Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Self portrait in Smugglers' Cove.


Back in April, the weathermen promised a summer of endless barbecues; which proved to be their euphemism for wind and rain!


We went on a little jaunt out to Ardwall Island in the Solway Firth on a day which did seem to promise an endless summer..


We landed in Smugglers' Cove. Just above the beach there is a hole in the ground which was a hiding place for contraband spirits and wines from the Isle of Man.


Several people have emailed asking why there are few, if any, photos of me on this blog. Well it's very simple, I take the photos! I did like this one taken after we had polished off our own small supply of spirits!

11/04/2009

Friday, August 21, 2009

Seakayaking in Brodick Bay, Arran


From Merkland Point below Goatfell on Arran, we ran before the wind for 4km across the wide mouth of Brodick Bay to Corrigills Point.


The NW wind was coming down out of the high corries in fierce squalls...


...so we were quite thirsty by the time we arrived at the Brodick Pier for the ferry back to Ardrossan.



A fine little outing of 31km.


21/03/2009

Thursday, August 20, 2009

A fair wind below Goatfell


We left Sannox Bay in glorious sunshine. The tight little low that had brought a front and SW/W winds had now passed to the east of us and the wind had veered to the NW.


This was just perfect for blowing us all the way down the NE coast of Arran. In the distance, Holy Island's Mullach Mor, 314m, rose above the eastern point of Arran
.

We made good speed under Arran's rocky ridges.


The ridges culminated in Goatfell, 874m, which is the highest peak on Arran.

21/03/2009

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

A little swally of sublime Sannox water in the sunshine!


After an 11km crossing to Arran, we landed in Sannox Bay under leaden grey skies. It was clearly time to lift the spirits by opening the Wilcox Weather Window (TM). Not many know how this works but now you are about to find out how to do it (and where better than in the dark brooding glen of Sannox)!


David, Tony, Gavin, Alan, Phil and I gathered together before partaking of our luncheon. Out came our hip flasks, each freshly filled with nothing but Sannox water! Next we gave thanks for a safe, if somewhat rough, crossing before toasting the weather gods and enjoying a little swally of sublime Sannox water! Before our lips were even dry, the WWW opened and we were getting sunburned in March!


Here is the proof of the pudding as they say. We left Sannox Bay a better, sunnier place! Where next will the staff of seakayakphoto.com bring the sunshine of their passing? Onwards!

21/03/2009

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Crossing to a land sculpted by fire and ice


Once we were in the lee of the Cock of Arran and out of the main tidal stream the water flattened and we approached Glen Sannox under sombre grey skies..


The clouds also began to lift, revealing the mountains of Arran and its little neighbour, Holy Island.


Alan and Phil had both managed remarkably well given the conditions and their relatively recent introduction to sea kayaking. David, Gavin, Tony and I had a thoroughly enjoyable crossing.


Soon the exposure of the Sound of Bute was replaced by a feeling of enclosure as the great igneous mountains of Glen Sannox gathered round the mouth of Sannox Bay. These granite peaks are the eroded remains of a huge volcano which existed about 56 million years ago.


The U shaped valleys told of the gathering glaciers that had then gouged this great gorge in the grey granite of Arran's mountains.

21/03/2009

Monday, August 17, 2009

And gurly grew the sea


Back in March, we had set off to Arran via the island of Bute. Despite a forecast of a force 5 westerly, we left Bute in a flat calm and a thick fog. Gradually the fog began to lift and we could see our destination, which lies 11km away across the Sound of Bute.


Despite the lack of wind, the sea had an uneasy oiliness. Suddenly, out of nowhere the wind hit. It was just as well we were expecting it. A force 5 wind against a full spring ebb on the Garroch Head tide race makes for interesting conditions. So interesting in fact that the next photo, taken just as the wind hit us, was the last until we got into the lee of the Cock of Arran.


They had not sailed a league, a league,
A league but barely three,
When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud,
And gurly grew the sea.


The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens

21/03/2009

Saturday, August 15, 2009

An island, a castle and a salty moat.


We slipped throuh the Tan and swept round the north end of Little Cumrae island in fine style.



We soon found ourselves in the lee of the island and lost sight of snow streaked ridges of Arran.


Little Cumbrae Castle and Castle Island have a profile not dissimilar to one of the nuclear submarines, which are also to be found in these waters.


The Castle's main defence is its moat, which in this case is salty water!
Photo J Wilcox


A fine 23km paddle for a short winter's day.

15/02/2009