First Wee Trip

If you want a better idea of whats going on then get out OS Landranger 21 or see google maps and look at the Cromarty Firth from Invergordon up west to the bridge at Ardullie.

Tuesday 18th October, first wee trip in boat. Started out at Ardullie bridge parking car next to roundabout (grid 587,623). I was joined by T in a P&H Quest and S in a P&H Capella, both proper sea Kayaks and T and S are both really fit people. I knew I could easily fall behind in my very stable but slower Contour.

The weather was nice and sunny with a slight breeze, lovely paddling. We progressed nicely looking out for Seals and other such fauna. We hit a choppy bit or two and assumed it was just the tide turning, thing were going great and I was keeping up nicely although the others may have going slow for me :-)

We passed the Yankee pier ( in grid 66,67 ) and things changed, there was a strong wind blowing from the east south east and things were getting choppy. T and S were getting further and further ahead, I did notice S turning around to check I was OK. The fact is that although I was making slow progress in the wind I was really enjoying it ! The front of the boat was bouncing up and down and spray was hitting me in the face, I felt like I was on a whale catcher somewhere in the South Atlantic ! I had a couple of scares when I thought I had a wave sussed but it collapsed and the boat fell off the side of it, pardon my lack of sea dog parlance.

T&S were quite far ahead and I noticed they were heading for land at Invergordon ( grid 699,687 ). T landed but S came back to make sure I was OK. "T doesn't like it like that " said S. It appears T was having visions of being tipped freaked a bit and made a dash for land, that's why they got so far ahead of me.

Me and S had a look around the corner and tried to convince T that it was OK, there were in fact quite large waves bouncing along by the harbour and T decided to go back to land and wait for S to pick him up in the car.

Me and S continued on our journey and reached the take out point at ( grid 728,700 ). I worked it out as 17 Km and it took 3hrs 20 minutes.

Lessons learned:
Force 4's are good fun for some but not all paddlers.
Your group of three can become a group of 2 and 1 quite easily.
Don't stop, you get cold quick !

My New Boat

This is the Perception Contour that I bought on 7th October from Highland Canoes in Aviemore. Pretty hairy getting it home as the wind was bad on Friday and I only had some old rope to tie it onto the car !
Despite the high winds on Friday I attempted a paddle and got beached twice :-)
Saturday was less windy so I managed over an hours paddling up and down in front of the house.
Sunday was my two star assesment day which was done on the Ness with 12 others and a load of coaches. Several rapids were negotiated and there was also a few break in and outs, what a great day. Oh and I passed, think I'll pay the 2 quid for a shiny certificate :-)

No Walk But A Cycle

Well I went out for a cycle today as I had no car to go hillwalking. The route I took heads up north on the A9 from Invergordon and goes over the Dornoch Firth bridge. One heads then to Spinningdale and Bonar Bridge.

The leg breaking climb up the Struie hill follows then descend into Alness and back along to Invergordon, Phew.

My cycle comp measured it at 83 Km and it took me a whoppinf 4 hours.

Checking the database I see I done it eight years ago in only three hours !

Spike and Me On Wyvis

No Walking Today

CRAP No walking today. I was due to take a beginner but the strong north winds and constant showers mean't it wasn't possible. I'll have to wait for the next window of opportunity to open in the next few weeks. Went shopping in Inverness instead. Bought a wee mic for using with Skype, just a wee round thing made by Hama. Picks up the voice at a short distence but there is a bit of background hum.
I'm off to muck about with it.

A recent Wander

Near A Chralaig.
I got up in the middle of the night tonight as my body still thinks it's on night shift. Thought I would post a pic of my last hillwalk a few weeks back. I'm supposed to be getting out again this Sunday but I'm taking a 'learner' with me so I won't bother unless the firecast is really good.

Startup

Well people this is my very first post. I live in the Highlands of Scotland. Married with two kids. I work shifts, not sure whether I'll say where I work yet we'll see how it goes.
Started listening to podcasts only last week and got Gmail from Murray Eddie who does Tedpod.

I have used computers since I was thirteen. I remember seeing an ad for the Sinclair ZX81 and I was hooked from then on. Never really went the computer road as a vocation it's just a hobby.

I'll expand more on my interests in future posts but that's a start...