Jolly Green Giant

Find out more about the Jolly Green Giant for the UK Circumnavigation Expedition.

P&H Cetus HV

Man Flue - kill or cure

Suffering from the tail end of a second bout of some lurgy I wasn't too sure if it was a wise move to partake in exercise. However, as the aches had gone away, I couldn't resist getting some fresh air in to my spluttering cough heaving air pipes when Stuart invited me to join him  Taran, Jules and Andy on a short trip along the coast starting from Llantwit Major.

Time and Tide wait for Andy:)

We convened at the beach to get on the water with an hour left of good tide before the flood began, unfortunately by the time Andy had extracted himself from the frozen depths of the valleys we were left with only half an hour before the tide turned. We'd have to get a pace on to have a chance of rounding Nash Point before it became futile. There would be a short hard paddle to get us past Nash and in to the slacker water that would enable us to make progress against the flow towards Southerndown.

Looking west from Llantwit Major beach toward Nash Point

The sun was out, low winds and calm waters - game on for a workout - heads down to Nash.

Stuart passing St Donat's

Taran landing just past Nash Point for a refuel and recharge after battling against the flow

Paul approaches Cwm Nash

Traeth Mawr and Traeth Bach

Taran enjoying playing on some of the breaking waves on the ledges

Yeeee haaaa! We have lift-off

The Heritage Coast

Rounding Witches Point and into Dunraven Bay, there is quite a bit of nice surf to play with.

Taran and Jules' sedate arrival at Southerndown with Stuart and Andy waiting for a big set out back!

Andy (left) and Stuart ride the same wave in

Big smiles :)!

Time for a coffee and sandwich

We all land for a short break to drink warm drinks and eat some grub. Then it's back out through the surf to ride the tide back to Llantwit Major.

Thanks for the invite Stuart, really enjoyed the paddle, was good to meet up with some of the expanding local sea kayaking community.

Great Day out - definitely a cure!

Cockney-shell Heroes on the Thames Tideway

Taffy visits London

A reciprocated visit to paddle on Paul's patch is duly accepted. Streets, or rather waterways, of London here I come.

Friday night is curry night and a fine prerequisite to a full days paddling.

The weekend dawn is just breaking as we arrive ready to get on the water at Chiswick. It's quite a chilly morning, actually really cold. We have to be careful not to slip on the pontoon at the put in due to the thin layer of white powdered frost. It's so cold that while boats and kit are being sorted I have to stand in my boat to keep my toes from freezing.

The Motley Crew: David Mattingley, Roger Wiltshire, Jen Clough, Paul Lazenby-Barrett, Carlo Briffa, Jason Cole and Jason Paul Tolmie.

Roger getting set on a chilly January morning

The early morning Thames scene is quite enchanting. A beautiful wispy mist rises off the water, and through it the appearance of other rowers that have got on the water well before us. Dedicated nutters!

Dawn Raid at the break of dawn on the misty and enchanting Thames Tideway

I have to admit to being quite excited when I starting to see the famous sights of London from the water. Like the first trip to London as a kid, I remember then being vaguely in awe at the busy-ness and magnitude of the place. The low morning winter light was amazing on the historic monuments and tourist spots.

The Tideway isn't a docile little river paddle by any means, definitely need to keep your whits about you. It's a very busy waterway with ferries buzzing about throwing up small but beautifully barrelling surf waves on some of the sloping banks, and various static obstacles to be aware of. The tide doesn't hang about and produces some locations where there is a little lively water.

Musically iconic grade II listed power station at Battersea

Battersea power station - - over 500MW of power generated from the two coal fired stations, Battersea A and B what an Animal!. Designed by the same industrial designer and architect, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott,  who designed the iconic red telephone box.

London metropolis - Westminster Bridge

A few heads have nodded off here. Hear! Hear! - Houses of Parliament otherwise known as Westminster Palace

The Golden Hind - 1577-1580 circumnavigated the globe under the captaincy of Sir Francis Drake

Don't see this from the gold paved streets above

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast and a group of Cockneyshell Heros

Here-on  on the Thames

The Millennium Dome

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and finished 1710

Must have cringed to think his design was so close to the Millennium or "Wobbly" Bridge.

