tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25557527845213451262024-02-07T11:52:38.071+00:00Crest of a WaveVincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-75897191824987562632014-07-19T22:07:00.000+01:002014-07-19T22:07:20.522+01:00Cliffs Galore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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 </div>
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The more interesting features of Eilean Flodigarry a couple of kilometers in front of us lured us on.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-4688894074764351672014-04-28T23:40:00.000+01:002014-04-28T23:41:54.561+01:00WHB part3a<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Sound of Iona proved to be an enjoyable day trip.</div>
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Launching from Kintra (preferably at or near high tide), you paddle out in to the northern end of the Sound of Iona.....</div>
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.....through a delightful maze of rocks, skerries, reefs and headlands...</div>
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to Fionnphort, where the ferry to Iona departs. The first ferry of the day was pretty full.</div>
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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!</div>
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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.</div>
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Top 2 pics by Angela Smith</div>
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Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-33220984418954327352014-04-20T08:31:00.001+01:002014-04-20T08:31:16.116+01:00Where's he been (part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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.....</div>
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It's always a satisfying sea kayaking venue.</div>
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Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-56865941436273148962014-04-19T20:25:00.001+01:002014-04-19T20:25:42.238+01:00Where's he been (part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello. I'm back.<br />
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Where have you been for the last two years?<br />
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Well, I was fed up of blogging and had plenty of other things to do like...<br />
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I was only watching, guv....</div>
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Oh yes, then there was the royal barge...</div>
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Ah yes, we were also there THAT evening - 3 gold medals for Rutherford, Ennis and Farah...</div>
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All brilliant.</div>
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It all seems so long ago now.</div>
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Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-14552687614824474992012-04-16T20:39:00.000+01:002012-04-16T22:06:17.736+01:00Olympic Dreams - C1 Winners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Women's C1 - Unfortunately not an Olympic event</div>
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Mallory Franklin from Shepperton took the honours.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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These shots were taken in the warm up area, thus the lack of white on the water!</div>
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Men's C1 - an Olympic event. Don't ask me why the men get in and the ladies don't!</div>
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Dave Florence took the men's title.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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He didn't even look too knackered!</div>
</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-83506378187689830262012-04-15T20:13:00.000+01:002012-04-15T20:13:28.799+01:00Olympic Dreams - K1 Winners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is only one slot available at the Olympics in each competition category for each nation. </div>
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The Men's K1</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI46msInaWjtNHMhzQg0-wVsXxP1aSEby4uTa_uauclsIcPfUmsh919LZXOOuomis2NI49Bbzl07EgMjTIP8_0YuPqEZLFk1wwTyfAJ6TkKLrYnZfH7N5J-uklah5mxtsO2rNlEK2kEs/s1600/IMG_8526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI46msInaWjtNHMhzQg0-wVsXxP1aSEby4uTa_uauclsIcPfUmsh919LZXOOuomis2NI49Bbzl07EgMjTIP8_0YuPqEZLFk1wwTyfAJ6TkKLrYnZfH7N5J-uklah5mxtsO2rNlEK2kEs/s320/IMG_8526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Richard Hounslow was the winner in a very hard fought and close race. </div>
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Women's K1 </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjMYDf5-6xYeEIhlIjQfiPkYk_skGTvXio88zMgF5GzmKtN0I6Ok2K-7-giIz0jDKvF8JJtmzGH30NQwm9cyVZWKv-anAoJEqbbfSZ_FMWKOqKTBWsedsympcPN7mjsNgdJmj80rX6Pg/s1600/IMG_8873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjMYDf5-6xYeEIhlIjQfiPkYk_skGTvXio88zMgF5GzmKtN0I6Ok2K-7-giIz0jDKvF8JJtmzGH30NQwm9cyVZWKv-anAoJEqbbfSZ_FMWKOqKTBWsedsympcPN7mjsNgdJmj80rX6Pg/s320/IMG_8873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The winner was Lizzie Neave from our local club, Stafford and Stone.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s0uPcdQBoidu3EwgFbZURxxpYZiwBfE3DqqhxJVo1_IF5cFLTy6DxRGJ7FgRE2En1n2zEHSWCW-FF4T5am2rysbGeP11K8hfr1q2Q98kH3QqTKv1AkRJtVdjpLy662PuintNHY7Nu-w/s1600/IMG_8876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s0uPcdQBoidu3EwgFbZURxxpYZiwBfE3DqqhxJVo1_IF5cFLTy6DxRGJ7FgRE2En1n2zEHSWCW-FF4T5am2rysbGeP11K8hfr1q2Q98kH3QqTKv1AkRJtVdjpLy662PuintNHY7Nu-w/s320/IMG_8876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Both will now be nominated to the British Olympic Association to compete in their respective disciplines.</div>
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Well done both!</div>
</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-45246854395842986472012-04-15T17:07:00.000+01:002012-04-15T20:08:18.943+01:00Olympic Dreams Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This weekend has seen the British Olympic selection event for slalom take place at Lea Valley near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnJvyaAt3NPCPLNl-pCrujCS4a5hQRDBZThyphenhyphenRHipq-Wrgay_TSfET_lRDsgovOJQqPxkkAGjVpVxjfHQcXqzEku7_9-oznQ4_j4Mjy78m0kF4_Mjo8bhD31CkT0E_sUYjBCQ5_HmkD5Q/s1600/IMG_8726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnJvyaAt3NPCPLNl-pCrujCS4a5hQRDBZThyphenhyphenRHipq-Wrgay_TSfET_lRDsgovOJQqPxkkAGjVpVxjfHQcXqzEku7_9-oznQ4_j4Mjy78m0kF4_Mjo8bhD31CkT0E_sUYjBCQ5_HmkD5Q/s320/IMG_8726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The event took place on the same facility that will be used for the Olympics.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnES8L4ryR9neOGlUVxqyTnFSHlTe7qZ6uYAe79Tm0oWmNH9y7Be8ao62uXX5C7coKcJXAEicRz5OHorwTVe3ca7RMhIMGU6YQDUiSIEvVIr1ztr2ZOcBKwIZHh3CSGRWYfpQefxjVHVo/s1600/IMG_8731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnES8L4ryR9neOGlUVxqyTnFSHlTe7qZ6uYAe79Tm0oWmNH9y7Be8ao62uXX5C7coKcJXAEicRz5OHorwTVe3ca7RMhIMGU6YQDUiSIEvVIr1ztr2ZOcBKwIZHh3CSGRWYfpQefxjVHVo/s320/IMG_8731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's big water!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29vezjGUCtoOPybLCskMEQU_9LKU7gFVJdoMNaks1dxdgLGcOP_SBa6r-RdvIkHXHuVsfnjK5DUHgf9tefhNJy5z1dcrnRQUp0t1pF0LliO1dCfCkrOidYFHu73FfTopyS9LFy2JSijM/s1600/IMG_8733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29vezjGUCtoOPybLCskMEQU_9LKU7gFVJdoMNaks1dxdgLGcOP_SBa6r-RdvIkHXHuVsfnjK5DUHgf9tefhNJy5z1dcrnRQUp0t1pF0LliO1dCfCkrOidYFHu73FfTopyS9LFy2JSijM/s320/IMG_8733.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and it's a long course.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH90u5ExnFgmR_mfIkURAHhKai4EQetaJLEm14VLNvfPDIzteNZm-uCL9gut6Pw_SyyMFpAT1ccwvN4bZTiPEgfh784rQfoUYCc2VVgXOIt5oEohXF4e0dMuzvsi5dpXVR5BspcHDjkJU/s1600/IMG_8542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH90u5ExnFgmR_mfIkURAHhKai4EQetaJLEm14VLNvfPDIzteNZm-uCL9gut6Pw_SyyMFpAT1ccwvN4bZTiPEgfh784rQfoUYCc2VVgXOIt5oEohXF4e0dMuzvsi5dpXVR5BspcHDjkJU/s320/IMG_8542.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Complete with a kayak lift to take you from the lake up to the start.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_OIms4tWsUkqN5zNJdwa2Oza44AF58QfxOcKAl4xC5bhe0c7wcTm0sy-IBPmrumdAIZ0RvPSaHJG9BlX3GuDqop9FAigwH-JX-eItmN9OuEwbGJ9quSECuWDM-_ro2EVUcDXXaeP2Ow/s1600/IMG_8363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_OIms4tWsUkqN5zNJdwa2Oza44AF58QfxOcKAl4xC5bhe0c7wcTm0sy-IBPmrumdAIZ0RvPSaHJG9BlX3GuDqop9FAigwH-JX-eItmN9OuEwbGJ9quSECuWDM-_ro2EVUcDXXaeP2Ow/s320/IMG_8363.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Add some commentators........... (Andy and Kevin)</div>
