Colligan Gorge Games - Ireland

I popped over to Ireland for a few days to visit my friend Ad who was working at I-Canoe.

Spent a couple of days wandering round Dublin and wandering round some large shopping centres. At the weekend we headed down to Colligan near Waterford in Southern Ireland for a day of paddling, with over 200 entrants it was pretty busy. I went and signed myself in, then had to go and get changed it was pretty cold, only just above freezing and there was still frost on the grass. I watched the guys, then it was my turn to head to the top as i walked up i checked the the river it was a narrow shallow gorge, with a drop at the end of the course.

I didn't get the greatest of starts and the first section was narrowed by rocks, i overtook one girl because she swam! Then tried to catch up with the others almost caught them, then hit a rock above the bottom drop and ended up going down backwards, i then just managed to overtake another girl but still ended up third and didn't make it though to the next round.

The team event went alot better, we didn't win but was a smooth run and managed the whole of it forwards!!

We finished watching all the finales and headed back up to the van, just as we were clambering up the bank Ad slipped and managed to hit himself in the face with his paddle and chipped his front tooth. He was feeling a little sorry for himself after that! We watched the prize giving then headed to our Travel Lodge and had a well deserved shower then headed onto the after party at a local club.

Then it was a long drive back up to Dublin, where i cooked a yummy dinner, then flew home again the next day.

Would defiantly go back to Ireland paddling again. There is a couple of events planned for next year so may have to head over again.

Sailing for Dads Birthday

For my dad's birthday i booked a small yacht at Dittisham and me, Mum, Dad, Buster and Andy got up early and drove over. We started off with a safety brief to explain about the boat we were using afew safety aspects, etc.

Mum and Dad had owned boats for years before me and my brother were born and Andy used to teach at a sailing school so i was in safe hands.

We started off by heading down to Dartmouth, where we had a quick stop and got some coffee's and hot chocolates to warm us up a little.

We then headed back up the river, we stopped at Dittisham again for a spot of lunch.

After lunch we then headed up further to Stoke Gabriel, we did a bit of tacking up the river and moored up at Stoke Gabriel where we stopped again for another hot chocolate.

Then we cruised back to Dittisham and returned the boat all in all a good day, though i did end up pretty soggy by the end of it, Thanks Andy!!

Sea Kayaking - Seaton to Branscombe

Information source from South West Sea Kayaking by Mark Rainsley

Seaton to Branscombe and back

Get in: Seaton Beach

Get out: Branscombe Beach

Distance: 5-6 miles ish

We had a few days holiday so borrowed a couple of Perception Essences from the work hire fleet, Andy paddled the 17 and I took the 16 because it’s a little smaller on the cockpit and a better fit for me being a smaller person. We stayed at a campsite near Seaton, got up and had breakfast, then sorted our kit out and headed down to the sea. We parked on the road side near the River Axe and paddled down with the tide, we headed out and round to the right. It was a nice still day, I just had a light weight cag on and a thin Helly top.

Andy paddling form Beer to Branscombe

It’s a lovely section to paddle, we went round past Beer which is a very lively seaside town and round to Branscombe the tide was just high enough to paddle though the arch then as we started to paddle along Branscombe beach, we aimed to paddle up to the far end of the beach, it was a hard slog as we got a head wind.

Andy looking at the rather impressive arch

We eventually got there and came into the beach for a spot of lunch and a bit of a rest. After a bit of lunch we started to cool down so headed back off again, it was much nicer paddling with the wind behind and we zoomed back. The tide was a fair way out by the time we got back and we had to walk the boats over the beach which as it’s a chunky pebble beach was very hard work, we then managed to paddle up the now shallow River Axe and got out again.

On our way back to Branscombe

It was a very enjoyable day and I’d like to do it again, it have would have been better if we were able to do a shuttle and paddle further round instead of having to double back.

Canoeing with the Parents

After promising my parents for weeks that I'd take them canoeing a nice evening arrived and me and Andy  took them for a paddle along the Exeter Canal from the Basin to Double Looks, yet again i managed to borrow some boats from work we took a Prospector RX and Mad River Reflection 15 RX. We got kitted up and headed off, it was a leisurely paddle me and split up so we could steer and head down towards the pub, we stopped just before and set up our picnic.

Mum and Dad making there way back after a spot of dinner

After a spot of grub we headed back this time with Andy and me in one and Mum and Dad in the other. We headed back at a good speed with Andy in charge of steering, whereas Mum and Dad managed to zig zap there way back up.

 Andy in charge of steering

 Trying out a new technique, two canoes paddles together!

Just coming up to the swing bridge by the sports pitches

Paddling at Broadsands Beach

One nice warm weekend, i borrowed a couple of sit on tops from work (Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 and a Perception Scooter) and headed to the Beach with Andy, plus Buster tagged along to. As we only had two boats and three of us, me and Andy ended up sharing the Tarpon which was interesting, it completely lost its stability and every stroke felt as though we were about to fall in. After we paddled round to a little rocky out crop and Andy donned his mask and snorkel he hoped into the water and swam around in the search for fish, at one point he came upon a "Redbull fish" which must be a new breed as I'd never heard of it before!

Buster paddling with Andy in tow


 We the carried on round to a little secluded beach where we brought the kayaks up and went for a bit of a swim, for Devon the weather was quite warm and was very refreshing.

The little beach we found

After we finished swimming we chilled on the beach for a little while before heading back to Broadsands, me and Andy got on the Scooter and headed out, Buster got on the Tarpon from one side and straight over the other side, Hilarious!!

Buster testing the stability

Which we way to the beach, this away!

Sea Kayaking - Polzeath

We drove down and stayed overnight in a campsite on the cliff above Polzeath. We got up in the morning and it was a beautiful sunny day, though a little breezy. So we paddled out and had a look round the cliffs to the right as we were think about heading out to a rocky out crop, but it was very choppy and windy so we decided just to stay in the bay.

 We stayed out to sea and paddled round to the cliffs on the left, then headed round to the mouth of the River Camel, we could see the small town of Beer over looking the river, we then headed back into the beach.