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We’re in training! This weekend we head north to attempt to kayak from mainland Scotland to Shetland. I’m speaking at a symposium there at the end of June so we’ll have about 10 days to try to cross the Pentland Firth, island-hop up through Orkney and then hope for good enough weather to do two 25-mile legs to Shetland via ‘Fair Isle’. I was recently sent an article about the first people to do these crossings, Karen and Dan Trotter. It sounds like they had an absolute epic and the journey shouldn’t be underestimated. It is very windy in those parts and strong tides take you first one way and then the other – but perpendicular to the desired path. To top it off, when you arrive at Fair Isle or Shetland, a large tidal race guards the entrance and you have to summon up some energy to fight your way in. We’ll be getting to Shetland one way or another or the symposium organisers will be very upset, and we’ll enjoy a week or more of paddling there. I’m really looking forward to that as I’ve seen photos and the caves, cliffs and birds look beautiful.

Karen and Dan Trotter also attempted to cross from Shetland to the Faroe Islands, 200 miles to the North. Amazingly they managed to paddle 150 miles against the wind and tide but didn’t quite make it. We’re not even going to try and we’ll take the ferry there and enjoy paddling around some more beautiful islands for a couple of weeks!

So this weekend we went for a long paddle closer to home on the Menai Straits between Anglesey and mainland Wales. ‘The Staits’ is called ‘Aber Menai’ in Welsh, which means ‘River Menai’ and it’s easy to see why. It’s less than 1km wide for most of it’s length and the tide rips down there at 5 or 6 knots in places. If you are going with the tide, as we were, it’s a great ego boost as you come away at the end of the day having paddled miles and feeling very smug. It’s a great spot with lots of places to play in strong currents and big waves. Here are a few photos when it’s calm. I’ll be doing some filming here for my next video sometime later in the year.

Alun and I are at the Jersey Seakayak symposium enjoying hot sunny weather – well, hot when you can get out of the wind….. but we aren’t complaining. Today we joined a trip to “les Ecrehous”, a reef about 6 miles NE of Jersey. I’ve been there 3 or 4 times before and it’s always great to go there. No-one lives there but there are a few small houses clustered on the small rocky outcrops that aren’t covered up at high tide. At low tide several square miles of rocks, boulder beaches and golden sand are uncovered. Lots of terns, shags and other birds are the only permanent residents. Here are a few photos.

ON TOP OF A FIN ON SHARPNOSE POINT

My forearms are still tender and my hands are still rough after a fun 2 weeks climbing in Cornwall and North Devon. Alun and I took the newly refurbished van on it’s maiden voyage down south – and for the first time enjoyed the luxury of a bed, stove and cupboards! Thanks to the multi-skilled Barry ( who not only kayaked around Britain last year with Phil and Harry, but also did a great woodwork job on the van)!

SURF NEAR BUDE

Alun and I started in Baggy Point in North Devon and worked south down the coast all the way to Lands End. I haven’t explored that area before and was impressed by the miles and miles of beautiful coastline. We did take sea kayaks with us but in the end they stayed on the van and we climbed 12 out of 13 days, with just one dip in the surf in our surf boats. The climbing was mostly on sea cliffs and we did some amazing routes such as Eroica and Mercury. The jagged fins of Sharpnose were also very impressive and a bit intimidating to start with. Right now I’m at Blenheim Palace near Oxford about to film the swimming leg of a triathalon from the front of a double seakayak!

ALUN TRAVERSING TO THE START OF ‘MERCURY’, CARN GAOLA

This trip south marks the start of the holiday season for Alun and I with upcoming seakayaking trips to Jersey, Shetland and the Faroe Islands in the next 2 months. Well, I’ll be filming of course, so that’s officially work for me, but I don’t expect much sympathy!

I’ve been spending a lot of time at home recently – more time than I’d like editing a TV series but quite a bit of time enjoying North Wales. From exploring the slate quarries just 15 minutes walk from here, to climbing, surfing and sea kayaking. This photo shows the view from the lake we live besides. That’s Snowdon on the right in the distance. We live on the opposite side of the lake about 700foot up. That’s it for now! It’s the Anglesey seakayaking symposium this weekend which should be fun then Alun and I are going to spend about 10 days in Cornwall climbing, surfing and sea kayaking. The holidays are just around the corner…..