<br /></div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-26680295295778300592012-03-28T21:15:00.000+01:002012-03-28T21:15:01.955+01:00Cymyran Strait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I've been sea kayaking around the Anglesey coast for several years but had never made the detour in to Cymyran, despite passing the entrance several times. From Rhoscolyn you head south, passing some interesting rock hopping territory where the swell and angle of the rocks on this day would have been unforgiving to any boat in the wrong place at the wrong time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4iHobn2aOGNplBoRDZDVQaTJprp9MQeFuQyhAePgOP61KyDqHXTK4JGJffOMakt3fjBI1cBfZbuNYLQsuxGI2Li49uRWsSiawdfTD0gEw0XGWJhig-zAdbTf-LOZT3pJlhQw8JYT5xI/s1600/P3240038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4iHobn2aOGNplBoRDZDVQaTJprp9MQeFuQyhAePgOP61KyDqHXTK4JGJffOMakt3fjBI1cBfZbuNYLQsuxGI2Li49uRWsSiawdfTD0gEw0XGWJhig-zAdbTf-LOZT3pJlhQw8JYT5xI/s320/P3240038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">After the broad arc and surf of Silver Bay you pass the old block-house and then turn in to Cymyran. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VMY5lN4R2jBpY_gtLXT55p6CPXpTv3yH1jgv09tXNfKzQuerd5W__o8dLSG6Q2vKhW0AOu3MxrFLW2-wpSBmFBvXjwEW7T4tcqB98LFncLk1OpS0Qp3RIuRyIO1f0ehC8MuYM8g2JAE/s1600/P3240039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VMY5lN4R2jBpY_gtLXT55p6CPXpTv3yH1jgv09tXNfKzQuerd5W__o8dLSG6Q2vKhW0AOu3MxrFLW2-wpSBmFBvXjwEW7T4tcqB98LFncLk1OpS0Qp3RIuRyIO1f0ehC8MuYM8g2JAE/s320/P3240039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Immediately you notice the sheltering affect of the topography and it is quieter - no more booming as the unpredictable swell hits an exposed coastline. Left shore is Holy Island and the right is Anglesey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimIAZ7YGb5kYNOg8S3yP64X0kcg5mxDak9eaj5wIPQUWGOn29llDcnuol7wg_TTDKrskjGB1QXS4vlrdGWfiyX25LyLgvEgdCUYlXZdduJ0ghaNNGtfeBULojoMwK4LjG96FrAhWtkj8/s1600/P3240041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimIAZ7YGb5kYNOg8S3yP64X0kcg5mxDak9eaj5wIPQUWGOn29llDcnuol7wg_TTDKrskjGB1QXS4vlrdGWfiyX25LyLgvEgdCUYlXZdduJ0ghaNNGtfeBULojoMwK4LjG96FrAhWtkj8/s320/P3240041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> What looks like an old trawler lies abandoned up a wide side bay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O7g4msJhRu0c5Y431Uc3LagC_JbWK_Zjp24LLXfcbMjWJ_X1VVEsoQh1HrckQFtJX-JvnlmnXCtog5asXnPXhHAkYO_UOsaWNRW8ki9Z51n9qJD18GcmnpVUUvX3IUzp2773wk8f1u0/s1600/P3240045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O7g4msJhRu0c5Y431Uc3LagC_JbWK_Zjp24LLXfcbMjWJ_X1VVEsoQh1HrckQFtJX-JvnlmnXCtog5asXnPXhHAkYO_UOsaWNRW8ki9Z51n9qJD18GcmnpVUUvX3IUzp2773wk8f1u0/s320/P3240045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> and a fisherman's hut huddles close up the low cliff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4VPpn8lsc7pURWV9cR9v7yXxJTyr54ZLxofzN402KPiVHFBSQbfK-DyjSRgfTq3DAdGPLV6tu-ieVWQjxzQSYN1sKS3FugDm5t40EXTGKiwJTL1AVsM4SmMrS2SjZT4sjXISURiv78o/s1600/P3240048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4VPpn8lsc7pURWV9cR9v7yXxJTyr54ZLxofzN402KPiVHFBSQbfK-DyjSRgfTq3DAdGPLV6tu-ieVWQjxzQSYN1sKS3FugDm5t40EXTGKiwJTL1AVsM4SmMrS2SjZT4sjXISURiv78o/s320/P3240048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> To the south you can see the dunes that lie between the beach and RAF Valley. Paddling further up there are some small islands before reaching Four Mile Bridge but all too soon the ebb tidal flow turns you, accelerates and spits you out back in to the sea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmACqhJ0KpxLlNpuWZJXtuoL7i9HsmNCjbgorL1YgdrkNrSPady2ZKFAGSgHR4aez-IyRnRr5zun5gz7RSL3Y1jMuBFcAcPLYk02ssPIbDAIurjDsHtINIv-LBd8Ac6D27t0fOAopajg/s1600/P3240049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmACqhJ0KpxLlNpuWZJXtuoL7i9HsmNCjbgorL1YgdrkNrSPady2ZKFAGSgHR4aez-IyRnRr5zun5gz7RSL3Y1jMuBFcAcPLYk02ssPIbDAIurjDsHtINIv-LBd8Ac6D27t0fOAopajg/s320/P3240049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some small south facing bays close to the rip provide nice shelter for a lunch stop and an easy exit route to the open sea avoiding the surf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EKNH5B_WZ_wOYiNlPtm6WhIpaUjCUOyEufNS0YSoNhqQWb7fexvjx9XAQc2tYb2_P10l0zs_7upd_NPyp40IDOCE0ujs-iaGY5PrhK046sm-kTkbMt04N5Nhu2LkQAUoZ-zvv1OfoOU/s1600/P3240051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EKNH5B_WZ_wOYiNlPtm6WhIpaUjCUOyEufNS0YSoNhqQWb7fexvjx9XAQc2tYb2_P10l0zs_7upd_NPyp40IDOCE0ujs-iaGY5PrhK046sm-kTkbMt04N5Nhu2LkQAUoZ-zvv1OfoOU/s320/P3240051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> With plenty of time left I paddled north to Rhoscolyn Head and its cave. The ebb tidal flow had picked up and at times I paddled to a standstill in confused water against the flow in the inside passage,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt9kX7Wg3Gq5eKNCdSXdRM0yFSo51JPb0yiu-2i70A_g5owD_CtQ4MG10eDLJQsVAefnrzyLVXCjQHxRXpBt8x3EpBVQvi_INUb1xCsQEnGzBTXQTqUpK-w4T_xG_TNdPx_VHaxY-fNg/s1600/P3240053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt9kX7Wg3Gq5eKNCdSXdRM0yFSo51JPb0yiu-2i70A_g5owD_CtQ4MG10eDLJQsVAefnrzyLVXCjQHxRXpBt8x3EpBVQvi_INUb1xCsQEnGzBTXQTqUpK-w4T_xG_TNdPx_VHaxY-fNg/s320/P3240053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">before breaking out to the more predictable outside flow further offshore. Although the sea seemed reasonably calm, every now and again massive swells would build and occasionally break in front of me, so it was important to stay focused. I passed around the outside of beacon rocks, then weaved my way through the numerous passages between them, sometimes pushed by a big swell set being funnelled in to them and breaking on the rocks to the side. Very noisy and best not to look back in those circumstances!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZYQbC7kBOF292F93kyyQX3hqiNs3ZJT5MgMGgothkpQYaeQkJlxemzrExWx8HI16cORP_aimFdtWa5nGfgzZhwDywf-NVicccXMkRCMFs-gFzUpiSb64jWwa7I5VqCMIP6C874gj7bM/s1600/P3240054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZYQbC7kBOF292F93kyyQX3hqiNs3ZJT5MgMGgothkpQYaeQkJlxemzrExWx8HI16cORP_aimFdtWa5nGfgzZhwDywf-NVicccXMkRCMFs-gFzUpiSb64jWwa7I5VqCMIP6C874gj7bM/s320/P3240054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back in the shelter of Borthwen the <u>old</u> lifeboat station emphasises the dangers of the coast hereabouts, although I wouldn't like to launch below high tide these days on the shortened ramp!</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-19281967688728559162012-03-26T21:13:00.000+01:002012-03-26T21:13:45.567+01:00...and about time too!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUf-gtha3UYfzP6EI9aILZ6Isdtxo_UTTJWc8X-2t9hoJtrkF7q7iARjLF1yf3_2EQIdSiaxXhmjGV6Bz8T8GYKx4ftEn_4PpFqGVsOaBWTHR8FwkcTCofa7RVxBT9NJZbRqwVHfQb04/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUf-gtha3UYfzP6EI9aILZ6Isdtxo_UTTJWc8X-2t9hoJtrkF7q7iARjLF1yf3_2EQIdSiaxXhmjGV6Bz8T8GYKx4ftEn_4PpFqGVsOaBWTHR8FwkcTCofa7RVxBT9NJZbRqwVHfQb04/s320/IMG_2861.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's always something mildly chaotic with the first paddle of the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9ea289K0JAVnyemMx8XXa_0STqeGpJVKFJmbE3AwmffC-KVmH0Wf7ok6p-sCtEQCnX515OQWUhoINUkHxqzrYm8dnQ8UtTQvW0FahZV_ybS9_-T4l-mEF07PtRcMo38Blo9aPnT35_M/s1600/IMG_2869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9ea289K0JAVnyemMx8XXa_0STqeGpJVKFJmbE3AwmffC-KVmH0Wf7ok6p-sCtEQCnX515OQWUhoINUkHxqzrYm8dnQ8UtTQvW0FahZV_ybS9_-T4l-mEF07PtRcMo38Blo9aPnT35_M/s320/IMG_2869.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Like, what have I forgotten? Sun hat on this occasion, so a rolled up thermal balaclava will have to do instead. Oh, and look at my foot. The zip on my boot has seized, so it won't zip up, yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFwZBtZEQ5vFLx5vywZNBHnUP1mTHz4zCVRmkKXw_On26rM0WbflySjU-Zc6ivIgJKpOGhv7LlcYPbltYX5kiS8-cQEeYS98DrTnBazYqgNHHJrpRAzGnsiOAopIKYFX790qIJcb8rOo/s1600/IMG_2878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFwZBtZEQ5vFLx5vywZNBHnUP1mTHz4zCVRmkKXw_On26rM0WbflySjU-Zc6ivIgJKpOGhv7LlcYPbltYX5kiS8-cQEeYS98DrTnBazYqgNHHJrpRAzGnsiOAopIKYFX790qIJcb8rOo/s320/IMG_2878.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Gradually order emerges from faint disorder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TdEjNY0yO3hu4_2a3zkM6tucuM4s8GObeIKED21PkbRjsZOWaOItA9GIZCBqk63uLHCSS79e4pF-EfBjrDzCXx8st8-I4J4fqcqP5-aQZ6-FAr1qQ4krkS4DlhcshNhwOsTZMF0Qc_0/s1600/IMG_2879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TdEjNY0yO3hu4_2a3zkM6tucuM4s8GObeIKED21PkbRjsZOWaOItA9GIZCBqk63uLHCSS79e4pF-EfBjrDzCXx8st8-I4J4fqcqP5-aQZ6-FAr1qQ4krkS4DlhcshNhwOsTZMF0Qc_0/s320/IMG_2879.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At least I remembered to charge my VHF radio! But in this heat I don't want to get my dry-suit on just yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89rfoPgo2OrN6CbWv22bzBnoN9bmt9ANlaGWi0t5_RFidsA1CGBW5PufO6D_ZgJD9rNazOk8Yy6JpwxP0g55w1TP-HXhqes95y-SI4eifLdmGFdlEeg6jGw2z7PdMxJE-t2pVtcA5gtI/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89rfoPgo2OrN6CbWv22bzBnoN9bmt9ANlaGWi0t5_RFidsA1CGBW5PufO6D_ZgJD9rNazOk8Yy6JpwxP0g55w1TP-HXhqes95y-SI4eifLdmGFdlEeg6jGw2z7PdMxJE-t2pVtcA5gtI/s320/IMG_2881.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ... and what a game that was! My old one of five years was leaving me slightly damp and the zip had become unreliable, so I'd invested in a Kokatat Meridien for the new year. I'll have to practice dressing again as it was a bit of a struggle and an exercise in contortion! Head last or head second? I'll let you know! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-7LY6qN6ZLexGij2sISIpc3u_Av38MJnmQEtGk0aXfOEs_WiDZOFYeMbJkil0kWr-D23uZnOwXjr3IJRpNXf5qLyq2RlwTUD70Q6O-w52JjoqVlg__KUwLYyh4MLgCkeMgLHFeAFhU0/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-7LY6qN6ZLexGij2sISIpc3u_Av38MJnmQEtGk0aXfOEs_WiDZOFYeMbJkil0kWr-D23uZnOwXjr3IJRpNXf5qLyq2RlwTUD70Q6O-w52JjoqVlg__KUwLYyh4MLgCkeMgLHFeAFhU0/s320/IMG_2885.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A few final adjustments....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6enEDyWqQAC-nYPslu51sSV9bc2f3V5-pMsUbfLkbaWQDgBIaBORp103wRXVJuGAzZnVXUQVZsY7m0rJ3bXfZMPqETG2JbSgf7B6IDXu4DaD5pC0SA3nqCY2gyFUXqiuHH1OPayf28a4/s1600/IMG_2887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6enEDyWqQAC-nYPslu51sSV9bc2f3V5-pMsUbfLkbaWQDgBIaBORp103wRXVJuGAzZnVXUQVZsY7m0rJ3bXfZMPqETG2JbSgf7B6IDXu4DaD5pC0SA3nqCY2gyFUXqiuHH1OPayf28a4/s320/IMG_2887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">....a push back, bum in the boat, legs in, deck on....