Whisky? On Islay? Who'd have thought of that!

Having arrived in Poole at 11.00pm, we decided to keep going, making the most of the quiet night time traffic. It didn't seem long before we were heading from one diversion through another! We didn't have time for this, we were heading up to Kennacraig to meet up with Alice and Ansgar before heading over for a wee paddle up by Islay. Taking turns at driving, we carried on all night, before stopping at Dumbarton for breakfast, looking at the map, we were nearly there. The problem we now had was all the roads were getting twisty and slower. Hubby dear went belting up the road (sticking to the limit, of course), coming to a screaming halt next to Ansgar and Alice. They had their boats organised and were getting ready to trolley them over to the ferry. We grabbed our boats and started chucking kit and bags at them, with a few spare ones landing in the direction of Alice's boat. I had hoped to have had our kit sorted in Jersey, but as it was still wet we had draped it all over the car to dry. We managed onto the ferry with the worry of what had we forgotten!

It will fit in !

Once we arrived in Port Askaig, in more glorious sunshine, we undid what seemed like masses of green bags. That's a good thing, at least we had bedding! We spread our stuff everywhere as the other two sat sunning themselves. It wasn't long before I found out I had left behind my (almost) most important piece of paddling kit, no not my boat, paddles, BA, deck, but my camera!
We managed to stuff everything into our boats in some sort of order, miracles do happen!
We eventually set off, in no great hurry, who wants to battle against a strong flow in the Sound of Islay!
 After our long drive, it was good to be back in the boat. We carried on down the coast past McArthur's head lighthouse and stopped to have a wee nosy in at the bothy at Proaig.  We then made our way through the skerries before stopping for the evening in Claggain Bay. I think by now, our long drive and lack of sleep was really hitting home, the paddles were just going in automatically, cruise control!
We gathered enough sticks together for a fire, had our tea, then crashed out. Because of the tides, we weren't in a hurry to get up, thank goodness!
Next morning, back in the boats, we carried on down the coast round Ardmore point with lots of seals and our first of quite a few otters. Coming round the bottom we got our first glimpse of IRELAND (Ansgar!)

No 1



Whisky lover

2  whisky lovers

No 2

 
Along a bit, then what a surprise - a distillers - Ardmore! who'd have thought! We got out "to stretch our legs!" The place was shut! Back in the boats, another wee paddle along, then distillers No2 - Lagavulin - also shut!! Back in the boats again, Hubby dear is by now panicking! A wee bit further along again, distillers No3 - Laphroaig  - open, woohoo! We got out of the boats again, traipsed into the visitor centre looking slightly damp. The welcome we got here was wonderful. Free hot chocolate!, lovely hand cream samples!, a freeby wee nip (of course). We had booked into a tour for 10.30 the next morning. When the bloke asked where we were staying, we stated some beach somewhere, he replied with "We don't really encourage camping, but you can pitch on the sheltered flat grass (we had already spotted that site), here's some cheese and biscuits, a couple of miniatures and I'll arrange a hot shower in the mash house for you. There's plenty fresh water as well" That's much better customer service than a lot of official paid for sites.


No 3

Perfect campsite!

A wee dram! 

Following a hot shower, cheese and biccies for supper and a good night’s sleep, we toddled off for our tour and of course more whisky at the end. Hubby dear was a bit surprised to find just a few bricks lay between him and a 28 year old! We were sleeping outside the whisky store! We left our boats where they were and went for a wee walk along to Ardbeg. After the welcome at Laphroaig, Ardbeg was a bit disappointing, very commercial - no freebies, not even a wee taste!

 Next we headed back along the road, popping into Lagavulin on the way. We had another whisky tour here. Whilst waiting on our tour to begin, we made ourselves at home in their very comfortable lounge. Our dripping jackets were draped over various surfaces and radiators, whilst we settled down in the comfy chairs, so comfy we didn't hear the previous tour return! There was the four of us out cold, must have been the tiredness, it couldn't possibly be the whisky!

VERY comfy seats!



Enjoying a wee nip

Nicely relaxed

 We did eventually head back to Laphroaig to collect our boats. Another short paddle (just as well!) round past Portellen with it's disused distillery, across the bay passing the square lighthouse at Carraig and onto the beautiful wee beach at Port na Luinge.

Our laundrette

Ansgar dressing for dinner

Drying the breeks

 

Jersey - Ooops!

Our last day on Jersey has finally arrived and thankfully it's back to lovely sunshine! The crowds at breakfast are beginning to diminish although the chatting doesn't seem to have( I would say that's a good thing!)

Keeking round corners

Tracey, happy when on water!

We couldn't manage the full day trip today, so we were on the half day leaving from Greve de Lecq. We joined about 24 other paddlers down on the beach before heading west round the rocky coastline, keeking into various different caves, sneeking between rocks.

Premium car parking spot!

Possibly not!

