From the Friends of Allonby Canoe Club, Liverpool.... 06/05/08 Sea Paddle – North Wales Met at Ogwen services as usual, Kirk actually wasn't late for once! The Stacks was decided as the trip and we set off for Port Daffych to leave a car on the way. On arriving we discovered the sea fog and the rather large swell hitting the back wall of the bay! Change of plan-back to the sunshine! We decided to go to Rhoscolyn instead as this gave us more options that were less committed, unfortunately the sea fog had got there too but the bay was a lot calmer. On we got, after chatting to Greg and Jo who happened to turn up in the carpark, and headed for the Beacon in the fog. Interesting sea conditions, big swell coupled with the tide race and the fog. Absolutely fandabbydozzie I thought - NOT! It sorted out who had a compass and who didn't though. "We'll land round the headland"- where Ian? Where's the headland, never mind where's the landing spot? Large breaking waves confronted us so we decided to turn around and go back to the shelter of Rhoscolyn. We landed by the lifeboat station for an early lunch with a bit of sunshine popping through the fog and a review of the adrenlin paddle! Interesting first trip for Francesca with us...! After lunch off we set again, where's that Beacon? Into the fog again and this time the sea conditions were a little more top 4 star than 5 star and we found it and a few seals to boot. Paddling back into Rhoscolyn and we came across refugees from the symposium who were struggling to find somewhere to paddle because apparently the sea conditions had been bad all weekend. This time, as we discovered it was only 1.30 pm, we decided to change tack and head for Silver Bay as the sun had actually made an appearance now. After finding even more refugees from the symposium and watching some odd power boat handling skills from the tourists we headed back. On the way back in a lone paddler happened upon us - are you the Allonby paddlers? - (what have we done now...!) Oh I'm meant to be with you - I'm Mike Bell!