This is a log of my paddling adventures in Boat Two, a Caper from Ocean Kayak. It's a single seat sit-on-top type of kayak.
Boat Two at Hardway, USEFUL LINKS | LATEST POSTS 2009 Thu 15 October 2009 Stokes Bay to Browndown I grab at a spell of warmth for an autumnal paddle from the rescue slipway (another concrete echo of Mulberry unit construction in WW2). The tide is right out and the current strong as the flood runs eastward up through the Solent. It's mostly arm exercise heading west towards the green buoy off Browndown surrounded by fishing boats, and not reaching it against the rising south-westerly wind. Several yachts are moving about. A continental ferry catches the sun beyond the sea forts, and three types of Isle of Wight ferry criss cross; tall sided car ferries in and out of Wooton creek, noisy hovercraft sweeping up to Ryde promenade, and new fast white passenger catamarans putting into the Victorian railway pier. I turn around to let the wind and tide coast me back to the almost empty shingle shore, a vast bank topped with a variety of marine plants like sea kale and red valerian.
Sat 26 September 2009 Broadmarsh and Langstone harbour By the Broadmarsh Coastal path, Brockhampton quay's huge concrete ramp on the scale of a Mulberry harbour unit makes an impressive entry to the top of Langstone harbour. Two deaf boys catching crabs and shrimp yell and get me to admire their treasures. Three lads in a car ask me if there's enough water in the channel for a dinghy. Yes, I say seeing it leading up to a wharf and gravel depot, where I go first exploring while they launch their inflatable. Just after a low neap tide, the surface smells oily and looks scummy. A discharge pipe spills water out over the mud.
Not far off I see the bridge busy with traffic going to and from Hayling Island and head east. There's plenty of bird life on the mud flats and fish turning beneath me. I easily spot herons, white egrets, oyster catchers, cormorants, gulls, and curlews. A man digging lugworm plods out towards me asking the time. Beyond the bridge I find a slimey slip where I can eat lunch and gaze over to the Warblington shore and its old castle tower. A twin Caper goes by heading round into Hayling Island sailing club. Returning to Langstone harbour past the piles of the old railway bridge, I paddle south against the wind and current to reach a small low No Landing island. A pair of smart sit-in kayaks with an experienced couple from Botley overtake me. I turn around and let the elements drift me back to the ramp where a noisy jet ski is making tight turns. The boys have moved on.
Sat 19 September 2009 Hardway to Portchester Surprisingly there was no wind to ripple the water's undulating surface, so with the sun shining and the full tide lapping the massive black bollard at the Hardway public slip, it seemed obvious to set out. I turned north up the lines of moored yachts and past the two old destroyers. Then, looking east across the flat sea, the keep and chuch of Portchester Castle loomed up behind a miniscule grassy mound I hadn't noticed before. Getting a bit closer I spied another blue kayak but it was a fisherman who clearly cherished the isolation of Pewit Island. I disturbed a crow as I snuck into the lee to chew an energy bar. Next, the final leg over to the castle took me close to the Roman edifice. Hundreds of metres of high stone walls with crenellations and bulging towers. Lots of people doing the walk around: boys and girls sitting on the wharf, dogs swimming, kids throwing stones, dinghies out sailing. Large fish I took to be grey mullet peeled away from under my boat. Further up into Paulsgrove Lake men were at work arc welding on the tug Goliath lifted out of the water outside the mammoth Vosper sheds. Back at Hardway the pontoons were noisy with youngsters enjoying the good weather, diving in and playing pirates with a couple of kayaks. A pair of girls paddled a tender by passing a sheet of ply from one side to the other.
Tue 8 September 2009 Stokes Bay to Wooton Creek A fabulously good weather day for a hop to the Island, hardly any wind like last October. It seems shorter going across, the tide pulling east with the flow, so I press on up Wooton Creek past the car ferry terminal, swinging right and left to avoid the shingle banks. A flight of forty odd oyster catchers in formation heads west towards Cowes. The banks are mostly private with plenty of jetties and moorings. There are many varied houseboats on the west side with boat yards to the east. Up at the Sloop Inn, site of a former tide mill (the large tide pool remains north of the main road), a man hails me to inquire where to hire a boat, anything to enjoy the water, but I can't help. It's always a difficult thing to find, worse than cycle hire. I find a small public grassed patch where I pull up as the tide peaks, helping a fellow float his motorboat free from the bank - it had swung loose from its mooring. There's a bench I laze on to eat my picnic. One houseboat owner has an old BSA Rocket parked nearby. Going back despite a slight tail wind seems to take longer. At the red Mother Bank buoy the current is running strongly west making powerfull eddies downstream. I'm swept towrds the green Browndown buoy even though I point to Spit Sand Fort off Portsmouth. Eventually the current eases and turns east along Stokes Bay which I'm grateful for, feeling exhausted. Sun 23 August 2009 Hardway to Whale Island One perfect afternoon for kayaking with sun, wind and tide all to the good, helping me avoid seductive test match special. Let them struggle for their win while I enjoy the day. As I prepare the boat on the small strip of concrete lapped by the extra high tide, an interested party quizzes me on my handy inflatable roofrack system. Then I'm off steering east across the busy yachting lanes for the continental ferry port as the Cherbourg high speed noses into a berth left by a departing Caen ferry. A slew of small training motorboats and dinghies comes in all directions from the RN base on Whale Island. I slip under pontoon ramps and the one road bridge turning back west at the north end with my eyes on the two Type 42 destryers now laid up for sale by the Hardway shore. One is HMS Southampton, the other the last survivor of the Falklands War, HMS Exeter, which D and I toured a year ago at the London Boat Show. Now it's visited by oyster catchers, cormorants and gulls. Waiting for me in the water at the slipway is a local fellow kayaker in a long slim orange sit-on model that looks fast and wet compared to mine. We chat about trips, boats, dangers and the fun to be had.
