Macclesfield Canal - 6th February 2010

Hooray!... Canal finally free of ice at a time I could get out and paddle.

Clarke Lane <-> Higher Poynton Marina
57.48 out... worked hard for about 30 minutes on the return but eased up since I'd not been out for a couple of months.

Bollington Pool - 29th January 2010

Half hour pool session.

Was planning on paddling on the canal over the weekend... however it is frozen again.. :(

Bollington Pool - 15th January 2010

Half hour pool session rolling practice.

Macclesfield Canal - 29th November 2009

Training paddle, Clarke Lane <=> High Poynton Marina.
57.40 out, 57.50 back. Bit cool, raining with gusty NE wind.

Bollington Pool - 27th November 2009

Half hour pool session practicing rolling. Trying to roll more upright as opposed to leaning right back at the end. Seem to be able to do this OK, better on the RHS as usual. Tried a reverse screw roll on the R and came up OK, but I think that was more due to pulling up once the paddle was at right angles to the boat. Tried a few hand rolls, but not with much success. Coached by Doug.

Puffin Island - 15th November 2009

Second day of end of season meet. Still suffering from a cold (went to bed at 10pm on the Saturday!... missed the slideshows... and the port/whiskey...)

Short paddle around Puffin Island clockwise launching from Trwyn Penmon. A few caves to explore and watch the seals on the NE end of the island. Tide was running quite quickly on the SE side of the island as we paddled back against it. Menai Straights were draining into Liverpool bay on the ebb. A bit of flow/turbulence between the island and the lighthouse.

Kev Jones
Short session helping Jean with her rolling and watching her self rescues. My cold prevented me from participating...

Trearddur Bay - 14th November 2009

First day of NWSK end of season meet on Anglesey, staying at Outdoor Alternative.

Spent a few hours surfing - bit too wild to do too much else. Biggest waves were around 5 foot, but the breakers looked a lot bigger on the outside of the bay.

I paddled my Capella to start with and it handled fairly well (for a sea kayak...) but I swam a couple of times (and rolled a couple). Problem seems to be I fall out of the boat - on both occasions I still had my paddle in my hands! On the later successful rolls I concentrated on keeping myself braced in the boat and this seemed a lot better. I'm not used to fitting in a boat so loosely...

At the end of the session I tried Kev Robinson's plastic Scorpio and I really liked the feel of the thigh braces and I felt much more in contact with the boat. Might have to investigate fitting some to the Capella?

Sunset in Borthwen
In the evening we had a fine meal prepared by Kev and Gill. Spicy soup, Burritos and Apple crumble with custard!



Jim tries out a new orifice for wine consumption