I will start by thanking Adrian for again arranging this year’s summer camp, It has become something of a tradition.
This year was again a mix of CKC and Dereham members and sited at Redcliffe farm camp site.
Friday – Wareham to Studland
A 9am start saw us drive shuttle cars over to Studland to park ready for our return at the end of the paddle. The aim was to launch from the camp site slipway at 10am. The weather forecast predicted winds of 12 – 15 mph from a WSW direction. The plan was to use the terrain as much as possible to shelter from it. The tide was flowing out of Poole Harbour so this would be assisting us most of the time.
Setting off from the camp site slipway is always a pleasant start. The gentle flow of the River Frome taking us between its reeded banks and leading our group of paddlers out by serpentine meanders into the expanse of water that is Poole Harbour. With the tide still high we easily paddled over the still flooded mud flats. Heading across the lake we headed for Rockley Point where a railway bridge crosses the Sherford River where it empties into the harbour. We were hopeful that a train would go clattering over the iron bridge while we were next to it but were out of luck.
From there we hugged the shore and made for the beach next to Lake Pier Car Park, this was to be our lunch stop.
Much refreshed, the plan was to head directly across the lake to the other shore to take advantage of the shelter that it offered. With the wind freshening we arrived at the other side a little more scattered than Adrian would have liked. The shelter that was offered was welcome and it was really pleasant ambling along the tree lined beach edge in windless, flat calm water. This was not to last as we looked to make the crossing to Brownsea Island and take the shelter that it offered to our trip. The easiest passage meant paddling into the wind and then, when in the right position, turning, so that it would blow us to the island. This worked very well and once again we found ourselves in calm water.
With our journey drawing to a close, all that was left was the crossing from Brownsea Island to Studland. As we rounded the island it quickly became clear that this was to be the hardest part of the trip. Before us we saw the water, white crested by the wind and running towards the mouth of the harbour. Tired arms had to dig deep as the wind constantly tried to push us round and off our intended course. Approaching the shore at Studland, moored boats appeared to be moving passed us although, in truth, it was us being swept along by the tide. Finally we came in and landed on the beach, a little further along than intended. Rather than carrying the kayaks to the beach exit we put them back in the shallows and walked them back – much easier.
Saturday – hmmm
Well, that wind had only got stronger, so all bets were off. No paddling today, although Alan, Claire, John and Lorraine did paddle from the camp site up to Wareham where it was untroubled by the wind. For others a chance to do other things. For myself and Amanda it was a trip around Corfe Castle and drinking tea and eating cake.
Sunday – Knoll Beach, Studland to Swanage and back
The wind was much lighter today and coming from the SW. The plan was to park in the National Trust car park at Knoll Beach and launch from there. Once away from the beach we headed towards Old Harry where we could then see what the weather was like as we rounded the chalk stack. Luckily it was not too bad at all. We briefly played around the arches in the cliffs, future stacks in the making, before heading off towards Swanage. With quite calm conditions we paddled beside the looming cliffs towards our lunch stop in Swanage Bay. With the waves breaking at a slight angle to the beach a lot of the group ended up taking an unceremonious dip in the sea as it took the backs of their kayaks around and tipped them over. Not the most skilful of beach landings I must say.
I will hold back on naming names although my fingers are hovering over the keyboard……. Where are the cameras when you need them? Suitably refreshed, relieved and drying out, the group left the beach in much better order than it had arrived. Heading back towards Old Harry and Studland we found that the conditions were much lumpier now. Unfortunately, Adrian’s back was giving him a lot of discomfort caused by the choppy conditions and had to take it easy. For him there was a lot of relief after we rounded Old Harry and entered the calmer water in Studland Bay.
Arriving back at Knoll Beach it was busy with holiday makers. Coming in to land an eye needed to be kept on small children paddling and playing in the shallows, who seemed oblivious of our approaching kayaks. Once safely ashore and the boats loaded onto the cars/van and the kit stored all that there was left to do was finish off with an ice cream, kindly bought by Adrian.
So, to conclude, another very enjoyable and socialable weekend. The weather was mostly kind to us giving a mix of conditions from easy to quite challenging. Martin Crow
Photos Supplied By: Lorraine, Martin and Steve Duffy
