There was more rain during the night and we awoke early to temperature at 4 deg. A far cry from Mondays heatwave. The only upside we could see was that it was too cold for the midgees to make an appearance.
We were on the water by 7.30am in order to make the best of the tide and conscious that the wind was due to pick up later in the day.
The wind as we pulled out of the bay was N F3-4 with a modest swell running. Much of the time the wind was over our right shoulder and if anything was helping our progress, but at one or two of the headlands it was turned against us by the terrain and we had to work that bit harder.
Out to the East of us we could see the platforms of the Beatrice field and a number of offshore wind turbines.
The coast from Dunbeath down to Helmsdale comprised towering red cliffs, more caves and one or two stacks and arches. Nowhere near as grand as the previous section but interesting all the same. The sea state was generally slight to moderate but kicked up a bit at the headlands.
There were also more sea birds with the familiar Fulmars as inquisitive as ever. Their displays of flying skill never cease to amaze banking hard across the surface of the water with their wing tip only inches from disaster. As if to prove a point one, perhaps a budding Jonothan Livingstone Gull, brought himself neatly to a stall in front of us before setting himself down, eyed us up, effected a vertical take off by simply opening his wings, held the hover with his feet just touching the sea before banking hard right and away. He seemed to say "Impressed? So you should be". We were.
From Helmsdale onwards the coast line changed to a flatter sandy profile while the hills rose hidher behind. By now the wind had picked up to F4-5 with the squalls coming through more frequently and still it was bitterly cold for June. With the wind pressing hard at our backs we made rapid and andrenalin filled progress down the coast. We stopped briefly for lunch at Lothbeg Point and by the time we put back on the wind was a steady F5-6. We were hurtled down the coast, at times having to fight hard to maintain a firm grip on the blades. By 2pm we had reached Brora and decided to call it a day at that before conditions worsened.
Distance covered today: 36km
Total distance covered: 503km
Midgee ferrocity: you have to be kidding!
Friday, 5 June 2009
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Chillblains in June
We were woken early by the rain but fortunately it had stopped by the time we were ready to get going. All the same it was pretty cold with the air temperature down at 9 degrees and a brisk N F3-4 blowing.
We were on the water by 8.30am and headed straight across Sinclair Bay to Noss Point. The sea state picked up as we got closer but was still only slight to moderate. At the point though things got a bit lively and some serious concentration was required due to the 1.5m ground swell mixing with the wind blown waves and the clapotis bouncing back off the point. Things eased a little once past the main point but it was still a lively ride down to Wick.
We stopped at Broad Haven just N of Wick for a breather and top up our water.
Suitably refreshed we head S across Wick Bay only to find more tricky seas awaiting us just S of the bay, in part a function of the N going tide. Eventually we reached The Haven just N of Sarclet Point, an old fishing station, and went ashore for lunch. It was still pretty cold and we hunckered down in the shelter of the ruins to get out of the worst of the wind.
Back on the water and round Sarclet Point things improved. The swell was still there but we had lost the influence of the tide and the wind so the sea was much more manageable.
The coast down this section S of Wick is pretty impresive with a continous selection of arches, geos, caves and stacks. A great place for a paddle on a calm day.
What was even more startling was the number of sea birds. In the course of the day we must have passed thousands if not tens of thousands of them. Common Guillimots, Black Guillimots, Razorbilla, Puffins, Shags, Black Backs, Herring Gulls and the occasional Eider Duck. The noise, the sky filled with birds and the smell are difficult to capture in words. Incredible just doesn't do it justice. We also found ourselves paddled past Guillimots and Razorbills with beaks full of freshly caught fish and on their way back to the 'family ledge', just amazing.
A bit further along as we passed inside a skerry we came upon a large group of seals hauled out on the rocks. We were pretty close before we spotted them and vice versa and managed to get a few shots before they did their depth charge impressions and came for a closer look at us.
Eventually we arrived at Lybster and pulled in for a break just as the rain returned.
From there we headed off on the final leg to Dunbeath. As we did so the wind dropped to a whisper, the sea state eased right off and the rain stopped. A nice way to finish the shift.
We pulled into Dunbeath and had just got the tent up when the rain returned. Probably the coldest June day that we can recall and we both now have chillblains for good measure.
Distance travelled today: 47km
Total distance travelled: 467km
Midgee ferrocity: am nil, pm 3/5
We were on the water by 8.30am and headed straight across Sinclair Bay to Noss Point. The sea state picked up as we got closer but was still only slight to moderate. At the point though things got a bit lively and some serious concentration was required due to the 1.5m ground swell mixing with the wind blown waves and the clapotis bouncing back off the point. Things eased a little once past the main point but it was still a lively ride down to Wick.
We stopped at Broad Haven just N of Wick for a breather and top up our water.
Suitably refreshed we head S across Wick Bay only to find more tricky seas awaiting us just S of the bay, in part a function of the N going tide. Eventually we reached The Haven just N of Sarclet Point, an old fishing station, and went ashore for lunch. It was still pretty cold and we hunckered down in the shelter of the ruins to get out of the worst of the wind.
Back on the water and round Sarclet Point things improved. The swell was still there but we had lost the influence of the tide and the wind so the sea was much more manageable.
The coast down this section S of Wick is pretty impresive with a continous selection of arches, geos, caves and stacks. A great place for a paddle on a calm day.
What was even more startling was the number of sea birds. In the course of the day we must have passed thousands if not tens of thousands of them. Common Guillimots, Black Guillimots, Razorbilla, Puffins, Shags, Black Backs, Herring Gulls and the occasional Eider Duck. The noise, the sky filled with birds and the smell are difficult to capture in words. Incredible just doesn't do it justice. We also found ourselves paddled past Guillimots and Razorbills with beaks full of freshly caught fish and on their way back to the 'family ledge', just amazing.
A bit further along as we passed inside a skerry we came upon a large group of seals hauled out on the rocks. We were pretty close before we spotted them and vice versa and managed to get a few shots before they did their depth charge impressions and came for a closer look at us.
Eventually we arrived at Lybster and pulled in for a break just as the rain returned.
From there we headed off on the final leg to Dunbeath. As we did so the wind dropped to a whisper, the sea state eased right off and the rain stopped. A nice way to finish the shift.
We pulled into Dunbeath and had just got the tent up when the rain returned. Probably the coldest June day that we can recall and we both now have chillblains for good measure.
Distance travelled today: 47km
Total distance travelled: 467km
Midgee ferrocity: am nil, pm 3/5
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