Danny's Sea Kayaking Trips

More Belfast lough photo's 30.12.07.

2007-12-30T17:59:00.000Z

Sunday morning saw two brave soul's out in temp's around +5c reason ! to get our battery's recharged after a great christmas . My paddling mate Roy and I left Carrickfergus harbour at 11:30 am first port of call was the marina next to harbour to check Roy's boat and to take a few photo's.

Belfast lough and two of the largest cranes in the world named Samson and Goliath in the distance , they belong to Harland and Wolf shipyard and are used (the odd time) to lift whole sections of ships and rig's for the welder's and rigger's to work on . A lot of Famous ship's including - the Canberra a Cruise ship were built here , in the 80's she was involved in the Falkland's war nicknamed the (white whale ) it was turned into a hospital ship and transport vessel for the British force's in the south Atlantic task force . Nearing break-time and a right turn on the way!
The shore at Greenisland and the first pit stop . Belfast is in the distance , also the same direction we are heading , note the sun's setting already in the winter sky ! time 13:40

While I'm on a war theme I was told this was a mooring point for boat plane's during the second world war. The Sunderland made in Short Brother's Belfast and the Catalina flying boats used it.

Evening at Carrickfergus Harbour nearly home after 10 + nautical mile's of good paddling
A Royal Navy Launch , over visiting the Sea Cadet's I think !
The old Castle at the harbour and Roy glad to be near the slip as his foot peg's had slipped during the last few mile's home !
Roy racing a red cargo boat !

At Whiteabbey and Carrickfergus the little white line in the distance 8 land mile's away .

Glenarm , paddling up the mouth of the river ( video ) 25.11.07.

2007-11-25T19:52:00.000Z

Glenarm marina . Roy powering up!

Getting back on the water after little break for a week or so was great. This Sunday the weather 9 deg c and wind's decreasing and swinging from the west, so up the Antrim coast we headed. Glenarm is a little sleepy village which used to quarry lime to be used here and in Scotland in the building trade . Now it's only busy in the summer with tourist's and fishermen , when I was a kid I would fish here for cod and flatfish , now it's the turn of my little one's Lauren and Lee who love fishing. ps click picture's to enlarge.Roy launching at the slip at the marina .
Roy taking it all in !

Here are the Salmon cages,were all of the fish were wiped out by jelly fish last week, I was talking to a local person and they told me that boat's even had difficulty going through the water because of the density of the jelly fish ! apparently the salmon that were not stung to death died from lack of oxygen in the water. Today not one little blob was to be seen anywhere! We named this island - poo island for obvious reason's, Me taking five.
Roy getting a good sniff of poo island!
Cormorant's rock.

The new bridge at Glenarm linking the Marina to the bay.
A great picture of me thank's (Roy)Ha Ha.
Church on the river's edge
Note the defence's on the right , to fend of kayaker's who approach from the sea !

beautiful picture ! I got my own back mate ha ha .

I want Summer back again !

2007-11-22T21:42:00.000Z

On these cold and dark evening's I miss this above -T.E.P. our club's (Tuesday Evening Paddle's ) out and around Northern Ireland's coast. On the radio's new's today was something very strange , £1million pound's worth of salmon which were being raised at fish farm's on the coast near me , at Glenarm and Red bay have all been wiped out by, wait for it - JELLY FISH ! a huge swarm ( if that's the right term) , three mile's wide by 35 feet deep attacked ! I found it a bit funny at first , but then I thought of Bob, a fellow Kayaker who worked there! so I hope his livelyhood's ok and thing's get back to normal a.s.a.p . very strange this global warming thing!

River Lagan Sunday 22nd October 07.

