The 8th UK Storm Gathering

The 8th UK Storm Gathering was held at the Anglesey Outdoors Centre. Normally when we have a 'Storm Gathering' mother nature provides us with some suitable weather. This was to be a normal Storm Gathering!

I paddled with groups on rockhopping journeys looking for a reasonable degree of shelter. Even so, the north coast had enough boisterous energy to keep us all entertained, on our toes and on one occasion, into the water amongst undercut rocks infested with barnacles who had recently sharpened their pointed crowns.

Steve Whetman and I delivered the evening entertainment on Saturday. We were asked to do something amusing based on the weather. There was only a limited time that we could draw out jokes about wind and wetness so we showed some silly videos and moved on the The Paddlers Return Bar for further nourishment.

Photo: Steve Godfrey

The event finished on Monday with some great rockhopping at Rhoscolyn. The sun was out, the winds were light but there was plenty of swell crashing into the rock gardens. 

In the following days there was an incident management course laid on by the International Sea Kayak Guides Association. I managed to keep myself amused with walks along the coast in the sunny weather that followed the storm...

...but also went paddling along the southern shores of Anglesey. Sometimes its important to keep a little corner of your favourite sport for yourself.