Kayakey Kid's Loch Lomond Adventure

Guest editor this time is the Kayakey Kid himself!

The Kayakey Kid

Leo Kayaking Report

On Wednesday the 14^th of February 2018, I was super excited as I knew I only had one more sleep to go before I got to go to Loch Lomond with my Grandma and Grandad to do some adventuring and my favourite kayaking. I spent ages with my dad getting all of my equipment ready and packed away so that I could leave bright and early on the Thursday morning. That night I went to bed super early so I could get a great nights sleep as I knew I would need all of my energy for what was to come.

On Loch Lomond with Grandad

On the Thursday morning once I got to my Grandma’s house we packed the big car and hit the road. The drive up to Loch Lomond was lovely, I liked looking at all of the scenery that we were driving past, my favourite things to see were the Kelpies. We finally arrived after what felt like hours in the car to a nice Hostel that was just by the Loch. I helped unpack the car and had a quick look around to see if my friends had arrived yet. At this point only 1 of them had arrived and her name is Hannah. Later on Antony and Ellen arrived which was great as there were more of us to play games like Toilet tig while all of the adults were planning what we were all going to get up to on this great trip. I overheard all the adults talking about us going to wallaby island, I was so happy to hear this as I really wanted to go there.

On Thursday we had a nice relaxing time talking and playing games before going to our beds. I loved staying there and I was super excited about what the next day would bring.

 

Searching for Wallabies

Not finding Wallabies!

Out with Grandma

On Friday morning we were up early to get all of our stuff ready and get a good breakfast. We went to a beach, all the adults helped us get ready in our kayaks. They pushed us off of the beach and on to the Loch. Here our adventure really begins. I stayed close to my grandad and spoke to him whilst we paddled down the loch. All of a sudden the winds picked up and I felt like my kayak was about to capsize but I managed to control it with a low brace. Battling against the winds was hard but I knew I could do it. We went over to wallaby island but unfortunately I couldn’t see any wallabys and grandma said she thought they might be on their holidays which made me laugh. I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t see any wallabys but decided not to let it ruin my day. We stopped on a beautiful beach on the island so we could have our lunch. After everyone had finished their lunches and let it settle in their stomachs we headed off for part two of our adventure. The adults told us we were to paddle to the green and red buoys that were in the water so we could get an ice cream. This made me paddle even faster than before as I really liked the idea of getting an ice cream. We went to the beach to leave the boats and headed on the hunt for ice cream. The first shop we went in to didn’t sell ice cream so our hunt continued until we finally found a wee shop that had a variety of ice cream flavours for us. I got chocolate and strawberry ice cream. After we had finished our ice creams we headed back to the beach and jumped in to the boats and headed to the hostel but the winds were scarier now and the adults told us we had to cross the loch to get back to the hostel. This was hard to do and my arms and hands were getting sore and tired, I couldn’t wait to get back and relax. When we finally arrived back to the hostel we all got sorted and had dinner. I was super tired and felt like I had used all of the energy in my body.

Trained by Grandma!

Saturday morning the weather was sunny but still chilly, the wind was calmer than the night before which was good for us. This time we paddled past wallaby island and decided we were going to paddle half of the loch. I saw a big bird in the bright blue sky. Everyone was having a awesome time, we stopped for lunch on a bright and beautiful beach .

Once we finished our lunch we set off to the cars, on the way I saw swans and geese in the water. I got a bit chilly because I was in the middle of the loch. We stopped at a yellow buoy so we can have a race. So me, Mandy, grandad, grandma and Hannah stopped at the yellow buoy and 1….2….3 go, go, go, so the race begins. Out of me, grandad and grandma the first person to get back gets an ice – cream. In the lead is Hannah, in second me and third grandma but thanks to my small boat and the waves, I came in first place. I was first on the beach so I got an ice-cream, so did grandma and grandad. Once I got my clothes on I skimmed stones, my high score was 5. Once I finished, I went to the car. I got a chocolate  and strawberry ice- cream. I went to the car and I fell asleep in the car as well. When I got back I had tea then I went to bed.

from Leo xxxx

bye

Me and my Grandad!