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7v0hheHyb2krCJ12ZrwnoCBmGAZ-UB7BsZSHluQ8tXf6GmPhcsZSJlCQpgXtWPLKyYwA_vKib7iK-ExUm2VhUi29StShGnH3aab0n-mXFrdZQcbE4zzed_GA5XsIUZYAa_bQ0FgTfBM/s1600/IMG_2888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7v0hheHyb2krCJ12ZrwnoCBmGAZ-UB7BsZSHluQ8tXf6GmPhcsZSJlCQpgXtWPLKyYwA_vKib7iK-ExUm2VhUi29StShGnH3aab0n-mXFrdZQcbE4zzed_GA5XsIUZYAa_bQ0FgTfBM/s320/IMG_2888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ....and <strike>breathe</strike>, I mean paddle....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcVxxRPlEFz6fVc_WnG2PTus2jAoTrSD9GECyZPTb-gCLaODy0TfygTgeKUrfiBKUCgrB8wXgYd_oRVF074v_2DgU1joY_3Lga3lL5YhwKP-jn6BSZ5Ta9faD8JJ9PQMRl6u4AQAKSBU/s1600/IMG_2893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcVxxRPlEFz6fVc_WnG2PTus2jAoTrSD9GECyZPTb-gCLaODy0TfygTgeKUrfiBKUCgrB8wXgYd_oRVF074v_2DgU1joY_3Lga3lL5YhwKP-jn6BSZ5Ta9faD8JJ9PQMRl6u4AQAKSBU/s320/IMG_2893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It's good to get out and paddle again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well done to my good wife for her pictures. She hasn't laughed so much for ages.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-26871382777989724732011-10-06T21:36:00.000+01:002011-10-06T21:36:18.415+01:00Indulgence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyfQJUZ1X7Y4V-n0nUkEgdCncMkTjHPtNXOGNoOpw9LV-_OWV5hoMckipNKOlCMhyphenhyphengC1vRb9nPOPd0DC384jUXsg3wdOgs3grglVC-xyiBBUVr5rQhaYNX6wm3YlBLlwe2IPr0NudfIc/s1600/P6090075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyfQJUZ1X7Y4V-n0nUkEgdCncMkTjHPtNXOGNoOpw9LV-_OWV5hoMckipNKOlCMhyphenhyphengC1vRb9nPOPd0DC384jUXsg3wdOgs3grglVC-xyiBBUVr5rQhaYNX6wm3YlBLlwe2IPr0NudfIc/s320/P6090075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Just for the benefit of my daughter, her Rockpool Isel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsX1sxNiEnzivcREOiFcPpYj1rvO5CrMr_saOr3DqjgpvO4trF5MLuTNv_V1Kgbukm1CY2SWvRs55DuzxmWme2kO0FfL0OfD-HjFleoy8sZO9XX4tPmd_vWTCi6t9bSYhr7WhEkFx0eE/s1600/P6090078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsX1sxNiEnzivcREOiFcPpYj1rvO5CrMr_saOr3DqjgpvO4trF5MLuTNv_V1Kgbukm1CY2SWvRs55DuzxmWme2kO0FfL0OfD-HjFleoy8sZO9XX4tPmd_vWTCi6t9bSYhr7WhEkFx0eE/s320/P6090078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">I wish I fitted in it better!</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-34835985897420810922011-10-02T21:08:00.000+01:002011-10-02T21:08:20.420+01:00Deceptive!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqAoIgz2S7cIoMAGO8L882XsA0pidWImWdGM2Znt6xXGdoVP5Tn-CiYulzLRpnNJdkWvtQLPHynczuoq81jaVrI-dXEoXNTANEZQYnEmGLi2nvnRCf2NPkZDIG6dVUzzBlbmhXkJI4bs/s1600/PA010175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqAoIgz2S7cIoMAGO8L882XsA0pidWImWdGM2Znt6xXGdoVP5Tn-CiYulzLRpnNJdkWvtQLPHynczuoq81jaVrI-dXEoXNTANEZQYnEmGLi2nvnRCf2NPkZDIG6dVUzzBlbmhXkJI4bs/s320/PA010175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've had a prolonged period of anti-cyclonic weather and the coastal forecast for Saturday 1st October 2011 was for wind easterly becoming southerly F1-4, gusts up to 19kn, sea state slight, visiblity moderate becoming good. Tides were fairly high, just after Springs. As seemingly nearly always at Borthwen, the bay was very sheltered and the water near flat. Just the right sort of day for a paddle....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2rVzGZRdSKsEZPhcqeFYMAbuf7BBvZqyVgvfEAVmR-m0fjBnFMjVDLZsFRm5tErIzm5nOkpQOz6MWwyW_dAEFqvpn2kTVXT9DZV-Y6PvU2qD1EeRna8XYuWV_ny3X3DaOOvSBaWh6wU/s1600/PA010176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2rVzGZRdSKsEZPhcqeFYMAbuf7BBvZqyVgvfEAVmR-m0fjBnFMjVDLZsFRm5tErIzm5nOkpQOz6MWwyW_dAEFqvpn2kTVXT9DZV-Y6PvU2qD1EeRna8XYuWV_ny3X3DaOOvSBaWh6wU/s320/PA010176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Paddling out of Borthwen we turned northwest and immediately hit the chaotic waters often found on the way up to Rhoscolyn Head, an area where tidal flows frequently clash. No photos here then! Rounding Rhoscolyn we entered the relative shelter of Porth Saint where this geo can be found. It's very narrow and I went in backwards, not realising there was an almighty seal right at the back on the cobble beach. I heard a bit of a splash, a little louder than many of the other splashes, but thought nothing of it, until this massive</div><div style="text-align: center;">seal swam under my kayak and stuck its head up at my bow, then dived again. I quickly exited to leave it in peace. It bellowed at me as I paddled away, the sound reverberating off the walls of the geo.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N4vuruEANHZL2SaSs0YDykzM9GdOxEOsI3QkiAwbHITaIFutANY4R9SbsXrKH9u9F-99WmgKSvmv4nGLeAK-U2oSMUF9lpTWtb8Ttb1T71Xl-sCMklQEPtpH1f_CCAERYzv8jH4w8XM/s1600/PA010177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N4vuruEANHZL2SaSs0YDykzM9GdOxEOsI3QkiAwbHITaIFutANY4R9SbsXrKH9u9F-99WmgKSvmv4nGLeAK-U2oSMUF9lpTWtb8Ttb1T71Xl-sCMklQEPtpH1f_CCAERYzv8jH4w8XM/s320/PA010177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">From Rhoscolyn to Trearddur the sea was chaotic close inshore but much more amenable further out. The swell was very variable and every now and again a massive swell set would come in, washing up the cliffs. There were many fishermen on the cliffs herabouts and it wouldn't have taken too much more on some of the waves to drag them in.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnx2TLKIAsm7z3pLCZGSQSEPKYxphKdRtErlees783tkGKO_ZaXl3GFQivp41q3LSeRejCc0IaQrNbf8w_rmpnXCojSxL3-pQI1-491iM5FvqYGx3ZQuLAcStcb2b9yeaqHq_zRYA9y4/s1600/PA010179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnx2TLKIAsm7z3pLCZGSQSEPKYxphKdRtErlees783tkGKO_ZaXl3GFQivp41q3LSeRejCc0IaQrNbf8w_rmpnXCojSxL3-pQI1-491iM5FvqYGx3ZQuLAcStcb2b9yeaqHq_zRYA9y4/s320/PA010179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was high water when we reached Trearddur and we had lunch on the thin strip of sand between the sea and the promenade, if you can call it that, with about 60 other people. While we were there the RNLI IRB launched and headed off in the direction we had come from. Setting off back to Rhoscolyn I resolved to try and get some more pictures. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsUwWrrwsghyphenhyphenKSBHBJ9kf1_U__zGR1xUpqmoueSzzyNYIls2eXXWxIUc9napoo_dst4lIGm5OhV9QbioUtkSXS8WNfErTk_ABa6C8z24_u9TRbWxuU1_dcg6OIZn_X32Dp4XbXDvS8yE/s1600/PA010180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsUwWrrwsghyphenhyphenKSBHBJ9kf1_U__zGR1xUpqmoueSzzyNYIls2eXXWxIUc9napoo_dst4lIGm5OhV9QbioUtkSXS8WNfErTk_ABa6C8z24_u9TRbWxuU1_dcg6OIZn_X32Dp4XbXDvS8yE/s320/PA010180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We frequently lost sight of one another as the large swell sets came through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5xe4U2FkbKxqMXepnvqAud5tZOk9uwJXh_1owyZZqdoYiOl3NyxrRlvLHfNp6oOB97iFMOzihMqbMEfdg0LYzLx8n3Nk7rnDysdl5vFoXfXg7bxYZ8vjYlYQO8BzXE_JWd4z6Tct-bM/s1600/PA010181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5xe4U2FkbKxqMXepnvqAud5tZOk9uwJXh_1owyZZqdoYiOl3NyxrRlvLHfNp6oOB97iFMOzihMqbMEfdg0LYzLx8n3Nk7rnDysdl5vFoXfXg7bxYZ8vjYlYQO8BzXE_JWd4z6Tct-bM/s320/PA010181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the way out we avoided paddling through the white arch due to the swell but on the way back we decided to give it a go. Paddling in to the arch the swell was coming at us from the right and breaking immediately before the entrance. Careful timing and judgement was needed to get through this zone and under the arch. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcrEBcIV3h1Xd7wXNfPEloXF5gKRvOK9oXg3kQqfuPVo3ehWidA9W-E7fg6-uV4RJajb7OK35qN1d6dmDJ949jp-Rxj9g8Bli9IIn2xA2RFsMmNwye1wOlJi8iMccaXKaw9GY9kX2uSc/s1600/PA010182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcrEBcIV3h1Xd7wXNfPEloXF5gKRvOK9oXg3kQqfuPVo3ehWidA9W-E7fg6-uV4RJajb7OK35qN1d6dmDJ949jp-Rxj9g8Bli9IIn2xA2RFsMmNwye1wOlJi8iMccaXKaw9GY9kX2uSc/s320/PA010182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The exit required a 90 degree turn to face the incoming swell, which was breaking badly on the cliffs either side but holding good in the middle. Obviously you go for the middle if you are sensible. Fiona was on the other side of this beasty and I was very hurridly putting my camera away after this shot. I had somehow managed to not hit the shutter button on several occasions before this picture. I can't think why! There are cliffs to my left and right and also at my back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbCoDu4WAOhR8fbTXgmw8heZ_SrI94CmVNyydGmf-D8X8l0ZoQf-ziW4udl4ZhGy8nTPKejHk8uqvvlZPSzFrxmGp_MZ4nAr65CdE6NGF8lbB2cGD9istmVukEFysosX51sTIJQVgVWY/s1600/PA010183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbCoDu4WAOhR8fbTXgmw8heZ_SrI94CmVNyydGmf-D8X8l0ZoQf-ziW4udl4ZhGy8nTPKejHk8uqvvlZPSzFrxmGp_MZ4nAr65CdE6NGF8lbB2cGD9istmVukEFysosX51sTIJQVgVWY/s320/PA010183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We paddled on to Rhoscolyn Head, where a party under instruction were holding station before going in to the cave one by one. Shortly after, Fiona decided to breakout of the chaos of the inshore passage and head to the beacon, so naturally I followed. The water was much better behaved in the lee of the rocks, but chaotic on the other side of the outer island. We went through the middle and along the southern edge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUqgfBdq9RJsh_LyE_QmGtD9cIP5DjDgN1r1oAUQKATO1kC7Zipagbw_7Qw9lW8z7eDlc4tT5EcFYdPHQUbk6p-SW-sQJs_Ja1uims4_HsDOEewA_ZbWiHWfXh0oRN_D9akkHmACHIp8/s1600/PA010185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUqgfBdq9RJsh_LyE_QmGtD9cIP5DjDgN1r1oAUQKATO1kC7Zipagbw_7Qw9lW8z7eDlc4tT5EcFYdPHQUbk6p-SW-sQJs_Ja1uims4_HsDOEewA_ZbWiHWfXh0oRN_D9akkHmACHIp8/s320/PA010185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just off the inshore side of the rocks was a SoT with two people on. No BA's, wearing jeans and jumpers, just sat there on more or less flat water! Within a 100m in a 180 degree arch the sea was foaming. Fiona and I were pretty damp, even all kitted up. Roll-on Bothwen!