Tales from an Ocean Life...

Memories of some boat based adventures with 'The Captain'

All aboard the "Pop Pin"!

All aboard, Uncle David's boat!
Life feels so good when one's afloat,

She's moored up somewhere near Pin Mill,
Where the Orwell guarantees a thrill,

But first, you must brave a leaky row,
She takes on water, but luckily slow,

Then at the mooring, climb on in,
And hoist the flag on the Pop Pin!

With main sail up, braced for the ride,
Seaward we go, upon the tide,

Soon countryside gives way to docks,
Where cranes and tankers load their stocks,

Stacked up so high, the ships are vast,
Towering above our tiny mast,

We get past quick as we can be,
Before they thunder out to sea!

Onwards up the coast we go,
Right past beach huts at Felixstowe,

Then dodging shingle banks, we see,
A passage up the estuary,

Marked out with buoys to line the channel,
All eyes are on the depth count panel!

Once in, it's past the seal's haunt,
Travelling upstream, on our adventurous jaunt,

The Deben is a welcome sight,
And provides our mooring for the night,

And once the buoy has been located,
The 'escape pod' dingy needs inflated,

By 'chance' it seems a treat's in store;
A pub's located back on shore!

At The Captain's table, we laugh and chatter,
And share a monstrous seafood platter!

Now, the torch in error, was left behind,
So in the dark, we had to find,

Pop Pin amidst the other craft,
Rowing in our rubber raft,

Lit by the moon; the route deduced,
And back on board, hot chocs produced,

We drank it under starry skies;
Up on deck with sleepy eyes,

Then bedded down; attached to mooring,
To the sound of birds and someone snoring!

I.Martin

Local Explorations - New routes on new cliffs!

One of the great the great things about climbing is the places that it can take you. A climbing guidebook, really can lead you some some amazing places that you'd never normally know existed; let alone visit. Although I thought I knew my way around this area pretty well - having been climbing up here for about the last twenty years - today, following a tip-off and an overlooked page of one of our guidebooks, we explored an entirely new crag!

The route we climbed was great, but the situation and views were even more fantastic! 

Being somewhere new meant that even the walk to the cliffs (an old disused quarry) was good, with views right down the Menai Straits and out to sea. 

 

The area has had some new bolted routes added recently and due to its relatively unknown nature, there was a little 'bushwhacking' through heather and gorse to gain the bases at some points.

Out to sea, we could clearly see the hills on the Isle of Man out in the horizon, past Anglesey and Puffin Island. 

There were a few mystery 'old' bolts, which thankfully had been replaced.

After climbing a really enjoyable route, we retired back to The Cottage as the sun started to dip. Our 'bank holiday gamble' had paid off - despite the busy weekend, we'd done a quality climb, yet not seen another soul! 

There has not been a breath of wind today, so perfect conditions for firing up the Chimenia when we got home!

Craig y Gigfran:

- Reincarnation (6a+)*

Rocks, Runs and Rock & Roll

We were (rather repetitively!) back in the Skyline area of the slate quarry again today as the weather is still both windy and showery. 

We did a couple of really good trad routes. 'Act Naturally' is a good VS grade route, with decent protection and an obvious line to follow. Very enjoyable! Then we did 'Mad Dogs of the West' which is graded HVS, but we reckon is easier - more VS. Another great line and a shame it isn't longer!

After leaving the quarries, we stopped off for a run around our local mini mountain, Moel y Ci. It's the first time I've been running in ages and really enjoyed it. The views were great and it felt nice to get my body working hard.

Then, out of the blue we got a call from a friend asking us if we wanted to go to a gig - in Bethesda of all places! Amazingly, we can now walk down from The Cottage, over the footbridge and find ourselves very shortly after in a brand new venue off the high street! Rock on!

Llanberis Slate - Australia Skyline Area:

- Act Naturally VS (4c)

- Mad Dogs of the West HVS (4c)

Slate Quarry Climbing

Had a quick trip up to the Skyline area of Australia in the Llanberis Slate Quarries this afternoon. It's been nice and sunny, but the strong westerlies are keeping the temperatures cool. We met a guy who was 102 years old and had worked in the quarry most of his working life! He was there having a reminisce (not rock climbing!) Tough guy though!

We chose a route which (I think) is one of the nicest in the area. It's got a weird name and the bolting is a bit all over the place, but the climbing is excellent. 

