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JOHN MCFADZEAN IS ON A LIFETIME QUEST TO STAND UP PADDLE IN EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD . FOLLOW HIS ADVENTURES AT : WWW . SUPTHEWORLD . COM OR WWW . FACEBOOK . COM / SUPTHEWORLD INSTAGRAM : SUP _ THE _ WORLD _
But even as we got off the water and started packing up , there was still no sign of Finn . Just when I thought my chance had passed , he appeared as if by magic , leaping playfully in the waters below . And then , a woman approached , “ Didn ’ t you see the dolphin ?” she asked . “ He was swimming behind you as you came in .”
I guess I can tick the dolphin box after all .
With close to five hours on the water and 16 km under my belt , I was keen to relax and check into a hotel I had already booked in the small seaside village of Carlingford . It transpired that the hotel was a rather upmarket , wedding-reception-style venue . I had some reservations about how welcome a slightly scruffy and rather muddy SUP boarder might be . I needn ’ t have worried . The hotelier Paul , who was originally from
London , told me that in a previous life , he had been a keen kayaker , and he listened intently to my tales of seals and seaweed , of unseen dolphins and fast-moving water .
Trip planning This route is not for beginners and requires some skilful planning . Carlingford Lough is very tidal , with a fast and furious flow at the mouth of the lough . To plan this journey , I used my five favourite sources of information when paddling somewhere new : Tide tables , wind forecast , Google search , Google Maps satellite view , and local knowledge . All were invaluable . Although Carlingford is a sea lough , taking the same precautions as on any moving water , including a quick-release leash system and a suitable PFD , was essential . I also took a mobile phone inside a waterproof case , a whistle , a VHF radio and a personal location beacon . I had several possible exit points in mind if required . Everything else being equal , the optimal time to make the Greencastle to Greenore crossing is just after low tide .