h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

18th September 2008

I have not been out on my kayak for a while and as the forecast was good I decided to have another go at St Margerets bay . I arrived at mid morning and was in the water by 10:30 am . I had timed it so that the tide would take me towards Dover for an hour or so before turning and bringing me back towards St Margerets . I paddled straight out for half a mile and set my drogue to keep my bow towards the sea . It was a bit lumpy but not unmanageable .
I used hokai lures hoping to catch Mackerel . After an hour I had not had a sniff and the tide was beginning to flow the other way . I carried on fishing for another couple of hours , still with no bites . The wind had begun to pick up and with it blowing against the tide it was getting uncomfortable [ dangerous ] I decided to call it a day . I was suprised at how far I had drifted back past St Margrets bay . I began the tricky paddle back , it was hard work keeping the kayak pointing the right direction with the confused following sea . When I looked at the GPS I saw I was barely making 1 knot , it was going to be a hard slog . I noticed a small beach under the cliffs and decided to make for that , as I was running out of puff . The beach when I managed to get to it was very steep . There are only 2 ways to approach a beach in a kayak , tentatively or go for it . I went for it and hit the beach with a thump leaped out and dragged the yak up the beach out of the surf . The only casualty a broken rod tip [ easily repaired ] .
After a breather a drink and a sandwich , I launched again and made my way back to St Margerets and the car park . I got back not long before the ticket ran out on my car , safe but with no fish . It was good to get out and I certainly got plenty of exercise .