FIRST Day paddle on Loch Lomond with Anne and Em - 26-2-11

MY FIRST trip out with any of the Glasgow Kayak Club was probably always going to be Loch Lomond, even though we had thought about Helensburgh and Loch Long, but the weather was a bit pants.
Lomond it was then with two cracking girls.. Anne and Em.

We launched from Luss and headed out across the loch and round the north of Inchlonaig (the first of many such starts for me) and gently paddled down the east side of the loch to round the southern end of Inchfad.
A quick blast across to Inchmoan after taking in the views of the loch and surrounding mountains saw us land on a mahoosive beach I didn't know existed!

Inchmoan beach

Inchmoan beach

We had the place to ourselves, a bit chilly, since it's February, but a gorgeous day nevertheless for a lunch stop.

Back onto the water had us heading up through 'The Narrows', a stunning narrow channel between two islands (Inchtavannach and Inchconnachan) the latter being better known as 'Wallabie Island' I did shout Wallabie.. and some wag shouted 'Mine's a pint, thanks..'

Great views of Ben Lomond can be had as one exits from the channel, and we struck out for Luss.

As we neared the Luss beach, I saw another channel leading up a river, it's the river that runs through the picturesque village of Luss so we veered off course and paddled up the river.

A few tourists thought it proper to take pictures of the mental kayakers venturing up the river and took snaps of us taking snaps of them.. 

All too soon we were pulling our spray decks off as we beached, and so it began..

Clyde Bridges and GKC paddling home - 23-1-11

I NEEDED to join a club now, for experience and access to pool for drills etc... Glasgow Kayak Club is pool based at North Woodside LC.
So I contacted the club and got onto the club's web site to find out a few of its members were paddling up the Clyde from Erskine, so, I had a wee cycle down to say hi.

The Finnieston Crane and the Armadillo

 The Glasgow Science Centre and the Science Tower with the world famous paddle steamer 'Waverley'.

GKC paddling up the River Clyde

  GKC paddling up the River Clyde

  GKC paddling up the River Clyde

Glasgow city centre railway and roadway bridges

 
GKC paddling up the River Clyde

Em drifting through the arches...

Two-day trip to Inchmarnock with Alan Lindsay 25/26-9-10

WEATHER was due to be excellent for the weekend and Alan suggested a BIG trip 'doon the waater..' launching from Colintravie, and rounding the north of Bute.

 Getting kitted up as the Colintravie - Rhubodach ferry plys it's trade...

Lunch stop at Rubha Dubh on the north west of Bute with views right down the sound to Arran.

Lunch stop at Rubha Dubh on the north west of Bute.. Graham and Alan..

 Alan thinks we should head to ARRAN!.. the weather is excellent, but, it is to change soon says coastguard on Alan's VHF radio.
And, it did with at least a F4 blowing in for a short while, which did give me a little start, stuck in the middle of the Sound of Bute, but Alan guided me with great enthusiasm and encouragement - 'Keep Paddling..' which will be my mantra when the wind picks up again... A quick paddle to the north of Inchmarnock and a beach out of the wind.

A wee rest on the north of Inchmarnock out of the wind and waves..

 Seals on the west coast of Inchmarnock. A massive colony lives at Northpark.
We had just launched after wee break from wind and rounded the corner at Northpark to see a dozen or so seals dive into the water where they stayed playing 'hide and seek' with us.
Bobbing up and down watching us watch them.
A couple then followed us down the east coast of Inchmarnock.

 Seal colony - Northpark, Inchmarnock.

The GORGEOUS bay at the south east of Inchmarnock where we camped and watched Arran all night.

I will get to Arran one day.. but not today.. :-)

 Moonshine

 Not Moonshine, but Guinness.. and Alan getting it down.

 More Moonshine, no Guinness

Yes, it's a Digeridoo.. :-) Alan carried it with him on his 'Yak's deck and played it during our bonfire night, me? I wasn't up to the Rolf Harris standard of Mr Lindsay...

 Morning glory - Stunning view in the morning. Cloudless and calm so I went for a walk round the south of the island to see cracking views of Arran.

Someone is still slumbering.

 Arran and Inchmarnock hardware

  Arran and Inchmarnock hardware

I had my usual porridge with Banana and raisins straight from the Trangia stove with a lil fly as extra protein..

 Breakfast

 

What a place to 'do' breakfast.. it really was/ is a fantastic backdrop to wake up to on a good clear morning.
I can't begin to explain the view, the stillness and peace that morning, so I wont.

Then it was off again and we launched to paddle round the south of the island and cruised gently up the west of Inchmarnock popping in and out of the rocks and inlets.

 First break on day two at the north of Inchmarnock before the 4km trot across the Sound of Bute to Ettrick Bay on Bute in distance.
A stunning couple of days away.

Happy bunny

Solo Two-day trip on West Loch Tarbert 17/18-9-10

WELL, it had to be done. The Mrs (Violet) and her band were due on Islay to play a gig at the music festival over by, so I thought I'd drop her off at the ferry and head off down West Loch Tarbert in the new Capella.

The weather was looking good so, papped Violet on the ferry and headed to the pier at West Loch Tarbert and kitted up and launched on my very first solo trip with day bag, tent, sleeping bag, food, stove and ginger (Irn Bru) in the hatches...

Lunch stop was at Rubha Riabhach way down the loch after following seals.. okay, being followed BY seals and watching deer eat on the banks and start to take in the peace and tranquility of the new way of life just started.

Rubha Riabhach

After a few more Kms the small beach at Rubha Mhein looked inviting and so I pulled in to set up camp.

 Sunsetting over south Kintyre hills

 Cal Mac ferry off to Islay again..

Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio.. off to Islay malts :-)

Yea, the sky always looks like this.. :-)

WILSON... 


During the night in my tent I was awoken at 4am by.. wait for it.. gunshots!!
Quite regular and 12 bore by the sounds of it.. quite close which disturbed me more!
I am guessing, poachers, due to the high amount of deer I had spotted the day before on the loch-side.
Not something I am likely to forget for a while anyway!




Next morning up early to follow tide and wind back up the loch to meet the ferry, and on the way up a small disturbance in the water finally led to an OTTER hunting not 20 feet away from me.. When it finally spotted me closing in on it it spluttered and dived quickly.
I had only recently seen my first wild Otter whilst on Barra, but it was at a distance, this was my first close up of a wild Otter at close range, magic. No chance of a photo though :-( But, not something I am likely to forget in a hurry!