South West Sea Kayaking

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 upmarket supermarket (’Trescos’?) which Heather got really excited about, so much so that she even bought supplies for future sea kayak trips.

In the evening, we paddled around the north of Tresco, and were rather surprised to find ourselves in a very big Atlantic swell, left over from recent storms. Of course, the photos don’t show the size of the waves or the white knuckles (they never do), so you’ll just have to take our word for it. Some of the waves were the biggest swell I’ve sea kayaked in. At one point whilst calmly reassuring Heather, I lost my composure in mid-sentence and exclaimed, “Mother of God, look at that.“

Given that there were reefs and big breakers lurking all over the place, I was pretty terrified that I’d lead us into a cul-de-sac of Doom and we’d both be dashed to pieces against the cliffs. Luckily though, there was a clear path through and round it all (we were forced out way offshore to avoid the breakers) and we entered New Grimsby Sound safe and relieved.

We then headed out of the far end of the Sound and made the open crossing south to St Agnes, the most exposed of the inhabited isles …