Guernsey 1: Kite Surfing

In mid-March I was invited back to Guernsey in order to judge Spectrum Camera Club's annual competition.  This was part of their end-of-season dinner and prize-giving, so - quite literally - I had to sing for my supper.  I've made lots of photographic friends in Guernsey over the years, and it was lovely to catch up with them again.  Particular thanks must go to Carl, Gill, Chris and Sue for making me feel so welcome.

The weather was very cold and windy on the Saturday of the competition, so we headed to Vazon Bay to see if there were any spectacular waves owing to the rough sea.  There weren't; but, instead, we found a couple of kit-surfers (Belgian or Dutch, given their accent) who were having a wonderful time.  The strong westerly wind meant that it was possible to surf in both directions along the beach, although the receding tide meant that - occasionally - it was necessary to skirt some very sharp looking rocks in the shallows.

Sunset at Vazon Bay

After the final day of workshops on Guernsey, Carl, Gill and I went for a walk along Vazon Beach as the sun was setting.  It was a warm, balmy evening, and the place was virtually deserted.  All it needed was a dumb blonde labrador to complete the idyll...

There was a slightly serious note to beginning of the walk as all the flags on the island were flying at half mast.  This was due to the premature demise of Guernsey's Lieutenant Governor, Peter Walker, who had died suddenly the previous day.

The evening light was beautiful, and the sea wall was distinctly warm to the touch.

The shadows of two photographers, both attempting to make pictures out of the railings above.

Carl, photographing everything which moved (or didn't, in the case of the sand castle and crab sculpture which we found on the beach).

The final picture shows the strange and ancient Guernsey sport of "rock lifting".  No, I don't understand it either...