Sunday, May 25, 2008

Sunshine and shade on Jersey


Midday sun at Greve de Lecq, Jersey, Channel Islands


We lost count of the huge caves to the east of the cove.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Corbiere lighthouse, Jersey


Despite strong NE winds Jersey canoe club laid on a superb days sea kayaking on the first day of the symposium.


Corbiere lighthouse on the sheltered SW side of the island was one of the destinations.



24/05/2008

Friday, May 23, 2008

Little Greve de Lecq, Jersey


The 9th Jersey Sea Kayak symposium starts tomorrow. It is hosted by the Jersey canoe club.


Jersey has a stunning coastline. This beach can only be reached by boat or by some serious coasteering involving climbing, swimming and caving!



23/05/2008

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Sweet dreams are made of this.


"Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something"
Eurthymics

Imagine the crackle of the fire over the distant low murmur of the Grey Dogs tidal race. The aromatic smell of well seasoned driftwood mingles with the peaty aroma of a Jura malt whisky. In the distance the embers of the dying sun linger behind distant Ben More on Mull. Slowly darkness encroaches and the cobbles on the beach are lit with the flickering light of the fire. Tales of great seakayaking voyages are exchanged in hushed tones until tiredness brings on silent contemplation.

Sea kayaking dreams are made of this and we found and lived them on Scarba.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Dog's Bollocks


Tony prepares the balls!


Then he tossed them into the slavering jowls of the Grey Dogs tidal race....


and they promptly disappeared over the horizon into the sunset.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

A camp by the Dogs.


After unloading the kayaks...


We set up camp and climbed the hill behind the beach where we glimpsed tomorrows destination, the Garvellachs on the horizon.



Looking the other way we caught sight of the Grey Dogs tidal race on full flood. That standing wave is about eight feet high.


The tide fair rips through the gap at over 22km/hr.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Seakayaking the west and north coasts of Scarba


Emerging from the Gulf of Corryvreckan we turned northwards. The west coast of Scarba is a wild place. Photo Jennifer Wilcox.


There is almost nowhere to land.



There is a very high raised beach then a cliff falls precipitously to the swell zone below.


The first landing spot is once you round Rhuba nam Faoileann. There is an ancient settlement on the flatter land above the cliffs.


As you continue round the coast you meet the current from the Grey Dogs tidal race to the north of Scarba.


We stopped at caves for a breather.


But we were quite tired at the end of the day. There are no pubs on Jura but we had brought such essentials of sustenance as cans of Guinness and bottles of Jura and Speyside malts.....

10/05/2008