My Paddling Is In The Doldrums

I have definitely put paddling on the backburner recently. For several reasons.

The Fear Factor:
First of all I'm not to keen paddling in the firth next to my house because Invergordon is a very busy port and I have had close encounters of the big boat kind.
I'm not too keen on going solo anymore as I have a better understanding of the dangers and first hand experience of being caught out.

Getting Fit:
Some friend s of mine had recently discovered cycling and bought some bikes, I believe it was after going to spin classes. Jean and Saunders invited me out on a cycle one weekend. I used to cycle a bit before the kids arrived in 1998 and so thought it would be like riding a bike !

That night I decided I needed to get fit.

On November 1st 2007 I had my last cigarette ! Yes, that's right. My name is Muzz and I am a smoker. I was smoking up to 50 ciggys a week and decided enough was enough.

I steadily built up my cycling and also started running again. I am not a good runner and only ever ran for about a year in the past, this was in preparation for the 1998 Highland Cross.

So, at the moment I am having a day off from running and cycling but that means a bit of maintenance work on the bikes.

Paddling Difficulties:
My paddling remains in the Doldrums as I'm not finding the time for group paddling. My wife is working up north today so this evenings club rolling and rescue session looks doubtful unless I get someone to look after the kids. I work shifts so that has ruled me out of the weekend trips I wanted to go on. Others are possibly beyond my capabilities but it's difficult for me to gain the necessary skills for the afore mentioned reasons.

The Faff Factor:
The preparation and cleanup involved in Paddling is another consideration in my time strapped life. Packing the gear and kayaks into and onto the car ( forgetting stuff ). Driving to the paddling location unpacking, doing a couple of hours paddling and then undoing it all. Driving home unpacking, hosing the gear putting the boat away, drying the gear.
At worst cycling is putting the helmet, gloves and water bottle in the car and the bike on the back, some scoff or energy bars if you want. A forty minute drive will take me to the Wildcat or Learnie. Come home wash water bottle and throw top and shorts into the wash.

Or no driving at all, hit the hills near my house on the mountain bike, a big loop on the road bike or go for a run !

The Way Ahead:
I want to keep my fitness program going and in order to keep me honest I have entered some events. The Glencalvie challenge has been and gone but coming up I have.

Loch Ness Cycle Sportif

Cairngorm Adventure Triathlon

The Charmer

That's August to October taken care of. In July we'll be hitting the south, spending a week doing the mountain bike trails near Dumfries and Peebles.

I am sad that Kayaking isn't getting much of a look in at the moment but this year I am putting family and fitness first. I have even got the wife running, she can do 20 minutes non stop at the moment. I see a marathon on the horizon LOL.

Keep Running, Cycling, Paddling...

I Went Paddling !

It's been quite some time, I don't think I have been out since the night paddle!

Today we done a route that I have done in the past. Chanonry to Cromarty, however last time I continued to Invergordon.

The forecast for today wasn't brilliant, it was a wee bit windy right from the start.

However after getting 'around the corner' the sea calmed down considerably and we were blown along the coast at a healthy pace.



We were also given sporadic peltings with rain, also not so bad when they are at your back.
We stopped for scran at the Eathie bothy.

The scene was very different from August 2006.





Now back to today.





After scran it was back on the yet flatter water with less wind but equal amounts of rain.



Another blast from the past. I think this is McFarquhar's cave.




And Today.



Is this Mcfarquhar's house ?




The sea remained clam, we paddled on.



Now I can't remember whether this was the cave beside McFarquhar's which might actually be McFarquhar's or the one at Red Nose. It was substantial though, as Andreas managed to turn the Cetus inside.



Soon after we were rounding the South Sutor. There followed a 2.5Km paddle into the wind to end tha day ay Cromarty.



Thanks To Neil for the organisation, everyone had a great time despite the weather.

Night Paddle

Tonight we set off from Chanonry Point to do a night paddle.

We headed across and past Fort George where we landed, got fed and watered then Neil produced the glow sticks.





We attached them to the back of our BA's. Neil and Guy also had one on the back of their boats. We followed Guy.

We headed out into the channel and around the red buoy.



The camera has compensated for the lack of light here. On a night setting.



Then back across and past the west side of Fort George towards Ardersier.

This photo was on a normal setting, with flash.



I switched back to night shot so as not to wreck peoples night vision.

We avoided the tidal stream that would have been flowing through the narrow channel at this time, extending the paddle and letting it get darker.

Night paddling is great. I'm waiting for reports in tomorrows papers about strange dancing hoops of light on the water :-)

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.