Sea Kayak Mentoring, North Wales, Anglesey

Sea Kayak Mentoring is very well and up and running with Coastal Spirit.  An area Roger really enjoys working in and facilitating, having a strong back ground in development training.  The page has now been updated with more profiles, with clients ranging in age, abilities and aspirations.  Anglesey, North Wales is the perfect place to develop a whole set of paddling skills, ability and confidence.  With fast currents, wind waves, committing coastlines and off shore islands.  While at the same time, sheltered coves and gentle shores.

If you want to progress quicker, need focus on how to move forwards, a gentle prod now and again and are keen to develop your sea kayaking, have a look at the page below.  There is no additional cost, just your commitment and motivation, an open mind and a curiosity to learn.

Details are here

Thanks,
Roger

PS:  BIG thanks for those who took the time to create their profiles.

Day 41 Ireland Circumnavigation 21st June 2013

Susana and Willy fed us very well, right up to the point of leaving, a big thanks. We paddled away at 7.30 on a calm sea. 
By midday a slight breeze had picked up, but nothing significant. By the 2nd crossing it had swung round into our faces, although still light. We pulled into Cloggerhead Harbour and Justine checked her phone, as we due to meet up with Sue for showers and food. Sue had attended a sea kayaking course I had run back in March.  

Bettystown was our destination and pick up. We were now into a F4 headwind, with no shelter. It was creating a small mushy chop, along the long sand beach. 

A car drove down the beach, it was Sue. Pointing out where to go and greeting us. A friend of hers, Billy also turned up with his car to transport the kayaks. The plan was to transport the kayaks to Bill and his wife's house, 5 minutes away and we could put our tents up. Sue would then take us to her and her husbands house for showers and food. 
We had a super meal and it was great to catch up. Rob was also there who had attended a course over a year ago and it was good to see him. Eilean who had paddled around Ireland solo previously, also joined the meal. 

Rob kindly drove us back to Bettystown, where Bill and his wife greeted us and insisted we sleep inside! We went inside to a roaring fire and a glass of wine.

    Our new camp tonight, thanks Bill for the pitch and to Sue for sorting.

    At Clogherhead harbour working out arrangements for tonight 

     Rest before our last crossing 

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 36 Ireland Circumnavigation Sunday 16th June 2013

A bacon butty is a good way to start my day and John had a pot of coffee going..happy days!
It is nice to slow down, the first time since my allergic reaction earlier in the week. I still woke at 6am but snoozed until 8am!
John kindly dropped us into town to shop while Andy started on a major repair to the Aleut. John took our food back in his car and some lunch for Andy.
A good lunch of fish and chips, and ice cream and a walk to look for a pub. A Guinness later we walked back to Johns, it felt good to stretch my legs.  A group prepared Shepherds Pie is for dinner before an early night for me.
John having been a postman has offered to go in early to collect my tent pole. This will be a great help as we can then make the most of the day. At the moment the plan is to out to Rathlin Island and ideally go around the outside on our way to Fairhead and our paddle South.

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

Day 35 Ireland Sat 15th June

It was a wet and cold start, one that I felt was the coldest so far. We covered 8nm to Ballycastle where John known as the Rathlin postman met us at the Quay and very kindly shuttled us back to his house. After hot showers and lunch we all felt so much better. Clothes are now being washed and we have a Chicken casserole for dinner, then shopping and an 8 day food re-stock.

Squalls chased us for the two hour paddle, with good caves, arches and waterfalls appearing. At Carrick-A-Rede we went under the rope bridge with some exciting and spicy waves pushing through.

I need a replacement tent pole (mine snapped earlier on but Ive done a temporary repair job on it but am concerned it won't last the journey) which Sonja has sent out which should arrive by 1pm on Monday, so weather dependent we will push on then. We have approximately 160nm to complete the loop.

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 20 Ireland

After a super evening and night cap with Harold, Betty was up cooking us an Irish breakfast to set us up for the day. Big thanks for looking after us so well. We were on the water after 9am and started our first crossing to Kerry Head. We had a F4 against us and an ebbing tide.........oh hum.......! Sometimes that's just how it is. We took a longer break at the headland before crossing the Snannon. There was a good swell running as we crossed and much steeper waves as we got closer to Loop Head. The cliffs, rock formations and birds were stunning. At 4pm we came across a potential landing and camp but we now had tide with us! We paddled on..................It wasn't until after 7pm that we found another suitable site! 3.5 hours of paddling in reflected waves and clapotis today. Very tiring and the longest Ive paddled in before. Wind is supossed to be going west tomorrow so this could help us up to the cliffs of Moher.

Leaving our hosts Harold and Betty Whelan at Fahamore













Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Skye - RDX 2013 ... a summary, reflection and a few more photos

What a couple of weeks of contrasting weather, with f2/3, dry and minus temperatures at night and then f 5-10 with torrential rain!  Apparently Talisker distillery had run out of water, when we initially arrived and there had been a lot of moorland and lower mountain fires, some getting very close to the houses ...

So overall we had 5.5 days of settled, super weather while expeditioning and paddled 2/3rd's of the island.  From Saturday pm we settled in to weather the storm, aware and hoping that a small weather window would hold and allow progress further along the coast.  That never really materialised and a snapped tent pole, assisted the decision making process to relocate to a hostel.

We then managed a windy paddle in Dunvagen Bay, a surf session at Glen Brittle, a super sunny and settle paddle to Loch Currisk at the base of the Cullins (the UK's longest and most technical and demanding ridge) and on the last day a paddle at Kyle Rhea, working in the tide race. 

The following few photos are what i felt where significant moments, or just made me smile ... I hope you enjoy ...

End of Day 2 and the lighthouse at the North of Rona ...

Got to be one of the best campsites in the world, with a few like that, back across to Skye ...

Day 3 and South of Staffin Island on the East coast of Skye ... my neck was sore by the end of the day ...

Day 5 - Neist Point light house in the distance and were on the West coast now ...

Day 5 and close to Macleods Maidens one of many stunning water falls and this is after nearly 7 weeks without rain ..

Talisker Bay the start of the bad weather.  Amazing rolling surf and a waterfall flowing skywards ... it was just so bizarre to watch.

Day 12 - On the Way to loch Coruisk ...

What a stunning view - Loch Coruisk with the Cullins in the back ground ..

Leaving Soay Island with amazing emerald waters ...

Macleods Maidens with super descending light ...

We saw so many Black Guillemot's.  Which I never seen before out of the water ... I just love those red feet  ...

2030 sitting out side the tent, drinking a mug of tea, chatting as a team of 3, when a pod of 4 dolphins arrived (about 250 mt away).  Just a magic end to the day ... (sorry couldn't get rid of this underline?)




A big well done to both Zoe and Gary for the effort, commitment and your smiles ... and thanks to Sonja for Blog updates and for keeping an eye on the weather ..

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com