Exiting Euthanasia

Introducing some New Forest Explorer Scouts to Grade 4 proved very successful - I was pleased with this photo of Rees exiting Euthanasia

Running for Higher Ground

Dartmoor saturated - time to look for some opportunistic runs. Trekking around 'Gutter Tor' with plenty to float our boats even at the very top of the Plym

And plenty more within 1km

Rhossili - a sight for paddle starved eyes

Towards the end of October and the rivers remain dry - Rhossili proved a sight for paddle starved eyes. Moderate clean surf uncluttered by other boards and boats

Hedging Bets

Dartmoor remains boney but a Classic surf weekend was on the cards - would the clean swell reach Kimmeridge on the South coast?

Just as well I loaded the sea boat!

Off the water

A few weekends without floating my boat - it was time to build a toy shed

Sand in the face

Redend Defaced
A short paddle out to Old Harry took us past Redend Point on Studland at the weekend. Here the coloured sands, in the Redend Sandstone of the Eocene Poole Formation, are well-exposed (in more ways than one).

For the technical bit .... "Iron oxides have been reprecipitated in the sandstone at various horizons in an irregular manner that does not correspond to the bedding There is liesiegang banding that has probably originated when pyrite was oxidised and iron-bearing solutions moved out from the pyrite source. The colour yellow or brown is typical of limonite or goethite, but in patches the bands are represented by a red iron oxide like hematite"

But all that doesn't stop some idiots leaving their mark

Summer Rain

Mid August - and a planned sea kayak weekend was diverted to Dartmoor rivers (all running at a good winter level). What a crazy year. And the next weekend, all rain had vanished and it was to the coast . . . .