PADDLER
PADDLER
80
WOULD WE DO IT AGAIN ?
It was a fantastic experience . The mixture of coast , inland , and estuaries made the journey varied and interesting . The four-week expedition made it feel like a proper adventure , but it still fitted in around work responsibilities .
Some of us are already planning the next big trip , while others will stick to shorter , more leisurely expeditions .
OUR HIGHLIGHTS : l Getting on so well within the team . l Finding amazing wild campsites by potluck . l Making the most of strong tidal streams and courageous crossings to cover more distance than planned . l Getting back to our starting slipway after having paddled around Wales !
TIPS :
Do not plan too far ahead . Wild camping allows you to be flexible , making progress when you can or abandoning it when the going gets tough .
Do not pack too much . Our kayaks were very heavy to start with . Every time we met friends or family , we reduced our kit until the boats were a lot more manageable at the end . The problem is always packing everything you need while not having anything essential missing . Being able to offload stuff on the way is very useful , as by then , you know which items you really need .
Ensure you are comfortable in your boat for hours , but don ’ t stress too much about the paddle training . You don ’ t need to be super fit to start an adventure . If you want to paddle less each day , just allow extra days or choose a shorter challenge . Your paddling speed does not matter if the team is matched or if the faster paddlers are happy with a slower speed . You will get fitter as you go along .
Do practise your camp skills . You might think the paddling is the hard bit , but camping life can also be a challenge . Eventually , we got quicker at setting up and breaking camp . We cooked delicious meals on our Trangia , which we occasionally supplemented with pub food .
Please check the firing times of the military ranges on the Pembrokeshire coast . We chose our start point to clear the military ranges on the weekend when there was no firing scheduled .