Essential Learning on Anglesey

Back from a wonderful few days on Anglesey yet again.

First day was spent trying out a demo Rockpool kayak out of Bull Bay in the snotty seas, I think Dave has found his next purchase.

Day two was spent furthering rough water rescue skills on the north coast with top UK sea coach Nick Cunliffe of 'Kayak Essentials'.

Finally, after feeling totally beaten up we spent the Sunday on the Menai playing between the bridge supports on the large 9 metre tide.

Just a few simple photos of the weekend as the camera didnt come out much...



Nick explaining the 5 Essentials :-)

Coble Landing, Filey to The Sands, North Bay Scarborough

Sunday dawned another beautiful if a somewhat cold day. Dave was keen to have a play in his new Delphin. A lunchtime launch to get the last couple of hours of ebb, the Brigg end was looking quite lumpy but with a wide berth it made for a fun crossing - on to Scarborough.

Dave and his new boat







North Bay and a bit of swell running, time for a little fun







Unfortunately on more that one occasion we both ended up swimming, what fools but great fun.

Humber in January

We store the boats on a farm which is right next to the Tidal River Hull. On several occasions I have put in here and headed upstream to Beverley but never downstream. Today was to be that day, albeit a very last minute decision.

Heading down towards the city was uneventful and quite dirty and somber to be honest, steaming outfalls from chemical works are really not very appealing, I wouldn't want to be in the water here. It wasn't until the city centre when things got better.



Out into the Humber, cutting out into the main flow, a good 4 knots of tide here... The Deep



Grabby eddy lines everywhere, easiest thing I found was to just power through them..





Paull Lighthouse










Down towards Spurn, keeping an ear on channel 12 - Humber VTS, this brings home to what really is a busy waterway and with major tidal flows and grabby, devilish eddies everywhere this waterway needs respect. The Taran did me well, very fast, the Nordcapp would have been more forgiving but the Taran punched through the last of the ebb as I turned to return to my pick up at the village of Paull.

The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men.........

Charts bought, tidal diamonds examined and route planned, Sunday looked like an ideal day for a play in the upper Humber over low water - what fun could be had messing between the mud and sandbanks, following the last of the tide down to the Humber Bridge, a play around the supports and then back up on the flood.

Launch point had been located, a pontoon from behind the pub at South Ferriby, near the entrance to the River Ancholme. Others had landed here over high water to visit the pub. Up early, over the Humber Bridge and down to the pub carpark, the tide was ebbing fast between the south bank and Reeds Island.

Problem....the pontoon had been removed for the winter and was laid on the bank, now there was 20 ft of deep treacherous mud between us and the water.  Well that was that, no other safe access point could be found.

Not to be beaten, it was a nice day, the River Ancholme was close by but still, straight and quite boring, lets go find the Trent, it has good flow, certainly not as challenging as the Humber but could be fun.

Down to Newark and a put in just above the weir in the town for a push upstream...

Want a race?



A little bit of breaking in and out in the moderate flow.



Fi admires a weir..





It could have been very easy to have turned around and gone home but it turned out to be quite a nice chilled day in the best of the January weather. and about 18 kms covered.

New Year on Anglesey

A few lovely chilled days on Anglesey with friends, a perfect way to start the New Year.