Over, under, through and round St Kilda

Next morning after Anne had arranged her bags, then rearranged her bags, then rearranged them again and I had lost my glasses for about the 3rd time that morning we were ready for paddling.

The gap from the outside

Mike at the gap on the inside

It was a busy bay we launched into as a cruise ship had arrived during the night and was busy ferrying passengers over to St Kilda. We started off towards the point to see what the conditions would be like, but found that they were a bit bumpy, so we made our way over to Dun again, this time staying on the bayside. Murty took us over to what looked like a solid cliff. Tucked into it was the other side of the passage we had been in the previous evening. Hubby dear disappeared into it, closely followed by Iain. I went to have a wee look and ended up going through as well. This gap was a bit narrow to say the least and at quite a jaunty angle. TG had been adamant she was not going in and I have to say I was a bit concerned at the thought of coming back out of that gap, so it was a relief to see her emerging through the gap as well. We were by now all in the cave. We headed on through the cave and out the other side to be greeted by loads of young, nosey seals. We carried on up the coast, in, out and under lots of caves and arches. The colour and clarity of the water was wonderful. Just about every rock we passed had its own resident seal sunning itself (yes, we had sunshine!).





Going through the Soay arch

We carried on up the coast to the Soay arches. Looking through them it was easy to see how bumpy the water was, so I wasn't too surprised to see Hubby dear  disappear through, quickly followed by Iain. Murty was happily bobbing around halfway encouraging me through. Off I went, past the point of what seemed like no return! Once out, my next concern was whether I would manage to turn round to go back through or would I have to paddle all the way round Soay to get back to the Cuma which had now arrived. The fact that the Cuma had lunch on it and I was starving was the prompt I needed. Once TG and Mike had a run through, we all about turned and headed back.

After lunch, we headed back to Village bay where it was decided we could have time ashore. Once ashore we all traipsed up to the PO. We had to get postcards with the Puffin stamp on it. Writing the cards caused a bit of a problem. No glasses with me, so I haven't a clue what I wrote, that and the fact after being on moving water so much, I couldn't stand still. I was still bouncing up and down and swaying.

Looking over to the flat calm looking Soay arch from up high

Borerey

Hubby dear, TG, Ian and myself decided to follow the road up the hill, over the ridge then back down to the village.  After numerous muggings by the Bonxies, we were treated to a fantastic view from the top. Back down in the village, we went to school and church (see, we really are good) and watched a gang of young Soay sheep playing around. They really are quite cute, unlike their rather manky looking parents.

Back on board, a huge roast dinner followed by ice cream , hm mm. Then there was some serious discussions going on, such as, which whisky should be opened first.

Murty's Mob

Bit of swoosh

Last Friday it was time to start off on our wee Hebridean jaunt. Up nice and early, when we got a message through from Iain, who we were meeting in Ullapool, to say the A9 was closed due to an accident. After a shift of plans we were now heading up via Glenshee, Tomintoul then Granton along with every Sunday driver possible. Thankfully we still arrived in time to swap boats around onto 1 car, get an icecream and still get the ferry over to Stornoway. This was where we met the first of Murty's mob, Tilly-less Mike.
Next day we headed over to Loch Maibhaig to catch the Cuma and meet everyone else. TG, or should that be G & T, Carl and his amazing helmet and Baggy Annie. Along with Murty, that's my seat in the corner Iain, Hubby dear and myself made up the paddlers. There were also a family of three, our wonderful skipper/ cook Murdo and Michaella who kept everything ship shape!
That afternoon, we made our way round past a bumpy Gallan Head to Loch Tamnabhaigh. It was a very blowey evening when we put the kayaks in the water for a very quick paddle down the loch, a blustery paddle across, then a very slow paddle back up, not far, but long enough to build up a bit of an appetite for some lovely nosh and a wee drink.


Launching the kayak

Next day we found out about Murty time. This is about 30 mins after Hebridean time. He eventually emerged for brekkie once we'd all nearly finished. 

It wasn't long before the kayaks were strapped down, the anchor hauled up and we were off, heading out to St Kilda. We were delighted to be getting out so early on in the trip, knowing the whole week was very weather dependant on what we did.


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Still a healthy colour

 The journey out was a bit bumpy and a few of the passengers began to feel a bit iffy, with Hubby dear turning an amazing shade of green.

After a few hours of rocking and rolling St Kilda was very clear to see. It really is a hard place to describe, such a massive lump of rock stuck so far out to sea with so many Gannets and my favourite Puffins.

Village Bay

Carl and Mike

In the caves

We stopped in Village Bay, where the kettle was put on before some of us got ready for an evening paddle. Although in the bay, there was still a bit of a swell. We started out towards the shore, before passing through the cut between Hirta and Dun islands. The other side was nicely sheltered allowing us to have a great paddle in and out of caves.

