Above is the card that we’ve been posting out to friends in recent days. If you haven’t received one, it either means that we’ve missed the Christmas post, or that it’s one of the many unaddressed cards still sitting on the living room table, or that we’ve forgotten you, or that we don’t like you [...]
Archive for December 2007
Bah Humbug Leave a comment
Heat Haze Leave a comment
Given the cold weather lately, I’ve been pretty spineless and have remained ashore warm and dry. So shoot me. Yesterday I was asked how I plan and steer this blog. The true answer is, the blog is entirely random. Lately, I just go to my (very big) directory of South West photos, close my eyes, wiggle my [...]
K-Bay Leave a comment
Sometimes the long boats stay in the garage! Living on Dorset’s ‘Isle of Purbeck’, we are lucky enough to have a surf break of our own …
Cornwall vs Scotland – Round #4 (final round) 2 comments
Scotland is all lumpy and uneven. There it is then, Cornwall wins 4-nil. Proven conclusively and scientifically.
Cornwall vs Scotland – Round #3 2 comments
Cornwall is a better* film location! For example, Charlestown has featured in innumerable productions, and the surf beaches around Newquay doubled for North Korea in the (otherwise risible) 007 film Die Another Day. *If you ignore the existence of Highlander, Braveheart, Whisky Galore etc. etc. Obviously.
All Puffed Out Leave a comment
As a very busy 2007 draws to a close, I’ve just been sorting through the mountain of brochures, leaflets, maps and other sundry paperwork on my desk. I uncovered the postcard above, bought in the Isles of Scilly back in May. The lighthouse in the picture is the astonishing Bishop Rock, Britain’s tallest and most [...]
Cardinal Mark 4 comments
I took this photo of John Gilmour back in January, when we went to visit the very recent wreck of the MSC Napoli. The photo now adorns page 36 of the second edition of Franco Ferrero’s Sea Kayak Navigation. My photo is uncredited (dammit!) but I can easily forgive Franco, as the book is superb. I’ve never [...]
Boring Leave a comment
Gull Rock lies just offshore of Trebarwith Strand. This beach served as a busy quarry port long before the tourists came. Evidence of this can be seen in the tall rock spires behind Hole Beach, actually the unworked remains of Lanterdan Quarry. Cutting the stone and loading it onto boats was harsh work, and could be [...]
Health and Safety Leave a comment
They don’t call it Steep Holm for nothing.
Double Act Leave a comment
“No man is an island, entire of itself” John Donne, Meditation XVII I simply couldn’t have gotten anywhere with the book without Heather’s massive help, patience and ideas. I’ve fully repaid the debt by opening jam jars and adjusting sticky footrests.
Cornwall vs Scotland – Round #2 1 comment
You can leave the tent open in Cornwall …
Scrapbook Leave a comment
The Swanage Lifeboat Station has saved numerous lives in recent years, and has rescued at least one canoeist. Crew member and paddler John Gilmour has been blogging about the lifesaving work and social life of the crew for two years. John has just announced his intention to cease updating the blog. Go tell him not to.
Cornwall vs Scotland – Round #1 Leave a comment
You’re not going to find this in Scotland, are you now?
Oblivion Leave a comment
The best part* of sea paddling comes after you’ve paddled all day; you’ve lugged your gear ashore and set up camp just as the sun sets. It takes all the energy you can muster just to heat up some easy dinner, before crashing out in exhaustion. *This week. I may have thought of a better [...]
Balance Leave a comment
The range and level of technical paddling skills required by a sea kayaker is pretty small*, especially compared to those required by whitewater kayakers. I was reminded of this yesterday, as I bounced upside-down over some rocks on a steep Devon river. I’ve been focusing totally on sea kayaking in 2007, and I was amazed [...]
