As we approached the Broadstone of Portdown on the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway we decided to stop for...
..first luncheon at what we call Rainbow Rock. It has a steep...
...cobble beach and even in calm conditions there always seems to be some swell but...
...it makes a really great place to stop.
You can see why we call the Broadstone Rainbow rock!
During our luncheon the tide continued to build and when we rounded...
...Slew-Whan Point it was already...
...running like a river.
We took a breather in the slack water in the recesses of Sloucheen Slunk and when we had negotiated the right angled bend we emerged into the day again and took a last look back...
...at Slew-Whan Point.
The next headland was Gabarunning and we sped through the gap on a tide that was vrunning at 11km/hr until...
...we were rushed passed the next headland at Crammag head with its lighthouse and WW2 lookout post.
Rather than fight against the eddy north of Crammag Head...
...we stayed out in the tidal stream which was still at 10km/hour for as long as we could. We were rather grateful there was no wind as it can get a tad bouncy round these parts!
Imagine you are at the edge of the sea on a day when it is difficult to say where the land ends and the sea begins and where the sea ends and the sky begins. Sea kayaking lets you explore these and your own boundaries and broadens your horizons. Sea kayaking is the new mountaineering.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Lobsters, tides, caves and headlands on the Rhins of Galloway.
We were not the only ones going round the Mull of Galloway that day...
...Tony Patterson and crew in BA852 Valodest were...
also taking advantage of the calm and slack water to lift their lobster pots.
We decided not to land at West Tarbert as there were "wild" campers in residence. I am surprised there is any grass left there. Everyone makes a fresh fire ring on the grass.
Instead we proceeded north up the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway ...
...along an amazing coastline and soon...
...we had left the Mull of Galloway and its lighthouse far behind.
As we crossed Carrickamickie Bay the tide began to pick up until...
...there were standing waves and a slope on the water at a gap off Carrickallan Point.
Beyond the point we entered a calmer eddy and then came to a series...
...of caves, at Carrickahawkie,...
...Slocknagower and...
......Port Mona.
By now we could see Crammag Head, the next bit of tidal fun but we decided to stop for first luncheon to let the tide build up a bit....
...Tony Patterson and crew in BA852 Valodest were...
also taking advantage of the calm and slack water to lift their lobster pots.
We decided not to land at West Tarbert as there were "wild" campers in residence. I am surprised there is any grass left there. Everyone makes a fresh fire ring on the grass.
Instead we proceeded north up the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway ...
...along an amazing coastline and soon...
...we had left the Mull of Galloway and its lighthouse far behind.
As we crossed Carrickamickie Bay the tide began to pick up until...
...there were standing waves and a slope on the water at a gap off Carrickallan Point.
Beyond the point we entered a calmer eddy and then came to a series...
...of caves, at Carrickahawkie,...
...Slocknagower and...
......Port Mona.
By now we could see Crammag Head, the next bit of tidal fun but we decided to stop for first luncheon to let the tide build up a bit....