On the water 0930
LW Plymouth 1102 (0.6m) + 1hr = 12.02 plus 0235hrs = LW
Wadebridge 12.37
HW Plymouth 1707 (5.5m) +1hr = 1807 less 52 mins = HW
Wadebridge 17.15
light winds on launching to Sunshine. Later in the day wind
increasing to approx force 4-5.
OMG culture shock again. I was expecting someone to knock on
my tent saying we are off now. Well that was a classic
miscalculation looked out of my tent thinking it must time
to go only to find that everyone had vanished except Paul,
Tina & Nathan. Launched at Wadebridge again harried to get
ready as fast as I could and plop boat in water while trying
not to slide down the pier ending in a probable swim and a
muddy bottom. Due to unbelievable good manners and
understanding I was not last to get into my boat and play in
the river. The paddle downstream was fascinating and it
quickly became apparent that if you did not want to be
beached, following Barbara was a good move. As the
combination of ebbing tide + river current became more
apparent so it was that 'three Tideraces John' decided to
show off paddling abilities finding a sandbar I believe well
downstream of the main group. It was at this point that
Barbara blew the whistle and I am sure he would have
received a red card if in shouting distance. We all decided
to regroup at a little creek called 'Gentle Jane' in the
hope that John might get the message.. that paddling within
shouting distance is preferable than having to scan the
horizon with binoculars. We then headed downstream towards
Rock and Padstow and beached boat and yachts of all sizes
were apparent all around on sandbars with the river buoys
leaning heavily seawards from the effects of the ever
increasing current. The 'Doom Bar' or relief bar was soon
reached and then onwards to Stepper Point. Then we all
headed back towards the Bar to surf and generally play. Stu
decided he would like to sit in my boat, but I thought that
pointless and urged him to have a go surfing in it. He
didn’t take it for long probably he was being prudent after
all I only bought it nearly new at the end of March. Perhaps
he was worried about my gel coat. We then paddled onwards to
Padstow for lunch and magically I managed to get my feet out
of the cockpit before landing. We hauled our boats up the
slipway and parked them outside the harbour masters office.
I suspect we didn’t get charged because they couldn’t figure
out how many horsepower we were and the signage on the top
of the slip indicated appropriate charging for horsepower of
craft. A very enjoyable time was spent in Padstow watching
the hordes of tourists march up and down the town though I
suspect we were also quite a sight in our paddling gear.
When the Padstow Bar was almost covered at 14.50 we launched
our boats to paddle back to Wadebridge taking maximum
advantage of the effects of tide, this time moored 'Cornish
Crabbers' appeared to be racing by at high speed out to sea,
thank god I gave them a wide berth. Again it would seem that
local knowledge is key in the section from Cant Cove back to
Wadebridge Barbara managed to trump all in sight or perhaps
this was a classic illustration of the 'fitness nazi' in
action.
The club barbeque followed in the evening. Jilly Beans
decided that she was to provide the full barbeque. A
wonderful meal followed in our encampment encircled by
camper vans and Jilly's car. It was very cold and wrapping
up well was a sensible solution. It was noticed though that
sweet treats such as the Battenburg cake was hogged by
Barbara and I was flung some other slice of cake as a
consolation. A bar of chocolate quickly vanished followed by
some of Jilly Bean's excellent Malt.
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| Wadebridge Town slip |
Jill on the estuary |
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| The buoys show the
strength of the current |
Approaching the
Doom Bar |
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| Stepper Point |
On the Doom Bar |
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| Paul gave us a
masterclass |
John |
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| Hauled up at Padstow |
Returning to
Wadebridge |
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| Two old duffers |
Tony and Jane getting
giggly |
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| Time for reflection |
Late night fire. |
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Pictures of the paddle are on
the
Galleries Page |
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