Stage 4 - Barmouth to Aberystwyth

Anticipation is everything, especially when you're expecting to get a 15mph southerly wind to the face. Add in the knee-knocking prospect of the open water passage being an hour more than the tide window, today's solo launch was tense to say the least...

The plan for the day was getting to Tywyn to meet Oak, fill up with pasty, have a leg stretch and move on to Borth. Borth never happened. With the headwind, we were forced into the cover of Tonfanau headland before getting to Tywyn, making about 3 knots headway - less than half our average of the previous day!

Post-Barmouth selfie

Then, after passing the unpredictable chop of the fast-flowing Dovey estuary and losing a GoPro in the process (sorry Ed!), a glorious sight... Aberystwyth, we thought. Then we got closer and Aber's seafront edifices seemed to have shrunk. Salty-eye can do strange things to a man's vision!

Having passed Borth(ystwyth), we headed for the Aber actual. But by this time the tide had turned and it felt like we were going backwards. But then, an even better sight, the amusement arcade on the pier. They have the best 2p slot machines in the west there.

By this stage though, 7km from Aberystwyth, having battled through 10km of the flood tide against us, fatigue was really setting in and it was do or die...possibly, literally.
As we edged closer we could again see Oak's van on the shore. We've never been so pleased to see that man or his van or the Belle Vue Royal Hotel.

Tomorrow a potential force four looms so we're in for an early start to meet Andy Campbell, a local kayaker met through Sea Kayaking Cymru, and half a dozen members of Aber Kayakers at Llanystryd, en route to New Quay.

Dear Derek Brockway, please send good news...
Stay tuned!

Ben and Tom

Stage 3 - Abersoch to Barmouth

This was always going to be a challenge, and today's paddle was certainly worthy of the label. Starting off in Abersoch at 8am with Stuart of Sea Kayaking Anlesey fame and some gigantic box jellyfish for company, we were greeted bit glassy water and no wind to speak of. Ideal conditions for a paddle. Except this was no ordinary paddle, we were attempting to cross from Abersoch to Barmouth - a potential 10-hour nonstop crossing! Thankfully sense prevailed...

We decided instead to hopscotch and handrail (one of which is an official kayakers' term) our way to Barmouth via the picturesque Shell Island. At which point we were joined by Tony "Pebbles" Gardener - partner to Kylie who joined us on the first day from Caernarfon to Trefor.

Tony Pebbles in his Stratos

It was great to see Tony again at Shell Island after obliterating the largest pasty this side of St. Ives, paddling the surf with him into Abersoch, to be greeted by Kylie, son Tom and Pebbles the very enthusiastic Jack Russell.

And just to add that extra bit of shine to an already glistening day, we were met on the beach by Sam, secretary of the Merioneth Yacht Club to meet their wonderful president, Wendy who served us both with two bottles of Madog's Ale which we happily absorbed while taking in the spectacular view over the other bar.

Bar view from Merioneth Yacht Club

Tomorrow is possibly the biggest challenge so far - Barmouth to Aberystwyth in a seven-hour tide window and zero landing spots past the 2/3 poin at Borth. Oh, and another 10-15mph southerly in the offing. Brave pills at the ready..!

Stay tuned!
Ben and Tom