Monday 19.09.16
When woke up on Monday morning there was no wind, I knew there would be a little more by the coast but not enough to sail. I was facing another week of failed sailing plans, a quick decision was needed. I hurriedly checked the inflatable kayak to see if all was there, retrieved my 3-way split paddle from under the stairs and I packed it all on my bike trolley. I had a little food already in my bike pannier… I was off.
It took me about 2 hours to cycle to the coast, but the weather was fine and there was no head wind! And when I got to the boat the tide was still an hour away.
I got my wet suit (I always “dress for the sea” i.e. in it) and sorted out what I needed for the kayaking and took my things to the shore. The tide came in fast (as it was a high tide of 8 meters; when it is so high it races over the sands like a river in flood with a force to match).
The inflation of the kayak took longer than what I expected, due to me being “unfit”, huffing and puffing using the hand-pump; I was dripping with sweat by the end of it. I added the 2 skegs to the hull (it is supplied with 1 skeg when new, but I added another skeg fin to the front-end for added directional stability).
The beauty about the inflatable is that it is light weight and I could easily pick it up and carry it to the water’s edge, which had now reach the bank. As I walked to the bank’s edge I slipped on the sodden ground, down I went into the sea and I grazed some skin off my thumb in the process (making it painful when mixed with salty water). By the time I had packed my things into the rear cockpit the tide was deep and I had to “fall” into the kayak, not very gracefully!! When strapped in and secure, I was off.
It had been about 2 years since I had used the kayak, and I had forgotten a lot of things!! With each stroke I was “missing the water” (slicing through the water with the flat of the blade). I had the split paddle connected for a right handed paddler (as I am left handed I had to re-arrange the blade direction) once I got that sorted I had forward motion! Also the inflatable is “tippy” and I had to relearn my balance. But it comes back very quickly. I headed for the boat, and “Sadaf” looked different from the water, than the shore. A few times around the boat taking photos as I went, then off to follow the current/s out into the main channel.
I paddled with the tide towards Carlisle, there was no wind at all, and the sea was flat calm. About 15 minutes I saw a ‘black line’ floating on the water in the distance, a stick perhaps? I went to see what it was. Then it sank with a curved back… it was a porpoise.
It re-emerged a few moments later and I could hear its “snort” as it blew from its air-hole. The sea was calm; the surroundings quiet only this little creature was making a noise. Again it dived. I took several more photos but I was never fast enough to catch it as I saw it. My camera is a simple “point and shoot” and by the time it was ready the little creature had disappeared.
Then came a moment that I will remember, the blowing came from behind me, I turned and saw the porpoise coming straight for me, it dived once, twice and on the 3rd time it went underneath my kayak. While it was happening I was thinking about the film “Jaws” (how that film is in my teenage memory) but this was beautiful, and moments like that only happen once in a blue-moon. It came straight for me, curious perhaps? I do not know. I managed to take a short video of it diving for the last time, but it did not capture the moment as I saw it.
I waited around a little longer, but it did not surface again. I noticed I had drifted backwards with the current (towards the boat) so I retraced my paddle strokes and enjoyed the memory of the porpoise, and the stillness of the water. The light gave the water a silvery sheen, like I was floating on liquid silver.
I had ‘touched bottom’ while coming up-channel but I knew it was not the actual sea-bed as the tide was still deep. I paddled against the tide for about an hour and reached a creek just below the village of Drumbrugh. Only at high tide can one paddle up these creeks. They cut the land in two, and a few people have been caught out and had to be rescued, as they have not noticed the tide coming behind them via these creeks. I paddled up this one and then videoed my return journey.
I stopped to have a rest and take a few photos, when a man came to have a chat. He was a kayaker too and he was going to kayak but had left it too late. We swapped stories of the Solway and paddling in this area. There are so few of us on this estuary that it is always encouraging to meet a like minded person.
I continued on my way, paddling with the tide this time, gently going with the flow, enjoying the lack of wind making the sea calm, but still feeling its force.
There is a ‘point’ that is like a corner that the current hits and rebounds against; I floated passed it and floated down to the bay. If there had been strong winds this point would have been white-water.
The “bay area” is an area of erosion, where the sea is making its intrusion on the saltings. There has been a lot of erosion of the saltings due to the winter tides and each year the tide takes more away from “England” (and some say “gives it to Scotland!!). I continued floating with the tide giving me time to video the calmness and the evening song of the birds.
I noticed the saltings emerging from the tide; this grassy top would be part of another creek with the water going around it. These grassy banks would have been the ‘bottom’ that I had touched on my way up channel, half an hour before.
The out-going tide had shown me the entrance to this bay creek
I floated with the tide, past “Grune Point” with its look-out point and man-made structures, histories that are not recorded. When there is a lot of wind this area can be high swells.
I wanted to linger to enjoy the peace so I stayed within the eddy to delay my return.
The sun was setting behind clouds giving the sea a silvery glow.
Getting nearer to my destination I began to touch bottom.
Then I grounded not too far from Sadaf. I simply tie the wheels to the back of the kayak and pulled it over the sands to the boat.
The moon came out later that night and it gave a nice reflection on the channel.
Moon reflected in water
In the evening I cooked, read my library book by lamp light “Testament of Youth” by Vera Brittain; and practiced my Pennie Whistle. I have been practicing the melodies from the Scottish Highland bagpipe repertoire entitled: “Teribus” and “Corrichoiles”. Here is a recording of the practice:
And so ended Day 1.
I am so pleased I brought the kayak as one can see different things by paddling, close up to the shore line, than when one is sailing, which can be ‘too far’ sometimes.
Floating on the Solway 