</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-89333071358166748022011-09-27T22:14:00.000+01:002011-09-27T22:14:24.517+01:00Ambition fulfilled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezCuOzedo_AcN1XPnn4YGLaOHxaKSd5B05-f8-168Rz0AbD5Fq1T6sDR1g2sr0VW-TBr1v1_h-7BPI9R98TXQl3HpCSara1R1oXf98zNnVrh51SSS57GsNrp_Y15Xox0FMqRMfjrA0cQ/s1600/P8060150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezCuOzedo_AcN1XPnn4YGLaOHxaKSd5B05-f8-168Rz0AbD5Fq1T6sDR1g2sr0VW-TBr1v1_h-7BPI9R98TXQl3HpCSara1R1oXf98zNnVrh51SSS57GsNrp_Y15Xox0FMqRMfjrA0cQ/s320/P8060150.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My family are Lancastrians and since being a young'un I've been fascinated by the concept of the county being split in two, Furness (now part of Cumbria) lying to the north of Morecambe Bay and the rest of the county to the south of the bay, with a bit of Westmorland (also now part of Cumbria) in between.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYEWClm0yVO26WRh7I1ph4o960Z4Xh4wCXmKoC8WK_4dGvBZIIRABJfLecdg-E0ExRC4Ez41mccLr5-DrbtlkQ5vvkc4XzbwDC0IjTOr1PlpHv6BEH7CuK8QWfblUdcA-KgL4VNBZWB8/s1600/P8060146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYEWClm0yVO26WRh7I1ph4o960Z4Xh4wCXmKoC8WK_4dGvBZIIRABJfLecdg-E0ExRC4Ez41mccLr5-DrbtlkQ5vvkc4XzbwDC0IjTOr1PlpHv6BEH7CuK8QWfblUdcA-KgL4VNBZWB8/s320/P8060146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> For many years I've wanted to walk across The Bay, having been intrigued by supposed rights of way marked on maps and stories of the Queen's Guide and the Fishermen of Flookburgh published in mum's magazines, like Cumbria. Every year there are a number of guided walks across the bay to raise funds for charities. Cumbria Wildlife Trust had a slot allocated to them for a date in August and we duly met up at Arnside and registered for the 8 mile crossing to Kent Bank. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78V6tEEs1-_aD11XkIauS5PRVjk8tCPKy0Klq_Lch8fuGmf-HO1M_-WLvqO2EH-JJefcHrrh2eQIz6R_ce8JrN_5z3IjTKTaVQlxzvqTxWAWJZ1t99JygnZ3HvGwoSL7a4Mvl2u4seFo/s1600/P8060147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78V6tEEs1-_aD11XkIauS5PRVjk8tCPKy0Klq_Lch8fuGmf-HO1M_-WLvqO2EH-JJefcHrrh2eQIz6R_ce8JrN_5z3IjTKTaVQlxzvqTxWAWJZ1t99JygnZ3HvGwoSL7a4Mvl2u4seFo/s320/P8060147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Walking around the coast from Arnside to White Creek it soon became apparent just how many people were on this walk - around 300! The walking speed was also rather variable. How would they get everybody safely across the sands?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-5wYcb1wPkQjmgpWmmS_c4d_A7hVm5mJMr5GKMX0DqFjeOggyQ3cKHsQg9EbpqfswwMb5K2dA0JYVyoIDVzpvphB0FIcq5pU34UcxbF6UUxqwi5gd41VCvswch_MbE2emxxhdks3RWw/s1600/P8060149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-5wYcb1wPkQjmgpWmmS_c4d_A7hVm5mJMr5GKMX0DqFjeOggyQ3cKHsQg9EbpqfswwMb5K2dA0JYVyoIDVzpvphB0FIcq5pU34UcxbF6UUxqwi5gd41VCvswch_MbE2emxxhdks3RWw/s320/P8060149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Answer - a whistle! Line everybody up at an obstacle and wait for the stragglers, instruct everyone what to do, then do it. Simples!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4FNWpM62CcLCOILzzvZw9Ye-tSxO1l8O5dpE-LeA31loW4h2ZYDSYZPNBeGEDNfa-luf7ugsRPf6PflZIPdXf2xTSdHOEbDfXwq1-iAKndD8HBPUNZCAHsjK9mKn7jvwXSY9-9xE7lg/s1600/P8060152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4FNWpM62CcLCOILzzvZw9Ye-tSxO1l8O5dpE-LeA31loW4h2ZYDSYZPNBeGEDNfa-luf7ugsRPf6PflZIPdXf2xTSdHOEbDfXwq1-iAKndD8HBPUNZCAHsjK9mKn7jvwXSY9-9xE7lg/s320/P8060152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Everybody soon got the hang of what was going on and what to do and obstacles such as the channel of the River Kent were crossed safely without too much carnage! (Yes, there's always the one who does a runner and has an early bath, so to speak).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JCtBbmM6zwVqqCEkBZ2QqEQEc1uxzbqC0FljhytyxDRWtSuZ_pRprRPFj7787opm4y7x-PQExlO7miK5FrOmP-fwQnR327UcD9rkdmQsBBVzYjAY9FKikrZ2rBKKegCa-sVmKGeJfnE/s1600/P8060153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JCtBbmM6zwVqqCEkBZ2QqEQEc1uxzbqC0FljhytyxDRWtSuZ_pRprRPFj7787opm4y7x-PQExlO7miK5FrOmP-fwQnR327UcD9rkdmQsBBVzYjAY9FKikrZ2rBKKegCa-sVmKGeJfnE/s320/P8060153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The walk wasn't a straight line as quick sand, river channels and creeks in the saltmarsh all dictate the route. These shift position so recce's are done by the guide's team the day before and if necessary, on the day, before setting out on the main event.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJqud0n1LBSu3GJh3c-g5b1IwQnGtJH52PVLMzzvickIJgth0YE9l8kkBznx8vfVLu7CWZINIwHE97gq4wLSpNIr7xyU3GZ6EiFYsjEj7RnusCIM1j4ihwOBTTJSxXUfB9g_4617Rq1Y/s1600/P8060155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJqud0n1LBSu3GJh3c-g5b1IwQnGtJH52PVLMzzvickIJgth0YE9l8kkBznx8vfVLu7CWZINIwHE97gq4wLSpNIr7xyU3GZ6EiFYsjEj7RnusCIM1j4ihwOBTTJSxXUfB9g_4617Rq1Y/s320/P8060155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Queen's Guide to the sands Cedric Robinson (with sunglasses) and his assistant Mike Carter. Thanks guys for a splendid day out and a long held ambition fulfilled.</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-75093975384273604082011-09-13T21:09:00.000+01:002011-09-13T21:09:48.870+01:00Ardskenish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ObeEy1OWbaWy2Th1Q4j7Nh6ym0QKHPbYdNoSCqR0n7bYuC-KvhBewVqWFkFRXNEeYou1V0QwxiHLeH9-V8xIDIdTWG9bK3zFC5KodtWoklgfXTBWgMcEn4wkeHIXB8oli7ogpJUHEMI/s1600/P6120121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ObeEy1OWbaWy2Th1Q4j7Nh6ym0QKHPbYdNoSCqR0n7bYuC-KvhBewVqWFkFRXNEeYou1V0QwxiHLeH9-V8xIDIdTWG9bK3zFC5KodtWoklgfXTBWgMcEn4wkeHIXB8oli7ogpJUHEMI/s320/P6120121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our final day on the island was to be a walking day around Ardskenish, the south-west end of the island. This is a really beautiful and relatively remote area, blasted by the weather off the Atlantic, and made of dunes, beaches and skerries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDS1Y1YqghPKJ1M6axLVH7qNiz_gp7R9Wg_DKqCDy4nnFsSFr3Csohzby60dFMI-f0qur4rv0dKx3deFyVZ54_cRJvM9YoPwtgecdjg-41KwvBNSW23R_Vugrpn7lhvI6cL4RcNvHD1k/s1600/P6120123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDS1Y1YqghPKJ1M6axLVH7qNiz_gp7R9Wg_DKqCDy4nnFsSFr3Csohzby60dFMI-f0qur4rv0dKx3deFyVZ54_cRJvM9YoPwtgecdjg-41KwvBNSW23R_Vugrpn7lhvI6cL4RcNvHD1k/s320/P6120123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Seals were all over the place in these waters and numerous waders scurried along the beaches feeding.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JaIfFDsYrhGBaZOI43O3TnVXdv1gDlJZGICe9Oprh_xO_uHhyN6h1YtNioTaXw3ze0eYGs-LNIPiJw1-_XaUR71de8Ec_ayIBzYi5rX5HejRo58TCuqR7U6Gyl6DqYRQwGcytJ-hMA8/s1600/P6120125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JaIfFDsYrhGBaZOI43O3TnVXdv1gDlJZGICe9Oprh_xO_uHhyN6h1YtNioTaXw3ze0eYGs-LNIPiJw1-_XaUR71de8Ec_ayIBzYi5rX5HejRo58TCuqR7U6Gyl6DqYRQwGcytJ-hMA8/s320/P6120125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The opposite coast of the peninsula backs on to the deep U shaped and sheltered bay of Traigh nam Barc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIkC4uiHNEtEJtSN0agoa11jY0a4QQ085B817Bnxkh8hVcpbsOZrdyz5TAFXz-d-1gS7P2BdFzgKm4x_gVNHZbYoF3hfcUU9Lct1iISOUfdRUdrbJlD7IgKbHO86bDzsnN5EmJwTNCgI/s1600/P6120130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIkC4uiHNEtEJtSN0agoa11jY0a4QQ085B817Bnxkh8hVcpbsOZrdyz5TAFXz-d-1gS7P2BdFzgKm4x_gVNHZbYoF3hfcUU9Lct1iISOUfdRUdrbJlD7IgKbHO86bDzsnN5EmJwTNCgI/s320/P6120130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The house at Ardskenish sits pretty well in the middle of the peninsula, surrounded by flowering machair teeming with redshank, snipe, oystercatchers,lapwing. ringed plovers, teal, mallard ..... you get the picture. One night during World War II the house was apparently clipped by a low flying plane and became something of a local attraction. It is no longer permanently occupied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61C3nJP3csQEZSy0fa7rjjp8ruVX6S9e6kUWs0aRqH5-PPD8-QegIcP7-shft4S4OS0HBuPgwX8m3xopf0egIMiRqq7SVO-DQaPyeEeyfW95eOw_fpsKBFQn85_ipGW0vObIK0ZbDTh8/s1600/P6120132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61C3nJP3csQEZSy0fa7rjjp8ruVX6S9e6kUWs0aRqH5-PPD8-QegIcP7-shft4S4OS0HBuPgwX8m3xopf0egIMiRqq7SVO-DQaPyeEeyfW95eOw_fpsKBFQn85_ipGW0vObIK0ZbDTh8/s320/P6120132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some serious work went in to wall building hereabouts, and while they are no longer tended they remain an attractive feature of the landscape.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_43l_3zltdR4hu2aowBZY5w1kTb2UL0jsxwhy6rOQhIXL7dIcbPRFAIKYxjRfeWAERrSdzVKhLYOy2BtFGcRdjCDrIqjkq4NWI4bD3jCkem_OJSbnVSiywZNNta0faWUH_RFAIs0_j_Q/s1600/P6120136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_43l_3zltdR4hu2aowBZY5w1kTb2UL0jsxwhy6rOQhIXL7dIcbPRFAIKYxjRfeWAERrSdzVKhLYOy2BtFGcRdjCDrIqjkq4NWI4bD3jCkem_OJSbnVSiywZNNta0faWUH_RFAIs0_j_Q/s320/P6120136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The islets and skerries offshore look like they could provide interesting rock-hopping, but that wasn't going to happen today. Next time perhaps.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmHTtTvgChTU-d0Oye7JsQvSiAcGf9thSOxwvVdoyoPfGHbVTTswURuJ_T9AzIunI4jH5l8CCEDtMH_LNJJPSo-_lkcqXwiJpsNLiD6jNDszELzQXzd3d-eoGfJYgM2AlOCBMxmjRZXE/s1600/P6120140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmHTtTvgChTU-d0Oye7JsQvSiAcGf9thSOxwvVdoyoPfGHbVTTswURuJ_T9AzIunI4jH5l8CCEDtMH_LNJJPSo-_lkcqXwiJpsNLiD6jNDszELzQXzd3d-eoGfJYgM2AlOCBMxmjRZXE/s320/P6120140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">We lingered a long time before leaving the peninsula behind. It was a superb day. </div><div align="center">Roll on our next visit to Colonsay. We won't wait 30 years.