Splashing around on Skye

Still dry, but not for long

Another week, another island, another SCA gathering.
Although it was the end of September, it was the start of our summer holidays! This time we were heading up to Skye for the development weekend. We had booked into our usual B & B - Otter's Lodge run by paddlers and comes complete with a dryroom - Brill!

Beginning the balances

Dave cooling down

Hubby dear with 4 other ladies!!!

15 of us met up on Saturday morning in Armadale, where we all jumped in our boats above the tide line! Gordon and Dave had us going through our paces, getting kit out of our hatches whilst in our boats. Makes you realise that you need to be careful what goes in your hatches first, leaving the important things til last, thus being at the top - like sweeties!
We then headed out into the water. It was a lovely sunny day with flat calm waters which was probably just as well as we were going to get wet, very wet!
We started off with a roll resulting in some rescues as well, then carried on with scoop rescues, before doing lots more balancing things, resulting in getting wetter (well for some of us!). Lunch was all the way to half way up the bay! We hadn't paddled very far, in fact I think it's the shortest trip I've ever done!

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Marion getting a lift

After lunch, we paired up with "bigger folk" to practise rescuing someone larger than yourselves. Lots of very useful hints and tips all along.
Next there were great discussions on how to empty a swamped cockpit and hatch which resulted in us all having a go at this, then onto sharing boats, sitting/standing on the backs before attempting to get back in your boat feet first on your back, shimmying in before falling out again (not too successful at that one!)

Captain going down with his boat?

Having a wee lie down

Anyone watching must have wondered what we were all doing. A bunch of adults having the time of their lives - playing! Considering this was such a short paddle, it was an exhausting one which left more than it's fair share of massive bruises!

That night a get together had been organised, meeting in Creelers restaurant, before heading over to the bar to rehydrate.

The Soay group heading off

Perfectly clear waters

Next morning we were meeting in glorious sunshine at Elgol. I felt I was going to be a boil in the bag in my drysuit. Some of the group opted for a paddle over to Soay, whilst Alice, Ansgar, Marion, Alice, Kirsty, Roddy, Me n He headed round the south of the peninsular to find the Spar cave via the small islands at the bottom where some of us spotted an otter sploshing around.

 

Lunch ledge

Alice making a quick getaway!

We all managed to squeeze onto a wee ledge for lunch, a lovely sunny spot.
We did eventually find the cave, not the easiest to find, thought they might have had a sign outside!

It was worth the clamber up the steep drippy wet rocks which looked like they should be slimy, but did thankfully give a good grip.

 

Spar entrance

Going up

Me n He

Ansgar in the dip pool

 Arriving back into Elgol was a bit of a race as the Soay group were trying to beat us back, we won!

Another fantastic weekend, bit jiggered. We got home at 11.00pm to hang up our kit and finish putting things together to be at the airport at 4am  the next morning. Needless to say, I managed to snooze most of the way to America.

If that seagull thinks it's getting my icecream!!!!!

5* sea mock student. From 1 extreme ...........

Setting off for the skerries

We were recently off for a third attempt at Hubby dear sitting his 5* sea assessment. The previous 2 were called off due to our Scottish weather, the weather was wonderful, the conditions weren't! The weather had been flat, calm, sunny, normally perfect paddling conditions, just not 5* conditions. I was heading along as a mock student.
We arrived up in Skye earlyish evening. As we were passing through Broadford, we passed a very familiar sight - Young Trevor, up for a family holiday. After settling into our B&B, we headed down to the Hebridean Hotel (which was conveniently situated at the bottom of the B&B garden) for tea. Hubby dear was then having to head off for Skyak Adventures to start the assessment. I stayed put in the bar and waited for Kevin (fellow club member and mock student) to join me along with my German buddy Wolfgang, also a mock student.
Next morning, Hubby dear was off bright and early to complete more of the paperwork side of the assessment, whilst I had a leisurely start.

Kevin towing Kate and me

Kate and Bonnie

Mark and Rowland

The other group towing

The assessees (?) were Hubby dear, Chris(Cumbria) and Ole (Greenland) in one group with Bonnie (priest from Chicago) and Mark (Ioan Gruffudd - actor, lookalike). Kevin, Wolfgang, Kate (Chris's partner) and I were with Bonnie and Mark. Kate and I being kept separated from Hubby dear and Chris! Finding out that Bonnie was a priest made me think I would have to behave myself and not swear!
Rowland came down to sort the students out and give us all ailments which would eventually cause a problem or two (or in this case 8). They included an inhaler missing asthmatic, dislocated shoulders, blood pressure problems, epilepsy, generally not listening to any instructions and mine. I was to be 2 month pregnant!!! very funny Rowland-not!!

