With reports of paddling events being cancelled because of the foot & mouth epidemic and a chance to try a new (to me) local camping site I hurriedly arranged a weekend based in West Wales.

I apologise now if you were not contacted but my email list is not as extensive as I would wish. Here's your chance to send your email address if you would like to be contacted about future weekends - welshpaddler@hotmail.com . The campsite is ideally suited for access to the northern section of the Pembrokeshire Coast and for the Rivers Teifi, Tywi and Taf. The site itself is excellent - my mother told me that if the toilets were clean then everything else would be fine. These toilets are spotless! Free hot showers (with Thomas the Tank soap dishes); free hot dishwashing facilities. For the more wealthy of our members - electric hook up points. The site is flat and with welcoming owners. I have a brochure if needed.

With all events the weather can be a crucial element especially if a trip on the sea is planned. The forecast was good although the website (I use www.onlineweather.co.uk) for the area was starting to show a change to unsettled weather. The plan was to canoe from Newport Pembs. paddling north until it was felt we should return. For other day I had pencilled in a trip on the Teifi from Llechrhyd to the sea.

A decision was made that we would paddle the sea on Saturday as this gave the best weather. High tide was at 1100hrs. The Coastguard was informed about our group and paddling plans and that we were carrying flares and strobes etc. The sea was calm and we set off checking all the many caves, playing amongst the rock formations and stopping for refreshments where our fancy took us. There were numerous sightings of seals, guillemots, cormorants etc. As it was such a good day we decided to head for Ceibwr Bay and visit the Witches Cauldron an enclosed collapsed cave - magic. We had taken about 5 relaxed hours to reach our destination. Our return, with an ebbing tide, with no exploration took 2 hours.

Back at the site we played around with different ways to erect a bivvy and used Mick Wall’s new, home made environmental fire (Bill Mason fans will know about this stove) to cook our evening meal. We were all fast asleep by 1000hrs!

Sunday saw us on the Teifi. The starting point was Llechrhyd with our first stop not for away at Cilgerran where ice creams were consumed. Near the wildlife centre where the river widens I used my new sail to great effect. Lunch was in Cardigan at the Heritage Centre. Beyond here the estuary proper starts and with an unusual combination (for me anyway) of can ebbing tide and a following wind the sailing was magnificent if not a little scary on occasions.

Just as we finished the run the weather changed and the rain came down.

Thanks to those who come along and please contact me if you want more information about:

• the area
  
• the site
  
• the stove
  
• the sail
  

Bob Andrews
01267 275429