Jersey - Ooops!

Our last day on Jersey has finally arrived and thankfully it's back to lovely sunshine! The crowds at breakfast are beginning to diminish although the chatting doesn't seem to have( I would say that's a good thing!)

Keeking round corners

Tracey, happy when on water!

We couldn't manage the full day trip today, so we were on the half day leaving from Greve de Lecq. We joined about 24 other paddlers down on the beach before heading west round the rocky coastline, keeking into various different caves, sneeking between rocks.

Premium car parking spot!

Possibly not!

Once we reached our destination of Stinky Bay ( I don't think you'll find it under that name on the Jersey tourist board map!), aptly named, because, well, there was a slight whiff in the air, the wee blue sweetie bag made it's appearance.

The wee blue sweetie bag

It was then time to turn and head back to the cars.
Everything was going swimmingly well, that is until I decided to go swimmingly!
About to cut back through a couple of rocks, I had been watching the water, timing it, Ha! Just when I thought, right go! I did. Unfortunately for me, the water wasn't playing fair and decided to keep emptying. The nose of the boat got caught on a rock and I was left with not a lot below me! My brace kept me going for a while, well at least until I went over! I surprised some folks by going for a roll, but I always try a roll and I reckon after my lovely rolls the day before it would have been successful if it hadn't been for the fact that the front of my boat was still pivoting on a rock! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
There were a couple of issues which were bothering me as I was getting tossed around upside down.
1 - I need my boat in one piece, not taking it home in multiple carrier bags, I've still got the rest of my trip to go.
2 - I was in there with no helmet. I've been through rocks plenty of times and don't often wear a helmet, however seeing them this close up from underneath made me realise this should is something I should possibly rethink. I kept myself tucked in tight  but realised my boat was still hugging it's rock so I popped my deck and came out. The waves pulled me out, but then spat me back into the boily water. I was pulled back out again, was getting sooked back in again when a wave picked up my boat. All I saw was the big white hull of my boat in mid air flying towards me. I took a deep breath, realising I was going under, got on my back, bent my knees, stuck my feet up and got ready for a flying boat landing on me. Kicking the boat off me was enough to get it away from the swooshing water and over towards Ash, who managed to grab and empty it. I got on the front of another boat and over to Ash. I had one guy beginning to tell me how to grab deck lines and started to explain how to get rescued, by which time I was back in my boat with my deck back on, no point in hanging around. I looked round to see umpteen cameras on me, not that I've seen any of the photos!, but it's good to know kayakers get their priorities right - get some good action photos. Quite where Hubby dear was at this point, I'm not too sure, possibly checking whether he had the car keys or if I had them, in which case I'd need rescuing!  At no point did the swooshing water or flying boat bother me, being so close to the rocks with no helmet concerned me more.
I did entertain Tracey by pumping out my boat creating my own wee water feature.

Every boat needs a fountain

All too soon we were back on the beach, saying our goodbyes, then getting organised to catch the ferry.
We really have had a fantastic time down at the Jersey Symposium, meeting lots of like minded paddlers, trying out lots of different activities in flat calm conditions as well as very bumpy and fast moving conditions. Lots of good food, good beer, good ice cream, good company and a good crack the whole week! Huge thanks to everyone for organising the symposium and JCC for making everyone so welcome especially Tracey and Stef (fellow Scot!)
Thankfully the ferry was on time with a nice gentle sail back into Poole arriving at the back of 11pm.
It seems appropriate that this is my 100th post, ending one adventure and starting my next adventure on post number 101 on yet another island.

Leaving Jersey behind

Jersey - rocks 'n' rolls

 

Slightly damp conditions

Tight squeeze

Tides turned, a bit more room!

Today is our penultimate day and is unfortunately chucking it down! So they do get rain in Jersey!
We made our way down to St Brelade's Bay to meet up with Natalie and the rest of the group to have a wee trip round to the bay at Rosiere for a spot of rock hopping, paddling  in, round, through and under the rocks with some spots turning into a watery highway with kayaks giving way to other kayaks going in all sorts of directions. It was then time to return for a bite of lunch before our afternoon session, still at St Brelade's.

