Dear Stan, This morning I paddled just around the point Ras Al Bar and paddled up the west coast up to Al Mammatalah where I met photographer Phil Weymouth.
It was very windy and the water was shallow which means you expend a lot of energy without really getting too far.
I stumbled upon an army base having shooting practice and this held me up for almost an hour as I had to lie low till they finished.
My friend in the Coastguard, Abdul Rahman, was very helpful. He was able to put in a word to the base for them to allow me to start paddling again.
I will paddle along the west coast area where I hope to have permission to get out at Al Malakiya where I will drive back into the city.
On Saturday, I reached the north point of the main Hawar Island with flamingos, osprey and one gazelle for company. I saw a dugong which is a sea mammal very much like a seal. They're rarely spotted so it was nice to chance upon one.
Mark Evans,
AXA Gulf.
Editor's note: Mark will circumnavigate the coast of Bahrain and also paddle around the Hawar islands as part of the AXA Be Life Confident Challenge. As the kayak is silent and non-polluting it will enable Mark to get close to all sorts of marine and other wildlife.
Subject to weather conditions, the expedition is to span a period of one week and is scheduled to end tomorrow.
For more information and regular updates visit www.axabelifeconfidentchallenge.com
