Monday 27 June 2011

Down to Tully

Sunday 12th June saw a beginners trip running from Aberfeldy to Tully. I did say after my wee episode on the Leny that I should concentrate on the beginners trips!
At the Aberfeldy put in
Gary and Calum leading Kevin down
Our new paddlers join us for lunch
Who needs water. Iain waiting for the tide to come in
Kevin and Heather
Gregor
Jamie
Connor
Kris, love your visor!
Iain, who needs a boat

No 2 son.

Apologies to those who I haven't put up any photos of. That's the joy of having a hubby who downloads photos - somewhere. As and when they are found, I'll put them up.

Sunday 12 June 2011

Loch Sunart weekend

 Following on from last years weekend away up the west coast sea paddling with the club, we decided to organise another trip for the end of May. All our plans were going well, there would be 5 of us going, Hubby Dear, No 2 son, Kev,  Niall and myself.
 The plan had been to carry on from last years trip going out from Malliag, crossing over to Knoydart, then over to Skye, up to Kyle Rhea and back down the Knoydart side again and back to Mallaig. The week before had seen some strong winds with lots of trees down. Over the course of the week although the wind had died down a bit, it was still blowing strong from the S.W. This meant we would have no shelter on our planned route. I spent that week making new plans, not wanting to cancel the trip all together, whilst Hubby Dear kept insisting there was still time for the wind to die down. Thursday he eventually decided we should possibly follow my plans as he’d heard reports of Force 10 winds – a bit too breezy for my liking.
River Strontian


 We all headed up to Loch Sunart. I knew from the lie of the land we would still get a bit of wind. Unfortunately most of the lochs seem to run in the same direction. We had picked our put in point, the mouth of the River Strontian, right across from the hotel. We stopped in at the hotel for our tea and a beer or three. I think we were just putting off the inevitable, getting wet. It was chucking it down – and windy. Fed and watered we grudgingly left the warmth of the pub and got our boats and kit ready. The folk in the pub must have thought us mad, I was beginning to agree.
 
Once we were out on the water my feelings changed. I just love getting out in my boat. As we were paddling along, I was saying there should be otters around, when all of a sudden one appeared between the five boats, I don't know who got a bigger fright, us or the otter. He disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. It was beginning to get a bit dark by now and we wanted to get a camping spot. We stopped shorter than we had planned and found a bit of flat ground. It was a bit soft underfoot, but it would do. That night the wind picked up so no one got much sleep. When we weren't about to have lift off, there was the chance we would be washed out to sea with the rain. By morning the ground was even softer underfoot.
Our first soggy night
Looks lovely, wait till the next headland!

Choccy break



After fighting to get back in damp breeks, we set off again. Heading up the loch, the wind seemed to get stronger each corner we turned. We crossed the Loch over to Salen. The crossing was hard going with the wind making you feel you were on an exercise bike, going nowhere, the rain was coming down so hard like little needles, we were all treated to course of microdermabrasion. Once we reached the shelter of Salen, the sun came, it was lovely. The point we had planned on camping this night turned out to be
unsuitable. Niall and Mathew found the ideal spot in the next bay. Fresh
running water, plenty of firewood and shelter from the wind. Problem was every step was with a large squish. This spot was damper than the last one. We set up the tents in the driest of patches and even got our kit hung up to dry (slightly).We had a great, well deserved tea washed down with a carton of wine (we’re classy paddlers!)finished off with a bag of toasted marshmallows, such an aptly named sweet for our campsite.


 
                                     
Soggy night number 2
We listened on the radio to the forecast. We were more or less told it was going to be miserable and windy, getting more miserable and windier as the hours go by.


Number 2 son

Oops!

Who needs boats
Our 
Our plan for the next day was to head over to the islands and into Loch Teacuis, then start back down Loch Sunart. Getting in our boats in the little bay was enough hassle, we were getting buffeted around. Ken and Kev headed out to check out what it was going to be like, came back and decided we weren’t going any further. The sea and wind was getting crazy. Our next mission was to all get out of the bay and round the headland to go back down the loch. That was probably the scariest bit of the trip (other than the sight of my hair if I had taken my hat off after 3 days paddling and 2 nights in a mummy sleeping bag). As soon as we turned with the wind behind us we shot off. The rest of the journey gave us some terrific surf. We covered the distance in a fraction of the time.



 
Sunshine, we must be near Salen
Hubby Dear and Number 2 son
We headed back into sunny Salen for lunch, then back to Strontian. It was great putting on dry clothes again. In between more downpours we cooked up our last meal before heading back home.
 Driving between Ballachulish and Glen Coe we were treated to a perfect double rainbow.

Spot the pot of gold

The islands and loch will still be there for another trip, hopefully with less wind.
 One good thing though, there were no midges.


Sunday 5 June 2011

I think I should stick to beginners trips!

 Sunday 15th, Kevin had organised a river trip up to the Leny, not a river I’d paddled before, but one that Hubby Dear had managed to split his paddles across his chest on, the reason why I now use his slightly shorter than usual paddles. Up at the boatshed bright(ish) and early, Kevin, Kris, Steve W, Bill, Liam, Simon, Ken and myself got kit, boats and cars sorted out and off we set.
 Having spent so much of my time lately sea paddling, this was my first river trip this year and was a bit concerned I would start using sea edges instead of river edges. We had a quick warm up before heading down the river which was at a “nice level” – I should have realised at this point all was not going to go my way.
Our wee group setting off
 After getting used to catching a few eddies and breaking in and out again we were coming to the bit where we had to get the right hand eddy and get out. Unfortunately, I got out (of the boat) before the right hand eddy. I’d managed to get stuck on a rock (yes, I haven’t lost the rock magnet touch). Now, when I come out of my boat, I’m very good at keeping hold of my boat and paddles, I’ve had enough practise, however today everything seemed to be ripped out of my hands. I scrambled to the side and wedged myself on a rock, where Steve threw a line to me. My boat and paddles were now careering over the Falls of Leny - the reason we were getting out. I’m just grateful I didn’t follow my boat over. Kris clambered along the side with me to see where my kit ended up. It nearly all made it through the falls. The paddle and drinks bottle were swirling around in an eddy at the bottom of the falls, my boat was stuck on a rock further down the river. Kevin went down and retrieved it. After a quick inspection, the only damage seemed to be the nose of the boat had rather a sharp wedgey bit, the centre foam and hip pads were missing and one glove was gone.
Never mind Where's Wally, where's Kevin?

Me in my newly reshaped boat


Playtime
Further down we came to another drop which we got out to inspect, I wasn’t too keen on doing this one, however we picked our line and down we went, successfully this time. It’s great when it goes right!


Ken nice and dry



Ken, was this added to the swim count - I don't think so!
(actually he was rinsing his kit after a sea trip)
We headed back home through Callander, Hubby Dear had already promised me an icecream.  After a hard paddle, I always think a double ice cream is deserved, so it was a honey comb crunch and raspberry ripple for me.
As I said, this was my first river trip this year, hopefully not my last, even though I had a swim, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself and had a good laugh to go with it.