Welcome to my Sea Kayaking (b)log
The Etain is a conscious departure from previous Valley designs. Valley kayaks were traditionally more “fish-form” i.e. widest point slightly forward of centre. The Etain is more neutral, in fact very slightly Swede form i.e. widest point rear of centre. Swede form kayaks have a different feel, slightly more glide and a perception of speed that is more noticeable because you are now paddling in a narrower part of the boat. The paddling stroke is also less encumbered and there is a general feeling of having less boat between you and the water.
For more info goto : http://www.valleyseakayaks.com/ or on facebook https://www.facebook.com/ValleySeaKayaks
Meeting up at the paddlers for Breakfast nice and early at <ahem!> 07:30! Sorry Ashley! Ashley made some comment about still being a student and what and earth was she doing up at this time... Not my fault Ashley, blame Si! We fuelled up before deciding to set off from Porth Dafarch. Oddly enough...
Another cracking day weather wise, albeit with a little bit more wind than Saturdays paddle. We set off from Borthwen, at Rhoscolyn, and paddled via the beacon up to Trearddur Bay, rock hopping as we went. After a short stop we headed back the way we came. Si was on form today and was really...
I think it is fair to say that Si, Keith and myself have a great fondness for paddling on the north coast of Anglesey. The rugged remote coastline, the islands - skerries, west mouse, Middle Mouse and East Mouse (I was going to say mice) along with the excellent wildlife, with plenty of birds,...
Another cold very grey day, saw Si, Keith and myself heading to Borthwen. We paddled out to Rhoscolyn Beacon, through the various tidal races, until we ended up looking at a rather sizeable race, just off the Beacon. Although it looked almost inviting, we all acquiesced to decline having a go. Firstly it was...
It's 2022 and suddenly there is a weather a window where its not blowing a hooley. What a better way to start 2022 with a little potter around The Stacks. Eight of us met at Porth Dafarch, it wasn't blowing at all, but it was a very grey dull day. We did the usual,...
Another beautiful day... Tom Carlisle joined us today and once again we decided to head for Cemlyn Bay for the tide assisted push across the top of Anglesey. I also needed to get off home at Lunchtime, so we decided to paddle to Porth Wen (The Brickworks) , where I'd then paddle solo, back...
After our longish paddle yesterday, we were so stoked up and the conditions were once again perfect, Si and I decided to do the same trip again. But this time we planned on passing Point Lynas and heading around towards Ynys Dulas. Due to having other commitments Wenders was unable to join us. Once...
Paddled with Wenders and Si. We decided to paddle across the top of Anglesey with the flood tide, lunch, then paddle back on the ebb tide. Managed to get as far as Porth Eilian, near Point Lynas, despite stopping for a leg stretch at Bull Bay. Saw some Porpoises around East Mouse. Some fairly...
I'd been thinking about doing the Holy Island trip for some time, but what with Covid, a knee replacement, a bicycle accident - which caused my bad knee to swell to the point I started getting DVT's (Deep Vein Thrombosis) in the calf muscle of my bad knee/leg, followed by a pulmonary embolism (from the...
Six of us met at Rhos on Sea, or I should say, three of us met at the pre-arranged meeting place with free parking and slipway access, and three met a bit further away with pay and display parking and a different slipway. It didn't really matter as we all met up on the...
Keefy Green messaged me earlier in the week, asking me if I fancied going along on simon B's trip to Flamborough. I have to admit I wasn't at all sure. Simon B tends to paddle from South Landing to North Landing and back again. It always seems a long way to go for such...
So is it Harry Furlough's or Harry Furlongs? Ordnance Survey reckon it is "Harry Furlough's" as does Welsh Sea Kayaking, and yet the chart definitely says Harry Furlong's! Searching the internet I found: "Harry Furlough's Rocks, sometimes said to be a misspelling of furlong from the length of the rocks". I'll use both terms...
I've just come across a little booklet written by the UK Sepsis Trust. I wish I had been told about this following my little sepsis episode a year ago. Or at least been given some of the info by the hospital when they discharged me. But then again, if I was told, I would...
With 18 of us in the group it was a bit like being on a symposium paddle! With the briefings completed we set off from Egremont across the Mersey to see the sights of Liverpool, as we were whisked along by the current. We were supposed to be a tight group crossing the Mersey,...
With the weather looking a bit wild (F5-F8) on the West Coast of Wales, I posted if anyone was interested in a Flamborough trip on the Sunday. It turned out Sabina was already on planing on heading to Flamborough. So, 10:00 am meet at South Landing, on the water for 10:30 was agreed. Simon...
The weather forecast was looking good for a morning paddle, with the winds increasing over lunchtime. So Andy and I decided a trip to Harry's would be a good option, leaving us plenty of time to get home. Due to the swell, Harry's was fairly messy, but it was still good fun catching the...
What a super day this turned out to be, with bright sunshine, lovely conditions and all in the middle of January. Having met up with Andy and Ann, in their new van, on the Friday, Andy and I set off from Porth Dafarch, on Saturday morning, with the plan of paddling to Rhoscolyn and...
After a day off after my trip around Anglesey, I paddled with Curly at Harry's. The sea was nice and smooth on the paddle out and Harry's was working nicely. There was nothing too big, but lots of fun, all the same. We were joined by lots of Terms, dive bombing into the water,...
For some time now I've been thinking about paddling around Anglesey. Having read the various blogs out there, by various paddlers who have completed this challenge, I decided I must have a go. Besides, there are just two small sections of Anglesey I had not paddled, so if anything, it will complete the missing...
Owain told me he had not paddled on the North coast of Anglesey, so I said I would see what I could do. Looking at the tides I could see that if we went from Bull Bay with the tide towards Middle Mouse, the tide would turn at 12:24 and bring us back again....