A visit to Old Harry, Just what the Doc ordered!

It's not often that Ken and I get the chance to paddle just the two of us together so after Jersey we decided having come so far to spend a bit more time down south. Of course it helped having our own boats with us so our first day out was to visit "Old Harry". We put in at Swanage Bay, headed out along the wonderful white cliffs of the Jurassic coast. In and out of caves, arches and pinnacles before reaching Old Harry, quite a spectacular coastline. We then returned the same way with our get out right beside an icecream booth! 2 scoops of ginger icecream to finish off the day - yum!

After a few "dry" days we visited Port Issac, home to Doc Martin, such a pretty area, it would have been such a shame not to paddle it!

Back home, it was good to see that the builders had done some work! Demolishing walls, garage, hauling out windows, chimney down, nothing but stoor everywhere! Time to go paddling again!

In July, 6 of us, David, Paul, Colin, Martin, Ken and I met up for breakfast at Tescos in Oban before heading over to Ellenabeich to start our weeks trip round Jura. Boats loaded, off we went - slightly against the flow! Now anybody who knows the area knows this is going to be hard - it was! However we had to leave at this time to help us a bit later. After getting out my boat to haul it through a bit of a flow against me while cutting through the rocks, things started getting easier and we made it down to the bothy at the bottom of Scarba. Next morning after the mist cleared, we had a beautiful paddle across the Gulf of Corryvreckan to Jura. The tide was going with us (thankfully!), the sea was flat calm and we just flew down the east coast of Jura whilst watching a Minke a short distance off. 

 

Lussa Bay, Jura

   After stopping for lunch in Lussa Bay, we made it down to  Craighouse where we camped infront of the hotel. Only a couple of days into the trip, but still wonderful to get a lovely hot shower, then over to the hotel for dinner and a pint! Next morning the weather had changed! We passed a couple of young sea eagles as the tail wind blew us round the bottom to Rubha na traille, then a bit of a battle past Brosdale Island. 

Good drying day

Corpach Bay, Jura

We stopped off on the beach opposite for lunch, then a strong battle up the sound of Islay. The tide was with us, the wind certainly wasn't! We eventually made it up to the lovely beaches at Rubh'a'bhaillien. It was good just to flake out on my bed that night, just as well as the midgies were hell there! So 3 days into our week long trip and we were about 3/4 of the way there. Next morning, with empty boats , we had a wee trip up Loch Tarbert, up through the narrows, with our lunch stop at the lovely Cruib Lodge Bothy. Next morning, boats once again loaded, we had a shortish paddle up to Corpach Bay, what a stunning area with a fantastic waterfall that was just calling to be turned into a shower. It was bracing, but boy did I feel good after that shower! Another shortish day when we made our way up to Gleann Beag, stopping off at Glen Garrisdale bothy on the way.

The boys playing in the flow of Corryvreckan

 From Gleann Beag, we made our way across  the Corryvreckan again to the Garvellachs for lunch, then onto Belnahua where the "boys" had their own stone skimming contest!

Arty Farty!

 Our last day took us round Fladda before zooming back to Ellenabeich with a lovely tail wind and of course an ice cream!

Kayakey Kid rock hopping!

Out with Grandma and Grandad

A real seakayaker, complete with silly hat!

As we arrived back home on a Saturday and with the boats still being on the car, it seemed a shame not to make the most of that by going out again, so on the Sunday, we collected the Kayakey Kid, headed down to Seafield, paddled past all the seals,round to Kinghorn, to his Great Grans for strawberry tarts. As we were about to leave to come home, a huge pod of dolphins passed by - what a fantastic trip and right on our doorstep! Kayakey Kid now thinks all sea trips are like this!

Cool kid

Seal watching at Seafield

Back home, the house is still upside down. The garage has now started being knocked, it was just too wee for boats!

How to destress my way!

