Badly Named Island...

Dawn & a perfect sunrise to start the day. I felt I could not come to Anglesey & fail to paddle out to Puffin Island. Its a magical place where the Puffins seem to be bald, fat & grey?
In fact a rat epidemic caused the Puffins to leave this place & these days offers sanctuary to lots of inquisitive seals & a lot of sea birds.

I set off from the scenic lay by at Penmon, its only a short paddle but it is a good one.

The shipwreck at Penmon with Puffin Island in the distance. The waves here were tiny but I was catching them with little effort? As I got closer the wreck created a large lee from the tide & getting back into the flow was fun with some small standing waves.

Trwyn Du Lighthouse...

I practiced my ferry gliding by lining the beacon up with the South tip of the Island.

 I was expecting seals on the South beach & I wasn't disappointed.

Some Cormorants too.

 Cheeky Chappy.

 Back on the North Side.

And feeling the wind a bit now. Instantly blown backwards if I take a picture.

Not far now though I'm having to work hard into a headwind.

As I write this I'm camped near to the Swellies for tomorrow mornings action, need to get some moving water practice ready for my 5 star training on Skye in a couple of weeks time :)

Puffin Island...

Today's route & I'm playing it safe. There's monster tides running today, Probably the biggest of the year so the tides will be running at quite a pace. Back home in South wales I would be quite happy as I know my local stretch, but around here I ain't so sure. I plan to leave three hours before high water pushing against the tide by staying close to shore & then to ferry-glide across to the Island. I do this as I don't want to be pushing against the tide on the way back just incase I can't make it. It's a short route, just five miles from Trwyn Y Penrhyn around Puffin Island & Back. Hope I've judged the tides right, there's some nasty overfalls near to the Island...

 The scenery around here is amazing, I've rather fallen in love with this beautiful Island...

First sight of Puffin Island & I'm watching to see what the sea is upto, feeling a bit apprehensive as it can hit 4 knots between the mainland & the Island on tides like today's...

Approaching Twryn Du Lighthouse I can see that the water is moving but can't tell how fast? I push out into the flow feeling as I go. Turns out it ain't to bad & only a slight ferry-glide was required...

 Nearly there, I'm happy to get the camera out soon as I pass the main flow...

I spot a Seal by the rock & paddle closer, Turns out it was not alone as I was surrounded by about 20 Seals. I try taking a shot as one comes right along side me when I'm shaken by a whack, another Seal was trying to get onto the back of my kayak! Where as I'm quite happy being around Seals I really didn't fancy a capsize so I push on...

 I'm followed by a group of Seals along the length of the Island, I chance getting the camera out again & this lovely Lady? popped along side...

As I passed a large group of Seals on the beach some of them, big bull Seals got in the water to investigate. I gave them a wide berth...

The trip back to my van without incident & I enjoyed practicing my forward paddling stroke into the slight headwind :)