Sea Kayaking at Meadfoot Beach

We had a new demo boat at work which i wanted to test, so i took the P & H Delphin 150 and Andy paddled the Delphin 155. The conditions were a little rough but as we didn't want to drive to far we settled on getting in at Meadfoot beach and just paddling round the islands (Thatchers Rock and the Ore Stone). It was fairly choppy but the Delphin's handled it really well. There not super fast boats, but then only being 15' and 15.5' i didn't expect them to be as quick as say a Scorpio, but they didn't seem slow either. They were stable and forgiving, we really felt like they looked after us. The Delphin is a boat that is really worth looking at if you want a sea kayak, but your looking for something thats going to look after you. I'd feel more than happy to use these kayaks paddling round the coast and taking pictures.

More details can be found on the AS Website, both sizes are available to try and i would really recommend giving them ago. The Delphin 150 is one of the most comfortable, enjoyable sea kayaks i have paddled.

Kayaking - Lower Dart Buckfast to Staverton

As my brother and new housemate were both keen to get out on the water. We decided to head out on the lower with a few friends for some extra help and company.

Netta rather excited about her first trip down the Dart

Jane

We also decided to stop half way down for a bit of throwline and rescue practice. We practiced general throwline use and safety, live baiting a unconscious casualty and active swimming. Something that becomes all to complacent on occasional trips with friends.

Practicing rescuing an unconscious casualty

Throwline re-packing

Andy making sure everything is ok!

Dan paddling so fast you can't even see his blades

Both my brother and our new housemate managed to remain upright the entire trip and had a great time. Then it was back for a yummy carvery at the Dartmoor Motel, where we all ate way to much and then went home for a well deserved rest on the sofa!

Holiday in Tunisia

After a hectic summer at work and the South West canoe Show at the beginning of the month, me and Andy headed for a weeks holiday in sunny tunisia. We stayed in a hotel right next to the beach, the food and drink was all inclusive.

Me and Andy out on a sit on top for a spot of kayaking

Testing out the underwater camera

We went and looked round alot of roman ruins

We went out on a couple of excursions, so that we could see some more of Tunisia

Us

Possing by a column, in which would have been a basement

This was one of the best ruins we saw, a big roman ampitheater

A port full of expensive boats

Snorkeling at Broadsands

As the weather wasn't very good, but it was still hot and sticky, me, Buster and Andy decided to head snorkeling and we also took a Perception Scooter Sit on Top with us.

Here's a few pics from our little outing...

Me doing a seal impression

Andy underwater

Buster underwater

Me chilling on the Scooter

Getting back on again after a little dip

The boys managed to find themselves a cool little under water tunnel and Andy managed to record a video of it.

It wasn't me honestly

Walking Overnighter at Princetown

After work me and Andy had a spot of dinner and then headed up to Princetown, as we were there we popped into the Plume of Feathers for a quick drink and then headed out towards Swell Tor Quarry where we were planning on setting up camp for the night. We managed to find a flat spot, set up the tarp and then the thermarests underneath.

Andy testing out our beds

We managed to sleep pretty well, though we did get woken up in the early hours of the morning by a rave a few miles away.

A rather dilapidated old building

Although the weather wasn't the most inspiring, we still had an explore. We found the wreck of an old building that looked pretty cool and then we found some small lakes in a unused quarry.



The lake in the disused quarry


It was a great place to explore, just a shame the weather wasn't a little nicer



Pixie boy Andy

Weather Tree

 

The old tramway

We wondered round for a few hours before having to head back to the car and head home. Will definitly come here again as we have further that we want to walk.

Moo Moo

Sea Kayaking - Isles of Scilly

I've just come back from a week long trip to the Isles of Scilly with Mike Bradford and seven other fellow kayakers. I took the trusty P & H Scorpio LV, my sea kayak of choice.

The view from the pub on St Agnes



I finely got round to putting up some more details of my trip

 

We spent a night in Penzence before heading to the Isles of Scilly which gave everyone a chance to get to know each other and so we didn't have to drive a long way in the morning for the early morning ferry.

Day One

We travelled from Penzance on the Scillion II to St Mary's where we witnessed our kayaks being unloaded which was a little scary to watch as they where unloading them three at a time. We then loaded up the kayaks with out stuff ready to paddle the crossing from St Mary's to St Agnes. It was a pretty rough crossing and we were paddling into the wind, but we made it. When we got to St Agnes we unpacked our boats, pitched out tents and then went off to explore the island.

My home for the week

Day Two

After a deciding the night before that we the next day we were gonna paddle round St Agnes and then cross over to St Mary's and paddle round there, we got kitted up and set off, the weather was a little calmer. We paddled 30 km and on the way back we had to go round the bottom of St Agnes to get back to the campsite as it was so rough and windy. We were all pretty knackered by the time we got back, so i had my dinner then headed for an early night.

 

One of our many lunch stops with gorgeous views

Day Three

After a long days paddling the day before we decided to take it easy and just paddled round some small islands just off St Agnes including Annette, We paddled round Annette then went off to explore some of the smaller islands/ outcrops where we found a couple of inquisitive seals and one even posed for a picture. The weather then started to close in so we called it a day and headed back to camp.