Well, I have to say, it's absolutely ages since I have visited my blog! There have been various reasons for this, mainly, since retiring I have very little time to myself now!
The last few months have been a bit stressfull. Amongst other things we were wanting to do some alterations on our house, so set about getting an architect, well one that would actually do the work! Easier said than done. The plans were eventually drawn up and put in to the council, planning permission wasn't too bad to get, however getting a building warrant was a different ball game. Change of architect (the one that actually wanted the work!) eventually the warrant came through.
To keep sane during all this time, we found that locking the door, packing the car and going off paddling was the best destress we could get and as we seemed to have had more than our fair share of hassle, we have managed to probably have more than our fair share of paddling!
Since Orkney, I've managed to fit in my 4* OC training, not sure I'll ever be up to scratch for the assessment!

OC rescue practise

Next was a special paddle. I took the Kayakey Kid for his first sea "trip" in his own boat. He was delighted to be visited by a seal. 

A very happy Kayakey Kid

We've had a wonderful weekend paddling from Easdale, battling the currents, through the Corryvreckan, battling the wind, through the Cuan sounds, generally a bumpy, refreshing, but great time weekend!

The bridge over the Atlantic

It was an exhausting trip!

A weekend up on Skye doing rescue scenarios ended up with me only having half a set of spare splits - not happy! Tried to contact Celtic paddles to see if I could buy a replacement half, didn't even get a reply!

Me 'n' He having fun

Then there was the Scottish open canoe symposium up at Glenmore - more paddling up at Knockando, great weekend!

More OC rescues

More fun

Next we were up at Ratagan with the Lothian club, out round by Plockton, then a play down at Kylerhea. Another excellent weekend!

After the, we needed a wee warm up off in Florida. We did manage out in the Everglades for some paddling, however, there had been a lot of rain just before we arrived, as a result there were masses of hungry mozzies. We also managed to get a bit of diving down on the Keys with Turtles, Nurse shark, Barracuda, lots more. Fantastic holiday.

A couple of our paddling companions

Coming back from the lovely heat of Florida, we went straight up to be final sweepers for the Tay Descent. I have decided this is about the most soul destroying job of the Descent. We left after everyone, including the racers. We paddle the full course of 23 miles to make sure no one has been left behind or injured and never saw any other paddlers at all.

Glad to have finished!

It didn't seem long before we were now into the New Year which of course meant our New Year's day paddle. It was certainly breezy enough to blow away even the most stubborn of cobwebs, but good to be out again.

Our New Year's day jaunt

Out again on the 2nd, Inchcolm this time.

Still January, up at St Andrews this time where I managed to have a battle with a barnacle covered rock, the rock won!

February was pretty much taken up with our son's wedding, there are certain times even we don't go paddling!

Not a drysuit in sight! With No.3 Grandchild

In March we had a beautiful days paddling on Loch Lomond, stopped for lunch on Inchconnachan, spotted a Wallaby, then on to Luss for what else, but icecream!

Loch Lomond Wallaby

The following weekend was a SSKEG trip up on the Moray coast with Zoe. Big and bumpy conditions meant we couldn't get close in to the shoreline. Day 2 saw us having a great time with a surf session.

Into April with another SSKEG trip, our one this time, out to the May Isle, unfortunately a bit too early for the Puffins to have landed.

Rounding the May

Next weekend we had fun under the Forth Bridge playing in the faster flows with "An introduction to moving water" session.

Even more rescue practise!

The following weekend, we were back up at Ratagan, seeing the Leopard man's bothy, then stopping at Eilean Donan for icecream, where they thoughtfully put up a "wet floor" sign behind us!

Inside the Leopard man's bothy

Eilean Donan for ice cream

Still in April, we were up at Glenmore again for the CVC, this time I took up my river kayak and ended up on the middle Findhorn, then had a fabulous surf session the next day up at Sandend.

Time to warm up again, so off to Tenerife, no paddling, but we did get out diving, lots of Turtles and rays.

Me 'n' he again 

Going up!

So as you can see, we've had an extremely stressful few months! However, now that the building warrant has come through, the real stress begins! House has to be cleared again, quite how we have managed to fill it with so much junk already, I'll never know - we're never at home! At the end of May, the builders were starting. First off, walls were getting knocked down, so what did we do? We went paddling! This time to the Jersey seakayak symposium!