St Paul's cathedral

You are being watched -The London Eye

Vauxhall Bridge detail

A few heads have rolled here - The Tower of London

Anybody having the opportunity to paddle the Thames Tideway should grab it with both hands as at least for the first time you do it it is truely

There's some folks who always worry, and some folks who never care,
But in this world of rush and hurry it matters neither here nor there.
Be steady and realistic, don't hanker for gold or gems,
Be carefree and optimistic, like Old Father Thames.

High in the hills, down in the dales, happy and fancy free,
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along, down to the mighty sea.
What does he know, what does he care? nothing for you or me,
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along, down to the mighty sea.

He never seems to worry, doesn't care for Fortunes fame,
He never seems to hurry, but he gets there just the same.
Kingdoms may come, Kingdoms may go, whatever the end may be,
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along, down to the mighty sea.

High in the hills, down in the dales, happy and fancy free,
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along, down to the mighty sea.
What does he know, what does he care? nothing for you or me,
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along, down to the mighty sea.

He never seems to worry, doesn't care for Fortunes fame,
He never seems to hurry, but he gets there just the same.
Kingdoms may come, Kingdoms may go, whatever the end may be,
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along, down to the mighty sea.

 Raymond Wallace and Betsy O'Hogan

Nearly 53km paddling on The Thames Tideway- a grand day out!

Chasing Rainbows

Taking the Cetus out for the first paddle of the year.

No gold found though

Raynard's Cave at Tresillian Bay on the Bristol Channel

Cockney Visitation

Paul comes down to South Wales for a spot of chilly post Christmas paddling in the surf at Porthcawl. More about it here.

At least we got out for a few hours - didn't go far, just played in the surf

Loaned Cetus from P and H

P and H have kindly sponsored both Paul and myself for the circumnavigation of Britain. While they build my boat they have kindly provided me with a demo Cetus to start paddling with. The boat they are building will be the new Cetus HV, slightly different to the original Cetus, but that's for another time.

Some more pics here.

Playing in the soup with the Cetus

very refreshing!

Paddling Challenge

It's been a little manic to say the very least over the last few months and as such the blog has taken a bit of a back seat. I've committed to partake in an exciting adventure with a gent who was looking for a partner to circumnavigate the UK by sea kayak.

One thing has let to another and I'm now trying to play catch up. The trip is due to begin in April 2012 so getting hold of a boat and various kit has taken a high priority, and various other logistical aspects are competing for attention. The tick list is long and nowhere near finished - the list that is - not the ticking off of the items on it!

In an attempt to move into some form of mobile blogging arrangement I've chosen to move to wordpress, so have been setting up a website for the circumnavigation expedition.

The story kind of starts here. I hope you enjoy the ride - it's starting to build momentum and take on a life of it's own.
 
www.kayakaroundtheuk.co.uk

Sea Kayak Stolen

My mate, Chris, has had his green plastic P&H Scorpio kayak stolen from South Wales , Serial no: XJBFANCJE909, please keep eyes and ears open.

Anyone see one for sale or seen one on top of a vehicle in South Wales last day or so please drop him a line. Zero7973 519561.

Chris in his Scorpio

Going out for a BANG!

Clear sky and a fairly calm sea, I sent out a late round robin e-mail to see who fancied a night paddle out across the bay from Ogmore to Porthcawl and catch the fireworks displays from the water. Chris and Jim were up to the foray.

Ok, sorry, I have to admit that the pics are pretty dire, but they do have this arty feeling to them that sort of conveys the mood out on the water and its quite hard to hold a camera steady while popping about.

I was pleased to get out to watch the fireworks at last-have been trying to do it a few times, Jim popped his night paddling cherry and a great evening paddle was enjoyed by all.

Red sky at night

Who ate all the pies?

Tweedledum and Tweedledee?

Waiting for the sun to go down