Auld Bluggery

Dear Bluggers,

Please could you note that this blug will be moving over [slowly] to a new address:

http://bluggery.blogspot.com/

A clearer site without advertising and the facility to view pictures at greater resolution.

Dr Blug

Whilst the rest of the UK was wearing waterproofs and carrying brollies, F+F and I went to Skye for our summer holiday in August.

It's a bloody long way to go in a car [468 miles / 11 hours with stops] but well worth it. From the moment we went over the Bridge and made our way around the coast to Staffin on the NE of the isle, the views were stunning.

The place we rented was once a stone barn, recently converted to a fabulous modern home. With a peat burning stove. I like that. John MacKenzie the owner, was wonderful company, giving us fresh mackerel, peat for the stove, lifts to the nearby hills, and entertaining us with his gentle humour whilst sharing a wee dram.

From The Bothy [for that is what it is called] we could look out at Staffin Bay, with The Quiraing behind us, and it was great.
I took Freddy for a bimble up to Fingals Fingers and along the Quiraing, we went to Talisker Bay and I swam in me undies in the sea. Port Neist was stunning with the islands in the mist on the horizon which we will visit next time. Duntulm and Flodigarry promise a sea voyage, and the Cuillins beckon. Francie took me to the Three Chimneys Restaurant for lunch on my birthday [reassuringly...]

I only went out in my kayak a couple of times; up Loch Dunvegan to see the seals and around the coast to Staffin Island  and Flodigarry cliffs. Next time I'll book onto a guided tour with Skayak. I want to look UP at Kilt Rock not down.

We only had a week there but Skye is  a great place. We'll be back. And we'll go on the ferry from Mallaig. And go to the Outer Hebrides. And bring back more Skye Brewery ale. But we won't buy malt whisky from the Talisker Distillery at their prices.

PS we stopped at Kinlochleven on the way back for the night. It is, as my mate Frank described it "Midge Breeding Central"

Tuesday 3pm... Brian calls 'Fancy a quick un with Steve tonight?'..........."Oooh er...' I thought.

He meant a quick trip up the Mersey from Crosby Baths. High water was at 6-27 at the Albert Dock so we got a move on and were on the water for 5 with the flood whisking us up river. We dodged a Container ship leaving Seaforth, passed the heap of shredded scrap destined for Poland [which is recycled there and then we buy the steel back. That makes sense doesn't it Mr Brown?]

The Mersey Mammoth Crane was making its way home and as the sun glinted off one of the new office towers, a cruise ship left the 'Liverpool International Cruise Terminal' which is basically a posh pontoon and a subject of much debate. The Sea Cat Ferry left on the tide and we kept an eye out for its wake.

We nearly made the Liver Buildings but had to turn round to catch the ebb, finally landing back at Crosby at 8pm hoping an iron man wouldn't bash our hulls in the gloom. A grand night out.

Oh boy!

Got back from Anglesey after the long weekend campin' at Blackthorn Farm and doing the Intromediate course with Nigel Dennis  [SeaKayakingUK].

This year's just getting better and better; another top trip knocked off in excellent weather with just a hint of what the sea can do...

Day 1 was Trearddur Bay to Rhoscolyn and back, but with the emphasis on tightening up on the bad habits, and working on new strokes, with a 1:4 instructor ratio. Only 2 guys fell in so it was a touch harder on the day than the previous trip I blugged earlier.

Day 2... The Stacks.... a Grade C trip in JIm Krawiecki  and Andy Bigg's  excellent book 'Welsh Sea Kayaking; 50 Great Voyages'

Well I wasn't the only one who had a squeaky bum that day. Off we went from Porth Dafarch  on a beautiful summers day, meeting a few NWSK'ers on route. We hit Penryhn Mawr,  which to be honest wasn't a raging tiger like tide race, more of a pussy cat pillow, but one that could still scratch ..[only 2 swimmers!]

From then on to South and North Stack, visiting the caves, making friends with seals, and finishing at Soldiers Point on a quite simply fabulous sea day.

Many thanks to James and Gareth at NDK for leading the course so well, and for all the tips on the nav and theory stuff, and all the other lads on the course who made the weekend a whole lotta fun!

Main ambition for 2008 sorted.

I'm a bit late bluggin, but have been very busy recently.

On 21st July a few of us made our way to Gallows Point near Beaumaris to launch into the Menai Straits, to go and have a play in what many people regard as water with a bit of a reputation. Luckily for us it turned out to be a cracking day, the weather was fine, the wind was blowing the right way for a change, a neap tide and as the water moved us down the Straits, we arrived at Britannia Bridge just in time to catch the current to have a play.

Now I'm not going to make this out to be the easiest thing I've ever done in a sea kayak, but it helped having a Level 5 BCU Coach, Len Hartley with us, who taught us how to make the day so much fun showing us how to do ferry glides and quick turns in the eddies.

The arsenal of sea strokes and the confidence is building! We hit the Swellies, which was really just a fast paddle through, and made our way down to Moel-y-Mon to get out.

 Not the longest trip, but top fun!