Another Day at the Office…

Now that I’ve invested in a brand new camera (A Nikon D3 for those of you interested) it was time for it to earn its keep. Having packed my new backpack with all my new gear I headed off to the cliff tops on Holyhead to make my way to Penhryn Mawr, a notorious formation of rocks at the end of a headland, where large standing waves and tidal races form as the sea rushes from South Stack to Porth Dafarch and back. This is a popular stretch of water where the more experience sea kayaker comes to play. To reach it by foot is a good 30 to 40 minute walk from the nearest car park with spectacular views across the Irish Sea.
However, when I reached to Penhryn Mawr there was absolutely nothing going on. It was as flat as a pancake and not a sea kayaker in sight. Still, it gave me an opportunity to get out and stretch my legs and to test my new gear.
This is often the way with photography; you can never guarantee that shot. Just like fishing, you cast your line and sit and wait. If you make a catch then all well and good. If not, then at least you’ve tried and hey, there’s always tomorrow!

Music by Mike Dowling.

A Weekend to Remember…

It’s been a long time coming, but it was well worth the wait.
We had glorious sunshine for the whole weekend and boy! did we make good use of it,
a camping weekend with all our kayaking friends and their families down at Rhoscoyln Beach.
A weekend of sun, sea and sand. A reminder of my childhood holidays when all was right with the world. Sand in your egg and crest sandwiches, ice lollies that melted and ran down your face and arms leaving a streak of orange stain that acted as some primitive form of sun block. The high-pitched scream of seagulls and over heated young children as the sun reached its zenith. The splashing waves and salty seawater that acted as a kind of nasal spray that would have a hundred children coughing like a smoker on forty a day.
The warm wrapping of the dry beach towel to conceal and soothed the goose bumps on a shivering overexcited child. Then with bucket and spade in hand, which contained a few precious pebbles along with a crab’s claw and some seaweed as souvenirs, we’d wander back along the beach to wash, to eat and to sleep the sleep of the dead. And when morning came, we’d do it all over again.
All praise to the great British summer.

Burial mound at Porth Trecastell...

"Of prime importance at Barclodiad y Gawres is the unexceptional decoration on the massive stones forming the burial chamber. Here can be seen zig zags, chevrons and spirals, similar to the decoration found in the tombs of the Boyne Valley in Ireland, emphasizing the close associations across the Irish Sea. There is only one other example of this Neolithic ( stone age ) art form known in Wales (Bryn Celli Ddu). Such decoration is equally rare in England and Scotland and Barclodiad y Gawres is unquestionably the finest example in Britian. Unfortunately, the decorated stones have become increasingly vulnerable to graffiti and vandalism so it is with regret that Cadw is currently unable to allow unsupervised access into the chamber. Contact: 0845 0103300"

Even though you can't get access to the inner chamber, this burial mound is still well worth a visit. The views from on top are fantastic and the beach and bay are beautiful. If you like a bit of surfing then, with a southerly wind blowing on shore, you can expect some great waves to play in with no hidden dangers lurking on the seabed. A great place to picnic and lots to explore. And if you like to do a little walking you can make your way along the seashore to Rhosneigr and grab a coffee and a bite to eat.( Allow a good hour each way) You can find Porth Trecastell ( better known as Cable Bay ) along the A4080 road between Rhosneigr and Abberfraw.

THE WRECKS AT TRAETH DULAS…

Very little is known about these wooden fishing boats stranded on the sands at Traeth Dulas. At low tide you can walk out across the estuary and get up close to these beautiful old wrecks. Every piece of flaking paint, rusty nail and wooden beam has a story to tell and a secret to keep. How they came to be here and about the men that sailed them no one seems to know, but there’s no denying their beauty and the craftsmanship that went into their making. Well worth a visit, just remember to keep an eye on the incoming tide; it would be a long swim back to the car.
Location.( 53º 22’ 26.50” N 4º 16’ 55.80” W )

“Dulas Bay (Welsh: Bae Dulas) is a small bay on the north east coast of Anglesey (Ynys Môn), north Wales. The bay is bordered by three beaches. The north-western beach is the sand, shingle, mud estuary Traeth Dulas (Dulas Beach); southeast of this is the tiny Traeth Bach (Small Beach) and the sandy Traeth Yr Ora (Beach of The Fortified Landing Place). The estuary running through Traeth Dulas is that of the Afon Goch (Red River). The Traeth Bach and Traeth Yr Ora at high tide are separated by a rock outcrop called Craig y Sais (The Saxon Rock). At low tide, however, it is possible to walk on the sand between the three beaches and also onto the larger but less tranquil beaches of Lligwy Bay to the south. All the beaches vary in size quite dramatically depending on the tide. Traeth Dulas is most affected by the tide, so much so that the most inland parts of the estuary are salt marshes.” Wikipedia

Criccieith by the Sea...

Being on such a beautiful island we can often forget that there are other places to visit and other sceneries to explore. This often comes about more by accident than intent. Finding a dentist in this part of the world isn’t quite as easy as it would be in a major city or town, so after a day on the phone we tracked one down in the lovely seaside town of Criccieith. It wasn’t our intention to stay any longer then it took to have our teeth checked out, but we ended up spending the rest of the day just wandering around this lovely town and exploring the castle that overlooks the bay. Being about a 35 minute drive from Anglesey we will be back to explore this area again; maybe treat ourselves to an overnight stay at the grand St Georges Hotel; just as long as it’s not because of a need for a visit to the dentist.

Views From The Cockpit...

3rd of December 2008, the perfect winters day. Clear skies, crisp clean air and not a breath of wind. Launch at Cable Bay and meander down the coast to Rhosneigr. A spot of lunch on the beach and a leisurely paddle back with the sun on your face, and the only sound you can hear is the light splash of the blade as it moves through the still water beneath you, and the occasional cry of a gull, or a guillemot just before he dives beneath the surface of the sea in search of his lunch.
Time stands still and all is right with the world.

" Where else to be,
but out upon the open sea."

Time Out...

This picture of me is one of my all time favourite images.
Taken by a friend while out for a paddle just off Trearddur Bay,
It sums up everything I love about living here on Anglesey.
Just you, the sea and the sky. Everything else can just wait…