Granny Wales

Construction now has its own blog at Anglesey Boat

Sunday (23rd) was an odd day that ended well with a casual paddle out to Pilots for a picnic on the beach.

Des (new to kayaking) found the red capella rather twitchy, and did well to stay in the boat and learn to use a stick.

Catherine (first trip since hip replacement) had the luxury of an inboard power unit.

and I was just glad to be on the water.

We toasted 'Granny Wales' with champagne (thanks Emma)

before eating burgers and sausages courtesy of Des.

Very calm conditions on the return trip, with the moon reflected in the sea.

A special evening, in a special place - and time for private thoughts ....

Mist the tide

Planned a trip suitable for beginners this week - Traeth Lligwy to Moelfre and back (about 8k) - very sheltered with a light SW wind. Nice sunny day when we left home, but misty at Lligwy.

In the event, we ended up with no beginners, and rather late leaving the beach, but it was easy and relaxed, if a little spooky feeling, on the way to Moelfre lifeboat station

Stopped on the old lifeboat slip - there is a yacht anchored behind me in this picture

which we only noticed when the mist lifted for a while.

Still, good enough venue for tea and butties.

Introduced Will (trainee outdoor pursuits instructor - who only just fitted in the stealth boat) to paddling with a stick on the way back

Talking of such things, this is Rui in Portugal with his new Anglesey Stick

We paid the price for the late start, with the length of the carry back up the beach - whose stupid idea was it to start running?

Sunny but cold at Porth Dafarch

Spent the bank holiday week-end being simultaneously sun burnt and frozen standing (mainly) on the beach at Porth Dafarch during the Anglesey Seakayak Symposium.

Saturday started off pretty slowly, and I think Mike Webb from Rockpool Kayaks may have been our only visitor

but from Saturday afternoon onwards we were pretty busy, with lots of interest in the sticks, and requests for demonstrations (and a few orders).

It was also good to put a face to a few names (Martin Rickard who is using Anglesey Sticks up in Greenland, and Paul Mattock of Cybi Kayakers) and of course the beach was littered with famous (well, in the world of sea kayaking) faces.

and meet some more of the kayak retailers (Nigel seemed to 'never stop' working for Tiderace)

Quite a few paddlers this year who had made their own sticks, or who had at least bought the wood ready ..............

Got a chance to show off the double on Monday afternoon.

and have been convinced to offer the design (compact double) as a bespoke build - details to follow.


Even the beach warden is a kayaker who wants to try a stick.......

Anglesey Symposium Sticks in the Mud

I have been a bit sloooow putting anything on the blog this week.

Work continues on Stick Cottage, and I have been getting some paddles ready for the Anglesey Symposium.

Weather looks a bit mixed for the week-end, but you should be able to find us on Porth Dafarch beach on Sat/Sun/Mon - depending a little on how much beach there will be at high tide.

Had a surprisingly relaxed trip with young/newbies last week - 10 boats on the water which is a record for us.

Quite an early stop along the Malltraeth estuary.

Tim got the stove going for tea and sausages.

and the weather was kind

even if the tide ran out a little too quickly resulting in a muddy landing.
Young paddlers did well, particularly Elin and Aled.

Stick Cottage

A perfect week-end for paddling, so instead of being on the sea, I was working on Stick Cottage.......

The Stick Cottage website is nearly complete, but there are still a few jobs to do on the building - mainly decoration and finishing.

In addition to the accommodation, we will offering a pick-up service for kayakers and walkers, and the chance to borrow an Anglesey Stick, so if you are thinking of walking the coastal path, or paddling round the coast - Stick Cottage could be your ideal base.

Sea Kayak Sunday

Construction now has its own blog at Anglesey Boat

Anglesey is known as a bit of a Mecca for sea kayakers, am I am frequently surprised at how few paddlers are actually on the water - particularly during the winter months. If you exclude the bit of coast between Trearddur Bay and Porth Dafarch, it seems to have been pretty quiet.

Of course some stalwarts will have been out and about - Justine and Alun, and John Willacy, and no doubt some others, but it has felt as if we have had the island to ourselves.

This all changed on Sunday (21st) - first of all with a friendly exchange with some kayakers going the opposite way to us as we headed for Beaumaris, and then finding 9 boats on the foreshore at Gallows Point, where we were dropped off at the water's edge thanks to Rich's Landy.



Launched into the chop where the forecast S4 was giving SW4/5 against the tide – hence a bit of work to do for at least the first kilometre or so.

Round the corner on the way to the gazelle came across two of Roger’s boats with one paddler obviously rather more experienced than the other.

Conditions eased somewhat as we headed for Menai Bridge.

and it was soon time for a tea stop at Porth Daniel.

Once the tide has slackened, we headed through the suspension bridge and then met 13 kayakers including one paddling with a stick (Mark) who had launched at Port Dinorwic. Forgot to ask,but suspect this group was North West Sea Kayakers.

It was very quiet in the Swellies, and here is Rich holding on to the Swelly Rock Perch (a south cardinal mark).

Heading for the 'new' bridge, we met 3 more kayakers including another experienced paddler.

Lunch on the mainland side – pasty and beans – a bit calmer for a while here until the tide really got going.

Paddled up to PD then a quick blast through the lumpy stuff to Moel Y Don (Plas Coch).

Where we saw these two old wooden boats (both with stripped decks).

Cutting commentary

Whether influenced by years of outdoor activity, or perhaps just my generation, I usually carry a knife. In the current era of moral panics, this is not fashionable, but I suspect most kayakers reading this have at least a knife as part of a normal emergency kit - probably stuffed in the front of their PFD.

I carry one of the common cheap brands (typhoon), and have never used it - but in theory one day it will be needed to cut me free from my paddle leash.

My penknife is rarely not on my person (basically just at airports) and, in contrast, is used frequently. Last week - walking part of the Anglesey Coastal Path, to free a pregnant ewe from a tangle of brambles, but usually for rather more mundane tasks. Out walking, I often also carry one or more walking poles - with tungstone carbide tips - guess which would make a decent offensive weapon.

I have been entertained by the publicity given to the achievements of Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton who has kayaked 'solo' down the Amazon and, in the process, broken two 'world records' - Australia must be much smaller than I thought.