Lindisfarne Circumnavigation ( anticlockwise )







This is a great trip if you want to practise your tidal planning and work on your paddle speed calculations. Get it right and it's a fantastic trip with spectacular views of the Island and it's wildlife. Get it wrong and it could turn into the muddiest, longest back breaking portage you could imagine.

 



Thankfully for us this was a another successful loop. We chanced it a bit undertaking this trip on a 4.6 meter tide but with good timing it's all possible.

 

 

 

 





We left the shelter of the Holy Island Harbour and paddled out under the shadow of the 16th century Castle. Once we rounded Lime Kiln point we could see the effect of the wind on the sea further off. We paddled in shelter along the East facing shore but as we approached Emanuel Head we were met with the full force of the F3/4 North Westerly.

 



The wind was to be no real issue for the sea kayaks but Ollie and Richard had decided to loop the Island in an open canoe. Given the conditions we were now faced with this was certainly going to be a challenging undertaking.

 

 



 



As it turned out the tandem crew were setting up a blistering pace. We finally caught up with them as we pulled out for a swift calorie intake at Snipe Point. This would be our last chance to stretch our legs before we reached the causeway.

 





The next leg of the trip is a tricky one. The channel can be difficult to find a the best of times but this time it was particularly challenging. We had a good bit of swell running and the shore line was shrouded in a mist of salty spray. I had calculated  a distance of 5.3km from the Point to the channel and estimated a paddle time of 50 mins.

 



 

Re-fuelled  and anxious to get going we set off  Westwards towards the channel. The Canoe made good speed again with Richard digging deep and Ollie coaching him with words of encouragement from behind.



Thirty minutes into this leg we were accompanied by a Pod of 20 or so Bottlenose Dolphins. What a fantastic sight. We counted 4 or 5 separate pods with one Mother accompanied by a very small calf. They were very curious as they came right in towards our boats at great speed. They swam with us for a short distance, playing and rolling in the small swells. We could see that Ollie and Richard had a pod with them as well so we kept paddling. Eventually they headed seawards , probably bored with our lethargic paddling speed. There's something special about their presence, we all found ourselves grinning like kids as we whooped and awed at their antics.



 







The distraction of the Dolphins had eaten up a few Kilometres for us and soon we were upon the channel and ready to run the gauntlet of the surf zone. Ollie and Richard headed in first with their canoe. As they disappeared behind a good two meter swell I turned to Grant and said  "That's the wave that takes the open boat out". No sooner had the words left my mouth than up popped the canoe backing up the swell, almost airborne as the wave passed under it. Amazingly they paddled in through all the big stuff only to be swamped by the frothy bits at the side. Still upright though they bailed the water out and made it to the safety of the channel. Now all we had to do was follow in  a similar manor.

We all managed in style, some showing more style than others. Grant decided it would be fun to get out the boat on the peak of one of the larger swells and swim ashore.... these free divers can't stay out of the water...!



By now we were about 20 mins over our predicted time so with haste we made our way Southwards towards the causeway. When we reached the road the tide had dropped about 8" on the poles and we just slipped over the kerbs without contact, those of us with skegs deployed made a slight scraping noise. Forwards for up, backwards for down....or is it the other way round .. ?

 







 



The open boat crew finally came to blows and Richard bailed out. In true divorce boat fashion Ollie paddled off and left Richard looking for a passing taxi in the safety of the shelter. Thankfully the lure of some chocolate brought his ride back to complete the trip.





From here a nice pace in the Ebb sucked us back round to the harbour passing Fenham flats and St Cuthberts Island on the way.







 



 We arrived back in the harbour and enjoyed a warm bowl of soup as we talked of our encounter with the Dolphins. Our short wait for the causeway to re-open was whiled away watching Brian searching for his missing flask and Grant demonstrating his chilli eating skills.

Oh how we laughed !