Day 32 Ireland

Toast just tastes so good! We had a leisurely start after our later night. 24nm and camped West of Melmore Head. We had 2 hours into a headwind this morning and then the wind eased. We landed on Inishbofin for lunch and even found a table to use! The island though was very quiet and it had an uneasy feeling about it. We've tended to have current against us and by late afternoon I was feeling sluggish. Andy used their 1:50000 to locate a narrow channel which had good level grass close to the beach. We've just repacked the boats for a 0530 start to attempt to get around Malin Head just after midday ahead of the bad weather.

Thursday night and close to our camp

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

Day 29 Ireland 9th June 2013

Arrived at Glencolumbkille in the county of Donegal. A new county and 24nm. No wind until the last hour and yep it was a headwind! Super little grassy camp above a small sandy bay. Loads of Storm Petrels as we crossed the bay to Caraghan Head. Stunning cliffs greeted us and a small beach for lunch. A swim was in order, the second of our trip! Its also the third day where Ive worn just a thermal top, shorts and Crocs. Last forecast we got showed that the next couple of days are due to get windy, with the wind on our backs!

Enjoying a meal cooked by someone else...!


Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 17 Ireland Circumnavigation

Were off the sea today as the forecast of a northwesterly F5 and 6 is here! Noel O Leary from Irish Adventures found us and offered us a bed for the night last night so we took the tents down...how could we refuse?!! Thank you so much Noel. Were here again tonight...awesome!

My new friend...!


This evening Noel kindly took us out to find Fungie the local resident Dolphin. It was blowing out of Dingle Harbour F5/6 and we were borrowing paddles, kit and kayaks. The kayaks were 1 metre shorter than what we had been paddling which proved great for surfing! It was on the way back that Fungi made a brief appearance!!

Looking for Fungie


Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 10 Ireland and a little respite

Up at 7am, an hour later than normal (!), did some stretches and a little sorting, then....into the salt water spa pool for a 15 minute swim and to experience the various jet showers on my shoulders!! Managed to get a massage in from the spa too!

Barry is not too hot so Justine and I have been helping Jim Kennedy from Atlantic Sea Kayaking info@atlanticseakayaking.com with a group of magazine editiors from Vogue and Hello!!! Its a variable life!! Jim has also called in another favour so weve been offered some further fab accommodation in the West Cork Hotel..........could get used to this! Thanks Jim!

Just to prove Im eating properly.....!




Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Wet, windy and comfort!

As I walked out of the house this morning wearing a dry suit, It was fairly clear what I thought of a June day ... S/SW F5/7 oh hum ... I was meeting Gary and his team, and this was there third year.  I texted Gary on Friday to sat it was likely to be the Menai Straits ... So I was up early and drove to the far end of Britannia Bridge to get a real feel of conditions ...

By the way the way Dylan's restaurant opened last night, 150 covers, yep they were a little pushed and yep systems failed .... but what location, see below .... any way ... 

So after looking at conditions, all were happy, particularly Emma, who was new to Coastal Spirit, when i presented her with a long john wetsuit and hooded paddle jacket with a warm neck seal!

To be fair it was horrid and I had given each person the option of 1 years credit, but all were on for a day in the wind and rain! I went over out side and inside turns and then introduced using the wind to assist a turn ...

One of the dryer moments during the day after our 1st break ... far to many smiles!!

The group was then divided into two small pods, so that Gary, Andy and Phil above could get into some rougher water ...

While I could introduce some down wind and turning in the wind skills, in gentler conditions with the other guys ...

After a 2nd break the wind began to drop, so we headed into the Swellies (Britannia Bridge in the fore ground) at slack water, which meant it was due to turn against us and assist our journey back to the start.  But before then we had some ferry glides and eddy turns to do!

Dylan's was open so we called in for hot chocolates, coffees and beers .. had a brief chat about the day, and made a loose plan for the Sunday ... June is it ... you could fool me!!

ps: BIG thanks to Gary for the use of his camera!

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
north wales sea kayaking
&
sea kayak anglesey