The change in weather didn’t come to much.. the wind ruffled the water but didn’t form large waves.. and as I continued to Kinlochleven .. the rain turned to scotch mist again.
As I neared the end of the loch..the wind dropped. You can just make out the start of the houses at Kinlochleven in this photo.
Its a sleepy wee village now but it was once a bustling community. Its heart was an Aluminium Smelter .. and the British Aluminium Company built a dam and hydro electric scheme to feed it. It was nicknamed “The electric village” as it is supposed to be the first village in the world where ever house (all 420 of them) had electricity. Now its famed for its mountain pursuits and its artificial Ice Climbing wall..where mountaineers can practice winter climbing ..even in mid summer.
When the Smelter was in operation..large ships came up the loch to feed the smelter .. and they docked at the deep water pier ..the remains still stand to this day.
An old fisherman friend used to tell me tales of a huge conger eel that lived in the murky depths below the wooden pillars supporting the pier. He claimed he hooked it several times but broke his line every time. He said It was as big as the Loch Ness Monster. I tend to believe these old tales .. so tied my boat securely to a large buoy ..in case I hooked this monster..and it tried to drag my wee boat under the pier.
Then I attached a whole mackerel to a hook and 50lb wire trace ..before dropping it down to the depths below. I then sat and waited ...
...and waited ..and waited. But not so much as a nibble. I sometimes wonder ... about these fishy old tales folk tell ?
I don’t think these was a single fish in Loch Leven that day.
So I headed back through the narrows at Caolas Nan Con..
...before landing at low tide..where I had left the car.
Although I had not seen any fish all day..I had a very enjoyable time. I packed the Guppy back in the car..and as I was about to leave .. I saw an otter run across the shore ..heading for the water.
Where the cheeky bugger showed me that there was fish in the loch.. you can just make out the dark triangle of his head a few yards off shore ..with a small Pollock in his mouth.
I guess that fishing for you ...
To summarise my two recent adventures in the F-Rib .. I have been testing its capabilities and handling ability and it has performed far better than my expectations. Its planes with one person and a 3.3hp engine .. but any luggage ..and its bogged down to displacement speed. I now know its limitations in fast flowing tides.
Its a doddle to set up ..carry in my car ..and transport across shores I was finding hard with my larger Quicksilver wooden floor SIB. The Transom Dolly works as expected ..with no issues at all. It can be carried in the back of the boat..or left in the car..its my choice.
I have never know a small boat..and that includes hardshells with cuddies and wayfarers with outboards ..to be so positive and maneuverable to control. Certainly no sluggish flabby bottomed SIB that I know ..can turn on the sixpence this boat can..and at low revs.
The next test for the F-Rib would put this maneuverability to good use .. I also needed to test her in a wave .. so she went to sea for the first time last week. ..look out for a new adventure coming soon ... called “A Guppy goes to sea”
Thanks all .. for the interest in my witterings and tales of the sea.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
Red Mist
