No Destination

Today was supposed to be a mega challenge, Barry Dock to Brean Down via Steep Holm. To add to the challenge we were to leave two hours before sunrise & ferry glide across a huge 14.2 metre tide to our destination. Stuart however didn't fancy being up at 4AM after a hard week in work, which was kinda a relief & I slept a lot better knowing a less committing paddle was on instead...

We met up at Llantwit Major with no real plans other than to follow the tide & explore the stunning Heritage Coastline. As we set off we had no idea of the exciting challenges & changeable weather ahead...

Flat calm on the way to Nash Buoy, too calm. The dramatic landscape blanketed in mist & low cloud...

Nash Sandbar is somewhere new for me & on this exceptionally low spring tide went on for miles...

                                    
Time for some posing...

Big ass waves off the tip of the sandbar, I went for a play. Images by Stuart...

                                       

Shall I, Shan't I? Hmmmm, I shan't...

The next beach was a much easier landing though still exciting enough. And another twist in the weather gave us a taste of the summer months ahead...

Paddling out through the waves...

The calm before the storm. On approaching Nash the waves really picked up as the swell felt the sandbar. The swell picked up to about 8 feet & the tide was ripping past Nash Buoy. It was all getting very exciting as Stuart kept vanishing behind the rising sea. I couldn't help but think that this is what my sea kayak was for. I'll have to get a camera mount so I can Paddle & take pictures as I wasn't letting go of my paddle when it was this exciting...

I kept my camera away till the sea calmed down, though the swell stayed with us till the finish. How very different from the conditions we set off in...

Approaching St Donats a sea mist roll's in & we're contemplating landing in big surf as the swell feels the bottom of the beach. Arriving at Llantwit I notice the really big waves were followed by a period of smaller ones & tentatively I make my move, paddling hard for the shore. Surfing with style on a wave, leaning on the paddle, I'm gonna make it, I thought I had made it, then(bugger) the wave reared up & spat me out.
I look back & see Stuart looking for a quieter landing spot, not a bad idea.
An exhilarating day's paddle though I really need to practice my Surfing!