Wednesday, October 31, 2012

High and Dry on Barlocco!

 All too soon the flood Solway tide drowned our little beach on the Murray's Isles.

 We set off along the steep rocks towards...

 ...the NW point of the Isles.

 We enjoyed paddling through the sunken reefs on the seaward side.

 The colony of eight grey seals and two pups had moved on and we only saw one adult in the water.

 Leaving Murray's Isles we paddled past Ardwall Isle and then on...

 ...to land for second luncheon on Barlocco Reef where...

...Phil was about to discover just how little Singleton was left! Things were looking bad. It looked like a dry lunch but things took a turn for the better when David discovered some long forgotten cans of Guinness that were stuck up behind his skeg box! We lazed on the rocks enjoying the glorious views of Galloway over the blue waters of the Solway.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

A singular way to spend a sunny afternoon down south on the Solway.

I was delighted that David and Phil were able to join me for my last paddle of the season down on the Solway. It had been a late night (the previous evening) for them and they had rather rushed packing. David had lost his specs and phone and left his boots behind. So he had to wear his socks on the outside of his trousers, like Superman.

We hadn't been able to get out together since the beginning of the summer so it was great to arrive at the water's edge.

 We set off over a sparkling sea...

...towards the south and...

 ...the Murray's Isles, where we stopped for first luncheon.

Phil had remembered his coffee flask but sadly had forgotten his orange juice. All he could find in his day hatch was a bottle of something called "Singleton of Dufftown", whatever that might be.

While Phil and I enjoyed a cup of coffee in the sunshine, naughty David was determined to discover what the "Singleton" was and took a giant slug of it, behind Phil's back!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Dawn of a fair day.

 In the cold, grey predawn light, the Isles of Fleet were left high and dry as it was low water.

 Slowly the October sun rose over...

 ...the wooded slopes of Carrick.

 The wet sand and the slowly flooding channel reflected the warm dawn light and promised a good day.

 The sparkling waters and sands...

 ...by Knockbrex, Barlocco, Ardwall and...

Murray's Isles were calling. The bay was filling as the flood tide was running fast, time to phone David and Phil for a paddle.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Galloway sunshine over Ardwall Isle.

It is now late in the season on the Solway Firth, the tourists have all gone and the pink footed geese have flown in from Greenland and Iceland  for the winter. A series of SE winds have lashed the coast with rain and...

...delayed the arrival of the skeins of geese and made solo kayaking less appealing. After several days of watching the seas from the shore...

 ...this day dawned dry with light force 3 winds and a hint of brightness in the sky. So I set off for the Isles once more. Although it would be a long slog into the wind, I took the sail for a fast return.

 As I approached Murray's Isles, the wind increased and I was glad of the shelter of their lee.

I didn't take any photos on the SW sides of Murray's Isles or Ardwall Isle. I had intended to go round the SW of Barlocco Isle as well but I decided to cut the trip short and head into the shelter of the channel between Ardwall and Barlocco.

Paddling north again, the wind was now a broad reach and the sea flattened in the lee of the mainland. I prepared to launch the sail as an encouraging blink of blue sky appeared. It was a false dawn...

...as I approached the east point of Ardwall, the rain started. It was only only a light spit in the air at first...

...but soon built up into a light shower which is known locally as Galloway sunshine. I quite enjoyed the feeling of isolation as the rain storm wrapped itself round the isles. As countless drops hit the sea the hiss of the rain  drowned out all other sounds. I was paddling alone with my thoughts.

 On the return leg across Fleet Bay, the rain stopped but clouds crowded in across...

...the rolling hills of Galloway and blotted out the last of the blue sky.

Friday, October 19, 2012

The front passes through.

 As the line of clouds came over the wind increased to about F4-5 but it was very gusty and backed from SSW to N then NW then SSW then back to N again! I persisted with the sail until it got too squally then I dropped it. There are no photos for the next 4km as it got too rough.

 Then as the front passed over, the sun came out again and...

 ...I sped back to the channel between Ardwall Isle and the mainland before...

 ...crossing Fleet Bay with distant Gatehouse of Fleet at its head.

 The shore team were waiting to help...

 ...get the kayak back up the beach. Then back for a tasty dinner! I have just completed a year long comparative test of the P&H Delphin 155. It will be published in Ocean Paddler magazine issue 34 in first week of November 2012. I will then post it here on seakayakphoto.com in early 2013.

This was our incredible view as...

 ...the sun went down in...

...the autumn sky.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The approaching storm...

The N wind had dropped completely by the time I arrived at the seaward side of Ardwall Isle. Looking back into Fleet Bay...

 ...dark storm clouds were gathering above the Galloway Hills.

Out on the reefs on the SW side of Barlocco Isle the sun was still shining but a SW wind was picking up...
 ...as I rounded the isle and caught sight of Ringdoo Point.

The storm clouds were now rapidly moving across the sky.

I was now in the lee of Barlocco, so I hoisted my sail and got ready for a fast ride...

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

A calm between the storms

I am still down at the Solway trying to rehabilitate my leg muscles after recent knee problems. It is not a hardship as, despite the wettest summer in 100 years, some days do dawn fair... 

 ...there have been good days for sea kayaking, such as this glorious mid October day.

 I set off for the Isles of Fleet yet again...

 ...and soon passed Murray's Isles with their...

 ...ruined pilot and customs house and...

interesting geological strata.