Its good to be back too Two Stroke Mick..my legs are a bit shaky with being in a wee boat all summer..although I cant tell if they are suffering too much rolling motion..or too much gravy. Im home for a day or two too dry out..then I will be off again.
Kerny.. I have heard one or two fellow Scots complain a wee bit about this summer..but I have had a ball year in my boat. A bit of rain or wind wont keep the guppy ashore. Next week looks a good week too..so I may well visit Arisaig Sunday and Monday ? Where will you be re hydrating your bladder in the evening and I will try to visit ?
Maximus is up there then too ?
AIan.. you up for a wee dram Sunday night if all can meet ? Would be good to see what you all look like
Sometimes I let my friends go in front.. and I slowly stalked them like an Orca stalks a salty seal lunch
Other times I watched them paddle past the ancient landscape.. unchanged by human hands.. except perhaps.. for the eradication of ferocious wolves.. many years before our time.
Once my imagination started to weary.. and the paddlers started to dehydrate.. we agreed on a quick lunch stop.. so landed at a suitable bay. No longer had we landed than the only wild beasts left in Scotland.. descended on us in their millions .. the vampire midges were now stalking us for our salty blood.
As I danced my midge war dance..trying to shake the blighters off exposed body parts.. the kayakers laughed at my antics.. as they were fly free in their protective dry suits. Fortunately for me..one of the guys knew the estate owner and had permission to use his old cottage. Inside..we were safe from most midges ..but now had to endure the occasional foray from the many field mice...that live in the establishment.
The kayakers busied themselves with coffee making tasks while I refuelled my outboard. On my return they looked at me and asked ..
“ Gurnard..are you not having a coffee ?”
I was a little surprised when they fell about laughing when I replied
“Naw.. I find it easier opening a tin of Guinness gravy..than faffing about with stoves and hot water for coffee”
As I pulled the ring pull open on my anti dehydration liquid.. I couldn’t help but wonder what the joke was ?
After the fuel stop ..and subsequent draining of my internal tank..it was back on the water..for more adventuring. This time I left the guys a bit behind..as I wanted to take a wee detour.
One of my sea related hobbies is “Loch Bagging” which basically means..I try to sit on my boat in all named sea lochs .. on the west of Scotland. I had not bagged Loch a Choire before .. which is a small sea loch off Loch Linnhe . Im pleased to report ... It is now in my “Bag” list
I drifted in a dream in Loch a Choire ..as I was in no hurry..then when I came round again..I realized the kayakers would be well in front ... so I sped south down Loch Linnhe again.
It was easy to find them ..as they had to have another refuel stop and had landed on a lovely red granite shingle shore.
And this time..I was amused to see they were coming round to my way of thinking. Seems they now found it was far easier breaking open a bottle of Auchentoshan Single Malt whisky than faffing around with stoves and hot water for coffee.
And far tastier too !!!!! This adventure was shaping up nicely.. its always a pure joy to share adventures with like minded friends.
To be continued ...
Clewless
Imogen
Red Mist
Breawatch