To begin with, there is about 15m of trad climbing up a ramp, (the start of 'Act Naturally' VS 4c) then you follow a line of bolts up the steep face. I'd definatley recommend using two ropes as I imagine the rope drag would be paralysing if you only had one. (The bolts are not in a straight line up the route). We used half ropes and a few long extenders in places to minimise the drag. Take plenty of quickdraws as well as the route is just over 40m long.

Llanberis Slate - Skyline Area

- Ruby Marlee meets Dr Holingsworth (6a)

A surf and climb combo day

Today was the kind of day where you get reminded that we really do live in a fantastic place. The kind of place that allows you (even between a few jobs) to get a surf in in the morning and go rock climbing in the afternoon. After a busy morning at The Cottage, I was able to get to the beach for mid tide, where I was hoping that a certain break would be working.

As it turned out the swell wasn't quite big enough, so I drove down to a more reliable area at the 'Bumpy Car Park'.  It was exposed to the wind, but there were enough waves to get some exercise and I actually got a few good rides. I was the only person in the water, compared to Cable Bay which was packed! I'd forgotten it was school summer holidays! Afterwards I was reminded how good it is to have a van to get changed in!

Bit random, but just thought I'd add a picture of this giant dragon fly I saw today on a wall!

So after lunch, I met Clare near Conwy for a climb at Penmeanbach Quarry. The walk in was full of Purple Heather and Yellow Gorse. Beautiful. We enjoyed it at a lesiurely pace (and not just because Clare was wearing my spare shoes as I'd fogotten to bring hers!).

Although it was a beautiful sunny afternoon, there was a very strong wind whipping across the hillside, which made the climbing a bit harder than we were expecting. As well as Clare's shoes, I'd also neglected to bring the guidebook, so we just guessed at the grades and climbed a couple of routes at the far end of the top level.

At the top were some funky patterns in the rock...

In the end, the wind became a bit tiring and sent us off early into the evening sun....

Penmaenbach Quarry:

- Shaking that A55 - (4c)

- Jack A55 (4b)

Back in the Ocean

There wasn't really much in the way of swell and the weather was hardly inviting, but it's been ages since we'd been surfing or swimming. 

Despite the approaching rain we went over to our 'local' beach on Anglesey and got in for a dip. The water wasn't too bracing and we had a bit of fun bobbing around and trying to body surf in the shallows. It felt great to be afloat!

When we got out, the rain really came in but after we got changed there was a really cool 'fly by' by loads of geese!

We tried to go to a cafe for a warm up, but the holiday makers had beaten us there as the rains had set in, so rather than squash in amongst the damp tourists, we returned to The Cottage Cafe where hot showers were served up as well as fireside coffees!

UK Van Travels - a friends and family tour

It's been a great few days on tour around England. A lot of mileage, a lot of visits and a lot of fun. Having seen most of the Colchester contingent at some point during the 'sailing phase', I travelled into London to stay with Tracey, Chris and James. It was a beautiful day, so as well as pitching in with a bit of building work, we managed to fit in a walk in the park and a very nice ice cream session.

The next days drive from Central London to Reading took me on an interesting route along the banks of the Thames and past the Oval Cricket ground, where England were batting.

I spent a day in Reading with an old school friend. It's hard to stay in touch with everyone from your life and it had been two years since we last saw each other, but the sign of a good friendship was how it just seemed like yesterday.

During our reminiscing, we realised that we were here twenty years - in Reading at the Reading Festival in 1995! How time flies!!

Buckinghamshire was next on the itinerary, which turned out to be a surprisingly beautiful part of the country. While my cousin and I ate dinner on the cottage terrace we had to put up with this terrible sunset vista! 

I got to explore the rock and roll side of countryside living when we called in at a recording studio! We then saw a few other legendary friends in the legendary Easytown area. I got also got a private acoustic performance of a new album as well!

On the journey north, I lunched with Mum and Dad near Rubgy, on the way to visit a friend from the mountaineering world near Manchester. Again, great to catch up and hear each other's news.

Eventually, I found myself heading west into a glorious sunset on the coast road that leads back to Snowdonia and The Cottage. It was a nice welcome home after a fantastic week away.. 

Thank you to all the friends and family that have showed such amazing hospitality and given such good laughs, experiences and memories. What a social week; Chris, Julie, Naomi, Bea, Alan, David, Gill, Susan, Dave, John, Mark, Nicola, Oliver, Ruben, Caleb,

Sheila, Tracey, Chris, James, Joe, Jo, Rose, Walter, Martin, Bea, Alan, Pete. It's been quite a journey! 

All aboard the "Pop Pin" - Adventures in a sail boat!

And now for something a little bit different...

