Rob, Chris S. and David G. joined me for a week in Guernsey at the end of May. The highlights of the paddling were trips up the east coast, north of Bordeaux Harbour, and down the same side of the island starting from Havelet. The views of Castle Cornet and west towards Herm, Jethou and Sark were particularly lovely.
Unfortunately in the blustery conditions which prevailed for most of our stay, headlands proved a real barrier for our group and we were confined to bays (including Rocquaine) and other sheltered locations. This was frustrating, and we had to use our imaginations to keep ourselves amused.
We began by practising our rescues in Portelet Bay and Bordeaux Harbour. These sessions went smoothly.
To improve our navigation skills we attempted to plan a crossing from Bordeaux to Herm. This session descended into chaos, as I struggled to explain that a trip was not necessarily doomed to failure merely because the destination could not be reached during the first hour of paddling....
We thought it prudent to decline an offer by Guernsey canoe club to accompany us on an early morning paddle from Grande Rocque on the exposed west coast. Instead, after a lie-in, we bought some handlines and spinners and tried our luck at fishing a few yards from the shore in Petils Bay. We didn't catch anything, but it was whilst fishing that we encountered the most enormous seal, which appeared to be sleeping in the water (and luckily not swallowing our hooks). Rob and David must have paddled like lightning, because on turning away I realised that they were now out of their boats and strolling around nonchalantly on the shore.
All but Chris went for a bracing swim in the outdoor Gentleman's pool in Havelet Bay. The water was about 14 degrees C.
We decided to try out the activities enjoyed by the many pensioners holidaying on the island. This meant sitting in our cars, sipping from our thermos flasks and munching our sandwiches while gazing out to sea. We drove round and round the island so frequently (most memorably in search of Waitrose) that our presence on the island was soon common knowledge amongst the local kayakers. I went and bought myself a Guernsey sweater.
We made frequent visits to the Cornerhouse in St Peter Port and the pub next door which featured live music. I sampled the local specialities, Beanjar (a cassoulet style stew) and and Guernsey Gache melee (an apple pudding). Rob prepared two excellent BBQ's for us and we visited the superb 'Taste of India' Goan restaurant in L'Eree.
Unfairly characterised as tax fiddlers dripping with gold jewellery, we found the locals, the 'Guerners', to be very hospitable. This was best exemplified by two incidents. On our first night when we arrived at 'the Last Post' too late to order dinner. One of the customers told us to get in the back of the van and we sat in darkness as he drove us to 'Happy Landings' which was still serving. We also received various suggestions for possible paddles including detailed instructions from the fishmonger in St Peter Port on how to circumnavigate the island in a single day.
We travelled to and from Guernsey by Condor ferry, marvelling at Chris' story that Kevin Mansell had once paddled from UK to the Channel Islands. We stayed in hire tents at the Fauxquets campsite, which was excellent in spite of its proximity to the airport.
More photos here
