Da Du Da Du
Da Du Da Du
Ta Du
Boom
Ta Du
Boom
Yes it's a shiny new P&H Cetus MV. I am lucky enough to have this on long term loan from P&H, so hopefully I will be able to give some good feedback and reviews. I have previously had long term loans of P&H, Valley, Seakayaks UK, Rockpool and Point 65 sea kayaks, so I hope any future reports will continue to be as impartial as possible.
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.
Friday, December 02, 2011
Thursday, December 01, 2011
The gathering night had all but extinguished the last embers of the day.
After rounding the Heads of Ayr, the offshore wind drove us to the northeast towards...
...the rising full moon...
...and the town of Ayr under a the dusky pink sky.
Away to the northwest, Arran's ridges soared above the gathering sea fog and...
...by the time we made landfall, the gathering night had all but extinguished the last embers of the day.
...the rising full moon...
...and the town of Ayr under a the dusky pink sky.
Away to the northwest, Arran's ridges soared above the gathering sea fog and...
...by the time we made landfall, the gathering night had all but extinguished the last embers of the day.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
As if in anticipation of the sun leaving the day.
The SE wind gave us welcome assistance as we made our way north towards the Heads of Ayr.
...we were bathed in the most beautiful warm light.
For a moment time seemed to stand still and even the calls of the sea birds died away...
...as if in anticipation of the sun leaving the day.
Photo Philip Toman.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Moonrise over the Heads of Ayr.
As the sun began to set, an offshore breeze picked up and...
...pushed us on towards the Heads of Ayr.
We revelled in the magic of the moment...
...as the sundowner gathered strength,...
...the smells of the land filled our nostrils and...
...the Moon rose over the Heads of Ayr.
...pushed us on towards the Heads of Ayr.
We revelled in the magic of the moment...
...as the sundowner gathered strength,...
...the smells of the land filled our nostrils and...
...the Moon rose over the Heads of Ayr.
Monday, November 28, 2011
The tumbling waters of Drumbane.
The wind dropped before we got to...
...the ancient castle of Dunure. If the weather had been bad we would have stopped at the pub but...
...it was such a nice day that we continued north to Drumbane and a little bay with a hidden secret.
A delightful burn tumbles out of a little glen high above the beach.
Its waters flashed and sparkled as they rushed headlong...
...over the rocks and onto the beach...
...where they slowed into a lovely pool...
...before spilling over a lip into the sea beyond.
...the ancient castle of Dunure. If the weather had been bad we would have stopped at the pub but...
...it was such a nice day that we continued north to Drumbane and a little bay with a hidden secret.
A delightful burn tumbles out of a little glen high above the beach.
Its waters flashed and sparkled as they rushed headlong...
...over the rocks and onto the beach...
...where they slowed into a lovely pool...
...before spilling over a lip into the sea beyond.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
We could have paddled south all day...
The coastline south of Dunure consists of a series of rocky dykes projecting from a raised beach above which an old cliff line has a series of dry sea caves at its base.
Phil and I were enjoying running before the north wind and...
the last of the ebb tide, which were speeding us past...
...the gull colony on the rocks north of Croy.
We could have paddled on south all day but it was now time to turn our backs to the November sun, drop our sails and face the north wind...
Phil and I were enjoying running before the north wind and...
the last of the ebb tide, which were speeding us past...
...the gull colony on the rocks north of Croy.
We could have paddled on south all day but it was now time to turn our backs to the November sun, drop our sails and face the north wind...
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Making the most of the late and fleeting Scottish summer!
When we left Dunure harbour we still had an ebb tide and...
...a fair wind to continue south a little longer.
A flash of paddles on the horizon announced the arrival of another party of kayakers.
It was Julie with 2 friends. We had met her with her husband Tom in these waters just two days before. Everyone was making the most of the late and fleeting Scottish summer!
...a fair wind to continue south a little longer.
A flash of paddles on the horizon announced the arrival of another party of kayakers.
It was Julie with 2 friends. We had met her with her husband Tom in these waters just two days before. Everyone was making the most of the late and fleeting Scottish summer!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Dunure harbour.
The ruined walls of Dunure Castle announce our arrival...
...at the fishing village of Dunure.
We kept the sails up...
...as we entered the shelter of...
...of the little harbour for a well deserved break and luncheon in the sun.
...at the fishing village of Dunure.
We kept the sails up...
...as we entered the shelter of...
...of the little harbour for a well deserved break and luncheon in the sun.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
FPV Minna slowly emerged from the fog like a mini Bismark
From Bracken Bay we followed a line of cliffs towards the south and the fishing village of Dunure.
The sea fog round the coast of Arran and Holy Island slowly lifted...
...revealing many of fishing boats on the horizon including FV Atlas and FV Deliverance. (Photo Philip Toman.)
I hope they were not exceeding their quotas because the fishery protection vessel FPV Minna slowly emerged out of a bank of fog like a mini Bismark. Her grey camouflage paintwork and general appearance gave her a threatening appearance out of all proportion to her size. I later noticed that she had not been transmitting her position on AIS... It is just as well she relies on stealth as, apparently, she is slower than many fishing boats!
Ailsa Craig slowly rose over the reefs ahead as we were carried south by fair wind and tide.
...revealing many of fishing boats on the horizon including FV Atlas and FV Deliverance. (Photo Philip Toman.)
I hope they were not exceeding their quotas because the fishery protection vessel FPV Minna slowly emerged out of a bank of fog like a mini Bismark. Her grey camouflage paintwork and general appearance gave her a threatening appearance out of all proportion to her size. I later noticed that she had not been transmitting her position on AIS... It is just as well she relies on stealth as, apparently, she is slower than many fishing boats!