An enormous tide of immigrants is believed to be heading for the coast of Cornwall and Devon, right at this very moment. Some will undoubtedly land on our privileged shores to seek sanctuary. Debate rages as to whether they are refugees from disaster or simply travelling opportunists, but all agree that they simply cannot stay [...]
Archive for June 2007
Diaspora 2 comments
Islands in the Stream 2 comments
My usual philosophy on kayak camping is, “It is easier to beg forgiveness than to seek permission …” However, I’ve just been very organised and spoken on the telephone to a nice lady in Cardiff. Splendidly, she has permitted a few of us to stay on the island of Flat Holm sometime soon. Flat Holm is [...]
Snapshot Leave a comment
‘I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking.’ Christopher Isherwood, The Berlin Stories On Sunday, whilst paddling amongst the amazing sandstone stacks around Ladram Bay in South Devon, I randomly reached over my shoulder and took a photo of my friend Graham. He sent me some of his photos today, [...]
ST228607 2 comments
Steep Holm is an island out in the Bristol Channel, located smack bang in the path of strong flows generated by Europe’s largest tidal range. It is home to nineteenth and twentieth century military remains and a very large colony of cormorants. It is a nature reserve. It is owned by the Kenneth Allsop Memorial [...]
Devonian 1 comment
These deep red sandstone cliffs stretch along the South Devon coast. The rock was created by layers of sand and grit being laid down successively on a desert surface. The wavy patterns in the rock reflect desert processes such as dune formation, water deposition and wind erosion. All of this took time.
Downpour 1 comment
We didn’t much want to go paddling today, on account of the rain. Nor for that matter, did we much want to go to East Devon, on account of there being nothing much there that we wanted to see. However, the needs of the book meant that we left the house at 7 am and travelled [...]
22nd March 1993 2 comments
Today I’m writing up the coast of Lyme Bay from West Bay to Seaton, something I’ve had in note form for months, but not gotten around to completing. This is a lovely stretch of coast, with amazing geological and palaeontogical interest. However, whilst enjoying Lyme Bay, it is impossible to forget that a tragedy took place [...]
‘Ever Forward’ 2 comments
When the World ends, no one in Weston-Super-Mare will notice.
Rude Awakening Leave a comment
I am a man upon the land, A Selkie in the sea … Trad Scottish
Môr Hafren Leave a comment
The Bristol Channel forms the northern rim of the area that I am researching for the book. It separates South West England from Wales. The Channel has been an important trade route at least since massive slabs were floated across from Wales to create Stonehenge. During the Industrial Revolution, ports along the Welsh side of the [...]
Scillyness Day #8 2 comments
All good things must come to an end, and so did our holiday. We paddled back from the island of St Agnes to Hugh Town on St Mary and trolleyed the kayaks onto the quay to await loading onto the Scillonian III. Due to mist and fog, no aircraft were leaving Scilly that day. This meant [...]
Scillyness Day #7 2 comments
Those sick to the point of nausea of hearing about our splendid Isles of Scilly holiday, will be glad to know that it’s nearly over. Anyway … No s++t, there we were, camping on the island of St Agnes with only the Western Rocks and Bishop Rock lighthouse between us and North America. It seemed rude [...]
12.1 mph 1 comment
Two lands at last connected Across the waters wide, And all the tolls collected On the English side. Ode on the Severn Bridge, Harri Webb I don’t get excited about bridges, but if I did, I’d rate the Severn Bridges quite highly. Two immense suspension bridges cross the River Severn where it enters the Bristol [...]
Scillyness Day #6 3 comments
Another tediously bright blue sky day. We spent most of this day on Tresco, visiting the world renowned Abbey Gardens. Semi-tropical plants grow here year-round, on account of this being Britain’s mildest climate. The following photo has not been faked/Photoshopped in any way. Honestly! For some reason, tiny Tresco now has an amazingly well stocked [...]
A Day in the Life 3 comments
1. Wake up 2. Eat cold chips 3. Crap on nice car 4. Sleep
The Cult of Personality 3 comments
Dancing Ledge is a rock platform on the Purbeck coast in Dorset. This ‘beach’ was created when quarrying removed the cliffs above. Close by are colonies of cormorants, razorbills and puffins. From the water, the Dancing Ledge looks like soft sand. Don’t be deceived, send somebody else’s kayak to land first. Addendum: My meteoric rise to [...]
Scillyness Day #5 1 comment
True and authorised actual facts about the island of St Martin’s. They have Scilly shrews. A sign at the bakery says that whilst the dogs will feign starvation to beg food from you, they are actually well fed. They grow flowers year-round, to ship to mainland florists. The highest point of the island was used [...]
High Pressure Leave a comment
Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion ; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Torrey Canyon 3 comments
The Seven Stones are a reef located roughly halfway between Land’s End and the Isles of Scilly. There has been a lightship anchored here since 1841, although in March 1967 this failed to prevent the Torrey Canyon running aground in broad daylight, causing a catastrophic oil slick along the Cornish coast. Classic British amateurism was displayed [...]
Scillyness Day #4 6 comments
My birthday! We launched early (tiptoeing past the neighbouring tents to the beach) and paddled more or less everywhere, paddling to at least 20 islands. This auspicious date was honoured with outstanding weather. However, on each island we visited, we discovered that the news somehow hadn’t got through. Red carpets, bunting, brass bands and Red Arrows fly-pasts [...]
