August 2019
The summer was moving on post my Lofoten expedition and it was time to do a few day-trips in different ways.
Firstly there was a return to the saddle and a couple of MTB loops locally - namely Oh deer , the gorse track,and Chutney Nudger here on Deeside with Warren. We had intended to get the whole "enduro" loop done but obviously we aren't as quick as the boys so we ran out of time.
Then there was marshalling at the MTB races at Tarland and at Hill o'Fare (this involves lots of standing about looking important and thankfully no first-aid requirements this year).
Another day's riding was along Loch Shiel in p....g rain - great views when it stopped. Tourists parked everywhere at Glenfinnan though, and the coffee shop closed at 16.30 (boohoo).
A day's whitewater paddling was a good refresher on the dam release river Garry with good mate Chris. We were both a little rusty to begin with but got the hang of it again! I even got my hair wet at one stage. Also met up with old AKC/Cults colleagues and the godfather of the place "Graham K".
An abortive plan to paddle out to bell Rock lighthouse was replaced by a pleasant triangular sea paddle from Anstruther - Crail - Isle of May - Anstruther (29 kms) with a small group of NESKY-ites. Also a fortnight later had an afternoon paddle round Shona to North Lismore with Chris (15 kms).
In a week of mainly rain and sou'westerly winds Chris & I did manage to get through the Jura/Scarba channel where the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool lives - fortunately it was sleeping at the time so just big swelly waves and eddy lines to paddle through. Had a night at Glengarrisdale bothy on NW Jura, and then came back. It really wasn't a good looking forecast for a trip out to more islands.
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| Launch at Aird Jetty, looked at Dorus Mohr, across to Jura |
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| Checking out Sound of Corryvreken before paddling it |
A gentler paddle was doing Glenuig down to the north channel and to see Castle Tioram / Loch Moidart whilst enjoying the hospitality of Steve at the Inn. The Cairngorm Black Gold was excellent.
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| Chris W in Loch Moidart |
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| And approaching Castle Tioram |
And the highlight was doing two sea kayak races. The Nairn race (Moray Firth) was 16 kms heading east from Ardersier round the point at Fort George and along to Nairn beach. Came second in the Performance Kayak class to Les K. Race 2 in my new career was the Oban event (their 10th anniversary one) which loops Kerrara island and dodges the CalMac ferries. The 20 km loop took me 2hr 07mins as conditions were pretty good. Second again to Les K who was 10mins quicker than me (Perf kayaks class). So even at 60yrs old I can win a plastic gong - shame it wasn't the bottles of Oban malt being handed to others! Had a great catchup with John B, a friend and fellow paddler from Uni days down in Bristol.
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| Clockwide from Oban beach, 20 kms, 50 boats. |
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| NESKy medallists at Oban |
Finally had a relaxing and theraputic steady paddle up Loch Etive in bright sunshine with the Nesky race survivors. Good to have lunch on a beach away from the madding crowd.
A varied 4 or 5 weeks but all good fun and keeps me fit.
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| Photo credit = Gordon Milne |
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| Photo credit = Gordon Milne |
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