Sat 8 August 2009 Stoke Lake Novice initiation, paddling gently in 200 cm of water along the edge of the safest creek in Gosport. I run alongside holding the painter tied to the stern ready to rescue the learner whose fear of deep water is considerable. With my feet bare I feel every chip and piece of shingle, but avoid a cut unlike the man swimming. My pupil is pleased with her progress.
Sat 25 July 2009 Hardway to Fareham Creek Birds a plenty and a lichen covered wreck.
Thu 2 July 2009 Stokes Bay Late afternoon heat and weather about to change. I punt east to the traffic lanes and meet and follow the big old sailing barge from Gunwharf Quays. She glides alone sedately, all sails set and I match her speed easily then turn west targeting the Fawley chimney and eventually reach the big green Browndown buoy, paddling against the stream. Back at Gafirs, the team is launching the small rigid inflatable (RIB) using the massive tractor vehicle. Sea haze thickens and streaky clouds appear. Sat 27 June 2009 Haslar The public slip at the Haslar marina is well used by 4WD trailer and speedboat sailors. It's a bit stoney but for me it's another high tide launch and a left turn under the single lane road bridge. Out in the boat channel, it's busy and the harbour patrol quiz me, telling me I can't be seen. I insist I'm OK and heading for Hardway, they peel off to shepherd the many small boats. After the Gosport ferry, I slip into Endeavour yard to cruise round the expensive pontoons. Coming back out a pair of sit-in kayaks sneak past, then in the direction of the old green lightship, a sit-on-top sailor waves. He tells me he's come from Lee on Solent aiming for Port Solent. He plans to reach the Island some time; hanging from his neck is a GPS device - I have my one-inch compass, and warn him of sea mist. I cruise on up the creek visiting the decaying rafts on Workhouse Lake where kids swim noisily from an isolated stage. Up past Gosport park, a man is fishing from a kayak. Returning and checking out the abandoned navy gunboat ramps, I disturb a sole red-billed oyster catcher and I think a sandpiper.
Tue 23 June 2009 Hardway, Gosport Midday cruise across the harbour into wind at high tide as Brittany ferry sails up the main channel. I circle round Whale Island from the north in time to see the vehicles unloading down the ramps. A container ship moves out slowly at minimum steerage speed (I can almost keep pace) while another approaches from the entrance escorted by two tugs. Where I moor for a short snack break, a floating pontoon has oil stained fenders, at a working port beside the continetal terminal. I get more cameraphone pictures with the gadget, more to hand in the Baltic vest's front pocket.
Sun 21 June 2009 The Itchin, Southampton Launched at Woodmill by the Canoe Centre, at high tide and set off downstream in sunny weather and a light south westerly. Surprised at the width of the river and amount of greenery at the top end giving way to numerous boat yards and mixed industrial sites, some disaffected. Plenty of wrecks - I salvage two short lengths of teak - and private moorings looking tired. Mammoth luxury motor yachts at Saxon wharf and a couple of boat dry stacking facilities. A few other kayaks out among the motor boats, police launch, yachts, ribs etc. I meet a single scull skiff, very sleek, rowed very fast and easily by a man my age, quite outstripping my steady paddling. I go under three bridges, two roads and one rail but turn back before the high Itchin Bridge and sight of the expanse of the Test as the rivers join to make Southampton water. Fish are evident, as are swans, cormorants, gulls and ducks. The return is against the current passing Riverside Park and its model railway track. More kayaks are being launched into the mill pond from the canoe centre's landing stage. I log about three hours on the water. Sat 13 June 2009 Stokes Bay Mid-afternoon, and little wind as the tide washes high up the shingle banks beside the old concrete slipway. A large private motor yacht is moored in the bay from which people to and fro in inflatables. There's a stong west flow to the current that takes me gently past as I round the vessel seeing white-shirted crew members stowing stuff or waiting discreetly on duty. The Solent is athrong with boats, even half a dozen kayaks dotted along the bay. I get a hand from an onlooker to lift mine back up onto the car roof after a good hour on the water.
