CSCC Reports 2013: Seaford to Beachy Head - August 2013

Gavin, Rob, Stephen and I (Dan) paddled from Seaford to Beachy Head and back on 25th August.  This stretch of coastline is mainly cliffs and is a committing paddle, but Seven Sisters and Beachy Head offer provide dramatic views.  The chalk means that the sea is an appealing shade of blue/green and in places where it is dissolved the water is milky coloured.

Gavin & I had reached the get-in first and the rain was lashing down, so we got togged up inside the car.  Fortunately by the time Stephen and Rob had found their way to Seaford the rain had eased off.  However, Gavin & I had stuck on one layer too many and overheated on the outward leg.  There was a fair bit of surf near Belle Toute and all four of us took a turn to be caught by the surf waves following us, requiring strong support strokes to remain upright.  My reaction ranged from "Whoa!" to "***!" and I heard some similarly colourful language from Gavin.  There was no singing from Stephen, so he must have been within his comfort zone.

The original plan had been to lunch at Eastbourne, but the occasionally rough conditions meant that going was quite slow and we made it only so far as the lighthouse at Beachy Head by high water.  Gavin's footrests had slipped and he needed to stretch his legs.  I had made the tactical error of not joining Stephen and Rob in buying an enormous eccles cake from the cafe at Seaford before launching and my fuel tank was empty.  Beachy Head was a fairly high risk place to land, as the only way up the beach would have been by the zip wire.  Fortunately there were no casualties landing and Rob and Stephen took advantage of the warm sea with a quick swim before lunch.  

A vote followed on whether we should continue on to Eastbourne and make it a one-way trip or return to Seaford.  The result was 3-1 for Seaford, with Cuckmere Haven a possible alternative destination if we flaked out (Burling Gap beach can only be reached via a steep metal staircase making it a dire emergency get out).  The tide was supposed to offer us assistance in both directions on this trip, but it didn't materialise on the way home.  It was a hard slog into the wind and the rain returned, but at least we didn't have to contend with a following sea, so we made it back to the start and avoided the indignity of having to call a cab to get back to our cars.  We avoided the worst of the dumping surf waves on Seaford's shingle beach by landing behind a groyne at the east side of the Esplanade.

This was the most difficult sea kayaking trip of the year to date for the club (5 hours' paddling to go 12 miles in total) and I have the blisters on my hands to prove it.  I am grateful to the others for their perseverance and good humour throughout.

A few other points for future trip organisers: parking on Seaford Esplanade is currently free (it's very expensive at Cuckmere Haven Country Park and Eastbourne).  There are loos and a cafe close to the Martello tower at Seaford.  We had dinner in the Golden Galleon on the bridge at Cuckmere Haven (good beer, friendly service and reasonable pub grub).