Dune Jumping

Boys will be Boys!

It’s the last day of the school holiday today and the weather is gorgeous. Ynyslas doesn’t get much nicer than this.

Anna has started her new job today so I’m at home with Morgan and we’ve just got back from a wander across to the beach for some Dune Jumping.

Lazing on the beach with views like this – What better way to spend the day?

Borth and Ynyslas are supposed to be getting some new sea defences soon. In fact they should have started work on them already and the plan is to create a couple of offshore reefs at the south end of the beach and some large rock groynes on the beach. I don’t think too many people are that keen on the look of them or the impact they will have on the beach aesthetics. Some of us aren’t convinced about the effectiveness of them as coastal defences either but if they work I’ll guess we’ll get used to the look of them.

Afterall, when the existing groynes were installed it must have completely changed the look of the beach but now we couldn’t imagine Borth and Ynyslas without them.

My new TYR Hurricane Wetsuit arrived today. It was still pretty tight. I’m 5’6″ and 72kg whereas the Small Medium size that I’ve got is supposed to fit someone 5’7″-6’0″ and 66-78kg. At least I could get into it though and once swimming it wasn’t too tight. It probably does restrict my breathing a tiny amount but hopefully I’m going to lose some weight!

I’ve just been for a little swim along the seafront. It’s going to take a little getting used to but it felt OK, it did really rub my neck though, so much so that I was bleeding as I left the water where it has rubbed the skin away and left me with a sore, raw patch on my neck. It was uncomfortable while I was out there especially when breathing to the left. I’ll wear a rash vest next time and hope that helps.

I took my Forerunner 305 with me but I don’t think wearing it on my wrist is the best option as I guess it tracks every movement of my arm making me seem to have traveled much further than I actually did. Either that or I’m quicker at swimming than I though as I managed 1.21 miles in 19 minutes. I think next time I’ll wear the watch on my ankle.

My triceps are a little sore though so it must have done some good for my swim fitness! Off to Circuit Training and a Swimfit class now.

It was a gorgeous Bank Holiday Monday here. Clear blue skies saw the temperature drop to 4ºC over night but the sun was up early and it soon warmed up. With no wind at all it was a perfect day for the beach.

My parents were still here along with my sister and her children Kia and Shaun so we had breakfast and headed across with surf boards and such like. It’s rare for us to sit on the beach in holiday-maker style as we tend to just walk across, do what we were going to do and come home again, but as there were lots of us we set up camp on the edge of the dunes and Morgan and I went for a surf.

Morgan had fun and managed to stand up well, but the sea was a little cold so he didn’t stay out long. I then went out, and had a good surf with some decent 2-3 foot sets coming in. I don’t surf that much these days as I tend to windsurf so its good to get back to my roots now and then and make sure I can still do it.

Time to hit the waves

Surf's Up

I’ve just been out for a stroll on the beach to check the surf. There wasn’t much surf but it was a gorgeous autumnal morning. Cold with a light easterly wind and clear blue skies. I couldn’t resist taking some photos of the patterns in the sand.

After the excitement of yesterday morning with the windsurf session and a trip to casualty, we decided to have a more leisurely afternoon with a family walk around the dunes.

We headed off across the fields, past the boat yard and along the estuary. Had a browse in the visitor centre then went for ice-creams at the caravan park before heading across the boardwalk to the beach and back home along the beach. I think it made everyone suitably tired and ready for dinner. The weather was gorgeous, the wind invigorating and we all had fun along the way.

I was supposed to be mountain-biking at Afan today, the place where last year we went and ended up calling the air ambulance for Jon and I spent most of the night in casualty at Moriston with him!

As my family were still here and the wind was blowing I decided to have windsurf instead of making the long drive south the Afan. It was pretty hectic out there with a 4.5m and my little JP Wave board. I was the first out on the water with the tide a little too high. The others were pretty hesitant about going out because of the conditions but once they saw me blasting around out there started rigging up.
My Dad came over to watch with the video camera so hopefully I’ll have some good footage soon. It wasn’t easy out there early on with some pretty big waves and bumpy conditions but I was having a whale of a time. Well powered up and having fun. Simon and Andy joined me after a while but struggled to get out and ended up downwind after a few rinsings each time.

Simon - Off to Casualty

Then Simon managed to smash his head somehow and came wandering up the beach a little dazed and disorientated covered in blood. A quick look and it was obvious he was going to need stitches so I sent him off to our house with my Dad whilst I secured his kit and then headed across to the house as well.

After a little first aid, some photos and the odd bit of poking and prodding by the whole family Anna took him to casualty at Bronglais whilst I went back out for a a bit more of sail and the rest of the family came over to watch.

Once back at home Anna and Simon returned from casualty where Simon had had 3 stitches and a couple of steri-strips to keep his head together. He looked a little better by now as well.

A great day on the sea and a bit of excitement too.

September is only a week away but it looks as though autumn has arrived early.

GPS Windsurfing

It was pretty windy yesterday and my windsurf session on the seafront did have an autumnal feel to it. The sun was shining but the sea felt as though it meant business. Although it was a nice easy sail there was just something a little more menacing in the air. It dropped off a bit after a while but I did manage a nice long run to Borth and back. Then last night it arrived properly The wind filled in to 30 knots, with the weather station measuring gusts to close to 40 knots. That’s Gale Force 8.

The sea now DOES mean business and I can’t wait to get out there. I knew this would happen though as I’m working at the university this week so don’t have quite so much time to play and certainly less flexibility. It is forecast to drop this afternoon, just about the time that I’m available for a windsurf – Typical.

It is however forecast to come back from a NE direction tomorrow afternoon which could give me chance to finally use my speed kit in Ynyslas estuary for an attempt at my ‘Life Begins at 40 Knots’ challenge. The tides won’t be great for it but I may be able to squeeze a bit of a session in if I’m lucky. Fingers Crossed.