding between 3.5 - 4 knots...


 First light breaking the horizon as I near Rhoose Point, Time for a break & some piccies...
 Rhoose Point, the most southerly part of mainland Wales...
 One last look back at the Knap as the light is beautiful...


 Finally around Rhoose Point & my first site of my destination, the strange tower in the sea at Aberthaw. Got a bit bumpy rounding Rhoose Point & gets progressively worse, not that it shows in the pictures...
Morning Mist at Aberthaw & the tower kept getting enveloped by the sea mist, hope it clears by the time I get there...
I chance a shot of the tower as its getting quite bumpy with waves hitting from behind & pushing me on...
Heading back now. The tide must have turned approaching the tower as I was running about 3.5 knots & shot straight up to 5 knots soon as I turned around. Got very hairy slingshotting the tower, seems to be a bit of an overfall there?
Had a hoot paddling back to Rhoose Point as I was heading into the wind with the tide pushing into the waves, quite rough but bloody good fun. All calm again though as I round Rhoose Point & the Knap comes into sight...
 May be if I win the lottery...

Monday, 15 November 2010

Penarth to Steep Holm 18/09/10

Gorgeous start to a much anticipated trip. Today will be the fulfillment of a boyhood dream that I've put off for far too long. Although I've been Sea kayaking for about five year's I found the water around Steep Holm rather intimidating & scared the shit out of myself in my first few months of kayaking by paddling to Flat holm on an increasingly choppy sea...
 Today I'm lucky enough to be paddling with Stewart (http://seakayaking-stuart.blogspot.com/). Always nice to have company. I'm Flat Holm for the 3rd time this year & my first time at low water. I've previously paddled from Sully about an hour before high water...
 Didn't take too long to get here, my GPS was showing an average of 4.5 knots before the batteries ran out (I'm such a pro (LOL)...
 Getting nervous now, not of the sea as such but that the tide might not let us get there. Really, Really want to get there & explore...
 Think we're gonna make it (WooHoo!)
 WOW! kinda speechless though I'm sure Stuart would say I didn't shut up...
 High on Steep Holm looking back at Flat Holm with Cardiff in the far distance...
 Evidence of war are all over Steep Holm & Flat Holm too.
 Glad the kayaks didn't get away. I forgot we arrived at low water & was worried the sea might claim our boats...
 Time for a circumnavigation of the Island before heading back. Stuarts rock-hopping...

 Approaching the Rudder...
 Stuart Posing, see his take on the trip at http://seakayaking-stuart.blogspot.com/
 A better view of the rudder, no prizes for guessing why its so named. I wonder If I could Paddle through it on the high tide?
 Flat Holm in the distance once more, I'm having to paddle on edge in an attempt to go in a straight line...
Nearly there & totally exhausted having edged all the way from Steep Holm (I feel like a banana(LOL)...