Roll on summer ! 15.4.08.

Lauren and Lee fossil hunting at the shore line at Carrickfergus , which I did with my dad 30 years ago ! boy time flies.....

My local harbour tonight at 8pm , I had the kids out for a walk burning off some of their energy and I caught the sun lighting up our 800 year old castle , further on down the jetty I saw two paddlers hugging the coast and their blades glinting in the sun every few seconds , so I'm itching to get on the water, fingers crossed for this weekend !

Killyleagh to Castleward 25th March 08 " Click here for Video of the trip - courtesy of Desi B.K.C "

Ernie in his pride and joy - a new Valley Aquanaut
With the wind on our tails it was a quick trip down to Castleward , south of Killyleagh.

The large and impressive grounds around Castleward stately home looking a little gloomy at this time of year but in a few weeks spring will change that ! The house can be seen on the hill looking out towards Strangford lough , I was inside the house years ago and it was like a time warp to Queen Victoria's time !
Some of the group .
Peter enjoying the new found freedom of sea kayaking .
Desi and Ernie with Portaferry in the distance , with the ever present common Seal not far away.

Our put in spot at Killyleagh.
Calm waters
The fleet - my red Valley Avocet , A lovely old Valley nordkapp belonging to Desi , Deirdre's P&H Capella , Kevin's home built sea kayak , and two Valley Aquanaut's glass and rm owned by Ernie. The tide came in at a ferocious rate , minutes later our boats were almost afloat! The walled back garden owned by the National Trust (Castleward)
Desi using the original paddle for sea kayaking , it's a hand made wooden Greenland paddle lovingly crafted by him ! and they are a dream to use as I have borrowed it for rolling practise in the pool on a few occasions

You learn something new every day !

The Strangford ferry - gliding over to Portaferry, the speed of the tide here is amazingly very fast , a narrow opening to a vast body of water running in and out of the lough which is many miles in length has claimed many victims over years and is littered with shipwrecks spanning 100's of year's , at low tide you can see some of them even today!
But to the hardy kayaker this is heaven , not me - but I do know those who dance it's whirlpools and eddys no names .
This is Alabama an 8 month old grey seal who was rescued and brought to the aquarium/sanctuary here in Portaferry Northern Ireland after being caught up in a fishing net, which left a wound on the seal's neck , but its well on the way to recovery and will be released back to the wild at the start of April, a happy ending this time !

This is a replica of the Megladon's kisser and trust me if he was still about today, I think kayaking would not ! be on my list of hobbies!

Lauren pointing out her greatest love Sharks ! A Great White's nashers which I hope never to get to close to.

This set was from South Africa and was caught in the nets protecting a beach ! Remove the nets and take your chances I say ! Swim here if your mad would be the signs I would put up .

Lee taking it all in . This Thorn-back ray is smiling for the camera !

Michelle and the kids and I at Portaferry aquarium Co.Down ,

If your ever here check it out !

The weather was poor for paddling today, and was a good excuse to go to one of our favorite places instead!

Take a look at this video ! ( click here )

Whiterock Part deux !

My little girl Lauren , and I enjoying the sand dunes !

Also my 2 year old Lee hitching a ride .

Guess what ! " the old " paddle in wrong side - wrong time trick then washed up a beach eating sand maneuver !
My son Lee giving me some good advice , why are you all wet Daddy !
This is how to do it !
Lesson over back to the car park for tea .
Mush Mush !!

Surf was big today and was "dumping hard" ( my new term I heard today)
Surfing a bit .
Waiting for a wave .
Matt from CCKC doing it in style . He was very good to watch and we all talked after in the car park and we all arranged to meet up for a paddle sometime . Belter of a day again ! cant wait untill next time .

Desi B.K.C. Made this nice surf Video of us at Whiterock ( click on here )

Whiterock Bay , surfing on the north coast Co, Antrim N.Ireland with Belfast Kayak Club 20.1.08

Desi B.K.C. first at the car park ! don't forget - " click" photo's to enlarge !
Me and my first view of the surf (with a nervous smile on my kisser) Some folk enjoying the waves already.
The Skerries in the background , noted for sea paddle in the future. Below me!

Getting on the water .

Decky and I , big thanks to your other half Aine for taking the photo's cheers.

Desi and Pete tooling up also.

3 hour's later the car park was nearly full of paddler's and surfers.

My first wave was 30 feet high ! ( it felt like it !)
struggling but still dry !
But not for long , a pincer movement soon sorted me out and I crashed .
I tried again and managed to ride in a wave .
Here we go again ,Decky and me waiting for water .

A great time was had by all . ps - Desi did you like my roll ! caught on your video ! ha ha .

The squad - Philip

Pete, Desi ,Decky, and me Danny

Cant wait till next time lads.

Cheers.

Click here. Michelle paddling into Carrick harbour VIDEO.

Me having a rip in Michelle's P&H Capella 166 feel's good !
Capella and my Avocet near wall.

If you look very carefully, you just make out our mate Sammy the Seal.
Michelle leaving me in her wake !
The old sea front of our town.
Michelle going past the Marine garden's and war memorial above (back hatch) in her new Christmas present

Today we had a lull in the weather , so Michelle and I took the opportunity while the two kid's were being minded , to get on the water and enjoy the day and get some exercise and mental cleansing.
Our put in spot was the usual slipway at the local harbour , which attracted quite a crowd of people , who's normal question was - (are you not freezing in those canoe's) if I heard it once I heard it a million time's it's still ringing in my ear's. So we became good ambassador's to the sport and today educated everyone all about sea kayak's ,
(to the best of our knowledge) and our gear and how we were quite cosy in our clothing ,we might have to fight our way through all the new paddler's next time !