Warm Front For Greenland...

OK, bit of a long time coming this blog post. I'm sat in an internet cafe in Alghero over a week since the trip & what a trip!

My boss was off to Barcelona for a couple of days leaving me with two days on my hands :)

Finally the chance for the camping trip I've been promising myself.

That bit of firewood on the deck is the reason for the deliberately misleading title.

I'd borrowed my bosses Greenland Paddle for the trip. The plan was to use it on both days & keep my werner as a spare only, that way I can get a real good feel for the stick & I have to say I like it :)

The plan was to paddle from Porto Ferro around to Porto Conti & make camp on a fabulous beach called Abermasa according to the locals though the map says different?

 A familiar paddle to start with, Porto Ferro to Portocciolo.

 Leaving this rock behind I enter new territory, sheers cliffs & adventure.

 I'm pretty excited & loving the new views.

 Especially the new cave views.

Pee & food stop, not an ideal landing but its as good as it gets on this stretch of coastline.

 Approaching Isola Piana.

Its now very, very fecking hot! I'm sweating buckets, theres no breeze & I'm drinking water like mad. My only refuge is the huge caves on Isla Foradada in the distance.

I take refuge for a good twenty minutes after which time a sea breeze materialises from no where but with impeccable timing.

 Cave number two, another quick chillax.

 Then back underway.

 A tour boat dropping tourists at Neptunes Grotto.

Further on & after a quick 3K crossing to the far side of Porto Conti I reach this fab cave that I normally just sit outside whilst the clients go in.

 Abermasa & home for the night.

 Living the dream.

 Perfecto :)

 Looking across to the lighthouse at Cappa Caccia.

 Moonset over the lighthouse.

Day two & I'm up well before dawn as I want to cross to the lighthouse in darkness. I think my soul will appreciate the experience.

Getting lighter as I approach Cappa Caccia & i'm being treated to fly by's by Manx Shearwaters. I'm sure they have magic in their souls as I always get goosebumps when I see these wonderful earthlings.

 Approaching Isla Foradada Again but this time in the still light of dawn.

 I'll leave the cheesy "looking Good" caption just this once, I look like shit :)

An hour & a half into the trip & the sun finally makes an appearance. Time to bake again.

 Isola Pianna.

 Pleasing Juxtapositions.

 Light & Shade.

 An wonderfully calm & uneventfull paddle back, what a fab trip :)

Just The Two Of Us...

A bit late this post due to mobile internet on a dongle :S

I'm back in Blighty for the weekend as I write this & its making me miss Sardinia.

Whereas I'm supposed to be leading groups a quiet day meant I was heading out with just Ann for company on what has now become my favourite day trip from Tramariglio to Punto Negra, (just stunning!).

It was great paddling with Ann as she's an experienced kayaker so I could just chill & enjoy the paddle without having to worry about looking after wobbly clients.

First lunch at an awesome beach near Maristella. This guiding lark is like the life of a Hobbit with first breakfast, second breakfast ect...

Leaving the beach with Cappa Caccia in the distance though we're going left not right.

Cheese :D

A fab little cave. I didn't notice the shaft of light when I took the picture?

An evan better cave that we were able to paddle into :)

Framing Cappa Caccia in the distance.

Seriously Stunning this part of the trip & I regularly see a pair of Peregrin Falcons here.

Ladies first.

Sort of blowhole? Anyone know the name for these, its not a proper blowhole just a small recess that the air gets squeezed out of when a swell pushes its way in?

Second breakfast. I've since found a much nicer beach to land for lunch just a five minute paddle from here. Live & learn.

Sun bleached Cormorants.

Not your typical UK boating hazard :D

Looking good Ann, switz woo ;D

Some paddle float silliness to finish off a fab day with great company :)

Eye's Wide Open...

 After working pretty hard over here I finally get a day off & spend the evening doing what I love most, more kayaking :S

I was parked up at Tramariglio ready for a late evening paddle to Isola Foradada, a really cool Island near Neptunes Grotto, A big tourist attraction over here.

This was a pretty special trip for me. I visited Neptunes Grotto in 2010 & was blown away by the place but couldn't help dreaming of returning one day to paddle there in the late evening light.

I'm pretty pleased with the images I got on this trip but they don't convey the wonderful sounds of the sea gurgling under the undercut limestone ledges, the force of the spray as a swell surges into small holes squeezing out the air & the wonderful warm sea smell that subtly changed as the temperature gradually dropped from fecking hot to just hot. Not to mention the infectious joy & contentment of the locals in their pleasurecraft :)

Ready for launch at Tramariglio,
A familiar paddle to get me started.

Capo Caccia in the distance.

These towers are all around this coastline but strangely have no doors? I think they enter via a ladder???

Isola Foradada comes into view, I've paddle out here a couple of days ago but its lovely to now be on my own.

Stunning! The scenery of course ;D

Happy locals.

The first cave on Isola Foradada.
I avoided the caves on the last visit due to the swells so today I'm going to explore.

Cave number two on Isola Foradada. It's a biggy & I could almost paddle straight through.

Evan the powerboats go in.

Cave three on Isola Foradada, this small island is a real corker :)

Looking at the mainland I spot another cave.

naturally I head off to explore.

And it was soooo worth it :)

Following the cliffs I find another cave. The coast around here is predominantly limestone hence the fantastic geology.

Looking up at the gates to Mordor.

Which actually lead to Neptunes Grotto.

Looking out of the grotto from a small antechamber, kayaks only in here :)

Continuing on & I find yet another cave,

& another.

& another, this place is awesome!

Back to the familier coast at Capo Caccia for a gentle paddle back to Tramariglio.
Passing some more locals on the way.

Admiring the sunset :)

A perfect end to one of my best paddles ever.
Got my eye on a night paddle past Alghero next, watch this space :)