Falls of Lora - again!

Janet getting her boat wet.

Heading out at the crack of ridiculous o'clock across the Forth bridge and I gazed longingly at the beautiful view. The sun was just beginning to come up and was casting a warm golden glow across the Forth. The water so flat calm, the islands and bridge had perfect reflections - absolutely stunning.
However we are now on Week 5 of this continuous paddle programme thingy that Hubby dear is doing for his AWE sea, all I want is a nice flat paddle, the last thing I'm going to get is a nice flat paddle! We're on our way up to the Falls of Lora again. It's not running as fast as it was a couple of weeks previous, but fast enough still to have a bit of fun.
We eventually arrived at our 1st rendezvous point, The Green Welly for breakfast number 2, bacon butties and coffee.

It was then off to the Falls. By now the weather was getting mighty damp, however, I guess it was going to be damp where we were going anyway!
Janet was up for the morning to launch a new boat and have her first salt water trip - what a place to remember having your first paddle! The water wasn't moving too much so it was a fine introduction for her.

Anymore room for a wee one?

After lunch, Janet was now off the water, we paddled up under the bridge for a bit, waiting for the flow to increase. By now the wind was blowing a hooley and the heavens had opened with the rain "falling" horizontally.

Coming back down, the flow was now running, with us doing the usual cutting in and out, ferry gliding back and forward and generally trying to stay upright, some folks doing better at this part than others!
It wasn't too long before the lot of us were well and truly jiggered and decided to call it a day.

The sun even managed to appear for a while.

Back on dry land, arrangements were made for our next meeting point, the chippy up at Tyndrum - well we reckoned we had earned it.

Big Bash

Looking down under the Ballachulish bridge

From our room with a view

Perfect paddling conditions? No, the car park!

Ever since joining LSKC, we have been told we should attend their annual Big Bash up at Ballachulish, seems it is a really good weekend away. The thought of a couple of days paddling, meals included, comfy bed and a shindig at night sounded good, so we signed up.

 

Good Scottish paddling weather!

For our first days paddling, a day with Seakayak Freedom was arranged for the Falls of Lora. My previous memories of paddling this area was when we were doing the 4* training, specifically being towed by Hubby dear and another paddler in a V tow. Normally this would be lovely, sitting back enjoying the view, however, they had other ideas, paddling on either side of a large dry rock!
This time, Tony took us out. The large dry rock was on the other side of the bridge and safely submerged! We were doing lots of breaking in and out of the flow, giving it a bit more edge before heading over to the north channel, doing the same again in the opposite direction. Helped to unwind us.

 

Dry run edging!

Mark and Laura grabbing a breather

 

This was where things went downhill/downstream for me. Having been getting good edges on one side, I went in this time a bit hesitant (why, I still don't know!) and unsurprisingly ended up going over. Unsurprisingly, whilst still in the swirly area my roll failed. I'm saying unsurprisingly as my river boat roll is OK, unfortunately my sea roll went AWOL quite some time ago now!!!, however I have some tips from Tony I'm hoping will miraculously make it return! Something which did surprise me was my damp pants! My wee swim was obviously too much for my beloved drysuit!

Back in the boat, we finished off a fantastic, if not exhausting days paddling, before heading back to the hotel in time for the evening ceilidh.

On Oban slipway

Heading up the Sound of Kerrera

Looking over to a snowy Mull

 Next morning, Alice had organised a trip down to Oban to go round Kerrera. A lovely refreshing paddle with some bouncy waves round the north of the island. Lunch on the south of the island was accompanied by a sunny hail shower.

 

Coming round the south corner

 

Me!

Not a boat to play chicken with!

  For those of you who commented on the contents of my now famous wee blue sweetie bag containing sweets of various vintages, stickiness and saltiness, the bag has now been cleaned and replenished with new ones where you won't have to sook the wrappers off!

A few new sweets!

The only major incident of the day was not getting back to Oban before the ice cream shop shut! A whole weekend with no ice cream but a great Big Bash!