Macclesfield Canal - 28th March 2009

Training paddle Clarke Lane <> Higher Poynton.
61 minutes out, 59 back. Northerly wind...

Great Orme - 21st March 2009

Launched at Rhos on Sea and paddled round Little Orme and Great Orme to lunch on the west beach at Llandudno. Returned following the outbound route.

Plan was to launch at mid tide (10am) as the tide was ebbing and then reach Great Orme around low tide (1pm). Then use the flood tide to come back. Not a big tidal range, so the tidal current was not that significant, but no point fighting it if you don't have to.


Didn't launch until 10:35 and I wasn't sure if I would make it all the way round Great Orme but I made good progress and the conditions weren't too bad so I went all the way round to the west beach.


In fact the choppiest water was around Little Orme where the claptosis seemed to be having the greatest effect.


Outbound paddle took 2:20, return paddle 2:00. 18 mile round trip.

Loads of birds on both headlands - cormorants and razorbills (?) being the main attraction.

Paddled solo.

Macclesfield Canal - 15th March 2009

Training paddle on the canal, Clarke Lane <> Higher Poynton Marina.
65 minutes out, but stopped for a chat with a fell runner friend and also had a couple of boat delays at bridges. Must have been around 60 minutes paddling.
59 minutes on the return. Arms and shoulders acheing a bit as I type this...

I keep toying with the idea of buying something more "sporty" for the canal - maybe an Epic 18 ("racing" sea kayak). Would be a bit more competitive in any races too...

Moelfre to Red Wharf Bay - 7th March 2009

Short paddle on Anglesey from Moelfre to Red Wharf Bay. Forecast was for a gale force 8 SW, so we paddled on the eastern side of the island. Still seemed to be a fair bit of "southerly" component to the wind which made it hard work on the outbound journey. Had lunch by the "tavern" and shop on the N end of Red Wharf bay. Return paddle was much quicker, but my skeg had jammed (small stone it turned out... most likely from the initial launch of the day from Moelfre beach) so it was a bit of a struggle keeping on the desired track since the boat wanted to head up into the wind. Perhaps there is something to be said about launching backwards...

Paddled with a large group of NWSK'ers.

Macclesfield Canal - 1st March 2009

Training paddle on the Macclesfield canal. Clarke Lane <> Higher Poynton Marina.
60 minutes out, 62 return. No wind or fishermen!