The "Pop Pin"

I've left the mountains for a few days and have travelled to the East Coast of England, where I've taken up the offer of an adventure on a sailing boat. Always keen for new experiences and being a novice in all things nautical, I was excited to take up the offer of a crew position on board my uncle's yacht.

Pin Mill Boat Yard

After a few visits to friends and relatives on the journey east, we began our expedition at Pin Mill on the River Orwell. The boat 'The Pop Pin' was on a mooring that was acessable only a few hours either side of high tide, so the timing of our departure was crucial. 

The patented 'Poppleton Design' Lauching Trolley

Pop Pin

After checking and loading up our provisions for our voyage, we rowed a small (and some might say, a little leaky) dingy out to the mooring, leaving the ingenious 'paddle trolley' behind at the boat yard.

Aboard for the first time!

'The Crew' (i.e me) were invited to board first and I was given my first task of raising the flag!

Flying the 'End Sign'

After stowing our provisions that Aunty Gill had generously packed for us (we weren't likely to go hungry!), we set about leaving the mooring and the dingy and travelled down river. We travelled part under sail, and part by motoring when the wind was against us. The weather was fine and all in all, it felt great to be on the water.

Motoring up the Orwell

At the mouth of the river, we left the tranquil countryside behind and travelled up the side of the shipping lanes at Felixstowe, which was a real sight!

Felixstow Harbour

The boats were being loaded and unloaded by huge cranes and it was hard to appreciate the size of the vessels. When you think that each container is the size of a lorry, we started to feel rather small indeed as floated past! And what is in all those containers!?... 

BIG Boats!

We spent the day travelling up the coastline on the open ocean - my first 'proper' sailing, under the watchful eye of The Captain. We passed the beach huts and old forts at Felixstowe before tucking into the tight channel of the River Deben. Both tide and wind were against us here and we had to motor upstream to find our mooring for the night. Care had to be taken to follow the bouy markers to stay in the deepest channel of the estuary and avoid the big shingle banks.

Once moored up, we decided to inflate the onboard dingy and row ashore to trade with the natives. 

The 'escape pod' fully inflated

Here we were delighted to find a splendid eatery that provided us with local ale and a sea food platter big enough to have fed all in the marina. Hungry work this sailing lark - we soon polished it off!

At the Captain's Table!

Having neglected to bring a torch ashore, it turned out to be quite an exciting row back to the boat in the dark! Luckily, there was just enough light to ensure that we were clambering aboard the correct vessel! The Captain soon had the stove going and produced some excellent coca, which we drank under the stars, listening to the call of the late night Ostyer Catchers.

The Captain brewing coca

Then it was down with the flag, and down into our bunks for a comfy night as the new moon began to rise in the south. Snoring you say?... I didn't hear a thing!!  

Good night

East Coast Sailing

The Captain and crew were up early to catch the tide as it flowed out of the Deben this morning.

And while I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, The Captain was busy preparing bacon butties and freshly brewed coffee in the galley.

It was a nice day again, with a light southerly breeze, so perfect for our intended route. After a little motor upstream to get the views, we swung the Pop Pin around and headed back towards the mouth of the estuary and the open water.

We had to motor a few short sections this morning, to ensure that we navigated through the single banks when the winds were less favourable.

I got up on deck as we navigated through the deeper channel. A seal kept popping it's head up near the boat and swam with us for a bit as we travelled along. 

Then once through the big shingle banks,  we took a course past a few more marker bouys which led us out into the deep waters, where we could sail where we pleased!

Before we tacked away off shore, we came in close past beach huts and another Napoleonic Fort.

And the dropping tide revealed some big sand bars and shingle banks!

Out at sea, with was sails up and full speed ahead! 

Later as we approached Felixstowe Harbour, we had to cross the deep water shipping lanes. After watching one huge container ship leaves, we made our move as another closed in on the Port behind us.

Once we were safely across the 'danger zone' we could watch and marvel as the floating stack of containers motored into the harbour and (with the help of a tug boat) did a three point turn before mooring up!

Then it was into the home straight, with the sails out on a tail wind with an incoming tide; we shot into the River Orwell at speed.

At this point we could relax and went to have elevenses - only to find it was one in the afternoon! So instead The Captain produced a fine lunch which we ate on deck as we cruised home to Pin Mill.

A lull in the wind meant that we almost got to the mooring under sail, but a last minute gust called for a sudden 'abort'! as we picked up too much speed! We got it second time.

The dingy got us back to shore, and we returned to base for hot showers and another big feed, this time with Great Aunty Shelia present. What a fantastic adventure!