An insight into planet Baz: 25th & 26th July 2009 - Sea kayaking

Somewhere local and not too challenging for Sue's first overnight from our sea kayaks; launch at Roa Island, float up Barrow Channel with the tide, lunch break, tide turns, back down to Piel Island for the night and an easy paddle back the following morning. Sue checked with the pub on Piel and, yes, they were serving food, yes, we could camp on the island, yes, the facilities exist but are a tad basic. I consulted the chart, tide tables, almanac and weather forecast.

So: weather looking fine but blowing up a bit overnight on Saturday. Tides good for the plan. Kit packed in the car on Friday night and a lazy Saturday start saw us loading said kit into our boats by the Bosun's Locker under blazing blue skies. What could go wrong... oh dear, oh dear me!

Indian country? Between Barrow and Walney Island

The tide was certainly behaving exactly as forecast as we left Roa brhind us and were swept easily along the channel, first past the saltings and the dockside housing estates of Barrow. Then the docks themselves, staring across to suburban Walney, as we threaded our way between moored yachts on the edge of the deep water channel. Maybe it was the sunshine and blue skies, or the ease with which we part drifted, part paddled, enjoying the familiar landscape from an unfamiliar viewpoint. Either way, this was fun!

The lifting bridge closed as we approached, having let a fleet of yachts through ahead of us, although with no wind to speak of we were soon gaining on, and then, paddling like a frenzied thing taking frenzy pills, Sue was passing some of them! To top that, she spotted a beach for our lunch stop - on the opposite side of the channel. No worries; the water-bourne banshee promptly paddled straight through the middle of the annual Round Walney regatta fleet!

Lunch time and high water - Black Combe across the Duddon estuary

The current in the channel was still running to the north as we set out again, now paddling upstream back towards Barrow. As it turns out, the tide doesn't turn at, or anywhere near, high water. In fact it continues to run to the north as the northern end of the channel simply drains into the Duddon estuary, leaving this end of the channel high and dry until the next flood. Acording to the locals, the current slackens (relative term!) about 90 minutes after HW; take note for next time.

Once clear of the road bridge - which involved some strenuous break-outs and hard paddling between eddies - we could start to relax again. Hugging the Walney coast, we passed salt-marshes with plenty of bird life and cross currents caused by lagoons emptying into the main channel. Taking care to keep more than a few inches of water under our keels, we slowly made our way back toward Piel Island and our overnight stop.

Piel Island - campsite, pub and popular party venue

Before long we were ashore and our tent pitched between the pub and castle; we did make one or two unexpected observations though: the pub was closed for a refit; a burger van was parked outside the pub and a large marquee had been erected by the bunkhouse which was substituting bar... A walk around the island (less than 10 minutes) led us to believe that (a) we weren't alone and (b) that we shouldn't expect a quiet night!

The Ship Inn and outbuldings on Piel (oh, and the 14th century castle)

The Yorkshire Dales across Morecombe Bay

South Walney from Piel Island

The rest of the evening unfolded; down to the pub, minute steak and fries for dinner, more cider, a busload (literally - a bus brought them from Barrow to Walney) of folk walked or drove onto the island over mud that we'd paddled over a couple of hours earlier, the music started and a merry old time was had by all. Except maybe the youngsters who over-did the drink, had their tents collapsed as the wind and rain arrived in the small hours and left their belongings and much of their stomach lining in the field before climbing onto the ferry in the morning.