Archive for June 18th, 2007

Scillyness Day #7

Heather does domestic type stuff

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 not to venture just a little further west out into the ocean …

Heading off from the campsite

There was still a significant Atlantic groundswell left over from storms earlier in the week, but at low tide the Western Rocks act as a two kilometre wide breakwater. This gave us enough shelter to paddle out across open water to the ‘inside’ of the Western Rocks. They are uninhabited by humans, but far from empty.

Heather with about a hundred seals and a thousand cormorants

The Western Rocks

The question now was, could we commit ourselves a couple of kilometres further out and reach Bishop Rock lighthouse? We gingerly paddled out through a gap in the reef and assessed our chances. Waves were noisily exploding over reefs in all directions, as far as the eye could see. If there was a clear passage through to Bishop Rock, we couldn’t see it.

As we both agreed to turn back, Heather breathed a very loud sigh of relief …

Bishop Rock is beyond ...

Back we paddled to St Agnes, having been privileged just to dip our toes and get a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean.

St Agnes

 


The Book

The Book

A Sample Chapter

Prawle Point in south Devon.

About

During 2006-8 I researched, photographed and wrote a sea kayaking guide to the South West of England; from the Bristol Channel to the Isle of Wight. I have used this blog to keep folk updated as to my progress and to reveal some of the wonderful scenery, culture and wildlife of this little corner of England.

Pesda Press Titles

 

Sit-on-Top Kayak Sea Kayak Navigation

 

Welsh Sea Kayaking Sea Kayak

 

The Northern Isles Scottish Sea Kayaking

 

Oileáin English White Water

 

Scottish White Water Kayak Rolling

 

British Canoe Union Coaching Handbook BCU Canoe & Kayak Handbook

 

Kayak Surfing The Seamanship Pocketbook

 

Scottish Canoe Classics Scottish Canoe Touring

More Good Reading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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