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.