Hopton Chopton…26/09/2013

Hopton Chopton…26/09/2013 I had to attend some staff training and meetings last week, bumping into Gary again who I’d last seen through mildly intoxicated eyes on a night out. We’d spoke about kayak fishing then, he was already aware of it as he knows Si. Anyway, four people expressed an interest in going out while we were supposed to be concentrating on training (difficult when a Spitfire was doing aerobatics over Oulton Broad as well) and with Gary being free on Thursday mornings arrangements were made and I met up with him at Hopton just before nine. An hour earlier there was no wind to speak of; 5mph from the northwest. Lovely it was, ideal for a bit of bait fishing at anchor for a meal of the whiting that are now appearing. By the time I pulled up though it was a different story. The wind had trebled and shifted around to the north east. Choppy! Quite large chop too, white tops further out. Fishing was out. No point wasting the opportunity though, Gary got his drysuit on and we launched through a reasonable dump and went for a paddle. It wasn’t far past slack so we went uptide for a couple of miles towards Corton with the sea bouncing off the defences in places and giving some confused water to paddle through. Quite lumpy out there the whole time but Gary seemed at ease – previously into diving he is comfortable with the sea and this showed; even doing something alien, ie kayaking, there was no hesitation or even much in the way of distraction from the conditions though it was a bit more challenging paddling back against the swell. Back level with the ramp it was time to think about the landing. Nice sea for fun, the south end giving rideable waves, the north end having a few easier moments. The Tetra just wouldn’t get up enough speed for me to play though so I landed sedately and watched Gary come in, straight and on the back of a wave under control. Didn’t even need any help! I grabbed the Scupper and tried to play but it wasn’t happening so we loaded up and I accepted the invite for a drink at the holiday camp…what a pleasant way to spend the morning!