Sorry for the delay in posting, had a really busy couple of days.
The plan was to set off from Babbacombe but when you can park at Oddicomde for free, during the winter, that’s where I decided to go. From here it’s only a short paddle back to Babbacombe an around to Long Quarry Point, keeping close in, and a sharp eye out for semi submerged rocks, lots of them the size of cars.
From Long Quarry Point I decided not to hug the coast line into Anstey’s Cove but go straight across the bay heading towards Hope’s Nose, this was ok until nearly half way across and now having no shelter from the strong offshore breeze was finding it hard going. On the other side of the bay there is a small but sheltered bay with nowhere to land but just nice to get out of the wind and rest. It also looks a good spot for some spearing and will be checking it out later in the year.
From here I carried on to Hope’s Nose, this whole section of coast looks good for spearing and is quite out of the way. Half way between Anstey’s and Hope’s Nose there is a tiny beach, pictures 3, 4, and 5 in my previous post. I hauled out here for lunch, I was so hungry that I ate everything that I had with me and with no food left the decision was made not to carry on the Hope’s Nose but to head back and test my new fins. Besides there was more food back at the car!!!
Heading back was much the same accept on reaching Long Quarry Point I headed straight across the bay to Petit Tor Point. No sooner had I got out into the middle of the bay the wind picked up again, you would have thought that I would have learnt from earlier, but no, not me.
Oddicombe was looking like a small dot on the horizon and the wind was now howling offshore. It must have taken me 30 minutes to get across to Petit Tor Point, was it worth it, no. The water was really milky with no more than half a metre of viz. That was enough paddling for one day, time to get in and change into my Spearo gear and test my new Omer ice fins. So it was a quick pit-stop back at the car and back in again. The quick test dive ran into an hour and a half and then only ended because I needed to be making tracks home.
I am pleased with the Omer Ice’s very comfortable foot pockets, no cramping at all, which is more than can be said for my old Gara 2000 HF’s. They may not be quite as powerful as the Gara’s but made up for it in comfort and smoothness and can easily wear them all day.
Did I see any fish? Two, that is all, one lesser-spotted dogfish about forearm in length and a bull huss of a full arms length. All in all a fantastic day considering what was in store the following day, weatherwise.
Allan
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