March 3rd Day 4 Stromness Bay
03 March 2010 | Stromness Bay
Hayley
March 3rd, Day 4 5.56 pm
Stromness Bay
Woke to kayak, beach, tent drenched in snow, gorgeous against the blue sky and mountainous back drop, fresh snow on all the peaks.
Fierice katabatic winds screamed out of every harbour here in stromness Bay, white caps galore and willy wars (spelling), literally water being lfited from the sea and shoved forward at a great speed.
I was able to get wind and sea state on outside from passing ship, they said minimum swell and light winds. There was a break in the katabatics in the afternoon so I thought.... why not move camp so I can have a better view of outside, that way I am not trapped in here unable to get through the katabatic chaos while it's calm on the outer coast.
Alot of work to paddle an hour and gain - oh perhaps 1.5 miles. Hey it kept me warm and busy and getting used to putting up tend with chilly hands.
The katabatics came up while I breifly paddled, had to cling tight on to my paddle and watch every wind wave to see what it would do to my kayak. I was still in protected waters so controlled but had a wildness to it. I poked my bow and nose on the outside, a little lumpy and strong whips of wind all the way along. I need to wait for these SW winds too die down before I can make more ground.
K, gotta go - batteries running low. Alls well, just the usual torment and tease of South Georgia.