Croyde Bay May 2004

Hello Southend Canoe Club, As I am sure many of you are very well aware, the trip to Croyde Bay was fine, mighty fine.

Day 1

Many people left at many different times, some even left before day one, how very extraordinary. The journey seemed to take forever, but finally, after 7 hours worth of empty wrappers, and many inquiries about how to get there, as no one had bothered to get directions, we arrived.

Day 2

We all awoke ready to get surfing, yipee. Lee and Paul even went for a run before everyone left, they must have had a lot of energy that day. After breakfast, everyone was very excited as we set out. When we all got to the car park, most stood on the wall and considered much about the day's activities, mmmm, aaaah, I see. It was in the end decided, after much thought, that coasteering should take place first.

Coasteering began with a grassy climb down from baggy point, followed by a scramble across a crumbly bit, which got more and more crumbly as more people clambered across it. We then picked our way through or over some very slippery rocks towards the first swim of the trip. The waves were crashing (almost) and the wind was howling (nearly). It was so cold in the rising swell, that all I could think about was the fact that my helmet had slipped over my eyes and I could see nothing. After hauling myself up the barnacle covered rocks (ouch), I looked down and was surprised at how big my stomach looked, but later discovered that the cag that Lee had given me let water in and not out. Each time we clambered up a rock, and shivered immensely, the inexperienced coasteerers of the group thought to themselves, " I hope that's the swimming over now," but it wasn't.

As we reached the end of our journey, many felt they could go no further, and as we made it to the top (ish) of Baggy point again, collapsed in a mangled heap. When we got back to the car park, some people actually had enough energy to go surfing. Others went on a mission to find cream tea, though their plan was demolished by extremely unreasonably high prices (humph).

Day 3

On day three the club went surfing. After a lot of umming and ahhing, and a long boat laden walk down to the sea, we all got in our boats (or on bodyboards) and braved the freezing cold waves of the Atlantic ocean. Bodyboarders screamed, beginners capsized, and experts spun to shore on the waves. Although a lot of the time, everyone was just bobbing beyond the breaking waves, discussing something.

At this time quite a few paddlers, paddled off for a paddle around Baggy point. I am afraid I cannot recount what happened at Baggy point as I was not there, though we did receive the information, from a reliable source that, stupidly, Ben capsized in a cave, he he he, and got bruises to show for it, if you could call them bruises!

As it got closer to lunchtime, the waves got bigger and everyone got more into surfing. All I can remember is a wall of kayaks thundering towards me, leaving me no choice but to dive out of the way into another breaking wave and my bodyboard promptly clonking me on the head.

On the way back to the car park, I discovered that walking in wet sandals not made for wetness is extremely painful.

After lunch at the car park, we all made our way to Baggy point for rock climbing. Although only a small number of people ended up rock climbing. Even after the people who didn't even attempt to look over the edge, Dan and Tim came back shaking (Dan used the excuse that he didn't have the right equipment).

In the end the people who climbed were Richard, Lee, Linda, Steve, Gary and Pete. Lauren, Ben, Dan, and I watched the perilous climbers, while logging (not the tree sort), apple core throwing and grass wrestling. On the way back from Baggy point, my glorious surfer's snot began to kick in. Hanging over a foot from my nasal cavity, it would have gone further, had it not been touching the ground.

Day 4

On day four every one packed up early, only five were courageous enough to face the crashing waves, and the freezing cold. On the way home, all were worn out but pleased that they had been.

Now all that remains to say is thank you to helpful fellow club members.

By Lauren and Ellie