Suck It & See...

A bit of a last minute paddle this one & my first back on my local waters since Sardinia.

I usually wind Stuart up on facebook when he has days off work due to bad weather but he got the comment in before me today saying that he wasn't working because it was pissing down!

'Lets go for a paddle then' I said, 'Flat Holm?'. Game on :)

I literally had to drive straight to the beach to get there in time for the tide so it really was 'Suck It & See'. No tidal planning & no checking the weather forecast other than what I saw the night before. Probably not too sensible for paddling 4½ miles offshore to Flat Holm!

The diggers on the beach were doing a fantastic job of removing all the old building materials that have blighted the beach at Sully for so long!

 Leaving Sully & heading for the bumpy stuff :)

Doesn't look like it here but its about F4 with a moderate sea though we expect it to calm down as the tide ebbs with the wind on our return.

In the lee of the wind its lovely & calm as we approach Flat Holm but I expect a little more action on the East side.

 not enough action really, I wanted to play :(

The Flat Holm boat taking some contractors back to the mainland. I gave a little wave & they gave a little toot :)

Back at Sully Island here, it was an uneventful paddle back as the sea settled as predicated but at least there was some clapotic waves to play in :D

Image by Stuart

Stuart snapped me having fun!
It was great paddling my local waters with a good mate again despite the chilly air & drizzle. Looking forward to the next one!

Back Home Sea Home...

After three months away in Sardinia I finally arrive back home to the shores of Blighty & time it to co-incide with a paddle & presentation from Natalie & Michal from 'Home Sea Home' after their epic paddle around the UK to raise money for the Shadwell Basin Activity Centre & also for Joshua's Journey.

Donate Here :)

Ann, who I met in Sardinia & the organiser for the event can be seen here delegating her responsibility :) Sorry Ann :P

The Weather was perfect, (I brought it back from Sardinia) for a paddle around Wallasea Island & Potton Island. Not strictly sea kayaking but it'll do & was a very pleasant day out.

The sky's were impressive!

A very unusual portage.

Photo by Ann, but as she's in the picture she's either very skilled or passed her camera to someone :S

Lovely view to finish the day & the talk in the evening was fab too & very inspiring!

Take a look at there blog here

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 :)