East coast USA paddles East coast N, Ireland.

 I had the extreme pleasure of guiding Robert around a little part of the Co Antrim coast during the week while he was on a holiday to our little green island.

Whitehead sea front on a glorious autumn day and Bob enjoying the view.
 

Port road cottage and Bob looking cool.

 One of my favourite spots on our coastline Blackhead lighthouse.

I enjoyed the opportunity to meet Bob from the States, and as always its a pleasure to share time with fellow paddlers who love the water the same as me . Thank you Paddling Planet for letting others see what we love in life  !  Ps  - Many thanks to Tess in sunny Australia for helping organize the meet x.    

Lough Erne Co, Fermanagh N. Ireland ILDSA safety cover .

Just a few pictures of this weekends kayak safety cover on the 25km Irish Long Distance Swimming Association in which I accompanied a friend of mine from the Isle of Man - Carole Laporte.
She swam 25 km in 8 hrs 6 min non stop ! and proudly came second place !
CONGRATULATIONS Carole on this unbelievable achievement and thank you for a great day on the water.

 

 Thank you to all who made this day great .

Father and Son's first sea paddle 19.05.13

 Lee and I just offshore at Whitehead on a cracking flat calm Sunday afternoon .

 Lee in center of the 1 km long oil Jetty at Kilroot power station .

 We both tried a spot of fishing but were unsuccessful in our quest for dinner !

 Near the old remains of Whitehead's Lime quarry quay Lee tried his hand at rock hopping !

 Lee and his handmade Sea Dart kayak gliding past some Flying fifteens moored in the bay.

The daunting size of Kilroot oil jetty and the entrance to Belfast lough !
We both had an amazing day and maybe covered 4 miles all in ! My 8 year old son is well and truly hooked
on kayaking, like father like son.

Belfast lough crossing. April 2013

The man himself  

Irelands largest castle ?

Peter and Ernie getting ready to leave Helen's bay - not sure what JC is up to tho  !

A little bit of  rock hopping  Co, Down side.

Carrickfergus in the distance (dep point )  Co, Antrim side of Belfast lough.

WW2 gun emplacement to prevent German attacks on Belfast harbour and docks.Helen's bay WW2 gun emplacement

Beautiful Helen's bay .

Lunchtime and frying pan's to the ready !  Once again a great paddle with even better company . 

One star training at Whitehead / Co Antrim Yacht Club

A good turnout for the course run by CAYC , and perfect weather to boot !
A few of the paddlers had previously been out with me and JC for a few Wednesday nights sampling sea kayaking and must of enjoyed it enough to enrol in the two day course.
Nice picture RP ! Can't wait to get the team out on a days paddle up the coast, Paddle safe Folks.

Sea kayaking with Dolphins Co, Antrim Northern Ireland.

I spotted the Dolphins and rushed to my trusted Valley Avocet Sea kayak and swiftly made my way out to the middle of the bay which was flat calm

to see if I could do one of the thing's I have always wanted to do which is Kayak with Dolphins! and boy was I lucky, I spent over 2 hours with this pod in Whitehead bay of over 40 of these I think ( Atlantic white sided Dolphins ).

A large crowd gathered onshore to see them playing and jumping clear of the water and a few of us were lucky enough to be on the water to see it close up.

While passing underneath my kayak these smart and very inquisitive Dolphins turned upside-down to get a better look at my ugly mug and I am sure they are hunted for life now !!!!!

It was an unforgettable and humbling experience and I hope I get the chance to do it again .

Danny . 

     

Friends and family on the water !

Lauren and Lee's newly out- fitted wooden Sea kayak . It's a "handmade" 14 foot Sea Dart which was lovingly built by James - my brothers wife's dad , I added a few modifications

for safety and kid proof reasons - ie grab lines and bungees .

The youngsters love it to bits and it tracks brilliantly a great boat for them to learn in.

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO'S TO ENLARGE .

This is a special woman called Elaine or SHOOTER as she prefers who Left Whitehead my village on an amazing journey solo around Ireland via Sea kayak all in the need of charity

her journey can be tracked here - http://www.canoearoundireland.com/content/shooters-blog my best wishes are with her and we all hope to see her back here in a few week's time .

Co Antrim yacht club's newly renovated boat house with the storage facility's for many kayaks which was opened by Elaine shooter and local Councillor's.

The new boat house.

Shooters support unit if required.

Shooter herself and Sammy Wilson MLA I think ?

Her new Valley Etain waiting on the start line on a lumpy sea day.

A poor German film crew braving the cold wind and sea-spray

at Whitehead slipway .

Whitehead on a calmer day,

Lee and I having fun paddling from one side of the bay to the other.

The kids Sea dart under trials !

The two of us posing for photo's .

Roy and Dawn enjoying a cold but great day at Brown's Bay

This was their first voyage in the new boat they just bought,

last reports were they were spotted around Cape Horn, they have never been seen again !

Happy chappies


My friend Philip surfing up at Ballygalley and me in the ocean taking the photo's.

Sun fish in Northern Ireland waters ! 1st Sept 10.

No its not plastic bag I swear ! its a very rare Sun fish or (Mola mola) to be correct.
I spotted it just of the coast between Blackhead and the first headland near the the Gobbins cliffs. Its a strange looking fish which can grow to 10 feet across or more usually found in the tropics and at extreme depths 3-4 hundred feet , they eat jelly fish and this one was on its holidays to Northern Ireland for some strange reason .
It was the strange fin slapping the water which caught my eye and when i paddled over - it was unmistakable as the Sun fish.

The fin slapping on the surface.
click on photo's to enlarge

The wife and JC on a flat calm morning.
Looking for a lunch spot .
Heading back to Whitehead.
JC and Michelle , thank-you for another great wee day out !