Our attempts to sneak upon them to video them was stopped in its tracks when one of them sneaked up on us!
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| One of our routes in May |
Saturday, 31 May 2014
Venturing out
So since returning from the intermediate course we have spent May venturing out on our own coast, including a number of crossings to Piel Island and encounters with our local seal population.
Our attempts to sneak upon them to video them was stopped in its tracks when one of them sneaked up on us!
Our attempts to sneak upon them to video them was stopped in its tracks when one of them sneaked up on us!
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Intermediate Course day 4
Today we headed
over to Glenelg Bay to try and demystify Kylerhea, an area of fast
moving water. The groups crossed just south of the ferry crossing
with the flow running north by more than 4 knots. We ferry glided
across but got pushed north a little more than expected. This
resulted in us having to portage over some rocks to get away from the
main stream. Not sure it demystified Kylerhea, but it did mean that
we have now paddled across to Skye a place both Tina and I love.
We continued to
paddle south west along the sound and then crossed the sound to the
Sandaig Islands. These islands are just off the main land where Gavin
Maxwell, the Scottish author lived. He wrote the book “Ring of
Bright Water”. We stopped on the Sandaig islands for lunch, what a
great location.
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| Sandaig in the Sound of Sleat |
After lunch we
paddled back along the main land coast back to Glenelg Bay, along the
way we had a real wildlife treat. Willie spotted a Sea Eagle high up
on one of the trees next to the loch. We watched it for quite a while
until it spread its huge wings and flew away. Although it looked
large sitting in the tree, it was when it spread its wings that I
realised just how big they are. That’s the first time either of us
have seen a Sea Eagle in Scotland.
On return to
Glenelg Bay we practiced our rescues some more.
It’s been a
great 4 days and we have added to our knowledge and have some more
things to practice.
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Intermediate Course day 3
Today we went
back to the slip opposite Eilean Donan castle, crossed Loch Duich. We
spent a little while practicing moving sideways before heading up
Loch Alsh. Again we practiced close manoeuvring
along the rocky shore where Loch Alsh meets Loch Duich. Near to Glas
Eilean we stopped for lunch before returning by the same route.
In the evening we
had a session on sea kayak navigation theory.
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Intermediate Course day 2
The plan today was to kayak from Plockton to Kyle of Lochalsh, so we left one vehicle at the Kyle and head off to Plockton.
The wind was still in the east so this made for a bumpy time leavening Polckton, but once we rounded Rubha Mor we had the wind behind us and a following sea. With this being the case we did not put our skegs down, but instead used it to practice out stern rudders. Past An Dubh aird we stopped on a lovely beach for lunch (57 deg 20.2 mins N, 5 deg 41.1 mins west).
After lunch we once again became exposed to the following sea and spent some time practicing turning into and away from the wind. There was also a bit of excitement when one of the others on the course managed to beach his kayak on some rocks as they got uncovered by a wave. The rest of us took shelter in a small bay while Willie freed him from the rocks. From all accounts it was quite a hit, so in the shelter of the bay the kayak was taken out of the water to check it over. Luckily there was no damage.
A bit further along the coast Willie spotted a mink on the rocks near the edge of the water but by the time we had realised what he had seen it had gone. We all however had more look when we came across an otter in the water. We were able to watch it for a little while and managed a good look when it climbed out on the rocks for a short while.
Before reaching the Kyle’s we also practiced a little bit of peer rescue, with Tina (as usual) volunteering to get it the water. This also attracted a couple of seals who wanted to see what was going on.
Under the road way which links the Skye Bridge to the main land and a bit of a paddle into the wind saw us back at the Kyle of Lochalsh.
Wild life count – numerous sea birds, a couple of seals, 1 mink and 1 otter.
Earlier in the week the plan for tomorrow was to have a wild camp, but the wind is still forecast to be strong so the plan is now to stop each night at the centre and go out each day practising in the wind.
The wind was still in the east so this made for a bumpy time leavening Polckton, but once we rounded Rubha Mor we had the wind behind us and a following sea. With this being the case we did not put our skegs down, but instead used it to practice out stern rudders. Past An Dubh aird we stopped on a lovely beach for lunch (57 deg 20.2 mins N, 5 deg 41.1 mins west).
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| Lunch |
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| Beach - lunch stop |
After lunch we once again became exposed to the following sea and spent some time practicing turning into and away from the wind. There was also a bit of excitement when one of the others on the course managed to beach his kayak on some rocks as they got uncovered by a wave. The rest of us took shelter in a small bay while Willie freed him from the rocks. From all accounts it was quite a hit, so in the shelter of the bay the kayak was taken out of the water to check it over. Luckily there was no damage.
A bit further along the coast Willie spotted a mink on the rocks near the edge of the water but by the time we had realised what he had seen it had gone. We all however had more look when we came across an otter in the water. We were able to watch it for a little while and managed a good look when it climbed out on the rocks for a short while.
Before reaching the Kyle’s we also practiced a little bit of peer rescue, with Tina (as usual) volunteering to get it the water. This also attracted a couple of seals who wanted to see what was going on.
Under the road way which links the Skye Bridge to the main land and a bit of a paddle into the wind saw us back at the Kyle of Lochalsh.
Wild life count – numerous sea birds, a couple of seals, 1 mink and 1 otter.
Earlier in the week the plan for tomorrow was to have a wild camp, but the wind is still forecast to be strong so the plan is now to stop each night at the centre and go out each day practising in the wind.
