Night Time Paddle

No photos this week, but Paul rounded off the 2013 season Tuesday night paddles with one in the dark.
The paddlers left LYC at 7.15pm just as the sun was going down and Paul was joined by Allan, Frances, Kirsty, Colin T, Colin M, Brian H & Ken.
Glow sticks and head torches at the ready (apart from Colin M who had brought no illumination whatsoever), the paddlers headed past the town, under the UTC pier and into the mouth of the Lochy before passing the Lochy flats and Caol beach where they seemed to spook the most incredible number of sea birds.  In mirror calm waters, they then crossed to the islands and to Camusnagaul where 'something' jumped out of the loch.  Probably just a seal, but given the reaction of the paddlers, it might as well have been a hump back.  Quite a few curious seals were spotted on the journey.
From Camusnagaul, they headed back to LYC although the return route was modified when it seemed that an Oban registered fishing boat might be departing from the moorings close to the West End car park.  No one wanted to be run down by a fishing boat, but everyone agreed that in the still waters of the dry evening, Fort William looked lovely from the water.

Upper Spean

September found paddlers Angus, Stephen & Allan signing up for club trips on the mid & upper Spean led by level 5 coach, Chris Dickinson.

On the first Sunday, the weekend of the Paddle Fest, all rivers in Lochaber suddenly went mad after an overnight downpour and the Spean became a massive powerful river in spate.  Not ideal for paddlers relatively new to white water, but the guys were in good hands and in choosing the right bits of the river to work in, their skills and confidence in vast turbulent moving water were rapidly built.

The following Sunday, the river was almost quarter of the flow.  Much less powerful and completely different, but nevertheless still mostly grade 3 rapids.  Chris therefore led the trio from Inch down to the woollen mill offering individual coaching en route as well as group work & skills talks prior to each of the technical bits.  The success of the trip was that the group felt they might manage this stretch on their own next time if done in similar river conditions, and that the group then began planning a similar trip down another river.

See more photos HERE

Chris has kindly given his coaching time this summer to Nevis Canoe Club at no cost so the guys made donations to the charity which Chris founded and Chairs, www.nepalschoolstrust.co.uk    www.chrisdickinson.com

Corran & Loch Linnhe picnic site

Dave Smith was joined by Colin M, Allan, Ken, Liz, Martin, Kirsty & Jane for a paddle from the Loch Linnhe picnic site, to Ardgour, then over to Corran, & a return in the tidal stream.  Short paddle because sundown was at 7:53pm, however with the addition of glowsticks, the paddlers stayed out until about 8.30 and managed to still see each other.  Good practice for the upcoming night time paddle!

Loch Eil to LYC

Roger organised this weeks paddle, which due to the shortening evenings was from Loch Eil to LYC.  He was joined by Allan, David D, Ken & Brian H.

Put in was at Outward Bound, where Bridget was coaching some local schoolchildren paddlers who will be the future of NCC.  Amazingly for OB, there were no midgies!

It was the early stages of an ebb tide & close to springs, so the paddlers got something around 3 knots assistance through the narrows, allowing a paddling speed of 13km/h to be attained.  It felt like a race!

Rounding the corner at Camusnagaul, a strong head wind met the outgoing tide and the paddlers got quite a surprise at the choppy elevated sea conditions which lasted for at least 500m.  The challenge was overcome, and everyone landed safely at the LYC slipway where Paul and Liz were waiting to transport the boats.

Our route.  7.7Km

Pic: Ken Stevenson

Allan & Ken

Sun down wasn't due until 8pm, but it became dusky quickly

See the rest of Rogers pics here!