Isle of May

When on the Fife peninsula I have often looked over to the isle of May which lies 8 km off the Fife coast in the Firth of Forth. A ferry goes from Anstruther but I have never done it. Last Saturday was the chance to do it in style by sea kayak. We met in the Anstruther harbour in a trip organised by Joan and Gilbert. Against the odds summer weather and the trip of the season conincided. Here we are preparing the kayaks...

 ... and here we leave the harbour to make the passage with a calm sea ahead.

Tayside sea kayak club has become recently quite a diverse club in the best sense of the word with the experienced and inexperienced, Scottish and those from elsewhere, females and males and young and old members. Here are some of the females close to the Anstruther coast...  

... and here the group on their way to the Isle of May in the distance.

Gilbert instructing Ana who is happy to be instructed given the sunshine.

The closer we come the more puffins and other sea birds are around us. It is a bird sanctuary with many different species.

Here is Katie carrying her kayak onto the land...

 ... and here are our kayaks.

 Giulio and I went for a walk around the island. Two other kayakers pass us below on their way back to the mainland.

 Here is the Southern end of the island. It is white with bird droppings.

 The star of the show are the puffins. Here a wee colony with bass rock in the distance.

 Here is Stevenson's lighthouse and the mainland behind.

 Here again Stevenson's lighthouse. A good setting for an Agatha Christie crime novel.

 We walked further to near the Northern end of the island.

 On the way back to the kayak Artic terns attacked.

 Seals followed us on our way back. Here are Ana and Mike close to Anstruther harbour.

Our landing...

 ... and Ana looking magnificient in her Avocet.

 A fantastic martime adventure which is much recommended.
HW