We Surrender...

We left from the Fadan Peninsular early this morning, this was after a very soggy night under a tarp. Leaving the tent packed to facilitate a quick exit was a mistake, it hammered down and both Harry and I were drenched through. The tarp pooled mini buckets all night long and each time one of us moved, we had cascades of water descending on one or both of us, which by 5 am had lost it's comedy value.

We caught the last of the flood around Malin Head - it stopped about 5 miles after Malin, the wind turned and opposed us throughout the rest of the day. In fact after a further 5 miles or so, we needed a breather so we pulled our kayaks up a small fishing slip and raided the local store. Two bananas, 4 bars of chocolate, 2 chicken and veg pies, 4 bags of crisps, 4 coffees and 2 cheese and ham sandwiches later we were ready to continue. 

The wind, like a steady leak in our bucket of energy, it managed to drain us dry and as we crossed the mouth of Lough Foyle we decided to pull our kayaks ashore for the day, at a beach just opposite a military firing range. 

Some might say - a perfect spot for a surrender...

A message for Steve, cheers for your generous sponsor of a £1 per kilometre for our longest day paddle - quick question for you - is that for the longest day achieved over any 24 hour period or from 12 midnight to the following 12 midnight? If so I think the longest day so far is 110 kilometre. My spot locator sends location spots throughout the day to John Willacey from Performance Paddling and so we can check with John. If the conditions allow we will be happy to try and exceed that - would anyone else out there like to challenge Harry to do the same, that way we are both in the same boat so to speak?

DAY 15 : Electrical Storms and Pilot Whales

DAY 15 Departure

A long day, almost 13 hours of mixed paddling. We left Port An Port which is about 4-5 mile north of Glen Colomb Kille and had to work against the Webb tide for the next six hours, but with a following wind and quartering swell the Tarans made remarkably good headway. 

We passed Aran Island and started to cross the channel still pushing the tide when we experienced the first of four heavy squalls, one of which was accompanied by loud thunder and very scary lightening. I've only ever been afloat once before during an electrical storm, back in Japan with Hadas - it bought back vivid memories of how vulnerable you are at sea. Luckily Harry was there today and we rafted up together and proceeded to get blown out towards Tory Island. Harry asked me 'what are you supposed to do in a lightening storm at sea'. I said 'just keep your head higher than mine and close your eyes mate'.

Luckily for Vaughan we managed to get all of this on film, so it will be fun looking back on the day. Anyway, apart from further wind woes we are now camped on a small boulder beach on the west side of the Fanad Peninsula, not sure exactly what distance we covered today, but I think it's in excess of 100 km. We have more bad weather coming in on Monday and Tuesday so trying to get round past Rathlin Island before that kicks off. 

Although we tried to rack up some mileage today - our mission did not obscure our view of the Donegal Peninsular. The remoteness of the coastline is spectacular - stretches of sandy beaches encapsulated amongst tremendous cliff formations. Just to top the day off - we also had a visit from a pod of pilot whales. Incredible. 

Both dog tired - off to bed. 

Cheers
Jeff and Harry

Camp for tonight