Seal posing for a picture

Day Four

The weather had improved a lot, the wind had dropped as had the swell meaning that we could venture out further. We decided to head round Samson, Bryher and Tresco, when we made it round to the northern point of Bryher is was very rough with big swell, as we paddled round we came across a place called Hell Bay, named so because so many ships had been wrecked there, once they got into the bay they couldn't get out again. As we paddled round the headland it became very rough but once we came made it round and started to head in between Bryer and Tresco it all went very calm again. After stopping for some lunch we headed south back to St Agnes again.

The castle on Tresco another lunch stop

Day Five

Today the plan was to head upto St Martins, as some people had been ill the last couple of days we paddled past Tresco, stopping for a quick coffee at the gardens entrance so that they could see it to. We then headed onto the Eastern Isles where we found loads of seals and stopped for a spot of lunch on a lovely peaceful beach were we caught afew rays. We then continued on to St Martins where half the group paddled round the northern side (the ones that still had lots of energy) and the rest of us paddled round the southern side, the sea was so pretty and clear you could see the bottom. Yet another 30 km day of paddling.

Mike Bradford our coach

Day Six

Our last day in the Scillies, we got up and started packing everything back into our drybags and then into the kayaks. I may have quickly snuck off for a quick sausage sandwich with a couple of the guys before heading back to the camp to finish off (paddling energy). We then paddled over to St Marys for the last time landed the kayaks and unpacked everything and put it in our big bag ready to be loaded onto the ferry again. We arrived a bit early which gave us a bit of time to explore a little of St Mary's (the biggest of the islands) before sailing home again.



The sunset from our campsite



I would strongly recommend this trip to anyone, we had a total mix of abilities in the group and everyone got on fine. Although it can get a little choppy and windy at times, it is a beautiful collection of islands and perfect for wildlife spotting. Its worth going with a guide or coach for a first trip, as although the tides aren't massively big it can be hard work after a long days paddle making crossings. I enjoyed it so much I'm already trying to work out if i can go again next year.

P & H Scorpio LV, i found the boat had plenty of room even to fit all the stuff i took for the crossing to the campsite and back again. It sat well in the water loaded and empty no problem. I felt comfy and confident in the kayak and got on with it really well. It was stable even in the rough and windy conditions. Defiantly taking it out again soon.

 I went with a local coach called Mike Bradford, who i would strongly recommend he was very organised, easy going and knowledgeable on the area.

http://www.mike-bradford.co.uk/

Elderflower Campagne

I brewed myself some Elderflower bubbly! Taken me two weeks to make, but have tested it and its very yummy.

Sea Kayaking - Budleigh to Sidmouth

After a lazy morning we finally got ourselves organised and picked some kayaks up from AS Watersports and Collected Tom and headed to Budleigh for a late afternoon paddle.

Andy was paddling the new Valley Etain, Tom was in the P & H Scorpio LV and i was in the Valley Avocet.

 After getting kitted up we launched from the beach and started our paddle round to Sidmouth, its rough about a 7 mile paddle. It wasn't the calmest of days but nothing to testing either.

Tom getting to grips with a sea kayak, a little different from his squirt boat

After arriving at Sidmouth, Andy showed us a very interesting way of landing after picking a very steep area of the beach which seemed to be the roughest area and got very wet! Tom and me then found a lot nicer area and stayed pretty much dry. We then treated ourselves with some cheesy chips before heading back again.

My brightly coloured boat on our trip back

We had a challenging landing when we got back to Budleigh as the swell had picked up a little and it was a bit of a steep beach, we managed to land fairly smoothly though.

Just as we got out and went to grab the car it decided to tip it down and we got wetter getting changed than we did kayaking.

Andy's Birthday - Turf Locks

For Andy's birthday this year, we paddled to turf looks and everyone else cycled down for a few drinks and dinner

After a night of funnyness, most people headed back home, except a few of us who camped out

 We then had a rather slow paddle back in the morning, with some of us feeling a little more sorry for themselves than others!

Surfing at Polzeath

We all decided that we were going to do something, so we headed down to Polzeath Beach, Me, Buster and his friend Rob hired some foam boards and try to attempt a bit of board surfing. Andy, Bailey and Dan went out in the kayaks and Ed on his board.

The water was still a bit chilly, but as long as you kept moving it wasn't to bad.

When me, Buster and Rob had had enough we headed up to get changed and everyone else was up there, Andy then decided he fancied a try at board surfing and loved it.

Sea Kayaking - Easter Weekend

On Friday we paddled from Totnes to Dartmouth on the River Dart

We started at high tide and got in at the Steamer Quay car park

I took the P+H Scorpio LV out to decide whether to take it on my Scilly Isles Trip and Andy took the Valley Nordkapp

The view down river from Totnes

Dartmouth Castle

On the Saturday we paddled from Broadsands round to Torquay

We had a beautiful sunny day

 A guy out fishing on his sit on top

 Broadsands beach