Hello there! It's Halloween coming and I've just finished my half term visit to family. While we were there, we went key jumping (for those people who don't know, it's quite literally jumping about 2 metres, maybe less, into the sea). We've been there before, years ago, but I have always chickened out jumping off. It sort of felt only right that I returned now to jump off and it feels great to have done it now. It actually wasn't that scary although when I was in mid jump the first time I was thinking "heck, there's not going back now". It wasn't that high, but hitting the water did hurt quite a bit if you didn't hit it right! Here are some photos from the day: (All photos taken by my uncle with a phone, so the quality isn't great.) First jump of the day, let's go! Cheered on by some friendly passers by and trying not to hit my sister (Emma) as I'm jumping. Just climbing out, the ladder was more scary than the jump. What a lovely view, wishing I lived in one of those houses. #notsponsoredbyoneill Warming up before the next jump. It was freezing ok! But so worth it. Ayeeeee into the water we go. Emma: Ok, three, two
- I jump - Emma: WAIT FOR ME! Many jumps later, it was time to go and have a shower and now I'm writing this blog, getting ready for school tomorrow. Ah, damn life, back to the daily grind. :D
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I was begging to try sea kayaking for such a long time! I have been in sea kayaks and I've kayaked on the sea, but I'd never put them together before. So, my Mum and I (my Dad couldn't join us as he needed to look after my sisters who are too young to paddle) booked a session with Sea Kayak Plockton. I was very excited but on the day it was very windy and rainy so we weren't sure that we'd go. But, after meeting the other person on the course and the instructor, we decided to go. So we hauled on our kit (and I got into the Tempest165, a really nice small but long boat with an adjustable seat) and paddled out into the gray sea... We paddled around a bit and at first I found the wind quite scary because it snatched at my paddles and made me feel quite unstable, especially in an unfamiliar boat. But, after a while, I got used to the boat and felt a bit more confident. We (well I, because my Mum and the other guy on the course were both quite experienced) did some work on efficient forwards paddling and edging. Finally, the skies started to clear. It went from this: To this: Ignore my awful posture. After the wind had calmed down a bit, we stopped for lunch. The beach was actually made out of tiny pieces of coral-like algae which was so pretty. Here's a photo of one: We then paddled out to sea a bit more, picking up the swell which made it a lot more choppy. I was starting to go into "rapid mode" aka when I start feeling out of my comfort zone. After looking at some seal on a rock, I learned how to do a high wind turn where you put down the skeg and reversed backwards before finished it off with some sweep strokes. Then we tucked back into shelter for the way back. Once we were back on dry land, it was time for the dreaded boat carry (or at least I dread it, because I'm weak). Before I got to tell my sisters all about the day! Thank you Sea Kayak Plockton for the great day and thank you Mum for booking (and paying) for it!
Last weekend, my mum, my dad and I, went out kayaking around South Wales. It was quite an overcast day but the rain had stopped by the time we arrived. I haven't kayaked in somewhere so busy for a while and I forgot how many stares you get and how many little children go "Mummy, Mummy, look it's a ship". It's all quite amusing. But you just get on with it and try your best to get gracefully into your boat (a feat I fail at every time) before you paddle off and leave behind the noise and the chatter of the city as the sea takes your attention. Of course, I am the youngest by quite a way with my parents (although I am not the smallest). This means that I would probably be at a disadvantage anyway when it comes to speed. However, this is not helped by the fact that Dad was paddling his touring boat (quite long) and Mum her "small" sea kayaking (very long). Look at the size difference! After paddling around the head, it was time to put on our helmets and do a bit of rock hopping. I love the sea. It's so relaxing unlike the constant thrill of WW (white water). Plus, I love exploring all the different little nooks and secret places in the rocks. That only you will be able to get to via the water. Time for a bit of exploring! Sadly, on the sea you are constantly checking the time to stay in keeping with the tide. And so, it was time to head back. We were already a bit late and ended up confronting my first ever race! (A race is a natural occurrence where a fast moving tide passes through a constriction resulting in the formation of waves, eddies and hazardous current - thank you Wiki for the definition.) It was really small, just some more pronounced waves and confused water really as we headed through the channel between two islands. But still - it was awesome.
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Hi, I'm Zoe
I'm a teenager and this is my blog. I update it roughly every other day (I'm a lazy teenager, sometimes I'm too busy wasting my life on YouTube or with fan fiction). Archives
January 2018
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