Go Sea Kayak Blog

Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Tyla Images Expedition Around Wales Day 19...

Porth Dinllaen To Nefyn...

Hmmm, Screwed up quite a bit today. For Some reason I slowly packed up, got in my boat & then & only then did I actually focus on the sea & look at what it was doing?
I had been looking at the view all morning, (hard not too), but it hadn't occurred to me to check the sea state & the sea state was pretty rough, whoops!
There were white caps everywhere & a decent surf.
Not a promising start but as I was already in my boat I decided to give it a go.

It was well bumpy in Porth Dinllaen at the large bay was facing the wind. A couple of times I got hit side on by some big waves but managed to brace & bongo slide my way out of trouble. It cant be a good omen to be fighting with the sea this early in the day so I gingerly make my way to Nefyn beyond the next headland & look for a camp spot.

I planned to sit it out on the beach & carry on if the conditions improved.
It was cold in the wind so I put my inner tent up for shelter not wanting to fully unpack just incase I got another chance to get going. I chose my spot carefully on landing so that & didn't have to move to set up camp for the night & By about 4PM I admitted defeat & set up camp properly.

My GPS seems to be buggered & kept switching off though it usually does that if it gets knocked & I did have some large waves break onto be so maybe it was that...

GEEK STATS...

Trip Odom 1.62 Nautical Miles, (1.86 Statute)

Max Speed 4.7 Knots

Average Speed 2.8 Knots

Time Moving 34 mins

Leaving Porth Dinllaen...

Temporary Camp,(inner tent only)...

Permanent Camp...

Chilling...

Monday, 18 July 2011

Tyla Images Expedition Around Wales Day 18...

Hells Mouth To Porth Dinllaen...

I've been dreading this day since the moment I came up with my around Wales Idea. The tip of the Lleyn is a daunting challenge & deserves respect.

I set of at 9AM & slowly made my way to Porth Meudwy 7NM away, hopping from headland to headland along the way. I planned to head around the tip on the young flood & had plenty of time to get there so I was in no rush.

Arriving at Porth Meudwy I still had half an hour to wait before I could go.

I have to admit that I was rather nervous & blowing out frequently like there was an inflatable paper bag against my lips (LOL).

Once around Pen Y Cil there was some quite obvious flow, not all going in the same direction. I hit a few overfalls early on but the waves were tiny & quite playful. It was going well & I was hugging the cliffs real close as the main current was still ebbing, maybe I'm a bit too over cautious?
I crossed some small bays feeling for any opposing flow & checking my speed on my GPS as I went, (still blowing out occasionally (LOL).

I bumped into another kayaker, Jim, near the tip & going the other way on the last of the ebb. Strange to think I just wanted to get around the corner to the safer water & her I was chatting about kayaking.

It did finally get interesting as I approached Braich Y Pwll overfall. It was quite bumpy & I was enjoying the ride till I tried to get round the point. The ebb hit me & I was being sucked back towards some standing wave that I'm sure weren't there a moment ago. I had to paddle hard, really hard to break free.
The rest of the journey to the next exit, Porth Oer was thankfully uneventful.

Relieved & very chuffed to be at Porth Oer again I contemplated setting up camp early but the sea was too calm to waste & the flow was now going in my direction.
I treated myself to a cheese & tomato panini & a cafe latte in the cafe there, (bliss).

Back underway & I decided to head for Porth Dinllaen to camp on the beach there. I encountered some bumpy water as the tide raced around the headlands but nothing to worry about.
It was the last 3-4 miles that were to get a bit worrying. The wind got stronger & stronger in my face & the wind against tide conditions were getting scary.
I looked at my options & decided to stay well out from the shore & use the tide to get me there quicker.
Despite the strong headwind I was making 3.5 - 4 Knots & evan 5 Knots for a short while.
I was paddling hard & the kayak was rising on the waves & smashing down into the next ones.

The last time I paddled at Porth Dinllaen it was quite calm & the overfalls at Carreg Ddu were quite bumpy evan then, I was dreading what they'd be like in these conditions.

