‘Time and tide wait for no man*’ – attributed to Chaucer *Or woman.
Archive for October 2007
Tide Mark Leave a comment
Imperfection Leave a comment
The lens of St Catherine’s Point Lighthouse on the Isle of Wight is around 100 years old. Close up, numerous chips, flaws and imperfections can be seen in the lens. These date from 1st June 1943, when the site was bombed with incendiaries, blasting the glass out of the lighthouse windows. The three lighthouse keepers were trapped [...]
Fog Leave a comment
Those moments, tasted once and never done, Of long surf breaking in the mid-day sun. A far-off blow-hole booming like a gun- The seagulls plane and circle out of sight Below this thirsty, thrift-encrusted height, The veined sea-campion buds burst into white And gorse turns tawny orange, seen beside Pale drifts of primroses cascading wide [...]
Work Avoidance Leave a comment
I’m currently trying to sort some tidal gubbins out. It’s making my head hurt and I think that some of the bumf I need for it is sitting in my office at work. So, here’s a picture of Cornwall.
The Doom Bar 2 comments
The Doom Bar is a sand spit in North Cornwall that obstructs the entrance to the River Camel and approaches to Padstow. It also gives its name to a splendid beer, brewed in nearby Rock. I’ve been saving the bottle pictured here, since I paddled around Cornwall in the summer. Now, I am drinking it. [...]
Slate Leave a comment
There’s a lot of it around, in Bigbury Bay.
Isle of Plight 3 comments
We just returned from a pleasant and productive few days on the Isle of Wight. Got some writing done, had some good paddles, did some geocaching, saw Queen Victoria’s deathbed, took some photos. Unfortunately, our visit was characterised by incompetence and misfortune. Last Saturday we set off early, drove to Lymington, caught the ferry, arrived [...]
Back to Square One 2 comments
Although I’m within sight of the end, I’ve achieved virtually nothing in recent weeks. The problem is the day job, which is all getting rather full-on these days. I’m so busy that I no longer stop for break or lunch (but it’s never boring!) and so coming home and then finding the brainpower to bang [...]
Where Worlds Meet 9 comments
All of the UK sea kayaking that I’ve been doing during 2007 has been mightily pleasant. However, I’ve been sorely missing my usual white water paddling and overseas travelling fix. Hence, I have already have a few trips planned between now and next Easter* that will help make up the shortfall. But … what I [...]
You Should Have Been Here Yesterday … 2 comments
Had a splendid weekend in North Devon, surfing my playboat and watching cheese eating surrender monkeys get trounced at rugby. The titular quote is a classic surfing cliche, made for the benefit of our chums from Kingfisher Canoe Club, who didn’t arrive until this morning and hence missed Saturday’s much bigger surf. All this sea kayaking [...]
Overhead and Clean
I should be working hard on the book this weekend. But instead, I’m planning to skive off.
Mad Dogs, and Englishmen
Stuck in Cornwall on a bad weather day? You could do far worse than visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, located in Falmouth Docks. This is the spot where Sean Morley started and finished his epic paddle around the British Isles. What is amazing, is how many kayaks are on display in the museum. Just [...]
Epiphany
e·piph·a·ny [i-pif-uh-nee] –noun a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
What happened next?
Home Alone
Tonight I am home alone, wearing out the keyboard* and sorting through yet more photos. Mrs R has gone off to paddle some rivers with friends, whilst I am working. Frankly she deserves a break, from me and my bloody book. It occurs to me that I haven’t even begun to give Heather due credit [...]
Holiday Snaps
Tonight I deleted 643 photos and spared 84. I find getting in from work and then writing very tough, however (for whatever reason) fiddling about with photos is a doddle.
Revisionism
“I didn’t really need to come back to Bigbury Bay, I remember it well from previous visits and I’ve written most of it up already. Hang on, what’s that over there?” The past few evenings have been spent fiddling around with photos, easy with my new fast computer. It’s not exactly a chore, as you get to [...]
Rain later, moderate or poor
Summer: over.
