A Bitch of a Tide-Race

Summer has not really arrived in most of Europe. Karien and I spent a week in St. Davids in Pembrokeshire. With the daily strong wind warnings we were limited in our paddling options. We had an early morning start being on the water at 07:00 in Whitesands Bay, heading for the famous Bitches tide-race.

The last time when I was here in May 2000 when the race was running, it was neaps, now it is just coming off springs... Raging whirly messy white water with a green front wave that I could not see the bottom of. Probably even less fast and rough as in "This is the Sea two". Very frustrating.

Then it was lack of understanding, skill and experience that prevented from real play. Now it was the anxiety that prevented me from trying to get to the front wave on this grey early morning. It should have been less frightening than Falls of Lora, but there the pro's showed what was possible. Karien had to roll twice in the rough.

Afternoon sunshine with coffee and panini's in Whitesands Bay. I did not swim today, so I have to get back to the Bitches again then.