Cemaes Bay, Skerries, Church Bay - 21st September 2014

Another good forecast meant I was meeting up with Macclesfield Canoe Club paddlers at the A5/A55 services again to plan a day paddle on Anglesey.

Alan had suggested we go round Carmel Head, and with the tide ebbing most of the day, the obvious route was Cemaes Bay to Church Bay.

I picked up Liam (who was going for his first proper sea paddle) and with a captive audience bored him en route with tales of adventure on Anglesey and other distant locations. I mentioned that Alan had suggested Carmel Head, but raised the possibility that the Skerries - a small island a few kilometres offshore with a nice lighthouse - might be a possibility. With the required tidal planning this would be quite a commitment for Liam's first sea paddle, so I wasn't sure if Alan would fancy it. However, when we turned up at the services it didn't take long for a rather excited Alan to enquire whether I thought the Skerries were on...

The tides around Carmel Head can get up to around 6 knots in springs, but today they maxed out at just over 3 knots. Since we would be approaching the Skerries at the maximum flow of the ebb, it would necessitate us paddling in a NW direction and then letting the flow carry us west. The resultant vector should then see us safely on the Skerries.

Alan getting ready for the off

We sorted the shuttle out, dropping a car at Church Bay and were soon on the water leaving Cemaes Bay in bright sunshine and very little wind. We made steady progress on the planned track, sticking to our NW heading. My GPS was reading land speeds of over 13 kph, although we were paddling at a fairly leisurely pace. We passed well to the N of the marker buoys that start at Harry Furlough's Rocks, and the Skerries were starting to appear on a bearing just to the S of due W.

With the main flow going SW through the strait between Carmel Head and the Skerries, I wanted to get to the NE of the Skerries and then paddle straight towards them with the flow. As it turned out, we were a bit too cautious and ended up a bit far N, and we were in danger of being swept past them to the N. Some corrective action was required and some fast paddling was in order to get us back on track and we hit the N of the island in some bumpy fast moving water before making our way into the lagoon.

In the lagoon on the Skerries

A few large seals greeted us and we landed to explore the island and to have lunch. A couple of other groups of paddlers turned up, Mary in one, Bill and Royanne in the other, so it ended up quite a social gathering.

Liam enjoying the view

As we ate lunch we could look across the strait back to Anglesey and could see the small tide races that were all around the Skerries. We planned to use the remaining part of the ebb to ferry glide back across to Carmel Head and make our way down to Church Bay exploring as we go.

View back over our route to the Skerries

We launched with an hour and a half of the ebb remaining, and by this time the races around the Skerries were dying down, so we didn't have much problem paddling around the top of the island and setting off at an angle to cross back to the "mainland". Whenever I've crossed this section of water I've always seen at least one dolphin, and today was no exception. When I saw the distinctive fin I was slightly ahead of Alan and Liam so I wasn't sure if they had seen it, but I need not have worried because they were getting their own display from a couple of dolphins nearer them.

We reached the mainland and made our way down to Church Bay rock hopping as we went. By the time we reached our landing point Liam seemed pretty tired, not surprising really since he is used to drifting down rivers, but what an amazing day for his first real day out on the sea. About 21km paddled.

GPS track of our route - maybe nearly half a km too far north!

Macclesfield Canal - 14th September 2014

Club Hare and Hounds race, 4 miles, came in 7th in a time of 41:58. Didn't push it as my elbow is still sore, so only really paddling for the "attendance" points. Might be time for the physio.

Cable Bay to Rhoscolyn Beacon - 7th September 2014

My elbow is still a bit sore, but I couldn't resist a good forecast and the offer of a trip to Anglesey. So I picked up Roger and Mark, and we set off to meet the other Macc paddlers at the services on the A5/A55 junction to work out where we were going to go.

I seem to have a reputation for not liking shuttles (they are such as waste of time aren't they?...), so Alan suggested launching at Cable Bay with a there and back trip to Rhoscolyn. Although the tide was ebbing all the time it doesn't have much flow in the Rhosneigr bay, and actually eddies to give us some assistance with the outward leg.

Ready for the off at Cable Bay

Only just made it through...

Bright sunshine and a northerly breeze accompanied us all day as we explored the skerries en route to Silver Bay for lunch. With the distant hills of Snowdonia on the horizon it reminded of some of the views I had seen in Vesteralen.

Lunch stop in Silver Bay

After lunch, we rock-hopped our way to Rhoscolyn and on to the islands referred to as Rhoscolyn Beacon (because the outer island has an old beacon tower on it). We weaved in and out of the islands in the company of a number of seals and other kayakers.

Rhoscolyn

Rhoscolyn Beacon

The direct route back across the bay gave a wonderful backdrop of Snowdonia providing suitable transit points to keep us on track.

Just under 20km paddled. My elbow was sore at times, but the paddle didn't seem to make it any worse and feels fine now as I write this later in the evening....

Macclesfield Canal - 31st August 2014

One hour paddle on the canal, mainly to see how my elbow is behaving. Still hurts quite a it, so didn't push it. :(