Ravenglass Seaquest

Last weekend I headed to the Lake District to meet with some friends for some walking and to take part in the Ravenglass Seaquest event.

On the Saturday, John and I managed to dodge the showers and climb a small hill that overlooks the Esk estuary.

The Ravenglass Seaquest is an orienteering event with canoes and kayaks that makes use of the Irt, Mite and Esk estuaries of west Cumbria. The day started with fine weather which soon deteriorated into rain driven by a strong southwesterly wind.

The event is now in its 7th year and organisation has recently been taken up by Copeland Canoe Club. Its a wonderfully social event with plenty of prizes being handed out for the winners of various categories.

Spring has finally sprung

After the blizzards at Easter and the cold weeks that followed, I was beginning to think that Spring would never come. But now that it has, Spring has made a blazing entrance.

The constant deluge of rain that we had through the second half of last year must have left plenty of moisture deep in the soil because this is the greenest Springtime that I can remember.

Its difficult to ignore how vibrant the colours are in the garden.

30th Anglesey Sea Symposium

The Anglesey Sea Symposium is 30 years old. The event started as 'The Nordkapp Meet' and was free to any Valley Kayak owners. Since then the event has evolved into the Anglesey Sea Symposium and attracts paddlers from around the world.

The combination of day trips and coaching sessions, world renowned guest speakers and live music is clearly the winning combination.

It is important not to forget the venue. Anglesey is one of the best sea kayaking destinations in the world. It has the scenery and wildlife, exposure to the elements and sheltered waters, and it is within easy reach by road, sea and air.

I had the pleasure of presenting my expedition film 'Gino's Greenland' on the Sunday evening. Over the weekend I was helping out on the water with some guiding in a variety of conditions.

We had sessions in force 5-6 in big waves...

... and rockhopping in the shelter of the cliffs along Anglesey's north coast.

Northumberland - A Weekend of Two Halves

It was hardly believable! Following a cold, frosty night in the tent, the weather on Saturday morning was wall to wall blue skies, light winds and plenty of warm sunshine.

The North Sea was lively with swell as always. This held our attention as we lined our boats up ready to launch from Stag Rocks just to the north of Bamburgh Castle.

Once we got out through the first few breaking waves we were on our way to the Farne Islands. The first stop was a small rock called Megstone. We paddled through the gully that runs through the middle. Inquisitive seals watched as we passed through. A few then swam after us as we punched out through a few waves breaking on the outer reef.

After passing the Wamses and Harcar islands we arrived at the Longstone for lunch beside the lighthouse with plenty of time to explore the Farne's distinctive outpost.

Our return took us past the Pinnacles of Staple Island. Although most of the breeding population of auks have yet to settle. Kittiwakes are already paired up and competing for precarious nesting sites.

As we approached the Inner Farne, the skies became a little more dull. With views to the snow clad Cheviots inland, the day soon took on an Arctic feel. Once we has landed through the surf at Bamburgh, it was time for fish and chips at Seahouses before planning the next day's paddle in the pub!

Sunday morning was a little dull with the occasional glimpse of sun through the cloud. We set off from Beadnell aiming for Craster.

Heading out from Nacker Hole it was apparent the the swell had increased overnight. This provided some excellent reef breaks for those brave and skilled enough.

After passing the reefs of Football Hole we headed in to Low Newton for a quick break and to consider paddling the next stretch of coast.

As we took on the headland upon which Dunstanborough Castle stands, the wind increased and the skies took on a menacing look. It got colder and began to rain. This gave us a choppy approach to Craster Harbour.

When we arrived, landing through rafts of stinking rotten kelp, all we could do was huddle in the shelter of a beached fishing boat. It took us a little over an hour to do the return journey in one straight line. When we arrived back at Beadnell the temperature read 3 degrees Celsius.  Time to head home!