2007-11-11T21:20:00.000Z

Not the sea ! I know, but today we - as in Sammy , Roy, and myself embraced the lovely water's at Shaw's bridge Belfast . We arrived early morning around 9:30 and found the water quite busy with kayaker's already , some of which were from our - Belfast Kayak Club. So we geared up and took a little walk and inspection of our capsizing area's and eddyline's . After a little warm up ,two Dagger's and my Piranha went on the water.
The water was flowing ok and some good playing was had at the 3 weir's , which first caught out Roy then me ! Sammy was the only dry cag and he got some ripping from us ! but sure enough a bow rudder move and flow flipped him over , but Sammy's skill's from a few year's ago were embedded in his arm's and straight up he came like a lifeboat ! after a few more run's we retired to our mobile cafe - Roy's van ! Chicken noodle soup from the stove on board and we were fully charged for more. Sorry no photo's as the camera was forgotten , but next time it will be in the kit bag.

East coast of N.Ireland

2007-10-28T20:35:00.000Z

Roy having a wee coffee break at Brown's bay before heading south again. Me stretching my leg's and warming up my soul , Winter is nearly here so out with the old "Chicken noodle soup "! the best thing since sliced bread.
Larne harbour is just around the headland on the left , one of deepest port's in Europe! over 100 ft L/water.

I caught this little seal playing in the surf on an island near Larne.
A wild view of the Gobbin's cliff's from an of shore island , quiet now but in the Spring they are packed full of bird's from Puffin's to Falcon's and other rare types.
Relief , a bit of a struggle to reach top of the hill on the island !The ground was like sponge and drained the energy out of you..
Me.
Brown's bay . In the summertime this place is very busy due to a campsite near buy .

The Glen's of Antrim in the far distance.
Next stop Scotland 15 mile's away in the distance Roy!
A little choppy back side of Muck Is.
Bit of a drop .
A steel clad yacht passing by, i think from my home town of Carrickfergus..

Me and Roy rolling ( video ) Portmuck harbour 14.10.07.

2007-10-16T22:37:00.000+01:00

(Click above)

Our weekly practise @ Portmuck N.ireland.

2007-10-15T22:04:00.001+01:00

Our two year old's learning young .

Roy and me heading for Brown's bay for a paddle.
Before we go anywhere , safety first - rescue's and roll's .
Me setting up a T rescue.
My turn for brain freeze !
Roy's little lad Jordan and my wee boy Lee both 2 year's old learning the rope's on shore .

Sunday 14th Oct 07 us getting geared up.
Roy and I enjoying the beautiful warm sea ! before paddling..
Roy amazed me , I did'nt know he could speak chinese !!
Back ashore we got in our Valley sea boat's.
Roy's Aquanaut on it's maiden voyage . Thankyou Marie and Des c/o
Deep Blue seakayaking Co. Wicklow for your hospitality and help.

Sea rescue practise. Portmuck , Islandmagee .

2007-10-07T21:55:00.000+01:00

How do you get into this boat !

Hold on to the bow ! it's all coming back to me now.

Roy and I after 1 hour of Irish sea immersion .

T rescue's and roll's were on the menu .

Roy looking for two thing's seen floating , Private joke !

Roy hold's the world record for ( speed wet exiting ) 0.5 sec water temp 8 deg.

How not to stand up in your cockpit ! Maybe next time ..

night paddling.

2007-09-30T15:00:00.000+01:00

The end of a great paddle with my friend's -Belfast Kayak Club. I love the feeling and excitement of paddling in the dark. You get a different view only kayaker's I think ever get to see ! photo by P.Dew B.K.C. Portmuck harbour one of my favourite place's .

The Lagan decent..

2007-09-27T23:49:00.000+01:00

Lagan decent... 2006 -my first race , Run by Belfast Canoe Club..
good fun but it was hard work , me in blue boat red bib.

Manx ice cream !

2007-09-23T20:40:00.000+01:00

Lauren & Lee enjoying the speed of the seacat fast ferry from Belfast to the Isle of Man .

The love of my life -Michelle , also a keen paddler . a gull with my finger, really part of my ice cream!
Manx ice cream going down a treat..

