Friday 24 July 2015

Plymouth to Mumbles - Tavi, Julie and Debs.

The following is a Bog form the girls on their current self supported adventure.  Thanks for sending it in  ;)

Plymouth to Mumbles

So our plan is to paddle from Plymouth back to Mumbles in Wales, hopefully ending with the crossing of the Bristol Channel from Ilfracombe to Mumbles Head. We're calling this one the 'Boot of Britain', given that the SW looks a little bit like a leg, well at least if you squint!

Day 1, 30km Downderry to Porthpean.
We started at Downderry at the lovely Inn on the Beach, as the firing range at Tregantle was firing all week. Wind F4-5+ with a sea state 4. Still managed some lovely calm stops at Looe Island and hiding behind Pencarrow Head. Last part of the day fighting onto a F5 ... hard work! Planned camp site worked fine, not a theme that's continued!

Day 2, 55km, Porthpean to Kennack Sands.

Day started early, paddling at 4.15am to get round Dodman Point with tide. Amazing phosphorescence, every drip was a ring and bow waves arrows of green. Dodman Point on slack as planned, then the crossing to Portscatho where egg and bacon buttys (photo below) tasted fantastic! On across the shipping lane at Falmouth then for the first time the wind was behind us down to Clynhalls Point. Camping spots proved tricky to find near Coverack... so our day was rather longer than planned and ended with a F4 headwind paddle from Black Head to Kennack Sands, a bit of an unwelcome addition! The day a distance PB for Julie.




Day 3. 31km (plus an extra 8km back tracking finding camping). Kennack Sands to Praa Sands.

A bit of a slow day as feeling effects of the previous day's distance. Round the Lizard at slack - a jumbled maze of rocks and broken water. The most southerly point of mainland Britain. Some stunning coast including abandoned tin mines. Wanted to camp around Cudden Point, but nothing possible, so we back tracked to a proper camp site at Praa Sands. 

Day 4. Showers and a washing machine, luxury for today... a lazy (windy) day in town.

Tomorrow afternoon looks possible for Land's End, which would put us on the north coast. Fingers crossed the weather window holds. But then the forecast suggests 2 days of storms. Frustrating, and just have to hope the 7-10ft surf does not materialise. That sounds just a bit, um, intimidating? 



Tavi Murray, Julie Jones and Debs Helsdon.





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