Brighton New Year
Over New Year I visited Brighton, where I grew up in England. Strolling the sea front I was reminded of my early kayaking. (The Royal Pavilion above is close to the beach) My first kayaking experience was on the oxbow lake at Cuckmere Haven, (east from Brighton) in a yellow canvas tandem, encouraged by my brother Michael. He later bought a partly finished wood-frame kayak, and re-skinned it. Anxious not to be left behind I scoured the classified ads in the local paper until I found a similar but already seaworthy kayak; a PBK11. I can't imagine how I survived my first winter of paddling; my clothing was woefully inadequate for multiple immersions in the knee-deep surf zone as my kayak flipped following almost every ride. Dragging my kayak up the lumpy flint beach by West Pier, I'd retreat shivering to the damp cave of my friend's family fishing space under the seafront promenade to change from my drenched cotton t-shirt and running shorts. Coffee water heated on the ti...