</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-82460188039482031432011-09-09T20:28:00.002+01:002011-09-09T20:33:15.974+01:00Balnahard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle2UMhL1vM4oX_xF-fzwlNF5sFykXYe0SYbesaOZy9QjIywu0Kko2nq_FLRJFBYGN3Aa60uOyAF_139JLoq4uXCcg-gNxTyrgDOfmJ_uK9SgQ4lXZIO9dH-7q6twKnYNzuqBaFc0SNoM/s1600/P6110106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle2UMhL1vM4oX_xF-fzwlNF5sFykXYe0SYbesaOZy9QjIywu0Kko2nq_FLRJFBYGN3Aa60uOyAF_139JLoq4uXCcg-gNxTyrgDOfmJ_uK9SgQ4lXZIO9dH-7q6twKnYNzuqBaFc0SNoM/s320/P6110106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Less than a kilometre down the coast from Lamalum is the rather splendid beach of Traig Ban at Balnahard. Approaching from the north are some skerries you can work around, depending on the state of the tide, with views back up the Firth of Lorn and to Mull.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pmPwrgrI-ua9NLlTSp9S_aQpO9ZS45SNvFbYQ1Tvcr_23xUTuNENSSR8vgt4CcoWjesA-BNhW4_iF9M3dFrh6bLqZZQ4kEaBaTZQX2v9mPa8Moc_osVhPi5R9XRi5MsKY3-dYPkUXpI/s1600/P6110107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pmPwrgrI-ua9NLlTSp9S_aQpO9ZS45SNvFbYQ1Tvcr_23xUTuNENSSR8vgt4CcoWjesA-BNhW4_iF9M3dFrh6bLqZZQ4kEaBaTZQX2v9mPa8Moc_osVhPi5R9XRi5MsKY3-dYPkUXpI/s320/P6110107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The remnants of the wreck on the beach are of the S.S. Wasa, a wooden steamship from Liverpool that, oddly enough, caught fire. It was under tow but grounded in the bay before being wrecked. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDloyTutmE2r_MgEPqP24EhMqgvPrLsar3PUBJc1IZ5BHiSXUoavaQad0iHl1F-0XEVy-KaKZOogl5KHB4f5mZsLabsxiBECqs-zx5milfBse8uN5VSiHfjjNpMnyz00GvFLfYIkuc3E/s1600/P6110111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDloyTutmE2r_MgEPqP24EhMqgvPrLsar3PUBJc1IZ5BHiSXUoavaQad0iHl1F-0XEVy-KaKZOogl5KHB4f5mZsLabsxiBECqs-zx5milfBse8uN5VSiHfjjNpMnyz00GvFLfYIkuc3E/s320/P6110111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most of the wreck is, apparently, still underwater a couple of hundred yards offshore.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauq-8320Fm6M98gjGUW4fLXXJvi9yLZDbqvrExJ5X_pFszy4VwWHh8-KKrulH9hMJLihXKWB522bRUraUVrM4VQsXn5sqa01CG7iKUDr-dLsQHM4j5pZi_IPXnx3mWOOAEaD1-9UPKnE/s1600/P6110113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauq-8320Fm6M98gjGUW4fLXXJvi9yLZDbqvrExJ5X_pFszy4VwWHh8-KKrulH9hMJLihXKWB522bRUraUVrM4VQsXn5sqa01CG7iKUDr-dLsQHM4j5pZi_IPXnx3mWOOAEaD1-9UPKnE/s320/P6110113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Despite the wonderfully clear water I couldn't work it out from the surface. <br />
Top 20 beach? Possibly.</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-81289553214034351842011-09-06T21:03:00.002+01:002011-09-06T21:07:39.596+01:00Colonsay: Lamalum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Having reached the northern tip of Colonsay, conditions were so benign I was half inclined to continue with a semi-circumnavigation of the island and land at Traig an Tobair Fhuair. However I was paddling solo, hadn't mentioned that as a possible Plan B to the wife and mobile reception was poor, so I stuck with my original plan to return to Scalasaig.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWLxpkox5vfB7-pOQWLtgCKoOtCDwe6pQ7_xX0RnbjG1gGGt2vOCMTnrQl0Fn_k2UCtNpSYH9gyzSvF4fIi_RSDJ4q088c0UjNZxeLdALLcynlnk0k8YoKICOm75aBgizsbuzyqvEYBE/s1600/P6110089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWLxpkox5vfB7-pOQWLtgCKoOtCDwe6pQ7_xX0RnbjG1gGGt2vOCMTnrQl0Fn_k2UCtNpSYH9gyzSvF4fIi_RSDJ4q088c0UjNZxeLdALLcynlnk0k8YoKICOm75aBgizsbuzyqvEYBE/s320/P6110089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Returning south down the north-east coast the first beach you come to is Lamalum, with views towards Mull to the north... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKiL5a6N0BVxSVelETUIq-dDyXKjJA4Bb1L6hJRWp8Y91f46A0Mp8QzFnppkk4qihYyCpIbo_IvFZ-qEfbiOlua8wfx6Y12Xo5P-WqmeYBGCXmQy14bFlE3xGFsjotZCQA8njyx516MM/s1600/P6110097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKiL5a6N0BVxSVelETUIq-dDyXKjJA4Bb1L6hJRWp8Y91f46A0Mp8QzFnppkk4qihYyCpIbo_IvFZ-qEfbiOlua8wfx6Y12Xo5P-WqmeYBGCXmQy14bFlE3xGFsjotZCQA8njyx516MM/s320/P6110097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... and Scalpay, the Gulf of Coryvreckan and Jura towards the east. On a day like this day it was an absolutely sublime place to be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFLhLRfNiaLS0vN5G7fc8u5gZnEKmRD0jNfWJu1L2LyEs13oF8Z99OFY4vB5LAVanx-BgDq3R_ctZZgR7vlXv-ETvzKaFSlOu4xTXFyFemrMzvzqhy1eJ-Y_W1YxIb9icCaKbJ3kqxEc/s1600/P6110094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFLhLRfNiaLS0vN5G7fc8u5gZnEKmRD0jNfWJu1L2LyEs13oF8Z99OFY4vB5LAVanx-BgDq3R_ctZZgR7vlXv-ETvzKaFSlOu4xTXFyFemrMzvzqhy1eJ-Y_W1YxIb9icCaKbJ3kqxEc/s320/P6110094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Behind the beach is a narrow isthmus, Bealach Lamalum, barely 50m across, before the land drops in to the water of the west coast at Poll Ban and views open up down the island's north-west coast.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJOHOMhQyW0tzcYPbQLQX0EHgllf7v9mdRUlkiKTvP-l9qz6FsbzbzNLVsr7REUFefsEJlMkNsqjw1fzjPzd3CM2DXTQRU1dEwXKv_sajYyPjDwglVJENDEhjZA45lJtJm3zp0PKS3go/s1600/P6110099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJOHOMhQyW0tzcYPbQLQX0EHgllf7v9mdRUlkiKTvP-l9qz6FsbzbzNLVsr7REUFefsEJlMkNsqjw1fzjPzd3CM2DXTQRU1dEwXKv_sajYyPjDwglVJENDEhjZA45lJtJm3zp0PKS3go/s320/P6110099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Being an exposed placed, the beaches inevitably catch a lot of flotsam and jetsam and more than one person has been tempted to create the marine equivalent of a cairn, or maybe it's art-work. Returning to the "best beach" theme of my earlier Colonsay posts, I think this one beats Port a Chapuill on views and setting. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-78233395139568421232011-08-22T22:02:00.000+01:002011-08-22T22:02:32.097+01:00Chilled out - eventually!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGq_PsijKU73bGQlGsmJORft1NJMROTY0PbbC0xcQPQYw9Z96CawO0EXy_LVhmYfZ8fXvqGkOsydswLAbIlthdgOjYXPVHQctor1tmv853gw-gHhtwtkZEAV1BBaB1wlY2ujVXps9-K8/s1600/IMG_7743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGq_PsijKU73bGQlGsmJORft1NJMROTY0PbbC0xcQPQYw9Z96CawO0EXy_LVhmYfZ8fXvqGkOsydswLAbIlthdgOjYXPVHQctor1tmv853gw-gHhtwtkZEAV1BBaB1wlY2ujVXps9-K8/s320/IMG_7743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This should really be a picture of a ready to go kayak with no kayaker. We all have those days when we forget something, like the VHF for example. I searched all the hatches, dry bags and the cockpit several times. I turned the car inside out, twice. My wife went back to our hotel room, as did I subsequently. Could we find the blasted thing? No. I'd just about given up when I suddenly remembered ..... back at the hotel I'd put it in the hydration pack pocket in the rear of my BA. Argh! An hour or so wasted.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So eventually, off I paddled up the north-east cost of Colonsay. Can you detect my mood from my posture?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVArFqQ10T0x6SGMJfOJ_CnybdmnH1sWnaMYyMW3apyqcC3evUw41gq2dI10QEsAqllxIDihPnrlurAzPm_-wB84rmw-X4cSrb73uU1_yFqfdzBGWg5VSNKOCxFW-37-YiumvDDyDZ3Q/s1600/P6110081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVArFqQ10T0x6SGMJfOJ_CnybdmnH1sWnaMYyMW3apyqcC3evUw41gq2dI10QEsAqllxIDihPnrlurAzPm_-wB84rmw-X4cSrb73uU1_yFqfdzBGWg5VSNKOCxFW-37-YiumvDDyDZ3Q/s320/P6110081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Having paddled about a kilometre north from Scalasaig I had eventually paddled out my mood and was fairly chilled out like these four feral goats, presumed ancestors from goats that wound up on several Scottish islands after the Armada.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KEwxqlwr3Y5y0NvFHWJxekpJPlCTpvbM95wgVv41ci-H6gxLvoWAo7xKgXylY6aIlHqBcm8uECu6y8hcJOhFqnJVB8BlyJsbxHx7PAQrsd289zoMQDPhZok-syKdf_w5rSjyYesTMWs/s1600/P6110082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KEwxqlwr3Y5y0NvFHWJxekpJPlCTpvbM95wgVv41ci-H6gxLvoWAo7xKgXylY6aIlHqBcm8uECu6y8hcJOhFqnJVB8BlyJsbxHx7PAQrsd289zoMQDPhZok-syKdf_w5rSjyYesTMWs/s320/P6110082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Further up the coast again are the ruins of Riasg Buidhe. An eighth century cross where the stone is described by William Stevenson in 1880 as "dressed only in front, undressed on the back" was removed from here in 1870 to Tobar Odhran by Colonsay House. Suffice to say there's Christian symbology on the front and and something rather ruder on the back! The 1841 census has 64 people living here and the village remained occupied to a lesser extent until 1923, when the last inhabitants were re-housed in new houses at Glassard, just north-east of Scalasaig. With that move Colonsay became the first community in Britain where every household had running water and lavatories. The roofs of the houses at Riasg Buidhe were burnt to prevent their reoccupation. A certain Collach, Dr. Roger McNeill, an internationally recognised authority on infectious diseases, particularly tubercolosis, was the prime mover in this achievement. This and more information can be gleaned from Kevin Byrne's excellent book, "Lonely Colonsay, Island at the Edge". </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFzRQXC3JJX32K_XH2bNU_1aM8Q_sbqr8SHLg483JJGE7y3nx76_8C7H9wb3l-oB2DErP3OmltpEf-ew9C76nmsbPna8NzMjPDUfYj2sBFURGJdy-F1vRLudGKiCERS3bOFAzRPzjnpc/s1600/P6110083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFzRQXC3JJX32K_XH2bNU_1aM8Q_sbqr8SHLg483JJGE7y3nx76_8C7H9wb3l-oB2DErP3OmltpEf-ew9C76nmsbPna8NzMjPDUfYj2sBFURGJdy-F1vRLudGKiCERS3bOFAzRPzjnpc/s320/P6110083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Heading north the coastline scenery takes on a certain uniformity with the exception of Eilean Olmsa and the woodlands of A' Choille Mhor and A'Choille Bheag. Seals, otters and goats abound and there is the chance to spot a goldean eagle. Landing opportunities are limited until you reach the beach at Balnahard or Traigh Ban.