Should We Stay or Should We Go? 30/08/2010

With the wind and sea finally calming through the night, Claire decided to carry on her paddle along the Welsh Coast which she had started on Saturday, paddling up from Dale.
Yesterday Claire had the day off as the weather was far from ideal, so with an early start we left Porthsele and paddled out towards St David's Head, the first and major hurdle on today's proposed paddle hopefully to Fishguard.
Reaching the Head, conditions were still rather lumpy but we decided to carry on as the tide was in our favour and the wind was forecast to drop during the day.
Progress was worryingly slow (not helped by a map case) but reaching Penllechwen the sea calmed down and we started to make some headway.
As we paddled toward the impressive Carn Penberry the sea conditions improved even more and we started to get into a decent paddling rhythm.
We were going to land at the Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy but as we were making good progress we decided to carry on.
Paddling through the gap between Cerrig Wylan and the mainland we encountered some pretty big overfalls, luckily the waves weren't breaking. It never fails to amaze me how the sea can vary so much in just a couple of hundred yards.
Passing Porthgain we decide to paddle straight for Strumble Head and hopefully use the last of the flooding tide to take us round another possible hurdle of today's paddle.
We make very good progress passing the beach at Pwll Deri in the shadow of the 213 metre high peak of Garn Fawr.

After four and a half hours of paddling we arrive at Strumble Head Lighthouse perched on top of Ynys Meicel joined to the mainland by a small metal footbridge.

There is very little tide as we pass under the footbridge, hopefully this should be the last possible obstacle of today's paddle.

We encounter a little adverse tide toward Fishguard Bay passing Carregwasted Point which was the landing point of the last invasion of mainland Britain by the French back in 1797 which needless to say was easily repelled.

We decided against landing on one of the steep pebbled beaches to the west of the harbour breakwater passing the second lighthouse of the day.

Claire decides to camp on one of the beaches to the South of Dinas Head so we paddle across Fishguard Bay just missing the Fishguard-Rosslare ferry which crept out just behind us.

Claire picks a secluded bay where we land after just over seven hours on the water. It looks a perfect campsite where we have a well deserved cuppa before I leave Claire wishing her good luck on the rest of her paddle along the Welsh coast and hope the weather keeps improving like it has done through the day.

I stay close into the cliffs on my paddle back to Fishguard Harbour where there are some impressive stacks and arches to explore.

It is a perfect way to end the days paddle threading in and out of the numerous small bays and caves.

As I paddle toward Lower Fishguard I hear the large engines of the Fast Cat entering the harbour. I have been caught out by the wake off this before but today it must be going a bit slower.

I paddle into Lower Fishguard where the tide is out before I paddle across the Harbour to land at Goodwick.

A paddle of just over 23 nautical miles (26.7 miles of 43km) where hopefully I gave Claire a bit of moral support around St David's Head and Strumble Head!

Paddling Away Those Winter Blues 12/12/2009

Launching from the slipway at Goodwick, inside Fishguard harbour with a cloudless blue sky and an easterly breeze, but nothing to worry about and it should stop me getting too warm!

I paddled straight out to the small lighthouse on the harbour's outer breakwater. I then paddled NW to the headland of Pen Anglas where I decided to paddle straight to Strumble Head using the last of the westerly flowing ebbing tide to aid me and then do the exploring on my return leg.

I made good progress with tide and wind helping me, passing the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry returning back to Fishguard and also a rather stroppy Bull Seal accompanying me for about 15 minutes, splashing and snorting behind me. As usual as soon as I stopped paddling and grabbed my camera he would disappear with a big splash.

Once I had I passed out of his manor he left me to paddle off on my own. Rounding the headland at Pen Caer, the lighthouse at Strumble Head comes into view.

It is only a short distance to the lighthouse, which was built in 1908 by Trinity House to improve the safety of sea traffic between Ireland and the newly built Fishguard Harbour.

The gap between the mainland and Ynys Meicel, the small island which the lighthouse is built on, had just enough water to paddle through, and the tide was just starting to flow eastward, my timing was spot on. I passed a young seal as I paddled through, totally oblivous to me as he slept in the sunshine. There were also 2 healthy looking seal pups tucked away on the pebbles so I paddled through quickly not wanting to disturb them.

It was very sheltered on the western side of the lighthouse with good views of St David's Head in the distance. I stopped for a drink and to sample a 'Limited Edition" Dark Mars Bar! which was very tasty, I might have to stock upon these.

On the return leg I paddle through the larger gap between Ynys Meicel and Carreg Onnen completing my circumnavigation of the small island!

Hugging the coast on the way back I pass numerous waterfalls which all are flowing quite fast due to the large amount of rain we have had recently.

Rounding Carregwastad Point where the ill fated last invasion of mainland Britain occurred when a force of some 1400 Frenchies landed here, for a more detailed story click here, I enter the large bay of Aber Felin where another spring flows into the sea.

In the bay there are numerous small coves, most of which are full of seals, keeping my distance not wanting to incur the wrath of the Bull seal who followed me earlier, I paddle out of the bay.

Passing yet another waterfall I am soon rounding the headland of Pen Anglas again and paddling along the North Breakwater.

As I reach the end of the Breakwater the ferry comes round out of the harbour on its way back over to Ireland. I let it pass and am surprised how fast it is already moving, best not get in its way.

Instead of paddling back into Goodwick I paddle across to the small sheltered harbour of Lower Fishguard with its entrance still guarded by cannons.

I paddle into the flat calm water of the harbour and have a brief rest before heading back to the slipway.

The sun is just starting to set, not as spectacular as last night but chance again to experiment with the camera.

Another great paddle covering a distance of 13 nautical miles (15 miles or 24km). Its amazing how soon you forget about the recent weeks of paddling inactivity due to the weather.