Some more aerial shots

I can never understand why people would ever request an aisle seat on an aircraft as the best entertainment is generally from looking out of the window.  These are a selection of the photographs taken on some recent flights, they certainly provide inspiration for some future kayak trips.

A rather bumpy departure from Jersey, we were quickly into the cloud, re-appearing just before landing at Gatwick.

 My first flight into London City, with the descent taking us close to Dungeness.  A superb example of a cuspate foreland.

 Approaching London from the east, passing over the River Medway, close to Rochester.  One day I must try to visit this area to go sea kayaking.

 Flying over the deserts of the Middle East.  This was on a Qatar Airways A380, which is a great aircraft but not the best for taking photographs from.

 Sunrise over the Loire.  I have paddled on the white water of the Upper Loire but never on this section which is more famous for its Chateaux.  This was an interesting flight as we climbed to 34,000 feet after take off from Toulouse and then dropped down to 24,000 feet just north of Bordeaux and stayed at that height all the way back to Heathrow.  There was no announcement as to why we were flying back at such a low level.

 Late afternoon approach into Warsaw.  The River Vistula is the longest river in Poland.  In the early 1980's I visited one the Canoe Exhibitions at Crystal Palace and came across the International Long River Canoeists Club, an organization run by Peter Salisbury.  He used to produce numerous expedition reports, the first one I bought was his report of paddling down the River Vistula in the 1970's.  I still have it somewhere and must dig out for a read.

Some seats just aren't great for photographs, descending in Jersey we passed over Guernsey with Lihou just visible off the west coast.  I am looking forward to another weekend of paddling off this delightful island in June.

Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.  There were great views as the plane banked as it turned south towards the Channel Islands.

A few aerial shots

I can never understand people who actually select a non window seat when flying because, without doubt, the best onboard entertainment is found from looking out of the window.  Frequently the flights pass over some of the more classic paddling destinations, so the advice would be to always keep your camera at the ready.  You are unlikely to be disappointed.

 An early morning departure from Heathrow gave superb views of London.   The Isle of Dogs is clearly visible and the more eagle eyed will be able to find the location of Shadwell Basin, where we were paddling last weekend. 

 Lihou is a small island off the west coast of Guernsey, where we have passed many a happy weekend.  This was taken in the aftermath of a February storm, hence the swell breaking on the north and west coasts.  We are there this weekend but the forecast is for much calmer conditions.

 Brecqhou, off the west coast of Sark.  The narrow channel is the Gouliot Passage, where the tidal streams can reach 7 knots on springs.  A very entertaining location.

 Just after take off from Ilulissat in Greenland and before the plane turns to the west and the south.  These waters had been much more ice choked when we had paddled south a couple of days earlier.

 Approaching the Isle of Wight.  The entrance to the River Medina at Cowes is clearly visible.  Calshot is largely obscured by the bank of cloud.  This picture was taken when heading south towards Jersey

 Heading north from Jersey you have a different perspective from the Isle of Wight.  We are just to the east of the island looking down Southampton Water.  Portsmouth Harbour is visible in the middle of the picture, whilst Langstone Harbour is to the right.

 Alderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and the closest to France.  The harbour at Braye is clearly visible, whilst the small island is Burhou, a fascinating bird colony.  Between Alderney and Burhou is the Swinge, with tidal streams of 7 knots, whilst on the other side of the island is the famous Alderney Race, where speeds can reach 8-9 knots in places.

 Bonne Nuit bay on the north coast of Jersey, a popular place for the start of kayaking trips.  In the middle of the bay Cheval Rock is clearly visible.

 Departing from Jersey in a westerly direction, the cliffs at L'Etacq are exposed to the Atlantic swell.

Flying out of Milos in Greece, after what would have been another great weeks sea kayaking.  We are looking across to the summit of Mount Profitis Elias 748 metres (2,454 feet) high.  On one particularly windy day we did walk to the summit, from which we were able to see some of the finest sea kayaking destinations anywhere.

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Final approach into Jersey on a really murky afternoon. Elizabeth Castle is on the left of St Aubin's Bay and St Aubin's Fort on the right.

Apologies for another photograph out of the aircraft window but there have been very opportunities for photograph today. The pouring rain on the A38 between Plymouth and Exeter wasn't that photogenic so it's back to the opportunities on the flight.  Low cloud meant that the view disappeared really quickly and we didn't actually clear the cloud all the way back to Jersey.

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Great view of Lihou Island, just off the west coast of Guernsey as we flew north towards Exeter this morning.  Scene of many great sea kayaking days and looking forward to another weekend paddling there with the Jersey Canoe Club in June.

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Final approach through the low cloud into Jersey earlier on today.  Very large spring tide so plenty of beach exposed at St Ouen's.  Good views of St Ouen's Pond to the north.

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Airborne from Jersey earlier today.  The westerly swell, which had been absent earlier in the week, was breaking on the offshore reefs and around Corbiere.  Lovely flight, why would anybody ask for an aisle seat?

Some more aerial photographs

It has been a while since I have posted some photographs taken out of aircraft windows so here are a few from the last few years.  Some great kayaking destinations seen from above.  With views like these it is hard to understand why anybody would book an aisle seat!

 Passing over Calshot when heading south towards Jersey.  The site of the BCU Sea Touring Committee Symposiums in the early 1990's.