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGiU3eUBC4XP7AZyi5kb_rIkxEzZGuKs_n9nfXrfWfuST9x8_VAjqnY58gdJjlyxf8QWLLuNNAV9b-aNznrje6ejYdbBSUmv1skjXBBj_TWKdNY5BbbuxsQqOapmMjP-EuT5oaEGR4v0/s1600/P6110085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGiU3eUBC4XP7AZyi5kb_rIkxEzZGuKs_n9nfXrfWfuST9x8_VAjqnY58gdJjlyxf8QWLLuNNAV9b-aNznrje6ejYdbBSUmv1skjXBBj_TWKdNY5BbbuxsQqOapmMjP-EuT5oaEGR4v0/s320/P6110085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> From Balnahard it is only a short paddle to the cliffs at the north of Colonsay. The fulmars hereabouts were very inquisitive, flying within catching distance of my head.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqytZ171h2clGv2ad7otCpmu3IAY8B42Fcr-1G_KiZjNYY-LrqTNmLG3S9d6Tp96DKqvAnXymbaDopMveQd7lQH-T__rA7BiR5GLDEYPqwk-jHIRuYXBXXDHsXYyXB11_aJeyzJmfUQWA/s1600/P6110088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqytZ171h2clGv2ad7otCpmu3IAY8B42Fcr-1G_KiZjNYY-LrqTNmLG3S9d6Tp96DKqvAnXymbaDopMveQd7lQH-T__rA7BiR5GLDEYPqwk-jHIRuYXBXXDHsXYyXB11_aJeyzJmfUQWA/s320/P6110088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> On reaching the northern tip, where the tide can really pull you along or push you back, the skerry of Eilean Dubh comes in to view as does the view towards Mull and northern Jura. Views to follow!</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-82236049178752556642011-08-19T19:48:00.000+01:002011-08-19T19:48:29.646+01:00South East Colonsay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3KDqloV9qnAPCWbgGFzqDCgTsfkcxkTiQ_ydqc3Yja36b8udcVviglshPn2rTm5fQ6Et0k4vZUqvuMIdRuIwIE_COESKCeIar9RdmL-kFVwLyLzuL-2YKKMJD-QjvUUnCfskrhmzwCE/s1600/P6080055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3KDqloV9qnAPCWbgGFzqDCgTsfkcxkTiQ_ydqc3Yja36b8udcVviglshPn2rTm5fQ6Et0k4vZUqvuMIdRuIwIE_COESKCeIar9RdmL-kFVwLyLzuL-2YKKMJD-QjvUUnCfskrhmzwCE/s320/P6080055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Leaving "her outdoors" on Oransay, I paddled on out of the Strand and up the south east coast of Colonsay. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Through Port a' Chapuill to... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk40gNdyTKvCwvu41viMKY-sCOrCPejp5t_0bZj3SXnAkH_RyQ1y0GcRSfM0ESy9IKUGCGKVkbVs1rixhMPxRXujycsYfAUUhaw4QtgW4P5XlFwI03T8VOadD2fKxWzxLnijpD_GolOHE/s1600/P6080063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk40gNdyTKvCwvu41viMKY-sCOrCPejp5t_0bZj3SXnAkH_RyQ1y0GcRSfM0ESy9IKUGCGKVkbVs1rixhMPxRXujycsYfAUUhaw4QtgW4P5XlFwI03T8VOadD2fKxWzxLnijpD_GolOHE/s320/P6080063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ... Cable Bay. The beach here is "compact" but with a view down to the Sound of Islay and the Paps of Jura. Port a' Chapuill and Cable Bay are counted as seperate beaches in the SNH top 20. Given their close proximity I struggle with this when the whole of Oransay is counted as a single unit! Cable Bay as a top 20? Possibly. Port a'Chapuill on its own? Not in my book! But then it is all rather subjective anyway.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Interestingly, a proposal has recently (spring 2011) been put forward to place a salmon farm off Cable Bay / Port a' Chapuill. Personally I hope it doesn't proceed. It's very pleasant to kayak somewhere off the west coast without the infernal things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgQ6GNTT0w_nBsNPjJXii-rNvXfEM18JdKNR_RK7H600jKvJmnnHNWmG4jbXNrQWNTQDlWrUq8xZQHfazxN28PXNyr2mfEwlP7UOPCb_Bs8Txr_nVaLCkaybf0zT9GAuTRLERb0kasLg/s1600/P6080065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgQ6GNTT0w_nBsNPjJXii-rNvXfEM18JdKNR_RK7H600jKvJmnnHNWmG4jbXNrQWNTQDlWrUq8xZQHfazxN28PXNyr2mfEwlP7UOPCb_Bs8Txr_nVaLCkaybf0zT9GAuTRLERb0kasLg/s320/P6080065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Just around the corner from Cable Bay is Meall an Arbhair, a pleasant sheltered spot with two entances to the shallow bay and otters chilling out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3_vgVrhFFwwiZoPWgzVVShzYiZr88jAayrZIaPRV-mVQlW4jYq5ZlaBcImY39S-2aHKVNTU6FqQU8bd3MCy0pjlA0bPc3dcNmGGA2IfBsf2iZNfaozO_gY9RDXtXapSUN2ET5WmOaJQ/s1600/P6080068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3_vgVrhFFwwiZoPWgzVVShzYiZr88jAayrZIaPRV-mVQlW4jYq5ZlaBcImY39S-2aHKVNTU6FqQU8bd3MCy0pjlA0bPc3dcNmGGA2IfBsf2iZNfaozO_gY9RDXtXapSUN2ET5WmOaJQ/s320/P6080068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rubha Dubh is a very low lying headland. Beyond is Loch Staosnaig otherwise known as Queen's Bay, on account of HMY Brittania regularly mooring up here for the night when HM was doing her holiday tour around Scotland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYegVZJNYQ5hfuEFBGx_1mJlKUgZLitc1iksG8aHArgSV128JcCRYgD72TY5sKN-Vvae1f8FGuwpVhSoBG8ZWAZvTsIHfqFUCKFN3g0GP4drmhvjwYFGSwl9t-dUEEjSMvCkfEm-7fi0/s1600/P6080070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYegVZJNYQ5hfuEFBGx_1mJlKUgZLitc1iksG8aHArgSV128JcCRYgD72TY5sKN-Vvae1f8FGuwpVhSoBG8ZWAZvTsIHfqFUCKFN3g0GP4drmhvjwYFGSwl9t-dUEEjSMvCkfEm-7fi0/s320/P6080070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Views to the northeast include the northern end of Jura, the mouth of Corryvreckan and the rounded lump aka Scarp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGD5I9jqNcthSDg1ldl5QcpPeYgGIEolZLe0dwwQtB16rCKYudiQLQaxEmpd1e0plSaRG1E9xEU3NWDdz3YbfCbsfbwjudH51r7xfkcSywc4Iq4ebLyqfft0WIhR6Whj01WVXYdcBlzY/s1600/P6080074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGD5I9jqNcthSDg1ldl5QcpPeYgGIEolZLe0dwwQtB16rCKYudiQLQaxEmpd1e0plSaRG1E9xEU3NWDdz3YbfCbsfbwjudH51r7xfkcSywc4Iq4ebLyqfft0WIhR6Whj01WVXYdcBlzY/s320/P6080074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile the tide was going out and I needed to get back to Oransay sharpish to collect "her outdoors" and then paddle back to the road's end at Garvard otherwise there would be a long trolley haul.</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-46385567419922640722011-08-15T21:48:00.000+01:002011-08-15T21:48:56.893+01:00Oransay Priory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZQ_mC9hKaGu8pIhvrdw-Th4liAHv59_TkURDhxw6iaSJPDutiMkH6wNUAYolWuLG9el265WzwuxSd0ESWuSTh58gurcaj9mrCCHBVmF520wY98zrCJfFGCqFTHz9H0O7Z8Np96830l4/s1600/IMG_7235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZQ_mC9hKaGu8pIhvrdw-Th4liAHv59_TkURDhxw6iaSJPDutiMkH6wNUAYolWuLG9el265WzwuxSd0ESWuSTh58gurcaj9mrCCHBVmF520wY98zrCJfFGCqFTHz9H0O7Z8Np96830l4/s320/IMG_7235.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Oransay Priory was founded around 1350 as an Augustine monastary but was reported as being in ruins by 1623. The current owners of Oransay have done much to improve the island and this includes moving the superb collection of carved mediavel grave stones in to a recently roofed area of the priory to protect them from the elements. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-vP6Coc7K9_jhqZbQThRwrfw-7zRSrKR1cpgCTKre2-42H2sXxtgHT06tKIsHOKMHS527JTK2NDN-Csdg0k67kwd8iQWCfqgg9pBWDUbF8U_qij4cy7a_B_u6eTWMTnztGrPHbL7pSE/s1600/IMG_7238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-vP6Coc7K9_jhqZbQThRwrfw-7zRSrKR1cpgCTKre2-42H2sXxtgHT06tKIsHOKMHS527JTK2NDN-Csdg0k67kwd8iQWCfqgg9pBWDUbF8U_qij4cy7a_B_u6eTWMTnztGrPHbL7pSE/s320/IMG_7238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMykZVEZb0ab1yHC1w83BAkC0LXOviMblHj2ZXSONFOPD0SMBvEdfyh2BqOpTzNxZNIG6XhS8kffmRlOJd4TjlCJ6MgbKCOmW5SkFr3dRMGAhokaz4rXnTVsMLe1F0r4uVxsUm5hXv3Hg/s1600/IMG_7259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMykZVEZb0ab1yHC1w83BAkC0LXOviMblHj2ZXSONFOPD0SMBvEdfyh2BqOpTzNxZNIG6XhS8kffmRlOJd4TjlCJ6MgbKCOmW5SkFr3dRMGAhokaz4rXnTVsMLe1F0r4uVxsUm5hXv3Hg/s320/IMG_7259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoX3iYLL5c7ZrG1_7hClcbTlY5GYJ6-vw3_DpBSxuQVfOflf6m81N04yt2OsDoG1fSVsQTr51CDf4V6WvtYeAjGDOMts8ate8mFDv6fTRIMRGOXNU_lEbA1abRtUowhhlp9dtSAWrJR8/s1600/IMG_7260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoX3iYLL5c7ZrG1_7hClcbTlY5GYJ6-vw3_DpBSxuQVfOflf6m81N04yt2OsDoG1fSVsQTr51CDf4V6WvtYeAjGDOMts8ate8mFDv6fTRIMRGOXNU_lEbA1abRtUowhhlp9dtSAWrJR8/s320/IMG_7260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI8Bawng0gak6djjwvBejV1RubhyxFjS3x2GzYNwVIYESib532YIqnx6aO08DCiV5rxg1H6x0FX-rSJcDkq_PBQ4TBeMx1M4Jh1-ofpvXR0fjJDVum3VzMQEN2pAa0z30DNGfVzbxKeA/s1600/IMG_7270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI8Bawng0gak6djjwvBejV1RubhyxFjS3x2GzYNwVIYESib532YIqnx6aO08DCiV5rxg1H6x0FX-rSJcDkq_PBQ4TBeMx1M4Jh1-ofpvXR0fjJDVum3VzMQEN2pAa0z30DNGfVzbxKeA/s320/IMG_7270.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vEfFH36Q27RSCO9pSsS6IFIITkn7EQ3hVStT6F8XtJJdp1k10HldRqLyzSe0yfhbZViY4ISmkbm57Zyg87kzWkIUm2z0X1KxX7feBaDYhR-bVLHr3iiw3D9mZDfMTenp4yqLHx-BIUk/s1600/IMG_7272_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vEfFH36Q27RSCO9pSsS6IFIITkn7EQ3hVStT6F8XtJJdp1k10HldRqLyzSe0yfhbZViY4ISmkbm57Zyg87kzWkIUm2z0X1KxX7feBaDYhR-bVLHr3iiw3D9mZDfMTenp4yqLHx-BIUk/s320/IMG_7272_edited-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">OK, not part of the priory proper, but I like this shot of the nearby walls with the three baby wrens!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDObzV9Qq-Ow0otfJGC2TDcw968Z6DSjTe3S6LlPf5FM6Qc-bjA3x9Z2WktWOWovQxIKdogFasyzT7siww7MEsPebkfsdxAvfxfFswozC8wcM4kQKG2faxGc9c_AheDvcZCjPzQGv49-s/s1600/IMG_7241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDObzV9Qq-Ow0otfJGC2TDcw968Z6DSjTe3S6LlPf5FM6Qc-bjA3x9Z2WktWOWovQxIKdogFasyzT7siww7MEsPebkfsdxAvfxfFswozC8wcM4kQKG2faxGc9c_AheDvcZCjPzQGv49-s/s320/IMG_7241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Again, not a carving but a fascinating natural detail of one of the stones in the priory wall.