Bade Neil and Sarah farewell, and launched from the lifeboat ramp onto a scorching, still, sea. Pleasure craft a-plenty were afloat, including signs of the Birmingham navy. The Aberystwyth inshore rescue boats were out exercising, 
and jellyfish the size of basketballs cruised just below the surface.
Early in the afternoon there was broken water to seaward, where no surf had any right to be. Puzzled, I scanned the sea, and two dolphins leapt clear of the water in perfect synchrony. They continued surfacing for a while, presumably fishing.
Passing Aberdovey, another IRB was on exercise, and seemed to be tailing me unobtrusively. Eventually, the lifeboat came alongside, and the crew questioned me in a friendly and surprisingly well-informed way. How did they know so much about my trip? One of them removed their helmet and shook out a mane of auburn hair. "I'm Fiona Whitehead," she announced. Fiona has just returned from an expedition around the Falklands, and has already paddled round Britain and Ireland. We chatted for a few minutes, and then I pressed on to Barmouth, achieving a rapid landing in modest surf, followed by a very slow recovery up the beach and along the prom to the campsite at the north end of town. For future reference, there is a much easier recovery 100m north of the campsite where a slipway breaches the seawall.
and jellyfish the size of basketballs cruised just below the surface.Early in the afternoon there was broken water to seaward, where no surf had any right to be. Puzzled, I scanned the sea, and two dolphins leapt clear of the water in perfect synchrony. They continued surfacing for a while, presumably fishing.
Passing Aberdovey, another IRB was on exercise, and seemed to be tailing me unobtrusively. Eventually, the lifeboat came alongside, and the crew questioned me in a friendly and surprisingly well-informed way. How did they know so much about my trip? One of them removed their helmet and shook out a mane of auburn hair. "I'm Fiona Whitehead," she announced. Fiona has just returned from an expedition around the Falklands, and has already paddled round Britain and Ireland. We chatted for a few minutes, and then I pressed on to Barmouth, achieving a rapid landing in modest surf, followed by a very slow recovery up the beach and along the prom to the campsite at the north end of town. For future reference, there is a much easier recovery 100m north of the campsite where a slipway breaches the seawall.
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