Did YOU paddle today ?

[mrcharly]

It has been calm here, so I dug the old race boat out of the shed and took it out on the loch. Was very tentative at first, but then relaxed into it and enjoyed myself.

[LRB125]

Been real busy last 6 months but finally got to get on the water today. Paddled Trearddur Bay to Rhoscoyln beach, low tide, stunning calm weather and taking in the Beacon Rocks. Lots of seals to see and very impressed with my new boat - Rockpool Eto (sorry no pictures, next investment is camera)

Did that stretch of coast last Sunday launching at Rhoscolyn and paddling out to the beacon first for a play in the (non existent) tide race - neap tide doh!! The White Arch was wonderful as always but the lack of tide only allowed a one way passage through the Black Arch. A fabulous paddle, thanks for posting.

Yes, it really is beautiful, our caravan overlooks the White Arch and we've witnessed some amazing sea action over there. Not brave enough to attempt a play in the tide race as yet, I have to pick my moments to venture round that part of the Headland, can be quite onerous (for the novice)

[ChrisJK]

A digression with two parts to this post as I've not been out today but the season beckons.
Thanks mrcharly that pic sent me back to teenage years and paddling a similar contraption on the Thames at Reading which possibly is why I love my Shrike so much, Keep it moving and balance isn't a problem.

Part 2 a question for LRB125 :- {Forgive me if I speak out of turn} Are you a member of a club? I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but quite a few folks on the forum are members of various clubs. Who do accept what might be termed orbital members. Often they could well be arranging both training and exploratory trips in your area eg Shrewsbury, Chester, Wirral, Liverpool and no doubt closer.

For my part I have done that stretch both one way and return several times. Hopefully a decent coach will help develop the resilience to press past your comfort zone but also be there to pull you out if things go pear shaped. I tend to only attempt new areas in ideal conditions and don't entirely get excited by spring tides though there's always a frisson if it happens to be one,

It's not always true but in general there can be safety in numbers and circa £20 pa isn't too much to ask

[LRB125]

Hi Chris

Thanks for the reply and no forgiveness needed. I would love to join a club handy to Trearddur. My position is one that my work up until now has never afforded me much time at the caravan/paddling. When I get the opportunity I tend to paddle just around the Trearddur Bay area, not venturing too far, hopefully my commitments for work will be overtaken by more paddle time later this year and would prefer to paddle in a group to be honest

When I do venture out past the point towards Rhoscoyln I do feel a little nervous by myself but do carry a radio and PLB just in case, just getting the chance to be on open water is so relaxing and magical when you look back towards the mainland, not many people get to see that side of the beauty only looking from the land, outwards which is still stunning

[ForeverYoung]

Last night, along with five others, I completed a four day trip around Arran. It’s the second time I’ve circumnavigated Arran and it was a fantastic trip 🙂

That sounds amazing. I can see Arran from my driveway, but still never paddled there yet. It's on the (ever growing!) list

[ChrisJK]

Hi LRB125
By orbital I meant that you don’t necessarily need to live near the club base but that if you join one you will receive information on trips at your level and also of multi day trips such as that which Leigh illustrates above.
Which our club did last year. Great fun.
Plenty of clubs head to Anglesey as a staple place to paddle as there are so many great places to paddle and when it’s blowing in one direction there’s shelter somewhere else.
Yes seeing the land from the sea is great and great opportunities to see wildlife
Safe paddling.

[LRB125]

Thanks for the heads up Chris, will do a little club research

[pretty_plankton]

The last six months have been quite the adventure. After getting back in a kayak after thirty years getting back in a kayak has been such a joy. Living in Amsterdam without a car, having my own kayak never seemed like much fun or affordable. Now I love paddling the city, especially the 'garden city' parts. Watching the nesting birds, landing at a waterside café for a coffee or just watching the sunset.

Amsterdam canals trip, food and drink in the center near Leidseplein.


Parking at the restaurant terrace of the rental place next door


Enjoying the sunset while sitting in the fountain at Sloterplas urban lake.


Exploring the quiet parts of the Sloterpark. Around that corner we had been watching the turtles sunbathing.

[Sean_soup]

Thanks for the heads up Chris, will do a little club research

Are you on the big caravan site with its own slipway just by Porth y Garan? (I'm a bit envious if so - that's a fine place to be able to trundle a kayak down to the water without having to put it on a car roof first!)

There's a very active Snowdonia club who often paddle in that neck of the woods, and you may find that seawolf856 (see posts above in this thread) can recommend a local club (possibly the same one I think).

As Chris says, you don't necessarily have to be based where a club is based so long as they paddle reasonably often where you want to paddle. (Though you'll miss out on some of the social side, pool sessions etc., if they're a long way from you.) Another possibility you might check out is the Liverpool club who seem to be quite active on the sea and often paddle in N Wales and around Anglesey in particular.

You also have a community of very high quality professional coaches operating in your area. (Perhaps as many as are spread out around the rest of the country combined.) If you want to establish a good base of foundational skills, you could perhaps look at joining an introductory or intermediate (or intro-mediate) course with one of those. For that kind of thing I think my first recommendation would be Sea Kayaking Wales, but there are a fair few others. (Sea Kayaking Anglesey and SKUK for example.) There are other coaches who specialise more in slightly more advanced stuff.

[LRB125]

Hi Sean, yes, that's the site. Having it's own slip is amazing and handy. I have just invested in a rack for the car so hopefully if I get involved with a club I can then be in a position to travel further afield

Your comments about professional coaches in the area is a great suggestion, will do a little online research. I'm going to take my kayak to 4 mile bridge tomorrow and paddle back to Trearddur (the weather, sea state looks perfect for a novice). We have walked both sides of that estuary, it's stunning so really looking forward to paddling the same route

[seawolf856]

Thanks for the heads up Chris, will do a little club research

Are you on the big caravan site with its own slipway just by Porth y Garan? (I'm a bit envious if so - that's a fine place to be able to trundle a kayak down to the water without having to put it on a car roof first!)

There's a very active Snowdonia club who often paddle in that neck of the woods, and you may find that seawolf856 (see posts above in this thread) can recommend a local club (possibly the same one I think).

As Chris says, you don't necessarily have to be based where a club is based so long as they paddle reasonably often where you want to paddle. (Though you'll miss out on some of the social side, pool sessions etc., if they're a long way from you.) Another possibility you might check out is the Liverpool club who seem to be quite active on the sea and often paddle in N Wales and around Anglesey in particular.

You also have a community of very high quality professional coaches operating in your area. (Perhaps as many as are spread out around the rest of the country combined.) If you want to establish a good base of foundational skills, you could perhaps look at joining an introductory or intermediate (or intro-mediate) course with one of those. For that kind of thing I think my first recommendation would be Sea Kayaking Wales, but there are a fair few others. (Sea Kayaking Anglesey and SKUK for example.) There are other coaches who specialise more in slightly more advanced stuff.

Thanks for the mention Sean. I am a sea kayaking leader with Deva CC based in Chester but I have also paddled with Snowdonia and Liverpool clubs. Snowdonia CC is a very active club and some of our members paddle with them regularly. They run trips around Anglesey all the time and will accept new members of any level. Their leadership and guidance would certainly help LRB125 to learn more about the many amazing places to paddle in your own back yard on Anglesey.

[LRB125]

Thanks for the heads up Chris, will do a little club research

Are you on the big caravan site with its own slipway just by Porth y Garan? (I'm a bit envious if so - that's a fine place to be able to trundle a kayak down to the water without having to put it on a car roof first!)

There's a very active Snowdonia club who often paddle in that neck of the woods, and you may find that seawolf856 (see posts above in this thread) can recommend a local club (possibly the same one I think).

As Chris says, you don't necessarily have to be based where a club is based so long as they paddle reasonably often where you want to paddle. (Though you'll miss out on some of the social side, pool sessions etc., if they're a long way from you.) Another possibility you might check out is the Liverpool club who seem to be quite active on the sea and often paddle in N Wales and around Anglesey in particular.

You also have a community of very high quality professional coaches operating in your area. (Perhaps as many as are spread out around the rest of the country combined.) If you want to establish a good base of foundational skills, you could perhaps look at joining an introductory or intermediate (or intro-mediate) course with one of those. For that kind of thing I think my first recommendation would be Sea Kayaking Wales, but there are a fair few others. (Sea Kayaking Anglesey and SKUK for example.) There are other coaches who specialise more in slightly more advanced stuff.

Thanks for the mention Sean. I am a sea kayaking leader with Deva CC based in Chester but I have also paddled with Snowdonia and Liverpool clubs. Snowdonia CC is a very active club and some of our members paddle with them regularly. They run trips around Anglesey all the time and will accept new members of any level. Their leadership and guidance would certainly help LRB125 to learn more about the many amazing places to paddle in your own back yard on Anglesey.

Thanks guys, will make enquiries

Managed a paddle yesterday from 4 Mile Bridge to Porth y Garan. Absolutely stunning. The Estuary was nice and relaxed with a stop off to drink some water and take in the scenery before hitting the open sea. There was a light breeze and once I reached the Beacon it was a bit of a workout against wind/tide but luckily the 3 areas where there was a bit of a race going weren't too wide

Tiring later in the evening with a few aches & pains but no pain, no gain

[ChrisJK]

Lovely shots LRB125
I'll look out for a white boat if I'm paddling in that area, Yes UKRGB members do cross paths. I met Sean_soup on Bardsey island me on land he on sea and seawolf joined me when I launched my Shrike. escapist kindly shared his Vember and unknowingly I have probably paddled with or passed numerous others which may have included a sea kayaker this Sunday when I paddled on Coniston?
Coniston is a lovely place to paddle and there are several decent access points, Saturday's paddle was great with a little wind but went down to the Swallows and Amazons beloved island.
Arthur Ransom started me out on an interest in water sports and I headed to sea scouts which was a mixed experience. However It's great to visualise the probably much less visited spot of yesteryear,
Sundays paddle was a contrast where I went up midway on the west side and descended on the east side and then returned via the island on the west side,
The forecast might have said gentle breezes but there was a degree of fetch and short chop with a few white horses so downwind I needed to intermittently use my skeg even on my V hulled Shrike and enjoyed a degree of surfing, O n my return I used the lee of the island to cross back and tried to avoid beam on directions as I crossed at a short point . As I progressed on my return with the wind generally heading straight down the lake I was looking for the lee but many of the bays are pretty shallow so needed to avoid bashing the hull and scraping my paddle, Really useful learning,

[leighv]

Saturday's paddle was great with a little wind but went down to the Swallows and Amazons beloved island.

I instantly recognised Peel Island in your photo :) Coniston is always such a lovely paddle, although as you mentioned, it's long enough to get some slightly annoying chop sometimes. The water level looks a lot lower than the last time I paddled it about two or three months back.

[LRB125]

Lovely shots LRB125
I'll look out for a white boat if I'm paddling in that area, Yes UKRGB members do cross paths. I met Sean_soup on Bardsey island me on land he on sea and seawolf joined me when I launched my Shrike. escapist kindly shared his Vember and unknowingly I have probably paddled with or passed numerous others which may have included a sea kayaker this Sunday when I paddled on Coniston?
Coniston is a lovely place to paddle and there are several decent access points, Saturday's paddle was great with a little wind but went down to the Swallows and Amazons beloved island.
Arthur Ransom started me out on an interest in water sports and I headed to sea scouts which was a mixed experience. However It's great to visualise the probably much less visited spot of yesteryear,
Sundays paddle was a contrast where I went up midway on the west side and descended on the east side and then returned via the island on the west side,
The forecast might have said gentle breezes but there was a degree of fetch and short chop with a few white horses so downwind I needed to intermittently use my skeg even on my V hulled Shrike and enjoyed a degree of surfing, O n my return I used the lee of the island to cross back and tried to avoid beam on directions as I crossed at a short point . As I progressed on my return with the wind generally heading straight down the lake I was looking for the lee but many of the bays are pretty shallow so needed to avoid bashing the hull and scraping my paddle, Really useful learning,

Lovely paddle Chris, yes it's a great place. I've been on Coniston once when initially choosing my 1st boat (plastic Valley Gemini which I still have). I actually live outside of Kendal and have all that beauty on the doorstep but never seem time from work to utilise, however should change later this year when closer to full retirement :)

What boat do you have Chris, so I can also keep an eye out

[ChrisJK]

Hi LRB125

I have a Shrike and a Vember both wooden boats.
Leigh yes I also noted that the water level was low. On my last visit i got briefly but precariously stuck on a submerged rock not entirely an easy moment with a V shaped hull.

[wannabay]

An unusual ‘visitor’ on our evening club paddle last evening, downriver towards Greenwich and return to Shadwell, the Viking Sky midway on a world tour according to Cruisemapper. To the right is a Thames clipper, fast multi hulled passenger ferry, just leaving Greenwich pier and behind are the masts of Cutty Sark. The dome in the foreground is the entrance to the Greenwich foot tunnel which exits at Island Gardens on the north bank, and the dome behind is the Old Royal Naval College

[leighv]

Yesterday I paddled around Ramsay Island and through The Bitches for the first time. There was no swell and only around F3 northerly wind so the rapids weren’t honking but it felt very similar to paddling at Lee Valley White Water Centre (GoPro always flattens the footage somewhat but yeah, it wasn’t big by any means, but the flow was running around 4.5 knots so careful breaking in and out).