Lots of wee nooks and crannies

It's no secret that rolling and me have somewhat parted company, so when a rolling session came up for that afternoon, I reckoned it wouldn't do me any harm to have yet another try at resurrecting my absent roll!

Health and safety seen this ladder?

Agnes stand up paddle kayaking!

Agnes and John took a group of us out into the bay, giving us more hints and tips. We all stated what sort of stage our rolling was at. I'm pleased to say I wasn't the only one with an AWOL roll. My partner Kay and I spent a wee bit time practising different exercises (Hubby dear was keeping his distance, I've had plenty personal rolling coaching/nagging from him!) Kay then went for a roll and managed a couple of times on one side, not the other. So with a bit of trepidation it was then my turn (Yes, I know, it's all in the head, but the more it goes wrong, the more I expect it to go wrong and as a result it will go wrong!!!) I really concentrated on slowing it all down and I came back up easily! funny how you just know it's right! So I decided to go on the other side, I came back up easily again! So maybe my mojo has returned! - until I need it!
Happy, frozen and soaking (did I mention I didn't have a drysuit with me?) I decided to call it a day and finish on a high.

The washing lines

After rinsing our kit and a hot bath to thaw out we then made our way over to Greve de Lecq for a BBQ. Thankfully the weather had returned to Jersey weather, dry and warm.
A lovely finish to yet another great days paddling!

A lovely selection of nosh!

Jersey - Pancakes? Yes please!

 

Pancakes, this way!

 Up and raring to go, we made our way round for breakfast. One of the noticeable things here is the noise that so many kayakers can make! Everyone telling everyone else about their previous days adventures and finding out where they were going that day. It's such an exciting, happy noise!
Our adventure for today was starting off with a drive to the north of Jersey, to the beautiful bay of Greve de lecq. We put in here, had a short paddle along to the east a bit, before turning back and landing for a cookery demo.

More beautiful blue waters

Up in the viewing gallery

The "kitchen" was set up on a nice flat rock with a rocky viewing gallery running round the back. The theme was "one pot cooking". This activity came highly recommended so we were fair looking forward to it.
Paul got various stoves set up and explained the different benefits of each one. He then went on to show us how to use one pot for making some delicious  camping meals, explaining that pre camp prep goes along way to making food even tastier whilst out in the wilds. He finished this off by making some very tasty pancakes which I had the honour of dotting with chocolate buttons! Maybe I should take up cake decorating as a career, oh wait! that's what I'm retiring from on the 2nd of August - yippee!

On the receiving end of a decorating lesson!

Tasty Jersey bean hotpot

Leaving our diningroom

It was then a short paddle back to the beach before zooming off for our next destination.
Our afternoon session was down at Corbiere lighthouse for a rough water rescue session with Irish Mike. This would obviously mean a wet session. Did I mention I wasn't allowed to bring my drysuit? I did however have my non dry, dry trousers.

We put in next to the lighthouse, where we were given a wonderful demonstration as to why you don't risk crossing the causeway at the last minute. The tide was just beginning to wet the path when the first boats were launched. By the time the 3rd had put in, the water was swooshing extremely fast across it.

We were paired up, poor Mark from Cornwall being paired with me! Now anybody who cares to read these blogs will be well aware of my AWOL roll! It hasn't returned! No matter what I'm trying. I've decided good support strokes are much more important and an ability to get rescued! I even managed to talk Mark through a successful roll! I did however manage a self rescue clambering on the back and getting in. We then headed out a bit further for more work on rescuing and getting rescued in bumpy waters. Poor Mark did get a bit confused with one rescue, I think between my Scottish accent and Mike's Irish one, we might have been speaking gobbildygook!
Back off the water, I sloshed back up the hill with terrible water retention in my ankles, at least until I took off my swamped dry trousers!
Yet another fantastic days paddling which had built up a thirst which could only be quenched with some lovely cold cider before dinner and evening entertainment.