Having a keek through the Dun arch.

We stuck our noses through the arch at the bottom of Dun which reminded us how bumpy the other side still was. This was where we about turned and headed back for tea. What a great introduction to St Kilda.

What a wet, weary, but wonderful weekend.



After a lovely meal out with Hubby dear (Cold pasta salad eaten out of a plastic tub on the dual carraigeway in a traffic jam) last Friday evening we arrived up at Stanley for a bit of park and play. Paul was going to meet us up there.  The Tay was about as low as the last time we were up there, but enough to give us a wee play on the Linn before Paul arrived. This is the first time he has been back out on the rivers for ages, but obviously feeling confident there would be no swimming as he's out in shorts.

Paul tailying

Me at the weir

Hubby dear showing Paul how it's done!

 After a bit we made our way down to the weir without stopping for long at the wall, not much going on here. The weir had a couple of nice waves to play on, which even I managed to get on. Paul hasn't lost his surfing technique, or his rolling technique, just as well, remember the shorts!
It was getting fairly dark by now, so we started back to the car. I decided to have a practise roll. As soon as I went over, I knew disaster had struck. My drysuit zip had split and I was now filling up with freezing cold water. It's amazing how quickly cold water can run right down below! Every time I took a paddle stroke, my right arm would slosh about causing another stream of cold water to pour down into my increasingly damp breeks! Thankfully we were close to the car.

We were a bit late off the water

On Saturday morning, we had arranged to meet Kevin and head up to Fifeness with the sea kayaks. We had already done a shuttle and after a slightly large launch we made our way up towards St Andrews with some fairly large waves.

Me, without the dry suit

Following Kevin out

Oops! Kevin's gone!

Kevin's such a good paddler, doesn't even need a boat!

There were times I felt as though I was solo paddling as I'd be sitting in the trough of the wave all on my own, making the most of the crest to have a wee look around. After about 10k we stopped for lunch at Buddo Ness.

Buddo Ness lunch spot



Hubby dear and Kevin



Sporting a new style of back hatch cover - mini me

 After this we headed out across St Andrews bay for about 16k, cutting the corner as we went, before arriving at the Tentsmuir sand banks. There were big breakers coming in over the banks, but we managed to cut in up the channel accompanied by numerous large Gray seals. There were even more sitting on the sandbank having a whale seal of a time singing and generally having good fun in the surf.

Cutting through the channel

Turning into the Tay

 By now my back, which has been well jiggered for a couple of years, was now seizing up so I was glad to be turning into the Tay, or so I thought. We were a bit later getting to this point than we had planned and the Tay can have quite a strong flow, about 4kn, against us. It was like paddling on an exercise bike, hard work and going no where. I'd be lying if I said this section was good fun - it wasn't! Once we arrived back at the car in Tayport, I managed to creak and groan my way out of the kayak and put up absolutely no objections to Hubby dear and Kevin insisting on carrying my boat up the ramp, cheers guys, it really was much appreciated.
I had been running on empty for the last stretch and managed to massacre umpteen jellybabies on our way home. After a mad dash, quick shower, we were out with friends for an Italian meal. I was so hungry, I could have eaten a scabby horse, but after perusing the menu, that particular delicacy wasn't featured, so settled for yummy mussels instead.

Raring to go again at Tayport

Next morning, with my back easing off, we met up with Kevin again, dropped a car off at Newburgh, then made our way back to Tayport, where we got out the previous day. This was done like this as Kevin has been determined to paddle round the Fife coast, this was also going to cover a new bit for us as well. The spring tide was working with us today and it didn't take long to reach the Tay road bridge.

Clang, clonk, ping.

Perfect conditions and a flow

There is construction work going on at the base of the bridge with a pile driver hammering massive rods into the water. It sounded a bit like a defunk church bell when it went clang, then the sound bounced off the houses at Newburgh with a clonk, the vibrations then hit the backs of our boats with a ping. It was quite a good paddling rhythm - clang, clonk, ping. With the tide flowing fast, we almost flew along and after about 16k reached a sunny spot for lunch. As it was still reasonably early and the tide still flowing at its fastest, we decided to make the most of it and carry on to a castle next to the river that Kevin had spotted on the map.

Think the rain is on it's way

Kev's des. res.

 Once we had arrived, the weather had changed from lovely, warm sunshine to being cold and wet. The castle was across some rather muddy banking and as we could actually see our destination, we decided to have some energy bar and nuts sitting in our kayaks, then keep going on to Newburgh.
Although we didn't paddle that much less than the previous day, with the tides, we did it in a fraction of the time (and effort).