[Sean_soup]

Very nice. :-)

FWIW, I think it's quite unusual for much in the way of swell to make it to the Bitches. Somewhat like the Falls of Lora and the Swellies, it's protected from the prevailing winds and ocean swell so you more often experience the powerful tidal currents as being like a big river feature than a tiderace as such with waves surging upstream. On your way around did you find any tideraces working on the outside of the island?

Will you have a chance to visit Skomer while you're there?

[pretty_plankton]

A bit of touring Amsterdam West last Sunday, as per usual. Lots of baby bird watching and sunshine.



Swimmer protection detail. In addition to the tipsy party barges, aggressive speedboats were back on the water last weekend. When some boats started pestering him, I kept my boat between him and any approaching boats. He was happy not having to be on the lookout all the time and I got lots of opportunity to practice with my new greenland paddle.



Glad I got this one out of the water... after nearly sticking my hand in.



By now the crew of the watersports centre and café have assigned me a parking spot.

[leighv]

Very nice. :-)

FWIW, I think it's quite unusual for much in the way of swell to make it to the Bitches. Somewhat like the Falls of Lora and the Swellies, it's protected from the prevailing winds and ocean swell so you more often experience the powerful tidal currents as being like a big river feature than a tiderace as such with waves surging upstream. On your way around did you find any tideraces working on the outside of the island?

Will you have a chance to visit Skomer while you're there?

Sadly we didn’t get a chance to go to Skomer. We hit significant flow at several points around the island, having to paddle against it and eddy hop several times to progress. We knew this was going to be the case though, so were prepared for it!

[Sean_soup]

Sadly we didn’t get a chance to go to Skomer.

Ah well, some other time. It's a stunning place to visit at this time of year.

And FWIW, the landing fee is absolutely worth every penny to enjoy the privilege of not needing to book the ferry to make your own way over there and spend the day on the island on foot. (Without a circumnavigation or something as well the trip there and back barely clocks up enough mileage to count as a paddling day, but it's still a really good day!)

I'd very much like to catch the tide race at the Garland Stone in good condition one of these days. (No such luck so far!)

We hit significant flow at several points around the island, having to paddle against it and eddy hop several times to progress. We knew this was going to be the case though, so were prepared for it!

I'm not a regular visitor to Pembrokeshire, but I've been around Ramsey a few times. Last time there was a really nice little tide race happening probably at one of those points on the West side where you needed to pick up the pace and push through. There wasn't much swell about but apparently just enough to kick up some beautiful glassy little waves, surging up against the flow. (Making the eddy-hop pretty effortless if your timing is good enough to hop on a wave and surf up through.)

I realised later that I would have had a more enjoyable day overall if I'd stayed there to play a while before moving on and heading round to the Bitches. Not that I have anything to complain about, it was a grand day out.

[ForeverYoung]

A group of us today launched from Ardrishaig and paddled down to the pub at Otter Ferry for lunch. After an excellent lunch (I had seafood parpadelle 😋) we paddled back up into a very strong headwind. We put those big pub lunches to good use 😀

[seawolf856]

A group of us headed out for a circumnavigation of Puffin Island off the SE corner of Anglesey. The sea state was 'lively' and the headwind made the crossing of Puffin Sound (passage between mainland and the island) a bit of a grunt. It was a short day but good fun with some downwind surfing on the way back.

[wannabay]

Evening club paddle upriver from Shadwell to the Millennium footbridge and back, virtually no wind and the final 2 hrs of an ebb tide, so a fairly relaxed paddle although the flow under London Bridge was still enough for a good work out, here we are returning passing HMS Belfast with Tower Bridge in background



And waiting for a thames clipper (ferry) to pass before crossing back over to Shadwell

[seawolf856]

Evening club paddle upriver from Shadwell to the Millennium footbridge and back, virtually no wind and the final 2 hrs of an ebb tide, so a fairly relaxed paddle although the flow under London Bridge was still enough for a good work out, here we are returning passing HMS Belfast with Tower Bridge in background

Superb photo's, thanks for sharing. Shows a completely different aspect of our sport. Open ocean and remote locations are all well and good but I think these images illustrate perfectly how sea kayaking can provide such varied perspectives on life as well as location.