We piled into various cars and made our way down to Armadale in time for the heavens to open and dump on us (didn't think that would happen, what with having Bonnie with us). Split into our groups, our leaders had to quickly heat up a cold group. The 3 "girls" were in 1 group shelter with Bonnie dressing Kate and myself in umpteen layers of everything-don't think we were going to start a fashion trend! On the water, we paddled down to the skerries where the water was suitably 5* conditions. The leaders were taking turns leading their groups round the rocks before turning and heading back up the sound with the waves behind us. At this point, my boat was feeling a bit funny, I've been out in bumpy waters plenty of times, it just didn't feel right. It wasn't long before events started happening, so I put it to the back of my mind. Kate "dislocated" her shoulder when she fell in, so Bonnie had to rescue her with me being in a supported tow with her. This gave Kate and myself a fine chance to have a great chinwag as Kevin had to tow both of us through the waves to a small bay where an otter put in a welcome appearance.

My good buddy Wolfgang

Bonnie rescuing me

Rowland. Kevin happy to be towed and not towing

 

 

Mark was taking over the leading for the next section. It wasn't long before I fell in needing rescued and because of my "condition!" needed a supported tow with my good buddy Wolfgang, giving me another fine chinwag time whilst  Kevin improved his towing skills wonderfully. After a bit I made a miraculous recovery and on we went again. It wasn't too long before Wolfgang went off on a tangent with poor Bonnie yelling after him whilst he carried on doing his own thing which inevitably led to him capsizing and needing rescuing. Quite why I worried about behaving myself and not swearing in front of Bonnie is by now way beyond me! The other group had caught up with us by now when I fell in again, next to the rocks which seemed to get closer mighty quickly. This time as Bonnie was rescuing me, Wolfgang did a marvellous job of "getting in the way". It was getting cold and dull by now, but nearing the lighthouse Kevin had another wee episode, another rescue only to go over again, resulting in another supported tow, another quick natter opportunity for me whilst Wolfgang towed us. Unfortunately getting towed so much meant I was genuinely getting cold. A quick fast paddle to the pub (where else?) where we were getting out, heated me up a bit. This is where Kevin, Wolfgang, Bonnie and I, still in our paddling gear, had the best pint and a half of Red Cuillins, which went down a treat at great speed!

The best Red Cuillins around!

Rowland thinking of seal launching?

Next day, the assessors were swapping groups. We were going in at Kylerhea, where the water was quite fast and bumpy. I was looking forward to this bit where hopefully we'd get a bit of a play. I was absolutely gutted when what seemed like 2 mins after getting into my boat I was over and swimming. Bonnie got me back in, made our way back into the waves when the same happened again. Nobody heard me swear as I was still upside down!! Back in the eddie Gordon got me set up for a roll which I failed miserably in, I think my confidence had just taken a huge hammering, even the fish were giving me a shoulder to cry on - still upside down! I can't remember the last time I had failed a set up roll. Heading further down, Gordon was saying it was good practise for the leaders and wouldn't it be good if I did it in the middle of the bumpy stuff, with my skeg down, boat up and give it a hard shove! So after a while, Gordon seemed to have managed to split the group a bit, asked Bonnie to go over and do a self rescue. At that point whilst Bonnie was upside down, Gordon said Now, so over I went. Poor Bonnie, came back up from her self rescue to find chaos with me and my boat well separated! Whilst bobbing around in these large waves a porpoise swam past, does this mean I can claim to have swum with a porpoise?
Despite having had a terrible start to my second day, I still had a great time and learnt alot. Giving my unplanned swims in Kylerhea a bit of thought, I reckoned my boat was too light. Despite my love of chocolate, ice cream and beer (probably in that order!) I have lost a bit of weight over the last few months, that and the fact Hubby dear had all the safety kit, my boat was mega light. I literally bobbed around like a wee cork. I should have chucked a couple of water containers in the hatches. I did have another go at a roll and thankfully came back up. I guess I also learnt that you can never practise rescues/rolling enough!  Also, if your going for assessment, keep between your assessor and your students otherwise chaos is guaranteed to ensue!

S.U.P's

Heading back, Hubby dear's group were already there turning their kayaks into S.U.P's.
Back at the Kylerhea jetty, both groups got the news we were all hoping they'd get - the candidates had all past. They all put such a lot into it and I wouldn't have blamed them for refusing to take out such a dodgy, decrepit bunch of paddlers! I was so chuffed for them all, especially Hubby dear because well, he's my hubby!

Glen Garry on our way home

 

 

Skye August 2012

It's been a while since I last wrote anything here. It's not due to lack of paddling, in fact quite the opposite, I seem to be suffering from permadamp at the moment. Since my wonderful St Kilda trip, I've been a mock student for an open boat moderate water assessment, yes, me in an open boat in quite fast water, well it was for me!
I've also passed my UKCC level 2 and with it I've spent alot of Tuesdays up at Lochore coaching, add in a few sea trips round the Fife coast, helping Hubby dear run 3* training courses, a few Friday evenings up to Stanley and a very wet trip up the Braan. I've also got a gorgeous new Grand daughter, the Kayakey Kid has a wee sister. All in all great fun.