Reaching the headland at Porth Dinllaen I rested & ate a snickers in the lee of the headland preparing myself for rounding the tip.
The overfalls were pretty impressive but I hugged the shore tightly & avoided the worst of them.
What I hadn't counted on were the big swells steepening into waves as I approached the lifeboat station. It would of been scary but the lifeboat men were ready for a launch & were watching me.
I landed right next to the station & got the camera ready to catch the launch. Fab time for the batteries to die (LOL).

There was nowhere to camp near the station so I got back in my boat & made my way across to the main beach to set up camp.

What An Amazing Day!!!

GEEK STATS...

Trip Odom 23.3 Nautical Miles, (26.8 Statute)

Max Speed 6.7 Knots

Average Speed 3.3 Knots

Time Moving 07:03:43

Getting Ready To Leave...

Just Head For The Next Headland & Keep Going...

Ynys Gwylan-Fawr & Ynys Gwylan-Fach...

Bardsey In The Distance...

Porth Meudwy...

Rounding Pen Y Cil...

Carreg Ddu & Bardsey...

No Going Back Now...

Especially now...

Heading Into Porth Oer...

Camp At Porth Dinllaen...

Tyla Images Expedition Around Wales Day 17...

Llanaber To Hells Mouth...

I Didn't think I needed to be up so early today so I rose at 7AM & left at 08:30AM.
I planned to cross from Shell Island to Pen Y Chain at Pwllheli to reach the Lleyn peninsular as the wind was in the west making a crossing to St Tudwals a bit of a slog.
A dolphin came & saw me off from Shell Island as I begun my crossing. It was extremely calm on the water but I'm not a fan of crossings, their quite dull & alone can be intimidating. This crossing was only 8NM in length but seemed to take ages despite a 4 knot average speed.

The Wildlife was fab, I saw loads of huge Barrel Jellyfish, Some Velvet Scoters, Manx Shearwaters & Gannets.

I stopped at Pen Y Chain for a breather then continued across the bay to Pwllheli, it was a bit of a slog.
Passing Pwllheli it was obvious that I was quite burnt out & made very slow progress, I think yesterday was catching up with me.
I eventually reached the Warren & pulled in for some food & to refill my water bottles.

Amazing what a rest & some Alpen can do, I felt much better so pushed on for Aberdarron.
The sea out of St Tudwals Roads was surprisingly bumpy but bloody good fun. The next Bay, Porth Ceiriad was much calmer. It was when I turned into the appropriately named Hells Mouth that it all went a bit nuts. There was a very strong wing charging out of the bay, couldn't be in more contrast to the previous bay.
The waves were quite substantial so I didn't fancy crossing the bay, instead I turned into the wind, leaping off the waves as I made my way to the shore where the waves were tiny. Anyone on the beach would have no idea what I went through to get to shore (LOL).

I found a fab camp spot just off the beach on some springy grass that was wonderfully comfortable to lie on.
Despite the daunting challenge of the following day I still had the best nights sleep I've had in ages...

GEEK STATS

Trip Odom 26 Nautical Miles, (29.9 Statute)

Max Speed 5 Knots

Average Speed 3.4, (4 Knots during the crossing to the Lleyn)

Time Moving 07:43:14

Almost At Pwllheli...

Heading Out Of St Tudwals Roads...

First Glimpse of Bardsey...

Hells Mouth...

Camp At Hells Mouth...

View Of Bardsey...

Tyla Images Expedition Around Wales Day 16...

Cwmtydu To Llanaber...

Got up at 6AM & with intent. I felt the exped was grinding to a halt & wanted to get back on track. The forecast was good & I was determined to put some serious miles in.
I decide to head for Morfa Dyffryn some 38NM away according to the GPS but that's in a straight line. In all I travelled 42.2NM, (48.5 Statute) & that was 3 NM short of Morfa Dyffryn.

It all started well, the first 10 miles seemed to drag but I got into my groove once they were behind me.
I was glad it was calm as there was still a lot of cliffs to pass & no escape routes for miles at a time.
It did however get bumpy approaching Aberystwyth & the rain was obscuring Aberystwyth from view.
It then went remarkably calm just passed Aberystwyth till I reached the surf at Borth. The wind was coming from my left & kept pushing me towards the shore & into the steepening swell. Quite frequently I had to take evasive action to stop a steepening wave hitting me side on & toppling me.