Once we reached our destination of Stinky Bay ( I don't think you'll find it under that name on the Jersey tourist board map!), aptly named, because, well, there was a slight whiff in the air, the wee blue sweetie bag made it's appearance.

The wee blue sweetie bag

It was then time to turn and head back to the cars.
Everything was going swimmingly well, that is until I decided to go swimmingly!
About to cut back through a couple of rocks, I had been watching the water, timing it, Ha! Just when I thought, right go! I did. Unfortunately for me, the water wasn't playing fair and decided to keep emptying. The nose of the boat got caught on a rock and I was left with not a lot below me! My brace kept me going for a while, well at least until I went over! I surprised some folks by going for a roll, but I always try a roll and I reckon after my lovely rolls the day before it would have been successful if it hadn't been for the fact that the front of my boat was still pivoting on a rock! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
There were a couple of issues which were bothering me as I was getting tossed around upside down.
1 - I need my boat in one piece, not taking it home in multiple carrier bags, I've still got the rest of my trip to go.
2 - I was in there with no helmet. I've been through rocks plenty of times and don't often wear a helmet, however seeing them this close up from underneath made me realise this should is something I should possibly rethink. I kept myself tucked in tight  but realised my boat was still hugging it's rock so I popped my deck and came out. The waves pulled me out, but then spat me back into the boily water. I was pulled back out again, was getting sooked back in again when a wave picked up my boat. All I saw was the big white hull of my boat in mid air flying towards me. I took a deep breath, realising I was going under, got on my back, bent my knees, stuck my feet up and got ready for a flying boat landing on me. Kicking the boat off me was enough to get it away from the swooshing water and over towards Ash, who managed to grab and empty it. I got on the front of another boat and over to Ash. I had one guy beginning to tell me how to grab deck lines and started to explain how to get rescued, by which time I was back in my boat with my deck back on, no point in hanging around. I looked round to see umpteen cameras on me, not that I've seen any of the photos!, but it's good to know kayakers get their priorities right - get some good action photos. Quite where Hubby dear was at this point, I'm not too sure, possibly checking whether he had the car keys or if I had them, in which case I'd need rescuing!  At no point did the swooshing water or flying boat bother me, being so close to the rocks with no helmet concerned me more.
I did entertain Tracey by pumping out my boat creating my own wee water feature.

Every boat needs a fountain

All too soon we were back on the beach, saying our goodbyes, then getting organised to catch the ferry.
We really have had a fantastic time down at the Jersey Symposium, meeting lots of like minded paddlers, trying out lots of different activities in flat calm conditions as well as very bumpy and fast moving conditions. Lots of good food, good beer, good ice cream, good company and a good crack the whole week! Huge thanks to everyone for organising the symposium and JCC for making everyone so welcome especially Tracey and Stef (fellow Scot!)
Thankfully the ferry was on time with a nice gentle sail back into Poole arriving at the back of 11pm.
It seems appropriate that this is my 100th post, ending one adventure and starting my next adventure on post number 101 on yet another island.

Leaving Jersey behind

Jersey - rocks 'n' rolls

 

Slightly damp conditions

Tight squeeze

Tides turned, a bit more room!

Today is our penultimate day and is unfortunately chucking it down! So they do get rain in Jersey!
We made our way down to St Brelade's Bay to meet up with Natalie and the rest of the group to have a wee trip round to the bay at Rosiere for a spot of rock hopping, paddling  in, round, through and under the rocks with some spots turning into a watery highway with kayaks giving way to other kayaks going in all sorts of directions. It was then time to return for a bite of lunch before our afternoon session, still at St Brelade's.

Lots of wee nooks and crannies

It's no secret that rolling and me have somewhat parted company, so when a rolling session came up for that afternoon, I reckoned it wouldn't do me any harm to have yet another try at resurrecting my absent roll!

Health and safety seen this ladder?

Agnes stand up paddle kayaking!

Agnes and John took a group of us out into the bay, giving us more hints and tips. We all stated what sort of stage our rolling was at. I'm pleased to say I wasn't the only one with an AWOL roll. My partner Kay and I spent a wee bit time practising different exercises (Hubby dear was keeping his distance, I've had plenty personal rolling coaching/nagging from him!) Kay then went for a roll and managed a couple of times on one side, not the other. So with a bit of trepidation it was then my turn (Yes, I know, it's all in the head, but the more it goes wrong, the more I expect it to go wrong and as a result it will go wrong!!!) I really concentrated on slowing it all down and I came back up easily! funny how you just know it's right! So I decided to go on the other side, I came back up easily again! So maybe my mojo has returned! - until I need it!
Happy, frozen and soaking (did I mention I didn't have a drysuit with me?) I decided to call it a day and finish on a high.

The washing lines

After rinsing our kit and a hot bath to thaw out we then made our way over to Greve de Lecq for a BBQ. Thankfully the weather had returned to Jersey weather, dry and warm.
A lovely finish to yet another great days paddling!

A lovely selection of nosh!