Tues Eve 21st May 2019 Caolasnacon

Tues Eve 21st May 2019 Caolasnacon
The first Tuesday eve meet of the season; We had ten paddlers Julie, Jamie, Martine, Tricia, Tony & Jess, Ross, Stephen, Ron, Alan and Paul. Beautiful weather with a breeze from the west. With wind and tide easily (for most) up to Kinlochleven but it was much harder to return against the breeze. Quite a long paddle for the first outing for some.

Caolasnacon & the Pap of Glencoe

April / May Improver Sessions

April / May Improver Sessions

In April and so far in May the club has not been idle. The improver sessions started with a well attended pool session with everyone from complete begginers to a first time roller learning something new. We followed with three Monday evening sessions at Outward Bound all in typical calm sunny weather and all with between 20 and 26 boats on the water including improvers and helpers and Ally instructing.

In addition the club has helped provide safety cover for two Highland Open Water swim events both in Loch Sunart.

Saturday 30th March shuttle Loch nan Uamh to Loch Ailort

Liz, Ken, Steve and Stephen met at the Prince’s Cairn to agree a route and car shuttle. The forecast during the week had predicted bright spells, but it was not to be. We had a mixture of dull and overcast skys, light drizzle, heavy drizzle and rain. However, we did have only gentle breezes from ENE and it was dry when we stopped to have lunch on a lovely sandy beach west of Peanmeanach Bay.
We put in to Loch nan Uamh underneath the “horse and cart” bridge. The sea was flat calm all day, even round Rubha Chaolais. The direct route to the jetties at the end of the loch was about 12km, but we took advantage of the flat waters to meander round the Eilean a Claolais and Eilean nan Gobhar and into the bay to look at Peanmeanach Bothy. From there a straight paddle back to the jetties near Lochailort – 18km in all. A good, mellow day despite the weather.

At the start - Loch nan Uamh

On the "other" beach - lunch at Peanmeanach

Take out - Loch Ailort Pier

17th March 2019
Appin - an excellent turnout from the club supporting the Highland Open Water Swimmers. We launched from the big layby opposite Shuna and paddled down to the Appin/Lismore ferry crossing. Quite a challenge for some with a stiff NW breeze and choppy conditions. 50 or so swimmers made the crossing. Bright sunny conditions with snow on the tops - why can't summer be like this! Many thanks to the swimmers for the soup and cakes in the village hall afterwards and for the lift back to the cars to save a hard paddle against wind and tide.

 

 

Tues 12th June Loch Lochy

Tues 12th June Loch Lochy
A lovely evening, fine, sunny and enough breeze to keep the midges away. Seven paddlers, Paul, Ken Barry, Tony, Jess, Morgan, Sara, & Fiona took to the water. We followed the shore down to Bunarkaig Bay and had brief excursion under the road bridge into the river Arkaig. Then we headed across the loch to Glenfintaig House and back.

Beutiful views of Ben Nevis and the Grey Corries

Glenfintaig House

5th June Loch Ailort

Tuesday Eve 5th June paddle from Forsay, Loch Ailort

Port an t-Sluichd

A group of five Paul, Tracey, Ken & Liz, and Elizabeth took to the water from Forsay - easy parking and a short carry down a wooded bank and across shingle pursued by midges. Conditions were calm and a bit cloudy but excellent for paddling. We crossed the loch via Goat Island and Eilean a'Chaolais and then on round to Port an t-Sluichd. Returned via the islands and Roshven House.

2/3 June 2018 Loch Hourn

2/3 June 2018 Loch Hourn

Launching at Kinlochhourn

This was the second of Ian's organised weekend trips this year and he got the perfect weather yet again though with one or two added features for interest. Eight members met at 1200 Kinlochhourn ready for the launch. The new? gravel slip made parking and launching easy though it might have been more challenging in the bottom half of the tide. We travelled down the loch with the outgoing tide balancing the incoming gentle breeze and admiring the significant ups and downs of the lochside footpath.

Lunch at Runival Ladhar Bheinn back left.

 The late lunch stop was at the old school house at Runival. As we came into Barriesdale Bay we made a last minute decision to head for Inbhir Dhorrcail rather than up the river channel and mud flats to Barriesdale bothy.

Camp at Inbhir Dhorrchail, Beinn Sgritheall across behind Arnisdale

Across the bay we were pursued by a developing thunder storm, we landed, pitched in rapid order and in the nick of time took cover from the rain and midges. No one was struck by lightning. Two hours later we emerged to a fine evening with the friendly midges being detered by an open fire.

Inbhir Dhorrchail

Day 2, Ron & Paul headed for the hills. First paddling to the west end of the Barriesdale Bay and then heading up the Creag Bheithe ridge to Stob Chearcaill and then back down by Mam Barriesdale.

Paddlers crossing to Corran

When we returned to the kayaks 6 hours later the tide had retreated to leave a long carry and wade to relaunch. Then it was back up the loch with a good following wind. The rest of the party had a leisurely breakfast, then paddled acrosss to Corran to visit Sheena's Tea Hut before returning to Kinlochhourn.

The long launch across Barriesdale Bay

We arrived at Kinlochhourn almost at low tide so there was a bit of carrying to get back onto the slipway. A brilliant weekend, a bit hot (can't complain!) and enough breeze most of the time to keep the midges away.