....and all the shopping has been done, the presents have been wrapped and the children are suitably wound up!!! an ideal time to go for a pre Christmas paddle.
Launching from the Sully YC slipway with snow still visible on the North Devon hills on the opposite side of the Bristol Channel, it seemed a bit warmer than it had been of late. 
I paddle out to the yellow buoy southwest of the slipway with Barry Dock Lighthouse in the background.
Paddling past the entrance to Barry Dock I carry on a course to Nell's Point and the National Coastwatch Station which is a voluntary organisation and a registered charity and not part of HM Coastguard. 
Rounding Nell's Point I paddle into Whitmore Bay or more commonly known as Barry Island which is now receiving publicity as much of the popular Gavin and Stacey comedy is set here, I was going to call in to see if Nessa was working but it was all closed today!
Leaving Whitmore Bay I paddle back around Nell's Point. Staying close to the coastline I enter Jackson's Bay the small sheltered beach before the West Breakwater of Barry Dock. 
Paddling along to the lighthouse at the end of the Breakwater, the tower is cast iron and was built in 1890 I then enter the sheltered water of the Tidal harbour. 
The two pilot boats are moored up along with the Barry Dock Lifeboat Inner Wheel II which is a Trent class lifeboat. 
The Trent Class lifeboat was introduced in 1994. It is 14m long, has a crew of 6, a range of 250 nautical miles and a top speed of 25 knots. Alongside the Inner Wheel II is moored the Mair and a chance to take an arty photo of its anchor!
Paddling around the West Jetty the entrances to the three docks are all shut ready for Christmas, in fact it is quite eerie, everywhere is deathly quiet. 
Leaving the shelter of the harbour I paddle back out into the Bristol Channel and past Bendrick Rock which has been responsible for a few shipwrecks. 
I pass the Ty Hafan Children's Hospice on the way back and it makes you realise especially this time of year what a wonderful job the Hospice does and is nearly totally reliant on donations.
On the way back to the slipway the islands of Flat Holm, Steep Holm and Sully are clearly visible across the flat calm sea. I am also joined in the distance by the Arklow Surf, a 90 metre long general cargo vessel and one of the pilot boats from Barry Dock. 
Only a short paddle of nearly 6 nautical miles (almost 7 miles or nearly 11kms), now let the festivities begin and to anyone who takes the time to read my blog may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
3 comments:
HAVE READ YUOR BLOG MANY TIMES ,GREAT STUFF IFISH ON A SOT IN AND AROUND THE SULLY AREA AND ALSO HAVE DONE SO AROUND THE ST DAVIDS PENINSULAR FOR MANY YEARS , I ENVY YOUR FORAYS IN TO AND AROUND RAMSEY SOUND AND ISLAND THE PLACE IS SO WILD KEEP UP THE GREAT PADDLING AND I HPE YOU HAVE A SAFE AND CALM 2010
Hi Greg thanks for taking the time to read the blog and may you also have a safe and calm 2010 with hopefully plenty of fish!
Hi Rich,
Very jealous of your continued enthusiasm for paddling. My boats are staying in doors until the weather warms.
Compliments of the season to you, have a good one in 2010.
Jim
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