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Halifax Canoe Club |
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Competition NEW!
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Arnside BoreFriday 28th April 2006 Tales of a 1 meter high tidal bore pushing you and lots of other paddlers from around the country at high speed into the 30 arches of a massive viaduct could not be ignored. A day off work was the least we could do. John had checked out the tides to find out that a 10 meter tide differential had been predicted for Friday. According to the guide books 10m and above is not to be missed. The bore arrives 1 hour before high tide which meant meeting at the club at 7 to be on the water for 9.20!. If Stoppy’s research was correct we were in for a good day. With only one car to organise we were soon on our way. Just outside Kirkby Lonsdale I had to brake suddenly and an Astra van hit us from behind giving us quite a big smack. Looking back the van had its front end smashed (not too dissimilar to Paul Dennis’ car) . I had visions of the back end of my car in a real mess meaning the day could be over. Unbelievably there were just a couple of scratches. All credit to Peugeot. A bit shaken and with a bit of neck ache we were on our way again. We arrived in Arnside expecting to see to a flock of paddlers. There were none! Maybe we were a bit early and some other paddlers would arrive later. Undeterred John, Ian and myself braved the notorious quicksands of Morecambe Bay and got on the water. Debbie and James got in position by the Viaduct to take in the sun and film the action. Twenty minutes passed and still no other paddlers. Surrounded by sand banks about half a mile from the viaduct in a foot of water doubt started to creep in. But wait, a coast guard appeared on the promenade. Yes, here we go, he must be coming down to turn on the Siren. Hopes rose and quickly fell as we watched the coast guard get back in his car and drive off. No siren. After forty minutes on the water with no signs that this bore was coming any time soon Stoppy spotted 6 pensioners taking their seats on the stone pier. “Yes, here we go, they must be here to watch the bore”. Ian and I were not convinced. After an hour when we saw a lone sea kayaker get on the water and disappear out to sea Stoppy started to show uncharacteristic signs of self doubt. Comments like “Maybe I’ve read the wrong month’s tides” and “surely I can’t have got the low and high tide times mixed up” started to be mentioned. Luckily it was warm and we stayed with it because at last the loud Siren sounded. Here we go at last. Looking back up the estuary out to sea we saw the wave coming at us. It was miles away and we could see it ! It must be massive. When it arrived it was only two feet high, though still very impressive, carrying the lone sea kayaker with it. Stoppy caught the green part of the wave and me and Ian caught the white stuff. We surfed it for half a mile and dropped of the back of it just before the viaduct. It was the first time any of us had seen a tidal bore never mind surfed one, what a fantastic feeling. The estuary was filling up fast. As the cockle pickers were desperately climbing the shear walls of the pier we waited just before the viaduct. Within minutes a massive amount of water was flowing under the viaduct and 1 meter high standing waves appeared and soon after disappeared in front of the pillars of the viaduct. We dropped under one arch to catch (or in my case try to catch) a glassy wave that had formed under it. The viaduct breaks the bore up and the massive volume of water dropping through it creates some fast white water which can be described as Four Mile Bridge on steroids with large standing waves thrown in for good luck. A swim here would be a long swim and not recommended. The features under the arches lasted about half an hour and were changing all the time. Ian and John surfed a huge wave with ease. You would be forgiven for thinking the DVD (out in May at all good retailers) was one of Eric Jackson’s. We now felt very lucky there was only us three on the water to make the best of the limited time. The thought of thirty of forty paddlers fighting to get a go is not a pleasant one. Paddling back to the car we realised how high the water had risen in such a short time. We were back home for 4 o-clock without incident. A lot better than a day at work. Thanks to Stoppy and the clan for a cracking day out, never doubted you for a second !!! Andy Plant |
