gino
Contributor
Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 13
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:46 pm Post subject: It's a tranquil life afloat |
 |
|
Sorry Im not in Cardiff at the moment so could not provide a picture. I found a link for a decent picture of the area which is at the bottom of the article if thats any good.
It’s a Tranquil Life Afloat
So you think you’re all set, dinghy, check; oars, check; a like-minded companion, check; and most importantly, crate of Carling, check. This is the essential inventory for a fine summers day afloat down on the South Wales coast.
My beach of choice is Dunraven Bay in Southerndown, about a thirty-minute coastal drive from Cardiff. This is a particularly beautiful area surrounded by imposing cliffs. If you are into geology then there are some brilliant faults and deformation folds at the far end of the beach. Geology I hasten to add is not the reason I anticipate my summer jaunts to the beach with such relish.
Another essential ingredient to a perfect day on the Bristol Channel is a 3rd person who can drive and who is far more interested in tanning than floating. This then allows one to bob up and down whilst consuming the afore mentioned Carling liberally.
The beauty of this hobby (if you can call it that) is that it is inexpensive. A good dinghy such as mine the ‘speed liner 2000’ can be purchased from any good boating store i.e. Toys R Us, and the oars we found in a moment of creativity can be created from a garden rake covered in gaffer tape, although this is perhaps not recommended for those of you contemplating your first outing at sea. On this cautionary note Dunraven Bay actually has the second highest tidal range in the world. Therefore conscientious dingying should only be attempted when the tide is on its way in otherwise you may find yourself drifting around to France (as fun as that might be).
Once the dinghy is inflated, easier said than done with only the sparse gasps of breath produced by the lungs of seasoned smokers, you are ready for the off. It is essential that the person more accustomed to life on land clambers into the boat first whilst the other heroic figure swims the dingy and idle occupant out past the breakers. I cannot stress the importance of this enough, the particular area of Dunraven Bay where I prefer to dinghy doubles as a nudist beach. Therefore the last thing you want from your fine day of frolicking is to be thrown from the dinghy by a breaking wave head first into the crotch of an aging, naked frame. Whether male or female, at that age its irrelevant, not pleasant, I speak from experience.
Once out in the deeper waters the South Wales coast is your oyster. The picturesque panoramic views are supplemented with plentiful Carling and roll ups. Essentially I like to create a sort of front room experience but whilst afloat. The roll ups should be respected and the ash treated carefully or you may find yourselves abandoning ship and treading water until help arrives. Ensuring that a puncture repair is on hand at all times negates the risks somewhat.
My final words of warning are these; at all times dinghy with authority. If at any time you look in any discomfort the lifeguards that have been gazing onwards in bemused irritation at your attempts at a tranquil day at sea will paddle out on their surfboards to offer assistance and unwelcome advice. However, when they are close enough to see the empty lager cans floating around in the bottom of a dinghy taking on water they soon see that attempts of a rescue are futile and leave you to go on your merry way.
http://www.south-wales.org.uk/images/southerndown_beach.jpg
[/b] |
|
