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Showing posts from January, 2008

Sunday 27 January 2008

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I took the sea kayak out for another spin with Eurion and the rest of the crew plus Adrain from Atlantic College. We launched at Penarth adjacent to the Life boat Station and paddled down the coast to Atlantic College. Having Adrain in our group is a distinct advantage. The distance was just under twenty miles, Eurion insists on using nautical miles but that only amounts to sixteen so land miles sounds more of an achievement. The coastline is not particularly scenic, but it is nice to see where you live from a different perspective. I had seen the area many times from the air when I was learning to fly out our Cardiff Wales Airport. I recognised many landmarks especially Porthkerry Viaduct which we used to gauge our position when carrying out glide approaches. Sully hospital is impressive from the sea, a big white building which provides an excellent landmark. Next door is HMS Cambria where I used to go when I was in the RMR. The sea was quite bumpy off Barry Island. The constant head

Mince Pie Trip

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I finally got the new boat wet in the Sea on New Years Day and without the customary hangover. I was saving myself because we were due to paddle around Nash Point. I also got a mention on my friend Eurions Blog, check out the link to 'Beyond the break'.

South Wales Mountain Biking

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It all started on a trip to Fort William or Fort Bill as Mt bikers appear to call it. We hired some bikes from a bike shop and off we went round Leanachan Forest for a couple of hours. Once back home we bought some real mountain bikes and that was it. However I had not realised that right on our doorstep was the Mountain bike mecca of the Afan Forest. I spent most weekends of the summer of 2004 up at Afan and promptly wore the bike out. So I had to buy better one, a Specialized Enduro full suss voted the best bike of the last ten years by MBR. I still have the bike but its like Murphys broom ( five new handles and four new heads). I will only change it when I have found a better one and after I have replaced all my old canoeing kit. Since 2004 I have entered a few events: The Brecon Beast The Dyfi Enduro Penrith Merida The Rough Ride - see above SSMM 24 hours SITS - Sleepless in The saddle, as a pair. Selkirk Merida Polaris I have now ridden most of the trails in Wales, Cwmcarn - Coed

The Launch

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I first starting paddling when I was at school in 1968. We went on a week long trip to PGL at Llangorse Lake near Brecon in Powys. Once I had tried it I was hooked. After a brief spell going to Slaloms (I got to Div 1 in March 1971) I moved to Cornwall and spent two and half years surfing in my slalom boat. I have completed DW three times once in less than my target of 24hours. Then it was down to being a Dad but I got round the problem of finding time to go canoeing by teaching them to paddle.Trouble was they got better than me and I started to spend more time on the bank as a Coach.It all paid off when my Daughter Kath won the Junior Pre Worlds at Lipno in the Czech Repulic in 1995. A few good years followed with trips around the World but the politics of the sport finally got to us and we stopped paddling altogether in 1999. Now after a taste in France earlier this year I discovered the world of Sea kayaking. This is the first paddle in my new Island Kayak's Expedition LV on Ul