Bonfire

Today I went on a Skerries trip with Justine and her friend Clare Jones. It is Clare's first trip to the Skerries, a fact that somewhat surprises me. Clare is co-author of the book "Unforgettable things to do before you die". For sea kayakers a trip to the Skerries would surely belong in such a book. Leaving from Cemlyn we first play a bit in the Furlough tide race. It is the end of the ebb and we have a 'gentle' ferry glide towards the Skerries, more on transits than on compass. The sea is much rougher then to be expected from the force 3 winds. There is a good swell running. I feel quite special to be on Anglesey waters this time of year. Over Victoria Bank and near Coal Rock the sea steepens a bit, but on this state of the tide, the sea feels quite 'lazy'. Upon approaching the Skerries we choose to go clockwise. For me, because I never went this way around the island before. The small bay, were we can land, is filled with 20-plus seals. Justine hands out various types of delicious cream pie, a pre-birthday gift to her from Clare. Returning to Cemlyn Bay takes us past West Mouse, surfing the following sea. A setting sun lights up the sky in blues, greens, yellows and reds. In Britain, the fifth of November is associated with Guy Faulkes, or bonfire night. This year, conveniently held on the Saturday evening of the 4th. We watched the fireworks display in Felinheli, but that was definitively not as enlightening as our Skerries paddle with the bon fire in the sky.