The period of spring tides made me head into the Bay looking for the very low tide.  I’ve found in the past that you can access/photograph rock pools that cannot be seen for much of the month and that was the plan.  There was only one day of the peak tides [...]]]>

The period of spring tides made me head into the Bay looking for the very low tide.  I’ve found in the past that you can access/photograph rock pools that cannot be seen for much of the month and that was the plan.  There was only one day of the peak tides when the weather was forecast to be ok too.

As is so often the case I didn’t end up taking photographs of what I’d planned!  I walked quite a section of Torbay in the Paignton area before the tide was fully out.  I was not the only one who was “waiting” for something – even the seagull on the rock was.

I got back to Preston beach just before the tide turned and found that a paddle surfer was making the most of what was available in the way of surf.

His viewpoint – quite a bit higher than those using boards conventionally – allowed him a better view of where the best surf around the beach actually was.  He seemed to get some worthwhile runs in.

One of those irresistible shots; this youngster was just staring out at the sea so intently.  Was it a case of “when I grow up…”?  His transport across the sand appealed too!

While the waves were not big some of the other surfers were also getting some good runs in too.

Some had to work quite hard to catch the waves but for a while there was quite a bit of activity.

Just after the low tide the sea became far flatter and, for some at least, it was time to head back.  For me too – I had had a good walk along the beaches and even if I didn’t get any rock pool shots it had been well worthwhile.  Large seas are quite unusual in Torbay as the arms of the Bay shelter it from all but easterly winds but when they do get in it can offer some good water sport.

First stop was the small cove of Chapel Porth.  It is [...]]]> I’m just back from a break in Cornwall.  We stayed in the far west close to Penzance.  Heading down there it was a good day weather wise so we stopped off on route to make the most of the sunshine.

First stop was the small cove of Chapel Porth.  It is a National Trust owned spot with a fairly small car park and I’d not been there before.

It is a while since I was last in Cornwall and certainly with this amount of sunshine!  It really is a beautiful part of the world.  The north coast has some wonderful beaches but also some great cliffs.  The remains of tin mining can be seen in most parts of Cornwall.  At the one here you can hear the noise of the sea coming up the old shaft.  Many mines were worked below sea level.

Surfing is something Cornwall is well known for and some surfers were making the most of the breakers.

Moving on down the coast we stopped at another National Trust car park at Godrevy (good beach cafe there!).  On a sunny Saturday the car park was fairly full but the beach is big and there was plenty of space.  Godrevy lighthouse is a well known site in the area.  I’ll post some more soon but I have quite a few images to review.

Following up on the beachcombing from a few days ago we wandered the seafront in Preston and Paignton yesterday in some good winter light.  The tide was a little high for any further rock pool work but there were things happening as we walked along the beach.

The jetski [...]]]>

Following up on the beachcombing from a few days ago we wandered the seafront in Preston and Paignton yesterday in some good winter light.  The tide was a little high for any further rock pool work but there were things happening as we walked along the beach.

The jetski activity was definitely eye catching.  A number of riders were running jetskis around the bay and jumping waves.

They also came back down again too.

Given that there was not much surf the low number of surfers was not surprising.  However those that were out seemed to be doing well.