Mallaig and District Canoe Club
Trips 2007
8-13 July
Sound of Jura
Conditions defeated hopes of a circumnavigation of Jura, so it was re-invented as a circumnavigation of the Sound of Jura. We spent a couple of days stormbound at Craighouse - with a distillery and a hotle it wasn't so bad - then had a hospitable time at the Gallery at Feolin Ferry before returning to the mainland via the ferry from Port Askaig to Kennacraig. From there we wended our way back up the coast to Tayvallich.
Sun 19 Aug
Moray Coast
Trip led by Lynn - we arrived 10.00 at Nairn and put in at the beach by the swimming pool. Biggish surf, which we passed through, but big waves beyond made us a bit nervous (wind N, F3). Original plan to go to Ardersier was ditched and we worked eastwards looking for a safe landing. Soon found waves breaking on a bar, with calm water to landward. Lots of fun getting in and we then spent half an hour practicing going out and back in the surf.
Quick lunch then down to Ardersier. Almost calm here; heading for Fort George and then across to the red buoy off Rosemarkie. Massive splash as a Bottle Nosed Dolphin breached close to us in hot pursuit of a fish. There were several around; we headed for Rosemarkie, then round the point at Chanonry for a quick shore break, seeing a few more dolphins en route. Back to Ardersier in a flat calm. We met a man there who claimed to have seen a Great White Shark attacking a seal just offshore a couple of weeks ago. Lucky we escaped with our lives! An excellent day, five paddlers. 12km
Sat/Sun
1-2 Sep
Torrin,
Isle of Skye
Annual club institution time again. Those who arrived on Friday night enjoyed the chill.
Saturday – breezy, wettish. We decided to go for Isle Ornsay and see what it looked like. Putting in at the hotel, we paddled S, into F3-4 occ gusting 5. A bit of slog and we put into Camas Barbhaig for lunch break. Continuing into rather tougher conditions as we lost the shelter of the coast line but some nice splashy waves – easy, because we were heading into them. Just as we turned W for Knock Bay, the wet and windy conditions decided us to turn back. We had an exhilarating surf back, although the Sirius paddlers had a wobble or two. Post paddle drink/tea in the hotel. 13.5km
Sunday – a brighter looking day and we elected to paddle to Elgol from the Centre. A 20min each-way shuttle to start with, although the views were spectacular. Away by 10.45 and down the far shore of L. Slapin. Just short of Kilmarie we surprised an otter; the beach by the river mouth was a very pleasant warm and sunny stop and some clothing was shed. One paddler departed for Elgol at this point – worried about a hot dog in her car. Interesting limestone geology as we journeyed S, some columnar basalt made a rather bizarre contrast. Spar cave was the objective, but at HT +02.00 (BIG tides), there was nothing to land on there except a small beach with BIG boulders on it!
Round the corner at R na h-Easgainne, we met the breeze; F3-4 but manageable by all. CC scoped the east coast of E na h-Airde and we duly landed for lunch – nice and sheltered. We led off for the corner ahead, splashy but all fine. Just as we got to Elgol, we found a feeding otter. It was oblivious and was almost run down by the same paddler who ran a basker over two years ago. Coincidence? Back to the centre for tea and cake. Twelve paddlers: 16km.
A great weekend.