Thu 14.07.2016 Day 12

Thursday, 14.07.2016
Day 12
68,0 km
5.35 to 17.00 h
N 52.15619 W 10.46024
Bay behind Clogher Head

What a ride!
The morning was dead calm, sunny, and I just blamed myself I somehow slept almost an hour too long though my inner clock to get up in time is usually working perfect. It was a great pleasure to eventually enter my trustworthy Kokatat Expedition dry suit, and to really have a dry and warm bottom and feet all day! The top felt also just right with the Gore-Tex able to breathe, when you let your PFD travel on your back deck…

It was big crossings day, I went straight out to the left of Scariff Island, then to Bolous Head. All easy going, some dolphins, and the largest whale on this trip raising a couple of time and spouting noisily, probably a Fin whale? The first cute Puffins of this trip showed up, and plenty of other sea birds were whirling around my head, some in seemingly low-flight jet plane attack style. Some low, as forecasted straight south following wind was pushing me with the running up tide quickly along. Puffin Island came all too early to be happy with the original decision to enter into the Valencia channel and to find already a campsite.

I estimated I’d be around Bray Head and across Dingle Bay around 5 pm, so still enough time to make some distance! Sure, the south wind was supposed to be lifting to 15 knots, but with gust first up to 20, then up to 25 knots and more… I was looking forward to a quick crossing! It may get a bit bumpy when the wind goes against the tide after 1.30 pm, but it can’t be that bad! Tides are not too big here and now.

The crossing of Dingle Bay was not really necessary regarding the wind forecast and my sores, but the positive adrenalin rush of riding along with great wind and waves overlaid any pain. I even managed to get the long, heavy loaded Lettmann Speedliner kayak surfing down some nice waves, it was running like a racing horse andI was the jockey back to (almost) my old shape! Sure it is quite a narrow, long kayak, designed for marathon racing, my “Freya 18” kayak by Point 65 and also the epic 18x sport I paddled before were wider and also more stable, but also fast. Peeing and living and resting in general is not as comfortable, but manageable.

My ETA at the GPS went down and down to 15.30 h instead of the estimated 17 h, I was really flying happily along! I aimed straight to the Blasket Sound, leaving the option open to either land on the island, or on the first beach behind Slea Head. The wind had eventually breezed up to almost 20 knots, with standing tidal waves to surf down accordingly, breaking already here and there. I was on the watch, and tried to get used to the different steering and surfing feeling of this kayak.

I was nearing the entry of Blasket Sound, a tourist ship was passing in some distance from Blasket Island at high speed, riding heavily through the splashing waves. A small cabin fishing boat with two young guys was also on for a long while on a straight passing line first, then suddenly turned in towards me, obviously curious about what crazy paddler is out there in this wind? By no way I’d like to be on such dancing fishing boat in these conditions, it is moving not only heavily up and down, but also sideways in these bumpy-lumpy, relatively big waves.

They were probably well-meant, but not using their brain at all when they cut my way on high speed eventually just two meters in front of my bow, me surely also still fast riding along, and shouting something at me like if I’d be ok? I had to stop paddling and to turn in to prevent surfing right into them, which is not really a pleasure in these conditions. I did on purpose not wave at them as usual when they were nearing, as this may be in these conditions rather be mistaken as a signal to stop and help, but I simply kept on paddling strong and calm staying, on my direction, showing no sign of need of help in any way. The only thing I was shouting back on this stupid dangerous move of their boat was something like “Get the fuck out of my way!” and making an angry hand move wiping them off my picture…not sure if they got what they made wrong, being just well-meant? Approaching a kayak with a motorboat in rough conditions is always dangerous, and this was truly not the right place to be for them…

The first sandy beach behind Slea Head did not look too inviting with the waves catching in the corner and with steep cliffs behind, though obviously accessible from the parking lot on top and dry on high tide. I decided I’d like to round Dunmore Head and beyond to find the bays behind the heads in some calmer water of their lee. I tried to paddle through the rock gaps of Dunmore Head, but had to turn back into the wind as the gaps did not look safe with very bumpy water before the gaps, though calm water behind.
Turning back that 500 m to the last rock spit was in a bit lively water and against 20 knots wind, but once around, all water was calm as expected. The channel itself had eventually some unfriendly looking tidal rips to my left, so the way over to the calm Great Blasket Island beach was also no option. I should have turned in close to the island much earlier to aim for that beach.
The next bay had some calm rocky beach as a landing option, but I decided to push on around Clogher Head, now on calmish water, to find my marked lovely sandy beach in the lee – if there wouldn’t be the wind hammering down the mountains now in gusts of 25+ knots. I paddled on strongly, making good speed still against the tide here in this narrow sound, just had to watch not to come sideways and to get blown over or the paddle blown out of my hand!

Some other sightseeing boat trailing a rubber dinghy was nearing in high speed, thank goodness this time from behind. About 20 tourists, well dressed in orange life jackets, were probably expecting now the kayak rescue sensation of their trip. They better tie their tourists to the boat instead of worrying about a solidly strong paddling kayaker, dressed in a well floating dry suit and tied to her kayak with the bow line… This time I made a sign to stay far off my right side, which they did. Thanks! And yes, I am surely fine and also need no help! Why else should I be out here? But thanks for the careful and thoughtful approach and attention.
Rounding Clover Head was no problem, just ducking down on the very strong gust now, expecting a lovely lee now the last 1,2 km to the lurking sandy beach! But there was no lee…instead, I had to duck down again, holding tight to my paddle and leaning on my front deck while paddling hard into 25 knots of now funneling wind out of that friendly bay – until the last meter to the beach! Easy landing on calm water on lower tide, but this beach is an ugly steep one, with probably a dumper developing on running up high tide.

I made camp in a high corner of the beach, no wind shelter here at all, and it was the first time on this trip I had to shovel sand on my tent sides and to secure the big sand pegs with solid rocks. Still the tent was shaking and ripping heavily on the guy lines all night!
I once more praised my dry suit making camp in rainy conditions, and I should have expected to get no phone reception down here behind the cliffs. So I had to walk up the cliffs later in storm and rain in my rain gear and try for half an hour to download the forecast and to get at least in touch with Peter that I am ok. Not really a pleasant job!

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6 Kommentare
Kommentare
Kayak N'roll
Kayak N’roll la traduction est mauvaise Grrrrrrrrrrrrr ,mais bon………… un rorqual commun a coter du kayak c’est pas rien !!Übersetzung anzeigen

Etienne Muller
Etienne Muller That is an big chunk of distance for the day. I hope the wind holds out southerly for you.

Jimmy Johnstone
Jimmy Johnstone It sounds like you had an exciting trip.

9 comments on “Thu 14.07.2016 Day 12

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