Day trip on Loch Creran and Lismore - 5-11-11

A Glasgow Kayak Club day out to Loch Creran and Castle Stalker and back again via Lismore was planned by Muir and Andy at the beginning of November, and along with Dick Parsons and Emily Glasbey, we had a cracking day out on smooth water.

The end of the trip was glorified by a stunning sunset over the Morvin Hills.

The view of the Morvin Hills from  South Shian beach

Dick Parsons

Blatant Werner Ad Mr Milne

Muir Porter and Morvin Hills

In-coming cloud

Andy McManus avoiding the ferry

Dick Parsons passing Appin Rocks

The arch at Appin Rocks

Emily and Dick at the Appin lighthouse

Muir and the Morvin Hills

The Morvin Hills and north Lismore

Andy and 'The Morvins' 1

Andy and 'The Morvins' 2

Castle Stalker

Castle Stalker

Andy, Dick, Emily and Muir 'do lunch' at Castle Stalker

Muir investigates Castle Stalker

The Morvins

The Stalker Knocker

Castle Stalker and 'The Morvins'

Muir, Emily and Andy and the Morvins

Castle Stalker

Muir, Emily and Andy enjoy the Morvins

Muir and Andy at the lime kiln burners' cottages on Eilean nan Caorach

Entering Port Ramsay on Lismore

One man and his dug

Andy at Port Ramsay, Lismore

Andy's sunset

Emily's sunset

Andy and his ladder rescue attempt

Andy climbing in

Weekend at Rowerdenan Lodge - 29/30-10-11

A GREAT weekend was spent with Alan and some of his SCA (Scottish Canoe Association) chums at a lodge on the banks of Loch Lomond at Rowerdenan.

A spot of fancy dress was had on the first night with a tremendous meal of Haggis and neeps and tatties after souper soup washed down with even superer Chivas Regal whisky.

Sunday saw a paddle down the loch  and through the Narrows with a wee visit to Lady Colquhoun's summer lodge, and back.

The lodge's car park full of 'Yaks'

Fancy dress at its best

Alan and Graham 'at it'

'Uncle Jim' addressing the haggis

'Mmh, tablet'

Out onto the loch on Sunday

Heading toward The Narrows on Loch Lomond

Ben Lomond under the cloud

Alan and Pete sit it out

Alan and his best Sunday Face

Graham's new paddle hat

Graham

GKC night at North Woodside Pool (Alan and Duggie) - 21-10-11

AFTER Joining Glasgow Kayak Club earlier this year, I was interested in getting down to the North Woodside Pool on a Friday night to practise rescues and basic handling skills.

Alan also joined as well as Glasgow Triathlon Club chum Duggie McNaughton and we had a bit of a giggle rescuing each other and Alan showed off his new rolling skills after seven years Kayaking.

Alan about to put himself under to be bow rescued.

Alan and Duggie

Alan finishing another successful roll in the pool.

Going for the roll

A VIDEO of Alan's rolls

Day Paddle on Loch Lomond with Alan Lindsay - 15-10-11

AS usual, it's a surprise request from Alan to see if I fancied a wee paddle on the 'Loch' - surprise?... Yea, as it's usually the day before we are due on the water that the request comes :-) ... either via e-mail or phone txt :-)
No problem that, and makes for either an 'Aye,' or a 'Naw,' answer.
So, it was an aye and we met at Millarochy Bay for a wee quickie round our favourite islands and up through the 'Narrows'.

Here I show 'where we are' on Inchconnachan in 'Lady Colquhoun's summer house which is now in a dilapidated state after vandals opened it up to the elements to finish the job.

Jo Thomson painted this 'Muriel' in 2002 (yes I know it's Mural, but bare with me) and should be spared the fate that awaits the rest of the building.

Alan using my 'VERY' expensive Werner paddle as a Caber

The View I get

Alan all 'So'wester'ed up'

Lady Colquhoun's summer house on Inchconnachan, now in a sorry state of repair.

Aye, it could do with a wee lick a paint and a wee nail in here and there.

Alan has claimed Loch Lomond as his.. :-)

The woodmill out the back of the house

Alan through the ragin' reeds

Me with my big jacket on, am a 'Reedchillcheater' see what I did there?

There was a boat race on the Loch while we paddled past so we tootled over for a swaatch.. we lost.

Say no more

Alan Lindsay's Rockpool Tests @ Kari Tec Ocean - 8-10-11

AFTER I had digested the shock news that Alan Lindsay's far-travelled 'MALIN' yak was to be sold, both he and I set off down to Ayrshire's Kari-Tek outfit so Alan could try out a couple of it's Rockpool boats on it's 'Ocean' pond adjacent to the complex.

The voluminous 'Alaw' and tidy 'Alaw Bach' interested Alan and I would like a wee go in different boats too.

Me in the 'Alaw' and Alan in the 'Alaw Bach' - He loved the Bach and I actually liked being in the Alaw even though I could have comfortably held a dance in the cockpit as my 'wee' legs rattled around in the huge 'pit'.

Alan in the Bach with colourful 'Swift' paddle

In to change over

Alan getting used to the Alaw

Some reeds in the Kari-Tek Ocean

The Alaw ready to come out of the shadows