ICC Club Trip: Handa And Loch Laxford

I haven't posted for a while as I have been rather busy. I was lucky enough to have a weekend off when my club were doing a weekend trip. Here's the crack:

We arrived in Scourie around 11 A.M. and set up our tents at the Scourie campsite, four quid a pitch. After a bite to eat we drove down to the shore and loaded up the boats.



I think there were 14 of us give or take, I'm not sure as Rhona was running the trip. I didn't even take a map !

We paddled over to Handa and had another wee bite to eat.







Crossing over to Handa there was a fairly strong northerly so we decided to walk around the island and the other side was indeed very choppy wind over tide. Returning to the boats we set of again.

Around the bottom of Handa and back across to the mainland.



We found a few caves.



Including this big one.



Where we got all the kayaks inside !



After waiting for Mark to get his fish and chips
it was just about Sunday and time to head to Loch Laxford.




Anyone going in at the boathouse OS Grid: 227,477 should note that you need to leave access for the guy who does the fish or mussels or whatever seafood he's into.
We did this with careful parking, however whilst on the water he appeared in his boat and said that he had a lorry coming and the driver didn't do reverse so some of the paddlers had to go back in order to leave the car park completely empty. The wagon only comes on Sunday, you have been warned. The guy is pals with the Duke of Westminister, that's what he said, Westminister.

We paddled past mad Alec's mussels catching setup:



Explored all the wee nooks and crannies and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.





The huge rocks and cliffs.



And stopped opposite the Ridgeway's place for lunch.


What a fabulous weekend in wonderful sunshine and great company. Thanks to you all.

Saltburn To Balintore

Today I paddled from Saltburn around to Balintore. I went on my own, the weather was lovely, sunny and no real wind.



There was a wee bit of mist hanging aboot though, which soon burned away.



I passed by the old Nigg fabrication yard where they are now building offshore windmills.



There were caves around the corner.



Ah remember those gun emplacements ?



Loads of Guillemots jumping into the sea, where they would 'run' along the water.



Loads of Shags too.





I found a landing spot on a very rocky shoreline, although I managed to jump out of the boat before the boulders on the shore, I took a bash from a submerged rock on the way in !





After a scone and a cup of coffee it was time for the final leg, soon Balintore was in site.



The wife will be here soon to pick me up.

...

Two hours later...

Balintore Trip

Date of Trip 21-4-06. Weather Sunny. Wind 0 - 5 kph.


Set off from Balintore today. Headed south along the cliffs and saw a lot of sea birds, Gulls , Guillemots, Shags and Fulmars.


Perhaps the most unusual sight of the day though, was the remains of the 1940's gun emplacements and in particular the bridge between them.


See all the pics here:

From Balty

Short Paddle With Club

I got an email the other day to say the Inverness Canoe Club were planning a Hogmonay paddle. I haven't done any sea paddling with the club so the organiser was only going to let me go if the forecast was for low speed winds. I was in luck, I phoned Rhona just after 07:00 and she confirmed that I was 'On'.

The trip started from the tip of the lower 'Point' in the picture, called Chanonry point. This place is a well known spotting point for the Moray Firth dolphins. We paddled east then north to the shoreline ( up a bit then left in the picture). We reached the cliff-faced shoreline and I was asked if I wanted to try some rock hopping. I didn't know what it was but after watching some of the others dodging through the rocks near the shore I had to have a go. Mike managed to ground himself on one of the rocks which caused great amusement and invoked a 'knock you off' rescue.

We paddled east to find a landing spot and had lunch. I produced my sandwich bag containing an apple and a banana and was treated to mince pies, fruit cake, tablet, nore mince pies and mulled wine ! Now I know what went into all those bags people were packing into their holds. I will be better prepared next time.

We set off south heading for Fort George. There were fourteen of us in the group and, although I am not the chatty type, I found myself alongside a few different people and managed to get some good info from those who have been paddling longer than I. The first was that I need to get a rudder. My boat has no skeg and it's rather difficult to keep in a straight line when the wind is following. I was advised by two different people that I could have my enjoyment very much impaired if I had to spend several hours trying to keep the boat straight.

We reached Fort George where the HW spring tide was crashing all along the walls then rebounding back out. I was once again invited to take part in an impromtu activity, surfing. I backed in near to the wall and waited. Paddle paddle paddle paddle, great fun. I had another go before we made our way back to the start point.

Although the area is famous for dolphins I did not see any, only plenty of seals. It was a good day out.