Cold and wintry Easter

Trevor and I started the Easter trip with some fun and games in the mountains of Snowdonia. Snowy scenes greeted our arrival at Capel Curig so we grabbed our boots, crampons and axes. We headed our way to have a look at the east side of Moel Siabod. My old plastic boots decided to retire (loss of sole) just before we began to ascend the icy east ridge. We retreated to the warmth of the pub!

We returned the next day to explore the snowy lower slopes on our skis. Once again our activities were curtailed due to technical failure. This time, one of my ski boots began to fall apart! Nevertheless, we had plenty of fun in the snow.

The rest of the Easter break was spent based at Anglesey Outdoors and paddling on the southern and western shores of Anglesey.

The idea was to meet up with the team that will be going to East Greenland later in the year. Although there was a biting easterly wind, we managed to paddle in amongst the rocks and find plenty of shelter.

It was great for everyone to get to know one another, discuss equipment and sample some of the Clif Bars that will help keep us sustained on our expedition.

Baltic Menai - Two days on the Straits

Here we are in late March and people are struggling with ice and snow drifts. Yet, a small group of enthusiastic sea kayakers are persisting with the freezing temperatures and getting the most out of the weekends' paddling opportunity.

On Saturday morning I drove along the A55 through wintry scenes with fresh snow clinging to the trees. When I arrived at Menai Bridge I was greeted with a mixture of enthusiasm and words like, "We must be absolutely crazy!"

With plenty of warm layers under our drysuits we set off to get warmed up with some practice amongst the bridge pillars of the Menai suspension bridge.

We saw plenty of bird life as we drifted between the islands west side of The Swellies before heading into the woods for a sheltered lunch spot.

The return to Menai Bridge was helped by the new flood stream rising from the south but the strong north-easterly, with temperatures barely above freezing, we were glad to get off the water and into the pub!

Sunday was colder and the wind just as strong. This time we planned for a one-way trip from Menai Bridge to Moel y Don, opposite Y Felinheli. Pogies would have been handy.

One of the rewards of paddling in fierce weather is the ever changing light conditions. Every now and then, wintry shafts of golden sun shone through highlighting small patches of scenery.

Extended Winter or Delayed Spring

This time last year on a trip to Bardsey Island, chiffchaffs were heard singing in the hedgerows and temperatures reached the low 20s. Today's weather forecast shows no sign of rising temperatures yet last weekends trip to Anglesey was the kind of classic more typical of summertime.

Saturdays plan was to paddle from Chruch Bay to Cemlyn and back again. The weather was better than expected and before we arrived at Cemlyn we decided that after a short lunch break, we would visit The Skerries.

The ferry glide had to be quite accurate as we would be approaching the islands during the strongest part of the tide. A last minute hiccup necessitated a quick sprint to reach the lagoon and avoid being swept south towards Holyhead.

After a short break we clambered up to the lighthouse to experience the amazing view before crossing back to church Bay.

The trip had been longer than expected. When we landed at Church Bay we packed up quickly so that we could get to Caban at Brynfrefail in time for the evening talk by Olly Sanders.

Sunday mornings weather was less encouraging. Snow and hail gave the streets of Llanberis a thick layer of slush. The east coast of Anglesey to the north of Moelfre gave us plenty of entertainment.

Ynus Dulas is a must do for this coast. The seals there are so inquisitive we were followed almost all the way back to the mainland.

Stillness o'er Lune

Bright hazy sunshine and light winds greeted members of Ribble Canoe Club as they descended upon the shores of the Lune Estuary at Glasson in Lancashire.

Our arrival was timed so that we could watch the rising waters spilling in across the sands from Morecambe Bay. Before long we were making our way towards Lancaster with the flooding tide more than doubling our speed.

Upon reaching the normal tidal limit at Skerton weir, there was plenty of time for a birthday celebration by way of a huge chocolate cake.

Before heading back downstream with the ebb, we all indulged in a bit of cake busting play on the powerful jet of water produced by the weir.