Month: June 2013

The wind was too strong yesterday so I spent the day shopping for food and planning the route ahead.  I didn’t set off this morning until the wind had dropped.

When crossing Morecambe bay, there was a very choppy patch of water just before I crossed the shipping channel and the fully laden boat was slamming down as it went over the back of the waves.

I arrived at Walney Island in the mist, and then spent an hour in the drizzle sewing a zip back on the tent that had become detached during yesterdays strong winds.

The forecast looks a bit iffy for tomorrow, so I might be here for more than one night.

It was a long walk to launch from low tide this morning, so I was glad to have a trolley.  Suddenly the sand turned to knee-deep mud at one point, but all the rain helped wash it off.

There was surf everywhere today as I paddled over various large sand banks which combined with a bit off a headwind meant I didn’t get that far.  I stopped at Blackpool as I couldn’t see anywhere else to camp on the map for quite a way along the coast.

I’ve now paddled over 1000NM since Cambridge, and had a pizza to celebrate.

I left Llandudno this morning to cross directly to Formby.  I weaved my way past the wind farms in the morning (with lots of new turbines under construction).

In the afternoon, it became a bit choppy as the tide turned against the wind, and I had to dodge some large ships and speed ferries arriving at Liverpool, and pick my moment carefully to cross the shipping channel.  This became tricky as everything disappeared everytime I was in a trough, and a few waves were breaking over my boat.

I saw some figures on the beach, but wasn’t really sure if they were people or the Anthony Gormley sculptures that the coastguard said are somewhere around here.

I felt pretty exhausted by the time I arrived at Formby, but it was a good day out nevertheless and 30 more miles are behind me.

I made an early start today to catch the tide – up at 3am and on the water by 5.30.  It’s near spring tides, which helped a lot, and I had a bit of a breeze behind me so the miles went by quickly.

It was a bit bumpy at Penrwn Mawr, but otherwise all very calm.  I passed just outside the mouse islands on the north coast of Anglesey which seemed to work well, and once I reached Point Lynas, I crossed directly to Great Ormes Head.

By midday, I’d covered 35NM and stopped at Llandudno after 40NM as the tide turned against me.

I arrived on Anglesey on Tuesday, and have been having a few days rest while some bad weather passes and Mike at Rockpool repairs a bit of damage I did to the bow of my kayak during a foggy landing back near Great Yarmouth.  Brilliant after sales service from Rockpool – thanks Mike.

While here, I met John Willacy (who designed the Taran and had used it to break many records).  Thanks for all the useful advice John – much appreciated.

On the paddle up here from Aberdesach, my shoulder was causing me quite a lot of pain, but fortunately, I met John Perrot, an osteopath (who was collecting a lovely looking Taran 16), and he did some sort of adjustment to my shoulder which made it feel a lot better – thanks John.

Hopefully, my shoulder will be OK when I start paddling again, but I’ve decided against the big crossing to the Isle of Man, and will be going the long way round.
I know I need to get a move on, but don’t want to make it any worse.  Anyway, it’s an early start tomorrow to catch the tide to paddle round the lovely north coast of Anglesey.

After spending a week at Porth Ceiriad – partly due to bad weather, but also to give my wrists and shoulders some time to recover – I was glad to be paddling again.  A wave took my hat as I was leaving the beach so I spent some time in the surf retrieving it.

It was a very calm day, even in Bardsey Sound.  I kept paddling until quite late, stopping about five miles south of Abermenai Point, so I should be able to make it to Anglesey tomorrow.

(Thanks to everyone who has donated recently – sorry for the delay in comments appearing – I need to clear the backlog of comment spam.)

Yesterday, I paddled up from New Quay to camp in the dunes at Aberdovey.  A nice paddle past interesting looking cliffs and over clear jellyfish-filled water.

I arrived at Aberdovey at dusk and was only there for a few hours – away with the next tide, trying to make the most off this good weather while it lasts.

Today, I crossed over to the Lleyn peninsula, stopping on a beach near Abersoch.  I was surprised to find the water was only about 6ft deep at one point when I was miles from shore – a tiny sand bank.

It’s tempting to push on towards Anglesey tomorrow, but the forecast doesn’t look too promising and a rest will be good for my wrists.

Lovely weather today, so I went for a paddle.  Just after passing Cardigan Island, suddenly two massive dolphins jumped clear out off the water right next to me.  They then swam alongside for about a mile until a powerboat (that probably wasn’t looking) went right over where they were swimming.  Hope they didn’t hit by a propeller.

Stopped on the beach just past New Quay.

I stopped in Fishguard yesterday and bought as much food as I could possibly fit into the kayak, after which I paddled on a few more miles to arrive at Newport Sands at sunset.

Today I used continued wrist pain, firing at the Aberporth range, and a headwind as excuses to take another rest day, relaxing in the dunes.

My wrists were a bit swollen after the crossing from Lundy, so I took a day off at Milford Haven, and sat on the beach eating and even went for a (cold) swim the sea.

Yesterday, I had a gentle paddle round to Abereiddy Bay.  The tide was helping a lot as I floated past the beautiful puffin infested coastline – I was doing 9 knots through Ramsey Sound at one point while hardly paddling.

I stopped to camp on the beach at Abereiddy Bay, and this morning have just paddled round to Porthgain for breakfast in a pub while I wait for the tide.  Now going to go round Strumble Head and into Fishguard to stock up as I’ve eaten all my food again.