Monday, 21 April 2014
Intermediate Course day 1
Today was the first day of the course, the first part of the day was taken kitting out and looking at different kayaks with the two other people that are on the course. Tina and I now have all our own kit but it’s still good to hear about the differences in kayaks. Mid morning we left the centre and went to the north end of Loch Duich where Duich and Loch Long meet. We put in at the slip just north of Eilean Donan Castle. Crossing to the castle, the tide was on its way out but there was still sufficient water to go under the middle arch of the bridge which joins the small island that the castle stands on to the main land.
We headed south east for about ½ nautical mile before crossing the loch which was a little choppy. Once on the other side we went north west and just around the headland into Loch Alsh. On route we stopped and practiced some new skills. It’s likely to be windy this week so one of the most important skill we learnt today was about turning in the wind. When windy it can be a bit of a battle to turn a sea kayak and it is possible to get in a situation where no matter how hard you try you just go in a straight line, not so good if that straight line takes you out to sea!
On the way back from Loch Alsh in to Duich we practiced moving along close to the rocks and another choppy crossing got use back to the castle.
Today’s route was only about 4 nautical miles in total, but we learnt some new stuff and got to practice some of the old stuff.
Wild life count – numerous sea birds and 1 seal
We headed south east for about ½ nautical mile before crossing the loch which was a little choppy. Once on the other side we went north west and just around the headland into Loch Alsh. On route we stopped and practiced some new skills. It’s likely to be windy this week so one of the most important skill we learnt today was about turning in the wind. When windy it can be a bit of a battle to turn a sea kayak and it is possible to get in a situation where no matter how hard you try you just go in a straight line, not so good if that straight line takes you out to sea!
On the way back from Loch Alsh in to Duich we practiced moving along close to the rocks and another choppy crossing got use back to the castle.
Today’s route was only about 4 nautical miles in total, but we learnt some new stuff and got to practice some of the old stuff.
Wild life count – numerous sea birds and 1 seal
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Travel to Scotland West Coast
Today we travelled to Scotland for 4 days of paddling on an intermediate course run by the Kintail ranger service and NTS. It was a real nice day weather wise, temperature nearly reached 20 degrees C but we were surprised when we reached Loch Duich to find small white horses on the surface.
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Wet and Wild Take 2
Saturday 12th April
We are still practicing our skills for our trip to Scotland, so once again found a wet and windy Coniston Water was our destination today. Again we paddled around the south end and used the sheltered bay for practicing our different paddle strokes.
Sunday13 April 2014
Having spent yesterday practicing paddle strokes today was another day for building up stamina. We paddled down the length of Coniston Water and back again. The weather was very windy and at time the water was equivalent to sea state 2 (smooth) but it felt like anything boot smooth. A couple of times when travelling 90 degrees to the wave direction I felt like I was going to be tipped over, the kayak was unloaded so easily pushed about by the waves. I managed to stay up right more with luck then skill, bracing strokes still need a lot of work! We both agreed it was good practice and I can’t remember having ever paddled in such rough conditions even in the open canoe. In fact I'm sure, since there is no way we could have paddled the open canoe against such strong winds that we had on the way back.
I have taken recently to having the VHF radio with us on Coniston, there is a Coastguard repeater nearby, which means you can hear the weather broadcast. As well as the coast guard you can hear the ferries which operate on the lake and the yachting club reporting their plan for races. This gives us an idea of what the larger vessels and fast yachts are doing. Also since I paddle with it fixed to the outside of my buoyancy aid I’m making sure it does not interfere with any strokes. As if we had not had enough excitement with the weather, on the way back the radio started alarming as it had picked up a DSC (Digital Selective Calling) urgency broadcast (PAN PAN), one level down from an emergency broadcast (MAY DAY). There were no details given in the DSC message apart from the MMSI number and we could not detect any follow-up voice message on channel 16. No further alarm was received so it was either cancelled or acknowledged by the coastguard.
Well that’s probably the last outing until we head to Scotland in a weeks time.
We are still practicing our skills for our trip to Scotland, so once again found a wet and windy Coniston Water was our destination today. Again we paddled around the south end and used the sheltered bay for practicing our different paddle strokes.
Sunday13 April 2014
Having spent yesterday practicing paddle strokes today was another day for building up stamina. We paddled down the length of Coniston Water and back again. The weather was very windy and at time the water was equivalent to sea state 2 (smooth) but it felt like anything boot smooth. A couple of times when travelling 90 degrees to the wave direction I felt like I was going to be tipped over, the kayak was unloaded so easily pushed about by the waves. I managed to stay up right more with luck then skill, bracing strokes still need a lot of work! We both agreed it was good practice and I can’t remember having ever paddled in such rough conditions even in the open canoe. In fact I'm sure, since there is no way we could have paddled the open canoe against such strong winds that we had on the way back.
I have taken recently to having the VHF radio with us on Coniston, there is a Coastguard repeater nearby, which means you can hear the weather broadcast. As well as the coast guard you can hear the ferries which operate on the lake and the yachting club reporting their plan for races. This gives us an idea of what the larger vessels and fast yachts are doing. Also since I paddle with it fixed to the outside of my buoyancy aid I’m making sure it does not interfere with any strokes. As if we had not had enough excitement with the weather, on the way back the radio started alarming as it had picked up a DSC (Digital Selective Calling) urgency broadcast (PAN PAN), one level down from an emergency broadcast (MAY DAY). There were no details given in the DSC message apart from the MMSI number and we could not detect any follow-up voice message on channel 16. No further alarm was received so it was either cancelled or acknowledged by the coastguard.
Well that’s probably the last outing until we head to Scotland in a weeks time.
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