Porthgain And The Blue Lagoon 24-04-2011

With yesterday's paddle cancelled due to the wind increasing, a crabbing excursion to Solva and a visit from Eurion and the youngest 2 of his clan, I was back on the water paddling NE along the North Pembrokeshire coast.

As is often the case paddling around St David's Head was a little lumpy but on reaching the headland at Penllechwen conditions calmed.

The coastline is very rugged with high cliffs and few places to land with the 500' summit of Penberry still visible from sea level.

At Porth Tre-wen the geology changes from the hard igneous rock to the softer black slate and shale.

There are numerous channels and caves created from erosion by the sea and in places slate quarrying.

In 15 or so minutes I am paddling into Abereiddy and toward the entrance of the Blue Lagoon, an old slate quarry that is now flooded.

I paddle past the remains of part of the wall that used to keep the sea out of the quarry and into the calm bluey green water of the Blue Lagoon.

Paddling out of the Blue Lagoon and round the headland of Trwyncastell I encounter the first adverse tide of my paddle which slows my progress to the small harbour of Porthgain.

Porthgain was once a busy harbour from th 1830's till the 1930's exporting stone, slates and bricks but now it is home to a few small fishing boats.

On my return paddle I head out away from the cliffs to make the most of the increasing ebbing tide passing quite close to Monkey Rocks which are about half a mile out from the mainland causing a hazard to passing boats.

I make very good progress back aided by the tide and I am soon back at St David's Head with Ramsey Island coming into view.

Rounding St David's Head it is only a short paddle to Porthsele completing a round trip of 15 nautical miles.

A Local Paddle 21-11-2010

With the wind picking up through the night I decided to stay local before driving back to Cardiff later today.

Leaving Porthsele I paddled across Whitesands Bay and to the Ram's Nose where the tide was low enough to get into the cave that runs through the rocky promontory.

Leaving the cave I paddle into Porth Lleuog and check out the other end of the cave.

Paddling along the St Davids Head peninsula I am sheltered from the wind and paddle into some of the caves on route.

Paddling across a deserted Porth Melgan I pass a small spring flowing into the entrance of a small cave.

Reaching St Davids Head as is often the case the conditions liven up as I lose the shelter from the wind.

I paddle for a while against the tide and wind before turning round and let nature do most of the work as I head SW toward Ramsey Island.

The further I paddle away from St Davids Head the more the sea calms but on reaching Gwahan the conditions liven up again.

My speed picks up as I paddle into the Southerly flowing tide race into Ramsey Sound.

I am swept pastTrwyn Ogof Hen at the NE corner of Ramsey Island and through the middle of Ramsey Sound.

I paddle out of the tide race nearing Horse Rock and paddle into a sheltered and very quiet St Justinian before heading back to Porthsele.

The Calm before the Storm! 03/07/2010

With the prospect of a Force 8 gale later I wouldn't be paddling too far today. Paddling out of Porthsele I paddled across Whitesand's Bay and explored a few of the caves of the St David's Head Peninsular.

The wind was starting to pick up and with it came the occasional largish sets of waves, which provided a good photo opportunity as I paddled into Porth Melgan.

Reaching St David's Head, as usual, the conditions were a little lumpy but I decided to carry on paddling around the headland.

Although the sea calmed considerably I was making very slow progress against the ebbing tide so I paddled out a couple of hundred yards and let the tide take me back towards Ramsey.
As I let the tide do the work I was joined by Manx Shearwaters and the odd Guillemot on their way back to Skomer.
As I approached Gwahan the tide flow increased but breaking out of the race I could shelter in the calmer water by the rock.

As usual on the ebb tide there are small standing waves at the NE corner of the small rock outcrop, time for a play.

After about half an hour playing about in the standing waves I ferry glided back to the mainland passed by the occasional Manx Shearwater, and wait and see whether the shipping forecast was right.