HCC RNLI Exercise
RNLI exercise with Helensburgh Lifeboat. Photos say it all... 6.5 nm 5 hours (Mostly sitting around) GPS track...
Whitby Staithes and return – Solo in the Taran
Solo kayaking in my Taran from Whitby to Staithes - and back. Although due to a file corruption error on the GoPro Max, I only have footage of the Whitby to Staithes section and a little clip on the return leg. Conditions were not easy, due to large sets of swell coming in every...
A Day on the Water with the Taran – Plymouth Sound Adventure
After such a brilliant time in Looe yesterday in the Taran, I wasn’t ready to head home just yet. I booked into a campsite for two nights, giving myself a full day to make the most of paddling before driving home early Friday morning – and crucially, avoiding the dreaded Friday afternoon traffic. Eddystone...
A Gloomy Trip around Seil Island
Due to lots of non kayaking family related issues (its been a bit of a year!), this was going to be my first trip on the sea since the Isle of Wight circumnavigation in July! Despite hitting my local stretch of canal hard, you really cannot beat a good sea trip for upping the...
The Skerries
The weather was set fair for Sunday, so what could be a better option? A trip out to the Skerries. We met up at Cemlyn Bay. A rather large group too, so Si and I decided to do our own thing, separate to the group. Mirco was leading the other group and planned on...
Trearddur Bay Rhoscolyn
My first time in back in Anglesey since, gosh, last year! And what a super paddle. I met up, as pre-arranged, with Si and Kris and we decided to get on at Porth-y-post, just down the road from Porth Dafarch. From there we headed down towards CRAIG-Y-MOR at Trearddur bay, before heading off towards Rhoscolyn....
Menai Straits
With Saturday 14th December blown out, and the weather forecast or Sunday looking only slightly better; Simon, Ashley, Kris and I decided to meet up at the Menai Bridge Slipway at 0930 for a session in the Swellies. We played in the currents under Menai Bridge for a while before moving out to the...
Millendreath (Looe) to Polperro
Well into my second week of my holiday, I finally got to paddle my Valley Sirona. We were touring Devon and Cornwall, in the campervan, and had worked our way to the end at Sennen Cove, then worked our way along the north coast of Cornwall. We were now beginning to make our way...
Valley Sirona 16.1 A New boat at PM and South Stack
I somehow managed to buy a new boat during the week between my previous paddle and this weekend! It all started last week; as I was slipping in my spare paddles under the bungie cord on the deck of my Valley Etain, the bungie went snap. I managed to bodge it together enough to...
Spicy Penrhyn Mawr
Looking out to sea from my van parked at Porth Dafarch in the morning the sea state didn't look too bad, but every now and again I would notice some fairly hefty waves coming into the bay. I'd then look out a few minutes later and all would appear calm again. Hmmm.. interesting. I had...
Porth Dafarch to Rhoscolyn and back
Having arranged to paddle Harry Furlongs on Saturday, I headed to Cemlyn bay in my van, late on Friday night, arriving at around 11:30pm. Next morning the weather was lovely and sunny and the sea state smooth. No sooner had I taken my boat of the van and carried it to the beach, I...
Falmouth St Mawes
Ages ago I booked myself onto Sea Kayaking Cornwall's incident management week, not realising this was part of the courses week following their symposium weekend. At the time of booking, I thought I can travel down on the Saturday, taking it nice and easy, stopping overnight in the van if I need to. And...
Porth Dafarch to Rhocolyn and Back
First trip in our new van "Bobbie the Murvi" and I brought my wife along for the weekend too! Arriving late on Friday night, with just enough time for a quick one in the Paddlers, Mrs T and I settled down for our first nights sleep in the van. It was pretty quiet until...
Five Star Training – Day 4
A trip to the Skerries practising leadership navigation skills with a great group of paddlers. Another fabulous paddle with lots of learning from James Stevenson...
Five Star Training – Day 2
After another rough nights camping, day 2 saw us head off to Penrhyn Mawr from Porth Dafarch for some excellent paddling and coaching by James in good 5 * conditions. I think at the end of the day we were all pretty tired and we had all identified areas we needed to improve. For...
Five Star Training – Day 1
After a very wet and windy night that saw me getting up at 4am to dismantle my tarp, that was trying to leave camp, we I met with James Stevenson of Adventure Elements and the other trainees in the paddlers at 9am. The other paddlers were Helen, Yorkshire Dave and Gordon. Having made our introductions James...
NWSK End of Season Meet Day 2 – Porth Dafarch to South Stack and back
On day 2 of the NWSK end of Season meet, I decided I fancied some more lumpy seas to play in so I paddled with Sue's group, which consisted of Graham Cooke, Alan Tonge, and Alan. We messed about in Penrhyn Mawr for a bit before setting off for lunch stop in Abraham's Bosom....
Four Star Sea Kayak Leader Assessment
Day 1 Skills with Roger Chandler. We paddled from Cemlyn bay and did skills on Harry Furlongs tidal race before heading towards Carmel head. I saw some Dolphins over lunch and thought I was seeing things. Roger later identified them as Risso Dolphins. This was a tough day with me making mistakes as...
Flamborough to Bempton Arch and back
Both my paddling chum and I were both very keen to do this paddle. The wildlife, cliffs, and caves make this an excellent trip. The forecast was for sun, sun , sun, with winds f3-f4 SE, strengthening later with 1-2ft of swell. Setting off from South Landing we were soon rounding Flamborough head in...
Porth Dafarch to North Stack and back
The day after the four star training with Roger Chandler, I met up with Plum Loaf for a paddle. We decided on paddling to North Stack as the tides worked well for this trip. The tides were Mean Neap tides. Before setting off, I did some more fiddling with my boats outfitting. Penrhyn Mawr when...
