Lessons Learned From Krakatoa East Of Java
The Denes, Southwold, Suffolk, England

There are two main lessons you learn from Sunday afternoons watching the film 'Krakatoa East of Java'...

i) The volcano Krakatoa is to the east of the island Java.
ii) When a really big wave is coming in, sail into it, don't get caught side on.

Anyway, I have my own 'The Perfect Storm' moment when I'm trying to launch, and a big wave plonks me and a whole load of seawater back on the beach. Empty out the kayak, but the towel has stopped being 'a device to dry oneself with', and become 'wet ballast'.

Feel like heading over the south side of the Tinker's Marshes inlet, but there's a huge current coming out to sea, making wierd standing waves. Maybe if it was daylight, or if I'd got a buoyancy thing, I'd be up for it, but tonight I chicken out, and head back to the surfy shallows by the beach.

Chickening out can be good fun, riding up and down the waves, with surf breaking to my left and right. And part of the fun is it keeps going just ever so slightly wrong.

End up with a quick skinnydip in the foamy waves. Try to dry myself with the towel, but give up when I realise it's actually making me more wet, and I've only just got out of the water. Start putting my T-shirt on, but it's only slightly drier than the towel. Modesty and fear of arrest makes me pull on my shorts. Yes, they're quite wet.

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