Did YOU paddle today ?

[Murray Longworth]

Not today, but Wednesday. Tusker Island, from Dunraven Bay, South Wales

[ian johnston]

Unusually calm on the Moray firth today, did a paddle from Cullen to Findochty and return. With a big HW I managed to get right through the cave-tunnel of the "Whales Mou" and out of the back, not managed that too often.....the Bow Fiddle is always good to paddle :o)









Ian

[seawolf856]

Spent the weekend in the Lakes with the Deva Canoe Club from Chester. Its an annual event and we take white water boats to run the rivers and open boats and sea kayaks to tour the lakes.
Saturday was spent doing Ullswater end to end and back and Sunday was spent on Coniston in very cold deteriorating weather.

[ChrisJK]

Sounds sort of good Seawolf.
I needed to go to my daughters to cut a hedge and seeing as her and husband had Covid so time for a paddle after.
I took the Vember and had a pleasant if misty paddle on the Upper Peak forest canal. Very pleasant as nothing else apart from Ducks was moving on the water.

[mrcharly]

3 times in the past few days.
Thurs eve - a lovely cruise, just 8km, in the moonlight. Not cold and no wind.
Sat, a real slog into the wind around an island. Looked forward to downwind home, but, predictably, the wind died.
Mon eve, lovely nightime paddle in the snow. I love paddling while it is snowing. It was very dark though, and I found it difficult to judge speed and progress.

Monday was my first time trying a new getup - a buffalo special six shirt under my rooster cag (paired with lowe alpine cap and reed chillcheater trousers).

It worked really well, I didn't feel cold at all. Temp roughly 0 with 8-10knot winds and snow. The Lowe cap did a good job of preventing the stinging pain of snowy ice being driven against your face.

[leighv]

Instead of posting a photo from my lunch hour paddle, I’m going to be a show off and post an entire 3.5 minute video of it :)

Living near London means my local paddle is a boring canal. But living right next to it means it’s convenient and keeps me paddle fit for my weekend adventures around the UK. It’s nice to get out and feed the local birds and just enjoy being on the water.

[Owen]

Nice video, says it all. Was that filmed with two GoPro's?

[leighv]

Nice video, says it all. Was that filmed with two GoPro's?

Yep! I have an 11 and a 12, and use a remote to control the one that sits on my stern. It’s very useful having more than one of them, although I’ve noticed some slight colour inconsistencies between them, despite them supposedly having the same sensor. Probably not something that bothers most people though! I also use my phone for some of the footage :)

[Owen]

I've just got a second one for just that reason. Although mine are both 8's. Interesting to see how having two can work.

[leighv]

Oh absolutely! Having the extra one gives you way more scope for shooting all that “B roll” footage. Ultimately you can make far more engaging videos by using those different perspectives, although the stern mounted one is usually my “main” focal point for most of my videos as it’s the angle that shows the best kayaking perspective, in my opinion (I’m going to go on a limb here and say I personally never wear a helmet cam and don’t really enjoy watching videos using them as the result tends to give me motion sickness!).

It’s also more fun although I’m the first to admit that it’s a bit of a rabbit hole and I now find myself constantly faffing on the water setting up angles and things! Quite a few of the shots in this video were done by hanging the GoPro from tree branches!

[P4ddy]

I like seeing the paddle strokes, looking smooth 😎. I've yet to invest in a second camera, I've just invested in a new drysuit instead..

[leighv]

I like seeing the paddle strokes, looking smooth 😎. I've yet to invest in a second camera, I've just invested in a new drysuit instead..

Probably a wise decision, safety and comfort first!

[P4ddy]

I'll report back on the comfort later, I'm comfy and warm even in winter in my wetsuit. I'm looking forward to my first 'dry' paddle.