Wed 3 June 2009 Stoke Lake to Haslar
Fri 29 May 2009 Warsash Windy and sunny on the Hamble with the tide high. I explore towards boat busy Southampton Water, then head for the little beach hut cafe on the Hamble shore for an ice cream. There's a creek nearby primed full for a visit - as I cruise in shoals of small fish flip and dive for cover.
Tue 19 May 2009 Hardway to harbour mouth A certain excitement visiting the swirling waters at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour. Taking the small boat channel and staying close to the HMS Dolphin fortress I keep clear of the IOW ferries and a stream of yachts and motor boats. I control my direction and turn back in to safety with the current behind me. Wed 29 April 2009 Hardway A fine day for a punt towards Fareham at the top of the flood, although the SW breeze seems against me deciding me to hug into the shoreline before reaching the ammunition jetty. A pair of shelduck rise off their patch and I see others mixed on a tiny flat inches above the water. There's a wader with a downturned bill - I guess a whimbrel. The sea is clear moving over forests of weed where large fish, the length of my paddle blade flip over and glide beside me and disappear. A heron flaps by diving low, chased by a gull, and lands on a quiet pontoon. I tuck under the fresh leafed oaks and startle a deer at the edge which scuttles off along the MOD fencing. I spot a white fender adrift nearby and salvage it for the man launching his traditional yacht for the season at the slipway. Just what he needed. He chugs out to a new mooring and rows his crew back in a small inflatable. He reckons it's a better spot than Quay Lane. Sun 5 April 2009 Solent fog bank
The sight of the huge USS Theordore Roosevelt anchored in the Solent to protect Mr Obama lured me out from the GAFIRS end of Stokes Bay. She was surrounded by service vessels fuelling, ferrying and patrolling. Every yacht and motorboat took a closer look. A RIB (inflatable) approached me to warn of a fast approaching fog bank from the east. I set off towards the shore sharpish and was soon engulfed in the chilly mist and lost all bearings save vapour trails in the sky above. Ferries and boats began sounding their foghorns while I got my whistle ready, ploughing on. A launch stormed through not far from my stern. Yachts slipped by and one pointed me in the direction of the beach. Was it Browndown or Gilkicker? Soon the GAFIRS building appeared in the gloom. They were happy to see me back safe and gave a hand lifting and loading. GAFIRS - Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service http://www.gafirs.org.uk/homepage.html
Thu 2 April 2009 Porchester jaunt The finest of spring days with a gentle north-easterly bringing ripples down the harbour. Near the top of the tide, I head off from the Hardway slip, recently repaired with coarse concrete, towards the Roman fort catching sunlight through the haze. The kayak slips easily over the disappearing mud flats, but I see no fish lurking in the wrack. Closer to the wide hefty walls, I hail another paddler in an orange-red model, enjoying the same pleasures. His boat is designed more for fun in the surf, a bit shorter and shaped. I tie up off the Porchester yacht club for tiffin - tap water and a crunchy bar. Going back, helped by the wind, over the lullaby sea, a heron whispers by quite low eastward.
Mon 16 March 2009 Portsmouth Harbour The season begins earlier with sudden fine spring weather. Work goes on hold as I test out the new car's carrying technique, and then launch on a rising tide at Hardway. All the navy hulks have gone. The twin offshore munitions loading cranes stand idle. A slight SE breeze comes up the harbour which I punt into down to Endeavour Quay watching the Gosport ferries criss cross, a Brittany Ferries steals in, the IoW ferries, WightLink and FastCat, do their dance. One navy ship departs (HMS Quorn - mine countermeasures) and a small string of yachts head slowly out. The Police patrol slips quietly into Forton Lake seeking out potential threats. Meanwhile the residents, avocets, cormorants, oyster catchers, swans, geese, ducks and gulls call and swoop off keeping their distance.
Two
creeks sweep into Gosport from Portsmouth Harbour. Weevil Lake behind
Burrow Island running into Forton Lake, and Haslar Lake to the south
splitting into the two arms of Workhouse Lake and Stoke Lake. The shingle sweep of Gosport's south facing Stokes Bay with the Sailing Club at its centre looks over to the Isle of Wight. Gilkicker is a promontory with an ancient derelict fort, close to the shipping lanes, famous for the Gilkicker Weevil. Hardway is the Elson shore on the west side of Portsmouth Harbour near the Priddy's Hard Explosion museum. Browndown is a unique coastal environment consisting of old shooting ranges between Gosport and Lee-on-Solent. West from Gosport through Titchfield lies Warsash on the east bank of the river Hamble, which leads into Southampton Water. Countless boats are moored here. More local info on 2008 page. |
HMS Exeter
