Marazion to Praa Sands

This trip is the first one we have managed on the sea for a couple of months and it turned out to be a good one. Marazion beach was full of families and dogs but a few paddle strokes later and we were out in Mounts Bay going around the outside of St Micheals Mount and towards Cudden Point. The wind was light and the sun was shining but there was some reasonable swell moving through in sets which were noticeably larger the other side of Cudden.

Tea and sandwiches were taken at Praa Sands and back out on the water again. We took a white knuckle ride short-cut though though the gully of doom (small d) which raised the adrenaline somewhat and although it looks nothing much on the video it was a case of "you had to be there" to feel the power of a large swell in a confined space. Rockfalls, landslips, wildlife and surfers to observe, altogether a great day out in a spectacular location.

NB. No kayaker's were harmed during the making of this movie.

Wildlife Observed: Great northern diver (1); Black-throated diver (1); Razorbill (1); Guillemot (5+); Fulmar (5+); Mediterranean gull (1); Turnstone

Look For:
St Micheal's Mount
Perranuthnoe
Cudden Point
Prussia Cove
Bettys Cove
Stackhouse Cove
Kenneggy Cove
Praa Sands

Hazards:
St Micheal's Mount Causeway
St Micheal's Mount Reefs and Rocks
Perranuthnoe Reefs and Rocks
Prussia Cove Reefs and Rocks
Praa Sands Reefs, Gullies and Rocks (particularly in large swell)

Details:
Paddle No: 22
Date: 11/1/2014
Wind: Force 1-3 South Easterly
Temperature: 10 degrees
Weather: Mainly Sunny but with some Cloud
Distance Covered: 10 miles
Duration: 4 hrs
Access: Easy launch and land from Marazion Beach
Sea state: Smooth to medium swell
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Scorpio

    Marazion to
    Praa Sands

Click map to enlarge

Mylor Harbour to Percuil River

Another Saturday window of opportunity in many weeks of gales and storms, so off we went. For safety’s sake we stuck to another river trip and this time headed from Mylor Harbour to Percuil River which is a very picturesque section of Carrick Roads. We launched in sunshine and in virtually no wind, crossing the river Fal in no time and Passing St Mawes to our left.

The paddle up the Percuil river is scenic and we saw a good selection of bird life. As this trip had to taken on an outgoing tide and mud was in abundance we could not go to the head of the river which was around another mile further up.

A quick trip back with the outgoing tide until we got to Place House when we were exposed to the wind blowing straight at us with some force. The paddle past St Mawes and the coast up as far a the Castle was slow going and choppy. After rounding Castle point the wind eased off to a force four and was to our side, but we kept up a good pace regardless. Another nice river trip but I cannot wait to get back on the ocean.

Sorry but no video or pictures this week as I forgot to put the SD card in the GoPro!

Wildlife Observed:
Black-throated diver (1), Little grebe (6+), Little egret (10+), Grey heron (10+), Mute swan (2+), Red-breasted merganser (1), Curlew (30+), Redshank (20+), Greenshank (3), Oystercatcher (10+), Turnstone (c.10), Buzzard (1)

Look For:
Wildlife
Falmouth Docks
St Mawes Castle
St Mawes
Place House
Percuil
Derelict Boats

Hazards:
Other water craft as this is a very busy river.
Shallow water
Mud banks
River Current

Details:
Paddle No: 21
Date: 4/1/2014
Wind: Force 1-5 SW
Temperature: 9 degrees
Weather: Sun to start then cloud
Distance Covered: 10 miles
Duration: 4 hrs
Access: Easy launch from Mylor Harbour Slip
River state: Smooth. Estuary: Choppy
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Scorpio

Click map to enlarge

Mylor to Truro

This is the first trip we have managed to do in weeks. From the end of summer the weather has been atrocious with one gale following another with very little space in-between. Even this river/urban paddle ended up with an gale warning and strong wind on the return trip. Mylor to Truro took two hours Truro to Mylor four hours against the wind and arriving back in the dark. Good trip though and great to get back on the water.

The video is a bit short and does not show the hard paddle back but I thought that a few minutes of Kevin and I paddling in Truro city centre was amusing. We did see an abundance of wildlife during the trip which has been listed below.

Wildlife Observed: Little grebe, Little egret, Grey heron (10+), Mute swan (10+), Canada goose (c.10), Teal (30+), Shelduck (3), Curlew (2), Redshank (40+), Oystercatcher (5+), Black-tailed godwit (30+), Guillemot (1), Buzzard, Kingfisher (2)

Look For:
Wildlife
Loe Beach
Turnaware Bar
King Harry Ferry
Smugglers Cottage
Parked Ships
Malpas
Truro Cathederal

Hazards:
Other water craft as this is a very busy river.
Shallow water
Mud banks

Details:
Paddle No: 20
Date: 29/12/2013
Wind: Force 3-5 SW
Temperature: 7 degrees
Weather: Sun to start then cloud
Distance Covered: 15.3 miles
Duration: 6 hrs
Access: Easy launch from Mylor Harbour Slip
River state: Smooth. Estuary: Choppy
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Scorpio

   Mylor to Truro

Click map to enlarge