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">All photos on this page by Angela Smith</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-59661784001282471152011-08-14T08:03:00.000+01:002011-08-14T08:03:14.555+01:00Oransay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGHQqEmcPD4dBh5OuDeiWb-ccJE7EfCNpkXTQpdgx2fZIO0kYgTrD77WV52kUpbSBHf_458X0dT1bKoV-v_lL-1LUkFSPfLNXooK9jO7kjePdTFD3NhiL4BbRi3AI_Vv0-Do4wKIXIvY/s1600/IMG_7284_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGHQqEmcPD4dBh5OuDeiWb-ccJE7EfCNpkXTQpdgx2fZIO0kYgTrD77WV52kUpbSBHf_458X0dT1bKoV-v_lL-1LUkFSPfLNXooK9jO7kjePdTFD3NhiL4BbRi3AI_Vv0-Do4wKIXIvY/s320/IMG_7284_edited-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our first trip to Oransay was on foot. Having waited for the tide to recede we crossed the Strand, walked the road to the priory then on to the machair. Waders, corncrake and geese abound. Several areas of the island, including some of the beaches, obviously held large numbers of ground nesting birds and we did the sensible thing and avoided them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe8hK3ay-iTevg4R6kmm5sRxkIfMz0stz1QzNZWh_3Ienbl038OPNpxneBYxQBOVn3jETjlMqHU03Lr9u7MFAefB2uL8ML5HG0PkL39Glsyig67Ohoi-jaEsasGLWJ-k_v4t8TdtLk24/s1600/IMG_7288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe8hK3ay-iTevg4R6kmm5sRxkIfMz0stz1QzNZWh_3Ienbl038OPNpxneBYxQBOVn3jETjlMqHU03Lr9u7MFAefB2uL8ML5HG0PkL39Glsyig67Ohoi-jaEsasGLWJ-k_v4t8TdtLk24/s320/IMG_7288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This isolated shelter on the south west coast had a superb view towards some offshore skerries and islands and out in to the Atlantic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp04tQe4WDSTI0si7BxrxXyeknN-ROog4K_TBs2lFc2IQ4Q3rI-QI0E9qnUc_tHtPONdRW8q5ZnYWS89ureKxusjUTJp4m93DUAHojwE51RMljFhi7-QadwjPfYjgd_8_4OZV63kxVcM/s1600/IMG_7299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp04tQe4WDSTI0si7BxrxXyeknN-ROog4K_TBs2lFc2IQ4Q3rI-QI0E9qnUc_tHtPONdRW8q5ZnYWS89ureKxusjUTJp4m93DUAHojwE51RMljFhi7-QadwjPfYjgd_8_4OZV63kxVcM/s320/IMG_7299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Colonsay and Oransay were occupied in the Mesolithic period. On Oransay this is evidenced by several shell middens such as the one above, near Seal Cottage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8ODwsAh52Q-DtwHWfSCOVqNVQjVWmjiWnsnFkL91YmoBXR0wVW5YP_0wX1iTSwssqkjY2FHa9MOdwn_jcDGKwjuDJJ3mAqnkEH3XCVNycY4yqrkh26ACkpAOJC22kjZ9Qmj5NfMyEKk/s1600/IMG_7305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8ODwsAh52Q-DtwHWfSCOVqNVQjVWmjiWnsnFkL91YmoBXR0wVW5YP_0wX1iTSwssqkjY2FHa9MOdwn_jcDGKwjuDJJ3mAqnkEH3XCVNycY4yqrkh26ACkpAOJC22kjZ9Qmj5NfMyEKk/s320/IMG_7305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the east coast the view opens up towards Jura and Islay. Jura has three of the SNH "top twenty" beaches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSKI0DYk47-vUSd4OY3Uwzvk9pVDxNDj1RXWdJMRae0AZNgGoL5Y5PFHPCdtbLtyE7FzS86Gq5EwA0YTMdWs4FoTbbFz2Ma0HWKbW6J_z6mazMeV-nsRjRgIYWPVlaXCO7ZbDoLBopLE/s1600/IMG_7310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSKI0DYk47-vUSd4OY3Uwzvk9pVDxNDj1RXWdJMRae0AZNgGoL5Y5PFHPCdtbLtyE7FzS86Gq5EwA0YTMdWs4FoTbbFz2Ma0HWKbW6J_z6mazMeV-nsRjRgIYWPVlaXCO7ZbDoLBopLE/s320/IMG_7310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> One of the Jura paps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuQd8MDewD7Tj7S9GNNjr760dG8HFuP1sTL48Eqoq1TWnda5V9s8nWdilJtJlP_mBHNJ6sEOisY14QEm7H8WwwBlAZFySux6txjmYoCohq9VFBW1PkJWjHAn_ccemfY7mDPEXzCG-4EA/s1600/IMG_7315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuQd8MDewD7Tj7S9GNNjr760dG8HFuP1sTL48Eqoq1TWnda5V9s8nWdilJtJlP_mBHNJ6sEOisY14QEm7H8WwwBlAZFySux6txjmYoCohq9VFBW1PkJWjHAn_ccemfY7mDPEXzCG-4EA/s320/IMG_7315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">When we crossed the Strand to Oransay it was pretty grey and wet but upon our return the weather had brightened up and better displayed the brilliance of the place.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">All photos by Angela Smith</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-483915357648326972011-08-13T21:12:00.001+01:002011-08-13T21:20:40.636+01:00"Do the Strand"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY0O31pkuwH1KWEE4zWipVQUA7BQo0ppjQm26J0u5BMjki0z7lzPOONUdi8EwOJ6gDm_cZdftyiCEvykKPhUJh3S8A_zZQmpRY7Sv7uf8D57goRLfbqAuJBY5QX3XEAB_6CrmwMcBcxc/s1600/P6080053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY0O31pkuwH1KWEE4zWipVQUA7BQo0ppjQm26J0u5BMjki0z7lzPOONUdi8EwOJ6gDm_cZdftyiCEvykKPhUJh3S8A_zZQmpRY7Sv7uf8D57goRLfbqAuJBY5QX3XEAB_6CrmwMcBcxc/s320/P6080053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With apologies to all those who are old enough to know of the avant garde hip chic of 1973....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are two ways to "Do the Strand".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can walk across when the tide is out</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or you can paddle across when the tide is in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course if you paddle across, you could do it on a table..... sorry! 1973 and all that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This day we paddled, in kayaks, and the photograph is historic as this is the first time that Angela has been in a kayak on the sea since we were last on Colonsay thity years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-XpvSWTaykc4gzJHqVt1FO7whIzmun5C_hris9ff7pgXzINZgIHTLaSahSpwfdglLdHTdtwrDAX61CF_PQ5dhgN6QQ3dZB1uJfx78nvydvI3g4Sx0khGBbvcOAKCouxC6UMiJg0jla4/s1600/P6070035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-XpvSWTaykc4gzJHqVt1FO7whIzmun5C_hris9ff7pgXzINZgIHTLaSahSpwfdglLdHTdtwrDAX61CF_PQ5dhgN6QQ3dZB1uJfx78nvydvI3g4Sx0khGBbvcOAKCouxC6UMiJg0jla4/s320/P6070035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Strand we are really talking about here is the one between Colonsay and Oransay. The latter island is regarded by the authors of the SNH report referred to in my earlier Colonsay blog as one of the four top twenty beaches, although calling a whole, fairly large island "a beach" is using a bit of licence. There are many fine beaches on the island, which is leased to the RSPB by its American owner. There are also the remains of a rather old priory. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg8w4IWbYt6toVT7Xbs-eUTlRyjbp2GayQrWoYkbGQLVIW7RYNiImjyZULcjx5P2_HDa-nix3zsynPSCJ5Xd58arh7C36xbQUhr4Jy7gH4MdrR41SsjFVC9tDKw2YbsPNKNWsMWhIVVg/s1600/P6070038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg8w4IWbYt6toVT7Xbs-eUTlRyjbp2GayQrWoYkbGQLVIW7RYNiImjyZULcjx5P2_HDa-nix3zsynPSCJ5Xd58arh7C36xbQUhr4Jy7gH4MdrR41SsjFVC9tDKw2YbsPNKNWsMWhIVVg/s320/P6070038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiHikkxh5-uPt6d0YGRzX_4OsB5wSyWbm0oQm-8mFRuEPYGn0xFqhYRSCaU2zv4A6iajhv5zMw_wbP1TeTnwR2XlpIU9PXj6hW6PkysYXlXXIL42D5IETHmuxF0ODLz7uL_sIsDwnTrI/s1600/P6070040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiHikkxh5-uPt6d0YGRzX_4OsB5wSyWbm0oQm-8mFRuEPYGn0xFqhYRSCaU2zv4A6iajhv5zMw_wbP1TeTnwR2XlpIU9PXj6hW6PkysYXlXXIL42D5IETHmuxF0ODLz7uL_sIsDwnTrI/s320/P6070040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi612ZJ5fkxTTA7mq3tBDC9QKmNP1rdI2joUfBc1hrfteZoOtbawVTwDYB5g06SG183to49X7lfEGike6hyphenhyphenk1GtCdeicK0ch9oJ-t0RxjQC7qie_79qCqNHmYCmbiRUMTZHA5OlQdkigC8/s1600/P6080073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi612ZJ5fkxTTA7mq3tBDC9QKmNP1rdI2joUfBc1hrfteZoOtbawVTwDYB5g06SG183to49X7lfEGike6hyphenhyphenk1GtCdeicK0ch9oJ-t0RxjQC7qie_79qCqNHmYCmbiRUMTZHA5OlQdkigC8/s320/P6080073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">And the rather nice beach we landed on.</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-43903826443028904492011-08-03T20:37:00.000+01:002011-08-03T20:37:27.355+01:00Look out below!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTVFh7RmS5qGgIkvUAuYr0bUZ3LzY8M778QSkkLZ1QYYNen5ky7wAPL5CvZQnd5WvkB3yf9igYZTmJqlYRAs1GCKT4lpfh0oZl7Z7ok2zDmfDpBDcExvjdD5DmtwOZSM28KzB9kcbsiU/s1600/P7310142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTVFh7RmS5qGgIkvUAuYr0bUZ3LzY8M778QSkkLZ1QYYNen5ky7wAPL5CvZQnd5WvkB3yf9igYZTmJqlYRAs1GCKT4lpfh0oZl7Z7ok2zDmfDpBDcExvjdD5DmtwOZSM28KzB9kcbsiU/s320/P7310142.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the weekend Fiona and I went for a 25k bimble around the Ormes from Rhos. I'm not sure if it's a bright idea to leave Rhos at high tide as inevitably you will have the tide against you during the paddle back and then a long carry up the beach at the end of the day. Gluttons for punishment, eh?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp0UfGdSqd9ETrdW_b2V_4DyUQJJkL_rlycaJVigqoHxnnG5-n7oROTWB7033u-rXkt6ToLUDv9d8jz6STLbDJdQZXf8euDYESyCThwIzKMXbHZh_Z9LQDVJQnuMtTxI0ZsjOkPfDPAM/s1600/P7310143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp0UfGdSqd9ETrdW_b2V_4DyUQJJkL_rlycaJVigqoHxnnG5-n7oROTWB7033u-rXkt6ToLUDv9d8jz6STLbDJdQZXf8euDYESyCThwIzKMXbHZh_Z9LQDVJQnuMtTxI0ZsjOkPfDPAM/s320/P7310143.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whilst doing some rock-hopping under the cliffs of the Great Orme we were suddenly assailed by a fall of stones from above. We paddled away from the cliffs to see what had caused the fall only to see these three Angora billy goats chewing the barest of vegetation. All the other lusher, verdant green stuff and they had to choose this bit just as we were paddling underneath! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmjTDytnlXXrJFBfav6dbt70yVpOVzXTJumzyCG_AYqxIRPwnRt0GgTybXzLShbdc_8YgPjyBLrwhFEmslHWGKSdIbcbbl4v3s9jYFJhERM7P1SR6ttXWsIHotDMqvvpRWFG12loM6tE/s1600/P7310144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmjTDytnlXXrJFBfav6dbt70yVpOVzXTJumzyCG_AYqxIRPwnRt0GgTybXzLShbdc_8YgPjyBLrwhFEmslHWGKSdIbcbbl4v3s9jYFJhERM7P1SR6ttXWsIHotDMqvvpRWFG12loM6tE/s320/P7310144.