This was a wonderfull day.
Because: I had not been in this area for a long time; the weather was interesting and challenging; the sea was very varied; there was a playspot with breaking waves AND my companions were happy with this tour.
The plan for today was to paddle in the Voordelta, departing from Springersdiep.
The windforecast was perfect with 3-4 Bft SW.
The difficult thing however was what to think off the occasional chance for "rain & thunder". The whole week already this was mentioned in the daily forecasts in the area, resulting only in rain without the thunder.
We discussed this with the coastguard and they said to contact us in case they noticed thunderactivity on the radar.
The weather was beautifull when we set of at 11.00h on a 280° course to find the sandplate Geerligsplaat. Due to the birds standing on the plate, it was not difficult to locate it exactly. I was astonished however to notice how small this sandplate was today. The moment I made this photo was only shortly after low tide. A few years ago this plate was at least 80cm above sealevel at lowtide and much bigger.
Sandplates like this ask for a short brake and a little chat. We always gladly listen to this call.
Next target was the sandplate north of the Brouwershavensche Gat. Compared with my map from 1996 this plate was grown enormously. West of the plate we discovered in the distance an area with surf, calling us to come playing around. And so we did! Of course!
Jos and Wieger took a sprint to the spot. I joined later after having accompanied Gilbert to a little piece of sand.
Always nice, such a stretch of whitewater at the end of a sandplate. The waves come most of the time from 2 directions causing very disturbed water. Besides playing around in the waves, I also took the time to float around in the waves, making pictures. Doing so I had no complaints about he stability of the P&H Capella RM I was paddling today.
Arriving at Gilbert´s place, we were just in time, for the plate starts being flooded.
Next pause must therefor be on the Aardappelenbult.
Shortly after departure we got some real heavy rainfall, starting and exiting very quickly and unexpectedly.
Halfway our crossing, just having past by the buoy "KOUS", the sky beyond us darkened quickly producing some rumbling sounds. Oh, oh ....!
After a quick discussion we decided to change course and head directly to the cars. Wind and waves pushed us with 10km/h ahead. As Gilbert, after some time, slowed down as a result of the difficult wave-direction from behind, we went for the easiest, and thus in this case quicker course to shore. We did so because the thunder increased above the coast.
While progressing as quick as we could, we also tried to surf the nice following waves generated by the wind.
But, as often happens in this area with bad weather, the thunder passed behind us while entering the Grevelingen at the south end of the Brouwersdam.
Almost having reached shore, the sky clears at our side of the Brouwersdam and so we could aim directly for our cars again. Giving now only the handicap, as a result of our changed course, to paddle against a 1-1,5 knot current.
Back in the harbour there was some time left to practise rolling before we went to a restaurant nearby: D´n Dolle Beer.
How wondefull to have a kayakclub with enthousiastic and nice seakayakers you can paddle tours, like this, with!
PS.:
Afterwards we also met Willy de Jong from The Hague, who had been paddling with Peddelpraat (a Dutch organisation arranging inland- and sea-kayaktours) at the other side of the Brouwersdam. They got some really bad weather with thunder and had to seek shelter on shore, where they had a good time in a restaurant being nearby.
PS2.
We learned afterwards that the coastguard also was taken by surprise about the speed this thunder developed. Until that moment they informed us by radio on an hourly basis that there was not yet any thunder-activity noticed in the neighbourhood. Thank you guys for thinking along with us.
Details:
Participants: Jos, Wieger, Gilbert, René
Distance 30km, temp.16-19°C, seawatertemp 18°C; High tide 16.00h, Low tide 9.30h
Material: I was paddling a P&H Capella RM with Lendal Kinetik Wing paddle
Wind:
