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
I've never paddled the Farnes before, but I remember years ago watching very enviously a group of Sea Kayakers setting off from Bamburgh, when my kids were little and we were on holiday in that part of the world. Happy Days! Mike Robson put out an email saying he was running a trip on...
Paddling at Flamborough and along the Bempton Cliffs at this time of year make this trip a very special privilege. Many thanks to Mike Robson for organising. It was also a privilege to paddle once again with Ron Walker. Check out the photos below, which say it all really! To view in a light...
The start of the day saw us meeting around Simon Beasley's caravan at Anglesey Outdoors looking at options for a paddle. The group of ten was going to be of mixed abilities and with a strong southerly wind blowing, our options were going to be limited. In the end it was decided to paddle...
Meeting with PDCC at 9:00am it was soon settled with the weather forecast and tides, a trip out to the Skerries was most definitely on. So off we went to meet again in the car park at Camaes Bay. It was only a couple of weeks ago Helen, Gordon and I paddled to the...
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...
Day 5 of Five Star training saw us do an out and back from Soldiers Point around the Stacks, taking turns to do leadership, have a play in the race at South Stack and generally have some fun.This was followed with us returning to Anglesey Outdoors to sit out in the sunshine, summing up...
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...
After a better nights camping, Wednesday came with Open Water Navigation in the morning, personal skills in Penrhyn Mawr in the afternoon, followed by an excellent moonlit night nav exercise in the evening....... a very long but productive day. Monday seemed like a long long time ago! The night navigation was great fun. Hand-railing...
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...
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...
Having bumped into Abo in the Paddlers the night before, followed by a solid nights sleep (thanks to Abo showing me the delights of a Welsh Pale Ale which I cannot remember the name of, and err the green and yellow label was it?), I joined Abo and PL at Rhoscolyn. Both Abo and PL...
After seeing my wife and daughter off on Saturday morning to see the ballet in Sheffield, I set off for Anglesey. Leaving home, near Nottingham at this time would mean not arriving to Anglesey until 1300-1330 in the afternoon. But seeing as I am away for the week, to do my 5 star training,...
After a good night in the Paddler's Return with Gareth and Sarah, Sunday morning arrived all too soon. Sticking my head out of my tent, I met Becka and Jules who had arrived in the night and had pitched their tent close to mine. It was raining and by the time I'd been to...
Having arranged with Gareth and Sarah to meet at Parc Cybi Truck stop at 09:30 on Saturday morning, I decided to head over on the Friday night rather than a very early start on Saturday morning. With the usual Friday night traffic, I arrived at Anglesey Outdoors just before 11:00 pm, just in time for...
The deal was to meet at the Lighthouse cafe at 10:00. Due to someone forgetting their drysuit, then getting their partner, in mid hair dyeing mode, to drive halfway and meet with said drysuit, two of the party were, ahem, let's say a little late. Chris Fisk and I proceeded straight to North Landing to...
The photos below say it all really. Andy and I arranged to meet at 10:00 am at Cable Bay (Porth Trecastell in Welsh). Setting off from home at 6:00 am it was a chilly -2 C. The temperature didn't change much on the trip to Anglesey. Needless to say it was pretty cold.On the...
"My last paddle of the season" (possibly). Well that's what I told my wife! Still it won't be long before I can use the excuse of it being the "first paddle of the season"! hehehe... Well I blame this trip all on Mick Hargreaves. Having already told Andy Sloan there is no way I...
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....
Meeting up at Anglesey Outdoors early on Saturday morning, we split ourselves into groups depending on the weather/swell/tides/conditions and what we wanted to do. I Paddled with Jimski, Graham Cooke, Sue Couling, Dez Watson and Alan Riggott. Jimski lead the trip. After the overnight storm, there was lots of swell and fairly lumpy...
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...