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the way back the tide was falling and thousands of starfish were exposed on the rocks around the Little Orme. They were slowly peeling themselves off the exposed cliff and falling back in to the relative safety of the sea. I managed to catch one on my paddle as it dropped! </div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-11556448449628663112011-08-01T22:06:00.001+01:002011-08-15T22:57:40.030+01:00Kiloran Bay, Isle of Colonsay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9EyRWEoXcrafMFu-Mdy97FnMnypqOKd5Ry1_0SjboVD32zol3vOTYLb3shHqoPXwD1wGtPXU6iCXtlJZWHmK1e_JLCqxg6i6s1aWEk0VOpGwws3wF_9BVvQaiP1qNEkAJ4WKvhwtMlc/s1600/IMG_7440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9EyRWEoXcrafMFu-Mdy97FnMnypqOKd5Ry1_0SjboVD32zol3vOTYLb3shHqoPXwD1wGtPXU6iCXtlJZWHmK1e_JLCqxg6i6s1aWEk0VOpGwws3wF_9BVvQaiP1qNEkAJ4WKvhwtMlc/s320/IMG_7440.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kiloran Bay can catch magnificent surf and, as is often the case in this part of the world, there won't be many of you on or in the water!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZBpu7YES3Weke-LcAKmtbk09m2_7i49hMiauyLt0kXhQCYt9Ryi9DkYPhJlbJQGKUkHlrUibhYvfZkXokjoJ-FKrUiWooxL4bAEaVOqllyQgt-GM8rBYeN7iAxiIXt5wOoPDGZJjYlk/s1600/IMG_7496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZBpu7YES3Weke-LcAKmtbk09m2_7i49hMiauyLt0kXhQCYt9Ryi9DkYPhJlbJQGKUkHlrUibhYvfZkXokjoJ-FKrUiWooxL4bAEaVOqllyQgt-GM8rBYeN7iAxiIXt5wOoPDGZJjYlk/s320/IMG_7496.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If the surf is high then I found the best place to land the kayak was at the southern end of the beach where the stream enters the sea, although with rocks close by and challenging surf, good judgement is needed. If it is too difficult to land then there is a more sheltered north facing beach about 300m west: not too sure how you climb the cliff though! Failing that there is a small south-westerley facing bay round the headland north of Kiloran Bay.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLF34d2xH3HcyDPBLOuQ5zFuR9XeLnuivCEfnD3lDFLLm8LXteF7e_oIFMVq2HWZr1hAXmjIdrIpIEcZu_NhsAW9MZuKCwCEmjnBhI-HOPvlYkP5V1zdPYP9o8xNtUaALKu24G93qSYU/s1600/IMG_7391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLF34d2xH3HcyDPBLOuQ5zFuR9XeLnuivCEfnD3lDFLLm8LXteF7e_oIFMVq2HWZr1hAXmjIdrIpIEcZu_NhsAW9MZuKCwCEmjnBhI-HOPvlYkP5V1zdPYP9o8xNtUaALKu24G93qSYU/s320/IMG_7391.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The bay is backed by an impressive dune face with machair behind, which is managed to provide a foraging area for the rare chough, at their most northerly breeding area in Europe. Corncrakes rattle away nearby while dune gentian and Irish ladies tresses are amongst the rarer flowers in the vicinity. In 1881 a viking ship burial site was found in the dunes. The artefacts can be seen at the National Museum in Edinburgh. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccqBq6I_wYVLpVJRNbK1KZTc_jTaBsWRT4yLtP2RXCsAftUogHDgivOLe28kd6jZuCQfISY3FVcSLakxfsY-HuulxER70BLHmutCzghE7VhisqLswkE1ZHMuifzGf8Woooq_r_7knikE/s1600/IMG_7596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccqBq6I_wYVLpVJRNbK1KZTc_jTaBsWRT4yLtP2RXCsAftUogHDgivOLe28kd6jZuCQfISY3FVcSLakxfsY-HuulxER70BLHmutCzghE7VhisqLswkE1ZHMuifzGf8Woooq_r_7knikE/s320/IMG_7596.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">When on the west coast it is always tempting to "do the sunsets". </div><div align="center">I rather like Kiloran Bay.</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-86232764725268859332011-07-29T21:56:00.001+01:002011-07-29T21:59:35.335+01:00Thirty Years After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmHTtTvgChTU-d0Oye7JsQvSiAcGf9thSOxwvVdoyoPfGHbVTTswURuJ_T9AzIunI4jH5l8CCEDtMH_LNJJPSo-_lkcqXwiJpsNLiD6jNDszELzQXzd3d-eoGfJYgM2AlOCBMxmjRZXE/s1600/P6120140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmHTtTvgChTU-d0Oye7JsQvSiAcGf9thSOxwvVdoyoPfGHbVTTswURuJ_T9AzIunI4jH5l8CCEDtMH_LNJJPSo-_lkcqXwiJpsNLiD6jNDszELzQXzd3d-eoGfJYgM2AlOCBMxmjRZXE/s320/P6120140.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At pretty close to midnight on the 12th August 1981, thirty years ago, Mrs Smith and I met for the first time just on the other side of that headland. We were both Assistant Leaders on a Schools Hebridean Society expedition, her to lead kayaking, me climbing and both with some marine biology and ecology thrown in. My recollection was that the opening greeting was something of a Dr Livingstone / Stanley moment. The island is Colonsay and although we've visited many if not quite all of the other inhabited Hebridean islands since, we had never been back to Colonsay until June this year. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxVaVAxuV8QDxKuiSyl5H8_aZ0U09CmgdlQjNVhcVZyF6l2lkfHyfzsaqBw-XCqWpb5tgeN7Yhnu4NN-_GEhXTln6uOafKKJ-J5QixaR_NBjXbjAZe12oCxY1-IyPkhF7CUQ0Pxi_DHM/s1600/P6060026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxVaVAxuV8QDxKuiSyl5H8_aZ0U09CmgdlQjNVhcVZyF6l2lkfHyfzsaqBw-XCqWpb5tgeN7Yhnu4NN-_GEhXTln6uOafKKJ-J5QixaR_NBjXbjAZe12oCxY1-IyPkhF7CUQ0Pxi_DHM/s320/P6060026.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The changes have largely been subtle. Certainly part of where we camped is now beach. The island also has this developing whale sculpture. The artist Julian Meredith started this 183m long beast on a raised beach and visitors are invited to continue to fill the outline with stones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLVGEdUj302NeXDe8OQPdCchp7UBtmAwNDVQrz8hdtHoQzMDck459sW7AQmtpZcKCp0OL6fj3E6lSCmsZzjpMd7QRwJpcWtYSefmyKfJMvPgkzOT-Nov-TKhkwyFQQklf0aDnPIQtwEs/s1600/P6060027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLVGEdUj302NeXDe8OQPdCchp7UBtmAwNDVQrz8hdtHoQzMDck459sW7AQmtpZcKCp0OL6fj3E6lSCmsZzjpMd7QRwJpcWtYSefmyKfJMvPgkzOT-Nov-TKhkwyFQQklf0aDnPIQtwEs/s320/P6060027.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then there are the beaches...... according to a Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Repot No. 048, "The Beaches of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland", four of the top twenty beaches in Scotland are on Colonsay. This is one of them, Kiloran Bay. OK, the report is largely subjective but I could easily add a couple more to the four!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsX1sxNiEnzivcREOiFcPpYj1rvO5CrMr_saOr3DqjgpvO4trF5MLuTNv_V1Kgbukm1CY2SWvRs55DuzxmWme2kO0FfL0OfD-HjFleoy8sZO9XX4tPmd_vWTCi6t9bSYhr7WhEkFx0eE/s1600/P6090078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsX1sxNiEnzivcREOiFcPpYj1rvO5CrMr_saOr3DqjgpvO4trF5MLuTNv_V1Kgbukm1CY2SWvRs55DuzxmWme2kO0FfL0OfD-HjFleoy8sZO9XX4tPmd_vWTCi6t9bSYhr7WhEkFx0eE/s320/P6090078.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and guess what we had with us! My objective, perhaps not shared with Mrs Smith, was to kayak from/to the said four beaches. This is Kiloran Bay and I launched and paddled solo here in large surf and significant swell. There are no on the water shots and Mrs Smith stayed in the cottage, so there are no paddling photos from the land either. The kayak is my daughter's Rockpool Isel, which was superb in the very challenging surf but a little cramped for me. Landing was very interesting! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-76145151689581852392011-03-27T17:39:00.002+01:002011-03-27T17:56:19.973+01:00Hell Hole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2m2l-egwnpUaP4kSa-Wruwxro-OrC_3Vw6kky-T9fATeGW9JKhxluKKNKzdhD5mYkh7suPsNbeS3a5RnWIOvTyx8sslK1QDpO7ZogPNe-0XK3-0qcygXPidRNHF5YnhiZR2VFlM2upA/s1600/P3270524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2m2l-egwnpUaP4kSa-Wruwxro-OrC_3Vw6kky-T9fATeGW9JKhxluKKNKzdhD5mYkh7suPsNbeS3a5RnWIOvTyx8sslK1QDpO7ZogPNe-0XK3-0qcygXPidRNHF5YnhiZR2VFlM2upA/s320/P3270524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There's a place near us called Hell Hole. This forwarder found it! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35YXJv0MhygPwamJ8RuaMBtPA58DD5wEAeHKmlAAi5EkVFKRPC4a_BxiiugSE0t1dqBPLvgnTudoHVEmAMhf66ZzxvwGa8SEltVuSdhOzzgNXZXADqfs026JeqT2jjLCrRP79ttNTRuk/s1600/P3270530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35YXJv0MhygPwamJ8RuaMBtPA58DD5wEAeHKmlAAi5EkVFKRPC4a_BxiiugSE0t1dqBPLvgnTudoHVEmAMhf66ZzxvwGa8SEltVuSdhOzzgNXZXADqfs026JeqT2jjLCrRP79ttNTRuk/s320/P3270530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They've been felling a line of lombardy poplars by the brook and this piece of kit had been extracting the logs. I'm surprised they didn't fell the trees to the west side as it least they wouldn't have been constantly driving through the same place, constrained by a gate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR1tFVCqzBcW95RgylfnKkcZQDwVuo32ClmHuizGu_yfBVpY87lTaHKZMBtiwdHqWIu6ux0iFuqPY4xG2mwCYBuKDvLwGUbUEoKTRQptgcjxR93PYgHrxCKOoxHpp9nvUGdHrC4wG23Y/s1600/P3270525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR1tFVCqzBcW95RgylfnKkcZQDwVuo32ClmHuizGu_yfBVpY87lTaHKZMBtiwdHqWIu6ux0iFuqPY4xG2mwCYBuKDvLwGUbUEoKTRQptgcjxR93PYgHrxCKOoxHpp9nvUGdHrC4wG23Y/s320/P3270525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unfortunately it passed through the gateway once too often and the ground had become well and truly liquified! It's bad enough here in the summer. Over the top of wellys stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2555752784521345126.post-15439509237229453912011-03-18T21:59:00.001+00:002011-03-19T07:41:53.844+00:00Dusting off the cobwebs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday 6th March 2011 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Pv6Z9L1QqC-M1pG0ThMKBB_5sOew1dCjeM2v3d0uTx2T4kn12eWFpcQzkvqRmWcaanZtqUKpAPw78HNwKXAOMzVzNYwh0ybt_GhalksBJ4-5AtGjLkQk-xw5nTv0oT4Gm8_NB-iSHjc/s1600/P3050515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Pv6Z9L1QqC-M1pG0ThMKBB_5sOew1dCjeM2v3d0uTx2T4kn12eWFpcQzkvqRmWcaanZtqUKpAPw78HNwKXAOMzVzNYwh0ybt_GhalksBJ4-5AtGjLkQk-xw5nTv0oT4Gm8_NB-iSHjc/s320/P3050515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">It's that time of year where you just have to get the boats out and get on the water again. A seven and a mile return bimble from Porth Trecastell to Aberffraw. Great weather and loads of waders alomg the coast - redshank, greenshank, curlew, oystercatcher, turnstone, dunlin, sanderling...... </div>Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00767096486166365167noreply@blogger.com0