Sea kayaking Arisaig / Glenuig

May 6-8th 2016.  

A NESKy group paddle from the beach at Back of Keppoch (north of Arisaig) round on a falling tide to the skerries for lunch.  Not many seals about but its still beautiful in there; the one cockle fisherman present seemed to accept our presence ok.

The afternoon was spent heading around the southerly pennisula and into Camas Ghaoideil for our overnight camp. The eccentric bothy above the beach is well worth looking into.  Saturday night was a hoolie wet storm for camping.

Sunday was a stiffer weather challenge on the water and saw us press straight across the entrance of Loch non Uamh and then on again to Glenuig. This was F5 gusting F6 just oiff our bows.

No untoward happenings, good company, mixed weather patterns but a great way to spend the weekend.

April 2016 A return to the waterfalls on the Etive

April 29th 2016

A three-man trip across to the west coast rivers for a long weekend of wet stuff. Unfortunately Scotland was enjoying some sun and the rivers were mainly empty in Lochaber.  We still managed to get the Etive paddled though.  Good fun and pretty satisfying to get down Right Angle without an issue this time.  Terry and Harry were there to shepherd me down!

April 2016 My first creek race (North Esk)

April 17th 2016

A river I've paddled often but never thought I would race on.  Brilliant sunshine and a reasonably kind water level meant it was a simple enough challenge.  My run was timed at 6.22 minutes which meant I was placed about 25% down the group.  With hindsight I wish I'd stayed on for the "Iron man" version in the afternoon,... maybe next year.

Pretty flat water at the start for a grade 3/4 river!

March 2016 Mountain bike challenge - the Moray Way

March 14-15th 2016     

A  two-day 100 mile off-road loop that combines the Dava Way, part of the Moray Coastal Path, and a return leg up the Speyside Way.  Undertook this with Andrew Fyfe as part of our individual training plans for other rides.

We chose to start at Aberlour and work clockwise around the way-marked trail.  Very mixed trail conditions from old railway line "double-track" through a few farmers access roads, a little tarmac to escape the sand-dunes, and some really grim walkers path.  The two dozen swing-gates on the first morning were an upper body workout and put us behind schedule so we ended day 1 in darkness going downhill into Forres.

Day 2 started at the edge of the sand dunes at the back of the airbase with Eurofighter Typhoons doing circuits.  Good sandy single track across east.  The final leg was coming south again to Craigellachie and then Aberlour and really did test our climbing legs on the fire road.


  

Sept&Oct 2015 Exploring the Skerries off Arisaig

Two weekend paddles in this area, one starting from the south channel and the other from the north at Traigh Farm.  Interspersed with a quick ride in Glen Bogle with the Ribble mob.

Weather in October was stunning.

I got some proper use out of my new boat.  New-to-me as they say; its a P&H Sirius, probably 10 years old but in great condition and feels lively to paddle.

The new pride of the fleet...

Rosemarkie beach, Moray Firth