Big Trip

For a couple of months end 2019, we had our "BigTrip" down under to see Tom's brother, Bill in Tasmania.

 Bill lent us his little van and a couple of bikes, so we did a wonderful circuit of Tasmania (dodging wild weather) camping out much of the time. Australian style wild camping is a bit more organised than we're used to, but still very nice!

 We managed to hire a sit-on kayak to explore some of the Pieman River on the edge of the Tarkine wilderness area of NW Tasmania. 

  Much of this beautiful wilderness area is being destroyed by open cast mining and logging.

 Save the Tarkine are campaining to get it world heritage protection and deserve supporting

Menai Straits

We were able to keep the Cambridge Canoe Club kayaks for a few more days. There were Force 5 winds out in the bay by Puffin Island.....

 but it was beautifully sheltered in the Menai Straits ...

A sea kayaking course

23 of us from Cambridge Canoe Club came over to Anglesey for a 3 day course with Phil and his team from Anglesey Adventures.  We stayed at the very pleasant kayak friendly campsite Anglesey Outdoors

This was very useful for helping us get used to single kayaks

 Lots of opportunity to practice cutting into tide races...

..handling surf and swells in force 4 winds......

    and rescue skills!...

  On the way back to the campsite, the kayak gortex came in handy..