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It’s been far too long since I visited Bardsey island. Even the drive down the Llyn Peninsula this morning had a calming effect on me – there is something about the shapes and colours of the peaks rising from the sea that is peaceful and makes me feel good.

We had intended to park at Whistling Sands (Porth Oer) and travel there and back with the tide, but we got to the carpark and didn’t have £4 for the machine, so continued to Abadaron! It was pleasantly choppy getting up the eddy to Braich y Pwlch and then ferry gliding across to the island.

We spent a few hours with the Porter family which was lovely, as usual – and met their latest edition to the ‘family’, “Piggy”! They are all very fond of him! Jo was spinning wool to make some of her lovely rugs and other goodies. Ben & Rachel showed us their latest art & photography work which is fantastic.

The wind had picked up for the return journey but mostly pushed us home. Getting back into the bay with wind-against-tide at Pen y Cil wasn’t as challenging as we had feared, probably because the current wasn’t that strong. There was just time for a few surf runs into Abadaron bay before we headed home.

It was a lovely day – sorry the photos aren’t very good!

On a separate point, Frontier, the Gap Year Blog, recently interviewed me for their website. You can read the interview here  if you like.

“The Kayak Instructor” from Canada gave ‘This is the Roll’ another big thumbs up in a review on his website. You can check it out here.

I have a very exciting new toy! An 18 foot Valley Rapier. In a pretty shade of blue.

Barry already has a Rapier & I’ve been trusted with it every now and again, including doing the Menai Challenge last year! Although when I took the Rapier, it took me 12 minutes to get under Menai Bridge against the tide which meant I had a slower time than when I did it in the Valley Etain. This year I’m more familiar with the Rapier so will hopefully ‘do better next time’!

I really enjoyed my few trys in the Rapier & I developed quite a taste for the extra speed, so now have my very own. I’ve been out in it a few times and am getting used to using a rudder. I’m enjoying exploring a new aspect of kayaking & hope to get fitter & quicker.

Today Barry and I took them from Rhoscolyn to Parliament House cave and back, which was pretty exciting. They are definitely not as stable as a ‘regular’ sea kayak and therefore I have fewer photos than I would usually have! But despite it being wind over tide in Rhoscolyn, Penrhyn Mawr & South Stack, I only used 1 brace & felt comfortable on the water. I’m sure paddling the Rapier will improve my balance & technique & I’m really enjoying it.

Reviews are like busses at the moment…. 3 great reviews have been published in magazines within a day or two of each other. Seakayaker (see previous blog), Ocean Paddler & the Welsh BCU magazine, Ceufad were all impressed with “This is the Roll“. Here is Ceufad’s review. I hope to show the full reviews from ‘Ocean Paddler’ and ‘Seakayaker’ in a few months, when they are no longer in ‘the current issue’.

The Ocean Paddler offer for a 2-year subscription, plus a free copy of ‘This is the Roll” is still on—click here to get 2-years digital subscription for £30, or print edition for £60. Or find the DVD in our webshop…. or your local paddling store.

I’ve just seen a great review of ‘This is the Roll‘ in the new August edition of “Seakayaker” magazine. You’ll have to get hold of the magazine to read the whole thing but here is a little snippet! The reviewer recommends the DVD to anyone wanting to learn their first roll, to instructors looking for better ways to teach rolling or for people who have struggled to learn forward finishing rolls.

Just for the record, I have linked to every review of “This is the Roll” that I’m aware of – I’m not just sharing the positive ones. Happily, every review I have seen so far has been very complimentary.

Digital copies of ‘Seakayaker magazine’ are US$4.95. Click here to buy the August 2012 issue

Ooh, and don’t forget you can vote for me (or the others) for ‘female paddler of the year’ in the Canoe & Kayak magazine awards. Click here! It’s free and it doesn’t take long.