Month: October 2021
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Day 43: Port de Carro to Marseille
All night the wind blew, whipping into every corner and behind every wall. I slept in the shelter of a fish market stall, the sounds of the wind playing incessantly – the evocative whistle and clanking of masts, the creak of fishing boats rubbing on their fenders, the flap of the fish market tents, and…
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Day 42: Saints-Maries-de-la-Mer to Port de Carro
I woke to a crisp, bright day, the sky blue and the air fresh. The wind was pumping and I was excited to paddle, the waves looking good for a downwind. Across the Golfe de Beauduc the waves lined up beautifully and I had the best downwind of the trip so far. The coast then…
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Day 41: La Grau-du-Roi to Saints-Maries-de-la-Mer
It’s so great to properly meet paddlers who I have seen at races, but never spoken to. In the case of Nicholas, I usually see him on the podium! It’s interesting to get an insight into the life of a top athlete. What seems to prevail among all of the fast paddlers I’ve met is…
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Day 40: Plage Frontignan to Le Grau-de-Roi
I awoke to a dreary, drizzly day. The sea, just a few hundred metres away, blended with the sky, calm and dull. I was surprised the waves had completely died but I think the Med is like that – the wind whips up waves that disappear as quickly as they appear, and that’s why it…
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Day 39: Cap d’Adge to near Plage Frontignan
I had a night of disrupted sleep, the wind constantly buffeting me on my platform. It was immediately clear I wouldn’t be going anywhere on the sea today – 3-metre waves were smashing in. Loads of kite surfers and wing borders were playing in the shelter of the breakwater and quite a crowd gathered. A…
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Day 38: Capestang to Cap d’Agde
I slept next to the canal and woke at 6 to the sound of a bin lorry. The sky was clear and full of stars, the air chilly. The boulangerie opened at 6.45 and I was the first in. After much decision, I chose a nid d’abielle – a brioche sandwich with a layer of…
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Day 37: Homps to Capestang
The first questions everyone asks me are ‘where are you going? and ‘Where will your trip finish?’. Of course I have thought of the possible future routes for my trip, but I’m not going to reveal them, because they aren’t set and I don’t want to be tied to a route. Most expeditions seem to…
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Day 36: Carcassonne to Homps
I woke up with renewed energy and motivation after my rest day, although my sugars were still running high. The morning was spent doing the tasks I didn’t have the willpower for yesterday – washing, blogging, logistics etc. Sometimes I just need an off day to reinvigorate myself. It was great to get paddling again…
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Day 35: (Near) Lasbordes to Carcassonne
Lots of people have been asking how my body is coping. So far I haven’t suffered a single rub or blister. I put this down to paddling most days for the last few years, and using great kit from vaikobi. I’ve been careful to look after my body. On the sea, I rubbed coconut oil…