Reluctant Surfers...

With only one Glam Boaters free this weekend I decided to cancel the more gentle planned trip & go look for some action with Stuart (sorry Pete).

We decided to meet at Aberthaw & decide from there where we were going to paddle. Arriving at Aberthaw it wasn't looking inviting at all. Good F5-6 conditions & slight to moderate sea state but it was very messy & gusting. The long portage to the LW mark put us off too so we headed off to look at Barry Old Harbour.

Despite the idyllic looking beach scene it's actually bloody windy & I was fancying having a day off. Luckily Stuart was with me so I had to give myself a kick up the Arse & get on with it :D
It's good to paddle with friends when your feeling lazy.

Looking out at the surf from the car was disconcerting but I was soon keen to go once I was sat in my kayak.

We were planning to paddle to Rhoose a short distance away & follow the turning tide back but it was pretty choppy out there so we decided to practice surfing which was interesting as I'm a bit of a coward in surf that breaks onshore & Stuarts not a huge fan either.

Pic by Stuart...

I couldn't turn around into this wave so I ended up back-paddling. It looked bigger from where I was sat?

 I wonder if Stuart was thinking he should have done something else today?

 Riding up on a small wave.

These were breaking quite far from the shore & the occasional set were pretty big. I took a big one in the face paddling out & was quite glad I hadn't caught it going the other way.

Surfing in, Image By Stuart...

Stuart Having Fun Paddling Back Out...

In The Soup, Image by Stuart...

I think the day out did us both good practice wise, we both caught nice waves & buried our bows surfing in on a few. I even ended up bracing with my paddle above my head which was quite amusing.

The waves were pretty decent but not huge which was good for me as I was practicing my edging & leaning on the waves & trying to get a feel for the surf & some semblance of control.
I think kayak skills are important in surfing a sea boat though ultimately when you catch a wave you submit yourself to nature & Fortuna as you will be quite out of control riding in. The skills are there to minimise the lack of control & minimise the capsizing & hopefully get you sunny side up again when Poseidon is laughing at you.

I'm glad I got off my arse now ;D

Brass Monkeys...

I met up with Gareth (from the Glam boaters) today with the intention of paddling from the Knap to Ogmore. We met up at the Knap, locked the kayaks to the post's in the image below & headed off in the cars so we could leave one at the other end.

I wasn't 100% sure about the trip plan as it was about 18 miles & would probably be finishing after dark & pushing against a little tide as it started to flood at 16:30.

Driving passed Aberthaw I looked at the sea & saw plenty of white horses. If its like that here it's gonna be worse at Ogmore? I pull over & discuss a change of plan. With gareth in agreement we now headed to Llantwit Major, left his van there & headed back to the kayaks.

 Despite the sunshine its actually pretty nippy.

 Nice & calm here though I know what's coming.

 The waves start picking up at Rhoose & we start having fun.

 All calm again for a little bit.

 Starts getting messier again at Aberthaw.

 Quite lively at the tower.

 Then calm again?

 Then more yeehaa!

 We start working hard trying to surf the waves & both got some nice runs :)

 Leaving Aberthaw my mind turns to pictures.

I should be keeping hold of the paddle but instead I practice one handed low braces with the camera in the other.

It kinda bugs me that photos never really look like what you were paddling in so I persevere trying to get a good shot as the waves pass under me & toss me around.

 In the trough between two waves, I was having fun.

So was Gareth & I heard occasional shouts has he caught waves in his Delphin.

Almost there & one last attempt at capturing the choppy sea, still doesn't really show how lively it was. Despite the wind & tide on our backs we spent the whole trip trying to keep a consistent paddle stroke but the conditions were having none of it. It wasn't huge, just messy, choppy & fun. Good practice.

Me at the end of the trip trying not to look cold ;D Cheers for the company Gareth, it was a good day out :D
I think I'll have a couple of days off paddling as I've done three in a row now & 4 this week. I'll soon get bored though...

Too Fresh For Rescues...

Another training session at Cardiff Bay. We were supposed to be covering rescues today but since the unusually mild weather has left us it seems so too has the swimming bravado. Including my own ;D

Myself & Laura parked at the Penarth side of the bay & Peter, Noel & carol were at Channel View, gonna meet them on the water.

 We practiced our turns in the tight confines of the moored boats.

Edging, cross bow rudders, bow rudders, stern rudders & reverse sweeps were in use today.

I threw in some sideways sculling too. They all did well though it seem tricky to get everyone to keep their paddled vertical. More practice I guess (or a taser?).

Peter racing A Boat, I really Have Seen It All Now :D

 Saw a few Herons today as well as a kingfisher, one of the joys of paddling :D

A Strange Urban Juxtaposition...

Chilling At The Former Site Of Up & Under...

Me & Laura leave the water when we reach our cars & watch as Noel, Peter & Carol head back to theirs.
A fab day out!

Night Out With The Boy's...

A Friday night out with the boy's, or so they thought?

The texts went out, 8PM at the captains wife, who's up for it? Oh, & bring your kayaks :D

It's been on the cards for a while this trip, A crazy dream that's been gnawing away at me till I give into it. The plan was to paddle from the captains wife in Sully to Flat Holm Island 4 miles offshore. 

It was going to be very dark on the way out as the moon wont rise till around 10PM, should be fun.

Finally got Andy (founder of the Glam Boaters) out for a paddle. He's a busy boy is Andy.

Jules from the Glam Boaters.

And Stuart in the white boat.

Heading out Stuart asked how do we see the waves? You don't I said but if your upside down you may of hit one.
It was in fact quite bumpy on the way out with the race off the West side of Sully Island throwing up little waves & some swell running too.

Before we knew it & after a few course corrections we were there & working out how to land on the steeply shelving beach without falling in & looking stupid.

Chatting away on the Island I noticed a huge three quarter moon rising over Weston Super Mare, it looked like something out of Star Wars & we were all rushing about fruitlessly trying to take pictures of it. Stuart managed some pics but pictures could never equal what we saw that night, it was utterly amazing.

We had chatted & gawped at the moon too long & had missed the first quarter of slack water that I had planned to use to reach Lavernock (whoops). We quickly get on the water, with a quick seal launch for me & Jules & set course for Lavernock. In fact Andy suggested the start of Penarth as a bearing so we aimed at that.

Midway & it was obvious that the tide was running & that we were well off course & going to hit St Mary's Bay instead, not a problem.

The last few minuets were spent amusing ourselves by blinding each other with the camera flash's & empty threats of rolling practice.

Landing back at Sully we were all feeling rather chuffed though we had missed last orders.

It was gone 1 AM before I got too bed & I'm off to the bay tomorrow to teach rescues. Think the cold might put them off :)

About 8 miles all in & nearly three hours including break time. The ideas are already flowing for the next night paddle. Anyone up for it?