Going Nowhere...

Going nowhere, hmmm, seems to sum it up well. I had nothing on today & the weather was perfect so it would be rude not to go for a paddle.

I'm housesitting for my parents at the mo & my Mums Skoda was winking at me from outside, seductively suggesting she had enough fuel to get to the beach.

For a change of scenery I headed for Southerndown. I've always avoided launching here before as the surf is scary but with a gentle forecast just how bad could it be?

There was some usably surf to play on but not much. I decided I was going to follow the tide in & head, where? Hmmm, not really sure. Llantwit, Nash, I'll work it out on the water.

 With only 2 hours to HW the carry to the water wasn't far at all.

 I leave Southerndown still pondering over my destination.

I can see Nash in the far distance & decide to head for there as a starting point.
I was half way to Nash when I realised my destination was really just putting miles on the clock. With the Ireland crossing looming I was content just to paddle & make sure I'm in good shape when the big day comes, if I evan go at all. I could happily give that trip a miss :)

 I arrive at an unusually calm Nash Buoy.

 But the trinity house bell inside is still chiming.

 I push on having decided on St Donats as my destination.

 leaving Llantwit, in the middle distance of this image for another day.

St Donats

As I started back it was pretty uneventful. I was losing myself to the strokes of the paddle & making good speed to Witches Point, evan catching the odd swell.

 Arriving back at Witches Point, Time to go surfing :)

Hmmm, ok, its gone a little flat but as I look over my shoulder I see a decent enough wave & paddle like shit to catch it evan though I knew the waves were dumping onto the boulders on the beach.

 I surfed good & straight before getting turned & dumped on.

Theres a Taran in there somewhere (LOL). Another fab day out :)

Into The Wind...

I'm sure you can imagine the scenario, sunny day, light winds, gentle 18 mile paddle along the coast before setting up camp in the sand dunes. Sounds lovely.

I was meeting up With Eurion, Chris & Adrian at the Knap & to be joined by Stuart & Marcus as we reach Aberthaw.

We set of in lovely sunshine from the Knap, dressed lightly given the weather.

 Passing Rhoose Point, the most southerly part of mainland Wales.

 And start heading out to the tower at Aberthaw in perfect conditions.

Then it hit! I thought it might just be a gust, but know, it kept blowing & was constant F4 into our faces. This was going to be a slog.

The others stayed inshore whilst I ventured out to the tower for a play. I was greeted by some lovely standing waves :D

I had a quick play before heading back in to meet the others, including Stu & Marcus who were waiting on the beach.

 Some of the group opting for warmers layers before heading off again.

 We passed this cheeky chappy on the way to Llantwit.

Where we stopped for a rest as we were in need of a break.
Chris decided to get off the water here & blag a lift of his misses. Cant say I blame him, I was seriously thinking of camping at Monknash a few miles further on. This trip really was a slog.

 Nash comes into view.

 as we pass St Donats.

I leave the others hugging the shore whilst I head into the flow & rougher water to Nash Buoy.
I was really easy to spot the flow as the wind on tide was making it rather rough, further in, in the eddies it was completely different.

 Passing Monknash, I decide to carry on :s

 Stuart & Marcuss play in the breakers.

 It got a bit much for Stu (whoops) ;D

Approaching Witches point I spot another seal but I'm a bit too pooped to care.

We're all really suffering as we near Ogmore. Passing the beach I watch as people walking outpace us. Eurion tells me we're making about 2.5 knots :(

I help out with some boat carrying before getting back underway, just to the other side of the river to set camp in the sand dunes. I really need some chillout time.

 After a long drag up the beach with the kayak I find the perfect spot.

 And quickly get some coffee & dinner on. Really needed a coffee :)

 Before settling down to watch the sun set.

 Sunday morning & the conditions are perfect.

 Turbo brekkie, Scottish Oats with mixed nut & raisins & almond milk.

 I very slowly got ready as I was in no rush before pushing off into glassy seas.

That's Nash in the far distance & I stay well out from shore to use the best of the flood tide to get there. Theres evan a little wind on my back :)

Approaching Aberthaw & the wind is picking up nicely. Its peak flow too so I power on putting some miles behind me.

The tower came & went & I was soon back at the Knap in three hours exactly. A bit different to the six hours (roughly) it took the day before though I did stay well offshore for the whole of the return trip to use the tidal assistance as much as possible :)

Wraiths Of The Severn Sea...

One of those surreal days on the water, a time for communing with your own thoughts in the vast emptiness of Poseidon's breath.

Setting off from Llantwit Major with the intention of paddling along the coast the out to Tusker Rock. The fog was pretty thick though showing signs of clearing. The sea was calm save for a few swells making it to shore.
This was going to be a day to remember.

We head off into the eery stillness managing to catch some air time on the way out.

We hug close to the shore making the most of the high tide to explore the caves of the Heritage Coast.

We head in for a closer look.

Right in.

I love the layers of rock here, its like looking back in time.

Approaching St Donats,

And then out further into the mist. You really have got this World to yourself out here, no sight of land or horizon to guide you on. As we drift closer to shore shapes loom, wraithlike from the shadows to guide us in, we were almost on the beach when we sighted it, the fog really was thick here.

We land for a lunch stop at Southern down, The car park here just a memory hidden in the fog.

We decide to push on a couple of miles offshore to Tusker Rock using Stuarts GPS to guide us in. We were almost ashore by the time we saw it.

Shipwrecked remains loom into sight, a fitting way to view the sea grave of the SS Steepholm..

This is a first for Jules so we go for a wander.

Back on the water & a Bull Seal pop's up for a look at the Staines Massif paddling by.

A little diversion to satiate Stuarts desire to reach Nash Sandbank.

Then out onto Nash Buoy as it suddenly looms out of the mist.

Some hard paddling in the now rather rapid current & we made it, just. We had actually swung around 180° into the flow & luckily the eddy from the buoy. With the mist this thick we are all totally disoriented & use the GPS to find land again.

Approaching what we thought was Llantwit I spot some decent waves & lots of little black shapes swimming in the water, not more seals though, surfers.
We land without incident & check with the fishermen to see if this really is Llantwit. It was & we start the long carry to where we think the car park might be?
Not long after we'd loaded the kayaks & were ready to leave the sun came out & the fog cleared, at least Poseidon has got a sense of humour :D

A rough draft of our route, about 16 miles & a fab day out.