Eilean Donan castle

It was now time to have a bit of a longer paddle, so in August I arranged a weekend trip up to Skye for a few members of FCAG -  Steve, Robyn, Heather, Young Trevor, Kevin, Hubby dear and myself. I decided to have a base camp this time rather than wild camp around as I wasn't sure at the organising time who would be going. The base was to be at Ashaig camp site, near Breakish. We arrived late on the Friday evening and pitched our tents in the Quiet camp (as opposed to the Very quiet section) then proceeded to have a wee chinwag and music courtesy of Steve with his guitar until goodness knows how late.

Plockton

 

Next morning we took the cars up to Plockton, launched the boats into beautifully clear waters before paddling up to Stromeferry to stop for some lunch. The weather had been lovely as we set back off along the north shore of Loch Carron, via the lighthouse. This was where Steve called it a day. All this guitar playing and beer bottle lifting had jiggered his back! He managed to fill in the rest of the afternoon skipping between chip shops and pubs. The rest of us carried on cutting through all the lovely wee islands, watching and being watched by masses of inquisitive seals. Young Trevor was determined to have a jaunt under the Skye bridge, so off we set. I'm not sure quite what happened under that bridge, but on one side the water was lovely and calm, just a wee breeze in the air, on the other side, where we were going to have a wee breather, the wind had picked up and there was no way we would be landing here. The waves were getting very interesting - and big! Robyn is a very good, but fairly new paddler who had never been in these conditions before and her eyes seemed to get bigger in time with the waves! Kevin, who had been on a bit of a detour with Heather, passed us here with Heather on tow. Young Trevor was putting his well honed support strokes to the test with a rather excellent brace when he was about wiped out by a massive wave hitting a submerged rock just as he passed. By now I had Robyn on a tow. We were supposed to be heading back to the airstrip at Ashaig, where there would be a lane taking us right back up to the campsite, however, Kevin had already landed and was out of the boat in the earlier bay. This meant a long walk in soggy kit - lovely - not!

Robyn, determined to tan her legs!

Young Trev under the Skye bridge

The benefit of a campsite was a very welcome hot shower. They also had sheds we could hang our kit in. The guys went off to collect the cars (and Steve) from Plockton. After a well earned tea, we carried on with the music and chinwag from the previous evening.

Steve serenading Young Trevor

Next morning after a slice of lovely thick porridge topped with midges, we set off in the sunshine down to Elgol on the side of Loch Scavaig. This lovely little village looked like a massive carpark, obviously, everyone was going to the same place as us, Loch Coruisk. I don't blame them, it's a trip I've wanted to do since I started sea paddling.

Today's destination

Kevin's obviously got too much energy!

 We set off in more crystal clear waters and headed over to Soay. Young Trevor  would have liked to paddle round it, but that will have to wait for another trip.

Soay

Thumbs up from Young Trevor, made it to Soay

Steve trying to get past Young Trevor

 We stopped for a quick stretch of the legs (in Steve's case, back) before having a nosey in some caves, then heading over to Ulfhart Point for lunch. This is where we had a Golden eagle soaring over us. I don't think it was eyeing up our oatcakes. We didn't hang around too long as the midges were also on their lunch break, feasting on us. There is always a benefit to having a bit of a breeze on Skye!

We set off round the corner and looked right into the heart of the Cuillins - what a magnificent sight. It really does make you realise what fantastic paddling areas Scotland has. Robyn was mesmerised by how many seals kept bobbing around her - hundreds.

 

Has Robyn shrunk or has Steve and Young Trevor grown

We pulled the boats up by the waterfall flowing from Loch Coruisk and had a dawnder up the side of the river. What is amazing is how this remote bit of land can be so busy, obviously all the drivers and passengers from the mass carpark in Elgol! The headwind was now picking up again as we made our way back to Elgol. Another satisfying paddle followed by more music and chinwag.
That night the wind was really picking up, wasn't supposed to until the following afternoon. Anywhere we went was going to be breezy. We were only having a short trip today as we would be heading home. We packed up our campsite and made for Kylerhea to have a little play. Steve decided against this paddle, he's really needing to work on his guitar / beer lifting muscles! We had a great couple of hours here.

Heather and Sarah putting in at Kylerhea

Hubby dear in the bumpy stuff

Kevin Surfing

Me and Kevin surfing

Me, Kevin, Young Trevor and Robyn all surfing
(Hubby dear took the photo or he'd be there too)

Young Trevor, Robyn  and Heather hasn't paddled here before and spent some time breaking out and in catching the flow. Robyn had a bit of a swim here, just to cool down!! Then we had a play on the waves with Robyn and Young Trevor doing really well. Unfortunately the fun had to come to an end, we got off the water, had some lunch before taking the ferry across  to Glenelg then on through Glensheil where the heaven's opened and turned the trickling waterfalls we'd passed on the way up into gushing torrents.
It was now time to get home to dry out the kit for the Tuesday loch session and our weekend away the next week.

If you're looking for  campsite on Skye, I would highly recommend Ashaig. They are very friendly, helpful and have open fire pits dotted round the site. Great for toasting marshmallows and midges.