Saturday 19 July 2014

Cliffs Galore

It's a while since I've been sea-kayaking but a holiday on Skye in late June and early July gave a good opportunity to get on the water. The north-east coast of Trotternish has some excellent cliff scenery. Launching from the beach at Staffin, the small sandy promontory on the right of the picture, we paddled past  low lying Staffin Island. This picture is a view from The Quiraing 

The more interesting features of Eilean Flodigarry a couple of kilometers in front of us lured us on.

Here you can see some of the basalt columns that have broken from and slipped to a rest at the foot of the cliff, but have also remained more or less intact.

Lying east of Eilean Flodiggary is the low lying Sgeir na Eireann, a haul-out for many common seals, a few of which followed us as we passed through the narrow channel between the islands. The eye was drawn to the cliffs lying north towards Rubha n h-Aiseag.

 The cliff scenery became really spectacular, with many caves, arches, caves you could paddle through..... we did rather dawdle as we rock hopped our way up the coast.


We even managed to land on a boulder beach tucked in behind Galta Mor, although the launch as the tide retreated was very challenging given the bouldery nature of the sea floor, shallowness of the bay and the way the swell was breaking on the boulder reefs. Not recommended except in emergencies!


Monday 28 April 2014

WHB part3a

The Sound of Iona proved to be an enjoyable day trip.

                                                 
Launching from Kintra (preferably at or near high tide), you paddle out in to the northern end of the Sound of Iona.....


.....through a delightful maze of rocks, skerries, reefs and headlands...


to Fionnphort, where the ferry to Iona departs. The first ferry of the day was pretty full.


We stopped for some food and drink, regarded the view across the Sound to the Abbey and watched our kayaks slide gracefully (almost!) away up the beach in a rising wind!


Rather than heading south down the Sound and across to Iona, we retreated north, passing through the sheltered anchorage of Bull Hole, between Eilean nam Ban and the Ross, and back to Kintra. A briefer paddle than intended but still a really good warm up for the next few days.

                                                           Top 2 pics by Angela Smith














Sunday 20 April 2014

Where's he been (part 2)

Of course paddling featured in my escapades, although maybe not quite as much as it should have been. A trip near Rhoscolyn on a dead calm day.....













It's always a satisfying sea kayaking venue.

Saturday 19 April 2014

Where's he been (part 1)

Hello. I'm back.

Where have you been for the last two years?

Well, I was fed up of blogging and had plenty of other things to do like...


I was only watching, guv....


Oh yes, then there was the royal barge...


Ah yes, we were also there THAT evening - 3 gold medals for Rutherford, Ennis and Farah...
All brilliant.
It all seems so long ago now.


Monday 16 April 2012

Olympic Dreams - C1 Winners

Women's C1 - Unfortunately not an Olympic event
Mallory Franklin from Shepperton took the honours. 
These shots were taken in the warm up area, thus the lack of white on the water!
Men's C1 - an Olympic event. Don't ask me why the men get in and the ladies don't!
Dave Florence took the men's title. 



He didn't even look too knackered!

Sunday 15 April 2012

Olympic Dreams - K1 Winners

There is only one slot available at the Olympics in each competition category for each nation.
The Men's K1
 Richard Hounslow was the winner in a very hard fought and close race.  

.

  Women's K1 
 The winner was Lizzie Neave from our local club, Stafford and Stone.
Both will now be nominated to the British Olympic Association to compete in their respective disciplines.
Well done both!

Olympic Dreams Part 1

This weekend has seen the British Olympic selection event for slalom take place at Lea Valley near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire.
The event took place on the same facility that will be used for the Olympics.
It's big water!
and it's a long course.
Complete with a kayak lift to take you from the lake up to the start.
Add some commentators........... (Andy and Kevin)