Turkey Basher time

Inch Gnome

Waiting to cross the shipping lane

Well after lots of hard work, plastering, papering and painting just about anything that sat still for more than 10 mins, it was time to get some fresh air, so the end of December we headed out for our annual Turkey Basher trip, this time out from Silver Sands, past Inch Gnome and out to Oxcars for a wee play, then back to Inchcolm for lunch before heading back to have a quick dip in the bay. Great for working off excess chocolate!

Oxcars

Inchcolm Abbey

Can only be described as refreshing!


As for the house, it's great having the garage now rebuilt, somewhere cosy for the boats!

2017

Our next  escape from the painting was our New Years Day paddle out from  Pathhead on a beautiful cold, sunny day. Heading east past Dysart and stopping for nosh at West Wemyss before returning.

Passing the old Frances Mine

West Wemyss nosh stop

Big boats, little boats

Now that Christmas and New Year are over, we're back to creating more stoor! Upstairs this time

A tiny bit of space left, just for paddling kit!

Getting used to upheaval.

Time to escape again!
It's Loch Rannoch time again. Weather was a bit chilly, sometimes just too chilly for paddling!

But not too chilly for a swim!
From there we headed up to Thurso where we met up with Andy, Ansgar and Alice for a weekend of paddling. Due to the somewhat breezy conditions, we only had a short, eventful paddle near Dunnet Head

 Chilly put in

Blustery Pentland Firth

Back home, things are still stoory!

We brought in spring with a trip out to Loch Lomond where we were lucky enough to see the Wallaby again.

Group sailing

A lovely sunny trip, then back to a lovely sunny kitchen. It's been alot of work and dust, but the house is eventually beginning to take shape

Beavering away at Loch Rannoch - featuring the Kayakey Kid

 

Watching the birdy

Ready to go paddling - a Scottish loch mid February!

 

Bit better kitted out!

A bit snow

We were recently up at Loch Rannoch for our annual weeks get away. Once again the Kayakey Kid came along for a few days. He was going to be missing a day making a Pterodactyl, but saying as they've been out of action for a few years now, I reckoned 1 more day shouldn't make too much difference and being as he has just recently joined the Beavers, this wee trip would give him a fine opportunity to work on some badges, his Time on the water badge, Paddlesport badge, his photography badge and his hiking badge - not bad for a few days away.

A bit of navigation work

The following is the Kayakey Kid's contribution to my blog along with some of his photos.

I am in Loch Rannoch. I can see Schiehallion. I have been swimming in Fort William and I had icecream there. On Friday I went canoeing and I saw a waterfall. I played Ninja Turtles card game. When I was canoeing I had an adventure. The adventure on Loch Eigheach.

Loch Rannoch

Grandma

Schiehallion

 

 

A well deserved photographers badge earned!

 

Aaargh! There be pirates on Loch Rannoch!

Grabbing a wee breather

February is the time again for our wee jaunt up to Loch Rannoch. Once more the Kayakey Kid came with us.

Lunchtime

 On our first morning there, we decided to take the open canoes out on the loch. There had been masses of rain before we arrived, so the loch was really full with the wee crannog island even wee-er than before! As it was blowing a hooley, we planned on launching from just south of Bridge of Ericht and paddling up the bottom of the River Gaur, under the bridge and round the barracks. We got to the bottom of the river, but with the river flowing fast and the wind blowing hard, that was as far as we were going to get. We cut across the flow to have our picnic, before battling back and round past Rannoch Lodge with the Kayakey Kid now turned into a pirate announcing to everyone in the surrounding area that "Oh aaargh! Land Ahoy" sending dogs for miles around into a barking frenzy! Once back at the car, whilst getting the straps on the roof, a huge gust managed to catch Hubby dear's canoe while it sat on the beach, flipping it a couple of times. The Kayakey Kid started to give chase! Thankfully we didn't need to tether him to the boat to weigh it down, he's only 5!

No pot of gold was found in the boat

That afternoon it was up into the hills to meet up with Mac who was looking after an estate that week, just in time for Deer feeding.

Our next day was filled with a train journey up to Fort William. At all the stops the Kayakey Kid would ask if this was Fort William, so when we did arrive, I asked him what the sign said - Morrisons! was his answer. Anyone who has arrived at Fort William station will know the supermarket is right next door.

Obviously my Grandson, it's never too cold for ice cream!

Our wee selection of Whiskys to return us to normal after the Kayakey Kid leaves!

After we delivered the Kayakey Kid back to Number 2 son in Pitlochry peace returned at last!

Dunalistair launch

Paddle hard, might make it to the top of Schiehallion

Catching the river inlet flow

Our other paddle this trip was on Dunalistair Water. Considerably wider than usual due to the amount of rain and snow melt. We were quite sheltered where we were which possibly made it seem even more peaceful - or was it the lack of pirates? 

Falls of Bruar looking good