Church Bay to Cemaes Bay - 1st August 2010

Met up with Will, Mary, Brian and Dave from the NWSK for a day trip from Church Bay round Carmel Head and on to the N coast of Anglesey.

Set off from Church Bay with Mary and Dave just after 11am and quickly joined the flood tide with bouncy conditions through the skerries off Ynys Y Fydlyn and on to Carmel Head. Peak GPS reading was 13kph. About 2-3 ft waves in places with the tide running against the NW 2-3 wind. The Skerries lighthouse looked very tempting, and the Skerries were in view pretty much throughout the trip.

Stopped for a snack and to wait for Will and Brian (who was delayed) at a beach just before Harry Furlough's Rocks/Trwyn Cemlyn. Once we were all together we carried on rock hopping our way round to Cemaes Bay and stopped for a late lunch and to wait for the tide to turn (HT 3.20pm).

Dave had hurt his back doing a support stroke, so he didn't want to go any further and we were planning to pick him up later, but luckily another paddler we knew entered the bay and we arranged for him to take Dave back to his car at Church Bay.

On the return trip we didn't really benefit from the ebb tide until Harry Furlough's Rocks where there was a small race and a few waves to play in. The sun had come out for a while and we stopped for a final rest at the lovely Hen Borth before making our way around quickly with the tide around Carmel Head back to Church Bay to land around 7pm.

Total distance around 31km.

Macclesfield Canal - 26th July 2010

Launched at Clarke Lane, paddled down to Bosley Locks, back to Clarke Lane, then on to Higher Poynton Marina. Quick snack in the cafe and back to Clarke Lane. Just over 40km. Just under 5 hours paddling.

Macclesfield Canal - 19th July 2010

Clarke Lane <=> Higher Poynton Marina.
Out in 54.24, paddled at training pace for 44 minutes back to meet Macc Canoe Club at Clarence Mill and stopped for a chat.

Brereton Lake - 15th July 2010

"Come and try it" session at Brereton with Brookbank bringing loads of boats to demo (no real sea kayaks though). I think the most comfortable/best fit for me was a Dagger GT 7.8.... need to look out for one second hand. I tried a couple of "play" boats - one of which I could only just fit in and some "creek" boats that seemed very wide and volumous. If I get a river boat I think it will be the general purpose type such as the GT or the Pyranha Inazone.

Macclesfield Canal - 10th July 2010

Clarke Lane <=> Higher Poynton, plus continuation towards Macclesfield for about a mile.
Out in 55.47 with a couple of boat delays, back in 57.34, again a couple of boat delays. Carried on for another mile beyond Clarke Lane on the return, before turning back and returning at a leisurely pace. Last paddle of my forties!... not really doing enough distance/time on the water to prepare for the Eddystone race.

Macclesfield Canal - 4th July 2010

Clarke Lane <=> Higher Poynton Marina. Out in 53.28, back in around 60... a few boat delays and a bit blustery on the way back so eased off for the last mile.

Macclesfield Canal - 3rd July 2010

Usual training route, Clarke Lane <=> Higher Poynton Marina, but this time I was accompanied by Allen. He was paddling my Capella, and much to my surprise he managed the 10+ mile round trip with ease.

Took us about 1hr 35 min on the outbound leg, a few boat delays en route either with oncoming traffic or when we were overtaking barges. Stopped for an ice cream and drink at the canal shop at the Higher Poynton Marina.

On the return leg we took 1hr 30min, so it was great that Allen kept up a steady pace for the whole trip. He says he wasn't even that tired at the end.