We'll covid lockdown is just getting tedious. So as I'm now allowed, I've set off on a mega trip.
The solo round-Scotland sea kayak trip. Raising funds for Doddie Weird Motor Neurone Disease foundation. Of
This is an 8-10 week challenge and is live right now. Checkout progress on Facebook "solo sea kayak journey".
Will post a summary here later.
S.
March 2021
So the weather has slowly been improving and certainly outdoor
sports are getting less grim as the snow has receded to the high peaks. Again C-19 rules have kept us all local but
at least there is light in the tunnel.
March saw me get out for a short or medium walk probably every second day to keep the limbs moving plus a regular kettlebell class on a Monday+Friday to keep the core muscles in trim.
Heading to "Friend Electric"
Boating and biking continue to improve with ten MTB rides and six boat sessions. Biking was all centred on the Aboyne trails (Master Blaster, Chutney Nudger, Oh Deer, Scooby Do, etc) but good exercise if only in shortish bursts. Ground is pretty wet still and there was quite a lot of tree litter to stop & clear each time. 
Messing about in the GT, river high again
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| Sea boat 10k on the loch |
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February 2021
For a while the sheer amount of snow was a real barrier to off-road cycling; once it turned to an icy base layer it was murder getting traction up hills etc.
Also as the snow melted the river level rose and managed a couple of "sprint" training sessions in my old slalom racing boat. And when things really kicked off I took my sea kayak for an 8km rush down the river. Grade 2/3 rapids just flashed by as my GPS showed 22 kph at some points, 16 kph average.
No real plan to the days though yet as Covid lockdown continues. Its not worth planning longer sea adventures until we get to maybe April when I can hopefully get across to the west coast. I do see that for the second year running my trip to the italian alps for steep creeking (Valsesia river festival) is just not going to happen is it.
Other activities were mainly walking in the snow, bright day light does help the mood, and maybe some maintenance type stuff as I have my old bike to clean up & sell.
Cheers for now, S.
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Well Christmas is over, and for hogmanay we were back to a lockdown. It then started snowing and has done so on & off all month. Means I was back to my trusty MTB and some solo riding all round the low hills of upper Deeside.
Certainly when it was fresh and crunchy, it's a very pleasant way to ride and get some exercise. I've been exploring a more XC sort of loop that will form a 20 kms exercise track going forwards - and as the gradients are reasonable I intend to ride it in both directions.
However the snow is now freezing hard and things are getting tougher. Certainly the access track climb is now sheet ice and in SPD shoes that's not much fun trying to stagger up it.
Biking is off now as we head into February as I once learnt a painful lesson on some ice a few years back. Need a good thaw that will help the river and allow some longer MTB trails once more.
Got a zoom whisky tasting with my neighbours though one evening this week so not all too grim ! Slainte.
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October 2020
So a mixed activity set running through October as the summer seems to be well past us now. First off a few chilled out mountain bike
days with the missus whilst we had the van parked at Findhorn Bay. Culbin Forest to the west of the bay has a few ups & downs and a
super lagoon section to splash alongside (just watch the tide times). To the east of Findhorn you follow the dunes
along the Kinloss perimeter track and then through the pine woods towards
Burghead – lots of little local bike trails in here). And actually hidden in the woods at Forres
there’s a small local trail centre.
Then it was over to Ardnamurchan to meet my mate Chris W for a few days sea kayaking. Based at the Resipole Farm campsite with lots of covid rules but we got 3 good day trips completed. We both have Tiderace Pace 17’s so well matched for cruising about. Day one was Resipole west to the island of Carna and then south into Loch Teacuis (the expected faster tidal flows didn’t materialise), exiting via the back of Oronsay (again you need watch the tide state). Saw a porpoise briefly plus the seals. 40 kms for the day.
Then a change of boats and friends – paddled the Orchy on the 25th in my Machno. Not the highest river level but a good trip and nice grade 4 rapids to play with. Thanks to Andy H for leading.
And then at the very end of the month I had a solo sea
paddle out of Stonehaven in my (infrequently used) P&H Sirius; sunshine and
just a blustery F2 so simply exercise in the great outdoors after a
covid-secure run by the local recycling centre.
So October turned out OK afterall. (Halloween is here along with a squally, gusty, wet day with the colour blowing off the trees - at least there is 3 international rugby matches on the telly today).
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Sept 19/20th 2020
The forecast was pretty
good for the weekend but Monday was going to be a sudden southerly F4, so the
plan to paddle across the Minch was squeezed out (and maybe by the early morning
tidal start). We had another alternative as the Small Isles but two days didn’t
seem to do them justice. So we settled
on a trip around the Point of Ardnamurchan which includes the most westerly
mainland lighthouse in the UK. We (“the
team”) were Martyn T and myself. Small
& organised and able to simply get on with it !
Lunch was a brief stop
next to Mingary Castle which is a 13th century vertical sided
fortress on the sea edge that has been restored in to some sort of bijou hotel
by the Estate. Looks pretty smart on the
outside but it’s lacking a sweep of coral sand (the foreshore is all boulders!). On westwards past Kilchoan and the proper expanse
of Mull becomes obvious to the south.
Rounding northwards we
were still in flat calm conditions with a breath of wind. The Stevenson designed lighthouse at
Ardnamurchan Point comes into view quite suddenly with its bull horn clearly
visible on the end of the land mass.
And so we looked for a
suitable campsite at the far end of Sanna bay – lots of walkers and so folk
about but we ended up on small patch a
good walk up the shallow gradient beach (long boat carry). The view was grand from here including the
lighthouse and the sun dipping below the horizon. The tidal range (springs) was also impressive
as the 250m of sand disappeared at very quick rate. 38 kms that day.
Relaxed start on the
Sunday around HW and after cleaning up some of the rubbish left by other muppet
campers. Sun was shining again and we
had gorgeous views of Muck, Eigg & Rum; they looked “just” a short paddle
across the sound. A couple of northerly
skerries gave us a chance to dodge some waves but otherwise it was plain
sailing. Elevenses were had on another
steep bouldery inlet. Not many seabirds
around while we paddled – the odd razor bill and some gulls – and again a few
solitary seals checking us out.
Paddled into Ardtoe beach just
before 1pm for a total of 60 kms for the trip.
No hassles, topped up the tan, and all was good – back via the Corran
Ferry. Thanks for the company Martyn.
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