 Greenland West Coast.  The island on the right is Uummannaq and the larger Salliaruseq to the left.  The cliffs and the larger islands are over 1,000 metres high.  This post documents the day we paddled between the two islands.  This was taken whilst flying from Heathrow to Seattle.

 Final approach into Stockholm.  It looked like a kayaking paradise.  Little did we realize the frustration which was to follow after we landed

 Take off from Jersey on a beautiful summers day.  The aircraft is banking north over St Ouen's Bay.

 Sunrise over the Thames estuary.  The south coast of Essex is clearly visible, just minutes after leaving Heathrow.

 A few hours later the Essex coast had been replaced by the Turkish coast to the west of Istanbul.

Approaching Heathrow.  The rectangular shaped water directly in front of the engine is the location of Tower Hamlets Canoe Club, an area we have visited regularly over the years as members of the Jersey Canoe Club paddle with kayakers from London.

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Not my greatest photograph artistically speaking but this is the southern end of the Croatian Island of Krk taken this morning.  I had been dozing and woke to see a scene, which would set the pulse racing of any self respecting sea kayaker.  The only time I have paddled anywhere along this coast President Tito was the Yugoslavian Head of State  and we were arrested.  That is a story for another day but after a gap of 43 years perhaps its time for a return visit.

Some more aerial photographs

Looking out of the aircraft window is one of the real pleasures of traveling.  I can never understand people who sit by the window and then close the blinds.   Passing over some great sea kayaking waters and providing inspiration for future paddling trips.

 The east coast of Baja, Mexico.  Heading home after 10 days of great sea kayaking

 Take off from Ilulissat, on the west coast of Greenland.  This is one of the most spectacular views from an aircraft window anywhere.

 Threading our way through some large cumulonimbus clouds over the northern French Alps.

 The tip of the Cherbourg Peninsula.  This is a common view when sitting on the right hand side of the aircraft on the flight from Jersey to Gatwick.

 If sitting on the left hand side of the aircraft from Jersey to London, instead of France you are likely to see Alderney and the smaller islands.  The small island is Burhou, which operates as a bird reserve.

 Flying over southern Sark, on a day with a significant swell running.  It would have been an entertaining day to paddle through the reefs.

Final descent into Hong Kong.  We didn't manage any sea kayaking but had a great day stand up paddleboarding.

Some more aerial photographs

It has been said that the best in-flight entertainment system is the window seat. I can never understand the person who selects the aisle seat when there is the option of observing the world passing by.
Below is a further selection of some interesting sea kayaking destinations seen out of the aircraft window.  Whenever I get in an aircraft it always stimulates ideas of where else to go paddling.  The to do list continues to grow.

 Final approach in Barcelona.  Didn't manage to get any sea kayaking in although some of the coast looked pretty interesting from a paddling perspective.

 Climbing out from Malta.  Gozo on the left and Comino in the middle are clearly visible.  There is some great kayaking to be had in the Maltese archipelago.

 Newhaven, Sussex.  A few minutes after take off from Gatwick.  It has been a few years since I paddled this stretch of the English coast.

 Superb meanders on the River Seine. 

 Flying into clouds like these, over Dijon in France means that you are in for a bumpy ride.  We were at 32,000 feet and some of the clouds were towering above us.

 Final approach into Malta.  A great sunset and you know that the kayaking is likely to be superb in the morning.

 Poole Harbour in Dorset.  Heading home after a weekend paddling in Swanage, which is just off the picture to the left.  Always good to see where you have been

A few more aerial shots

It has been a while since I posted some images taken from the aircraft window, the last few months has seen some pretty turbulent flights so I haven't managed to get too many pictures.  Below are a selection of some of those I have taken over the last few years, generally illustrating some superb sea kayaking waters.  Remember the best entertainment on a flight is the view out of the window so keep your camera handy.

 The Cherbourg Peninsula, seen whilst flying north.  The infamous Alderney Races separates this tip of France from the most northerly of the Channel Islands.  Very challenging waters best visited for the first time on neap tides.

 Approaching Athens, landing in Athens is always exciting because it has inevitably resulted in some superb sea kayaking.

 Looking back towards Bonne Nuit, on the north coast of Jersey.  This was a particularly memorable flight as I had been running a course for the local Air Training Cadets, which resulted in a flight around Jersey in a Hercules.  Very memorable

 These are the Casquets, a wild group of rocks  with an unusual lighthouse about 8 miles west of Alderney.  As we were flying at about 18,000 feet it gives an idea of the size of the waves.  August 1989 was the only time that conditions came together to allow me to paddle out to this remote outpost of the Channel Islands.

 Cap Vani, the north west corner of Milos, in the Greek Islands.  Always great sea kayaking.  Contact Rod at Sea Kayak Milos for a superb trip.

 The Ecrehous, the shingle bank of this memorable reef is clearly visible.  Any sea kayaker visiting Jersey should aim to visit this delightful offshore reef.

 The north western corner of the Nuussuaq Peninsula on the northern side of Disko Bay.  A small piece of land can just be seen jutting into the ice.  This is the village of Niaqornat.  The 2013 film "Village at the end of World" was made here and is well worth watching.  I visited the village in 2012.

 The entrance to the harbour at Portsmouth.  From this height it is not obvious just how busy the waterways are in this area.

 Last Thursday morning as we passed over the Isle of Wight the Dorset coast was just about visible.  I have spent some great weekends kayaking along this coast with Portsmouth Canoe Club in the last few years.  Although not great views it seemed to be the first time for months that anything at all had been visible from the aircraft window.