I was aware sandbar on the mouth of the Dyfi river & the surf it creates. I decided to just head straight for it though. My plan was to cross the waves horizontally as I make my way to the far shore.
Turned out that the waves came from two directions & created steep triangles rather than waves. I just paddled hard in between them & got through O.K.

The dunes from the Dyfi to Tywyn were absolutely stunning & with the mountains as a backdrop & the sun shining again I could be mistaken for thinking I was in Sardinia, (but thats another exped dream).

Tywyn to Llanaber was a real drag, I was knackered by now & just wanted to get out of the kayak. I did spot some Eider ducks & enjoyed teasing them with a bad imitation of their mating call.

The last stretch from from Barmouth was much the same as Borth with regards to the surf & I had a few very close calls.
I had set off at 07:30AM & finally reached camp just before 8PM. I hastily got some food & coffee in me so I'd have a chance to recover for tomorrow & turned in early for the night.

GEEK STATS...

Trip Odom 42.2 Nautical Miles, (48.5 Statute)

Max Speed 5.8 Knots

Average Speed 3.6 Knots

Time Moving 11:33:08

Tenby...

Hope I won't need there help...

The Last Section of Cliffs...

Approaching Aberystwyth...

Aberystwyth...

Much Needed Lunch Stop...

Dunes Near Tywyyn...

Tywyn...

Getting Closer To Barmouth...

Much Closer...

What A View...

Camp at Llanaber...

Sunset over The Lleyn Peninsular...

Tyla Images Expedition Around Wales Day 15...

Poppit Sands To Cwmtydu...

Woke to a cracking day & got up early'ish to head into St Dogmaels for my supplies. Its a nice walk but I was keen to get on the water & kept a good pace.

Finally headed off at 10:30 & all looked good early on, a little bumpy on the headlands but just enough to be fun.

Leaving the headland from Dera it looked a little bumpy & I decided not to cut straight across to Ynys Lochtyn. Glad I didn't as it got a bit rough as I approached Traeth Penbryn. I pulled in to check the map I purchased at St Dogmaels & decided wether or not to continue.

I decided to carry on & set off again. In the time that I took to decide & Eat a snickers it had got evan worse with lots of whitecaps & much bumpyness.

I cautiously turned around & headed back to the beach to sit it out & hope it improves.

A couple of hours later & with a better tanned arse than earlier, (LOL) I set off again. Conditions were much better but it was bumpy around Ynys Lochtyn though I expected this as its a bit headland.

The rest of the paddle to Cwmtydu was uneventful & very beautiful. Sheer cliffs rose high & prevented escape from the sea. This was a place for the sea birds & I'm privileged to have got a glimpse into it...

GEEK STATS...

Trip Odom 14.1 Nautical Miles, (16.2 Statute)

Max Speed 5.8 Knots

Average Speed 3.6 Knots

Time Moving 03:54:38

Approaching Mwnt...

Traeth Penbryn...

Cwmtydu...

Camp At Cwmtydu...

Tyla Images Expedition Around Wales Day 14...

Ceibwr Bay To Poppit Sands...

Terrible forecast again today but it looked do-able early on so I packed up without any breakfast & started the short paddle to Poppit sands.

This was a strategic move as its nearer to where my supplies are being delivered so will save a lot of time on Saturday & knock a few miles of the exped as well.

The short paddle started off O.K. but got quite rough towards the last two headlands. Not so much white caps as spiking of the waves which was quite tricky in the swells. The furthest visible headland from Ceibwr was particularly bad though I surfed past it pretty quick.

I think Pembrokeshire wanted to send me out with a bang.

GEEK STATS...

Trip Odom 4.18 Nautical Miles, (4.8 Statute)

Max Speed 8.1 Knots

Average Speed 3.9 Knots, (4.5 Knots up-to Camaes Head)

Time Moving 01:04:34