The kid's Lauren & Lee and I at Peel sea front , and Lee with a manx ice cream beard !

Isle of Man R.N.L.I.

2007-09-22T20:37:00.000+01:00

Recovery of the I.O.M. life boat at Peel slipway , under the watchfull eye of my friend Phill (Launch officer) this was only a practise night.Phill's crew washing down the Mersey class lifeboat
One of the crew took this photo of me strutting my stuff!!
Kayak on the slipway no need to use the tractor lads I'll just throw her on my back!
How could you ever beat this type of boating ? ps click photos to enlarge......

Isle of Man basking sharks

2007-09-22T20:16:00.000+01:00

Peel castle and my first shark experience !!! ps. to enlarge click on all picture's
a little bit choppy ,but well worth the soak.
the wind was behind me -hard to not to get too
close at one stage a 6 to 8 mtr shark touched my bow. me in reverse
Dad arrived 8 mtr basking shark feeding ,

mouth open going under my seat unbelievable.

Isle of Man south coast

2007-09-22T19:53:00.000+01:00

Looking back at Port Erin.
Bradda Head Tower
My kid's on the beach P.Erin..
Peel harbour and Fenella beach , the perfect launch site.
Fenella seaward were i spotted my first basking shark's.

The beautiful Isle of Man..

2007-09-22T19:15:00.000+01:00

Tower of refuge in Douglas Bay I.O.M.
Viking week at Peel . burning a long ship
My kayak caught sleeping after a long day!!
Port Erin , on a warm sunny July day.
The Calf of Man in the background, were i met a group of paddlers led by ( Adventurous Experiences )

Sea fishing with John and Roy..

2007-09-22T10:33:00.000+01:00

Motoring on ! near Muck island..

Catching cod at last , Roy's a happy chappy.
Some of our catch .
Captain Roy.

I just converted Roy to sea kayaking he is hooked!!, so he's kitted out and just waiting on his new P&H capella coming over from England in the next week or so ! Here we are catching cod whiting and mackeral aboard Roy's fishing boat..

Rescues at Portmuck

2007-09-22T00:54:00.000+01:00

Great fun wet exit's water temp about 10 degrees c. Davy holding on to my boat while i pump out the little drop still in my cockpit, it was good to practice picture by B.K.C.

My first sea trip in my hand made wooden kayak

2007-09-22T00:42:00.000+01:00

Belfast kayak club . Copeland island's Co.Down,
My little 14ft boat did me proud this day because the rest of the group had sea kayaks and it was not very easy to keep up , though big Pete was watching me and i was in safe hand's at all times..

My Home Town Carrickfergus

2007-09-22T00:15:00.000+01:00

Carrickfergus Castle , 800 year's old and still being lived in by a warden ! , now that's building at it's best ! Im holding on to my friends fishing boat in this picture because the wind was quite squally.

The Castle guards Belfast lough and was last used in anger during the second world war, the keep was used as an air raid shelter when Belfast was blitzed by the German Luffwafa and 50 meters right of the castle still to be seen on the ground today are artillary mounts to repell U boat's who tried to fire at Harland and Wolf ship yard , which was the place the most famous ship in the world the TITANIC was built some year's before.

Gobbin's Cliff's Co.Antrim.

2007-09-21T23:58:00.000+01:00

This used to be an old Victorian walkway with bridges and tunnels linking each headland together .Today there is only rusting railings and steps hand carved into the cliff's.The Irish sea storms have washed it away.

me

2007-09-21T23:46:00.000+01:00

This is me in my Valley Avocet.

1 hour 50 mins

2007-09-21T23:37:00.000+01:00

Pete and i out with Belfast Kayak Club on one of our evening paddles around our beauitful coastline, we were a part of a group of eight sea kayakers , and departed Whitehead bay and headed for Portmuck harbour, about 8km.

Co.Antrim coast.

2007-09-21T22:54:00.000+01:00

Blackhead on a calm evening.