Daily Picture - 58

Headed to La Pulente to watch the Wales - France match and on the way home came across a few of these little creatures as I came around the headland at Petit Port.  Normally I only see them in the autumn so it was a treat to see a few on the eve of the start of the meteorological spring.

Looking forward to kayaking tomorrow but the forecast looks more like winter than spring.

A windy paddle from La Pulente

I have lost count of the number of times I have driven past La Pulente in a howling gale and when the tide has been at the right height thought about paddling amongst the reefs. Experiencing strong winds but without the rough water. The outer reefs take out the largest swells and with a limited fetch inside the reef there is very little possibility of waves of any size developing.

This morning with low tide at 11.22 we launched at 10.00 and throughout our time on the water the wind didn't drop below 30 knots with frequent gusts up to 46 knots.  So without doubt  it was a steady force 7 from the northwest.

It was perfectly safe as the worst that could happen is that we would get blown onto the beach, in fact for significant amounts of time the depth of the water was such, that we weren't out of our depth.

An ideal venue for practicing skills in high winds.

John and Jim launching.  Although it doesn't really look it but the wind was howling across the rocks forcing us onto the other side of the narrow inlet.

 Progress was made by paddling from one small reef to the next, gaining some shelter and then planning the next few hundred metres.  John was really enjoying himself.

 Turning underneath La Rocco Tower.  It was a matter a paddling into the channel and then turning right into a large gully.  It looked far worse than it actually was.  We did it a couple of times.

 Matt and John making the turn on the first circuit of the reef.

 Matt running down the gully.  With the wind behind us we were traveling at nearly 4 knots without using our paddles.

 Heading out to sea.  We headed out a few hundred metres and then surfed back in.  It was a really quick ride back.

Ruth just enjoying the pleasure of being out on the water

After about 90 minutes of playing around in the wind we headed south, Corbiere Lighthouse is visible above the reef

Back on dry land, time to warm up and have a pint at the La Pulente.

Daily Picture - 31

The last day of the month and so far I have manged to get out somewhere every day and take a photograph.  Today's picture shows where we hope to be kayaking tomorrow.

I have looked at this area for a number of years and thought at the right state of tide it would be possible to paddle safely in strong winds as the reefs would protect you from the larger waves.  Tomorrow morning the forecast seems ideal NW force 6-7 possibly gusting to 50 mph and low water at 11.22.  The worst that can happen is that you will be blown onto the beach.  So hopefully tomorrow morning we will be able to paddle in the reefs off La Pulente at the southern end of St Ouen's Bay.

Day 2 of the Blizzard

This really was exceptional weather event for Jersey, the heaviest ever one day snowfall for March and very strong winds.  Jersey Airport has been closed for 2 days, it is hoped to start flying tomorrow afternoon.  With many roads impassable it was just a matter of heading out doors, experiencing the moment and taking some photographs.

South coast cliffs around La Rosiere, Corbiere is just visible in the distance.

This is the descent path of the start of the Gorselands coasteering trip.

The path, like to roads, has filled up with wind blown snow making progress hard work.

The garden shed is clearly not spindrift proof.

La Moye Golf Course.  Not sure what number hole is disappearing in the snow.

Lisa and Chester on the Railway Walk.

Its not that often that the Jersey pistes come into condition.

Jersey's premier apres ski location.

 The Five Mile Road.  The snow wasn't as deep here as we were at sea level.  Not the depth of the drifts on the right.

 

 Nicky on the south coast footpath, it if wasn't for the gorse it could have been the Lakes in winter.

Frozen gorse.  It is difficult to imagine the impact the weather is having on birds such as Dartford Warblers.  The summer migrants, Wheatears and Sand Martins which appeared on the Island at the weekend must have had a shock.

 Beauport.  Spot the high tide mark.

A March Blizzard

After a weekend of kayak, at times in very pleasant conditions it was a bit of a shock today as the Island was hit by one of the most severe blizzards since 1979.  Not a day for sea kayaking but if dressed appropriately a day for experiencing the great outdoors.  Just a few of todays photographs.

 Corbiere lighthouse is out there somewhere

 Lisa and Nicky on the cliff path at Gorseland

 La Rosiere, we had been paddled here yesterday with Tower Hamlets Canoe Club

 Nicky on the path at La Pulente, St Ouen's is behind

Snow covered rocks at Petit Port.  The low water spring tide had exposed a significant width of seashore.