Head of Loch Morar 9th/10th August 2020

SUNDAY

FINALLY, the MDCC calendar leapt into action with a brilliant and varied trip up to the head of Loch Morar. With a forecast of force one gusting 2 the kayakers were ecstatic, but the canoe sailors slightly less so. As it turned out there were white caps on the loch on arrival, but not from the hoped-for direction – that’s loch Morar for you. Undaunted the two groups set off up the loch into the wind, the kayakers leaving the canoe sailors well behind. An eagle was sighted – most likely a sea eagle, judging by the wings, but couldn’t see the whites of its eyes (tail). Idyllic first and second lunch spots were found, but not shared. Kayakers won to the bothy, ate lunch and found somewhat lumpy and sloping camp spots, then set off up the glen towards Glen Pean.  A somewhat wet and boggy experience, but soon got used to once feet were wet, and reaching a high point where views extended towards Loch Arkaig definitely made it worthwhile. On return to camp the sailors had arrived. The evening calm favoured the midges, but there were lulls and an amiable evening on the shore  was enjoyed. An excitable group paddled in to the Kinlochmorar side mid evening. The bothy was boarded up and locked, unlike during our previous visit a couple of months ago. There were a couple of hikers camping up near the bothy, but the space meant all were socially distanced in the extreme.

Paddlers/sailors Chris, Iain, Joan, Gill, Arthur, Sheila, Anthony, Adam 18kms.
Hikers: Chris, Iain, Joan, Gill, Arthur, Sheila 6kms.

MONDAY

A breeze from the east greeted us in the morning. Midges were present but avoidable. The sailors (after an early swim) frolicked jauntily around the bay. All on the water ahead of schedule, kayakers and sailors were side by side (well socially distanced) for quite some time. Coffee/first lunch was a shared event, after the kayakers explored a lovely stretch of the river at Meoble, allowing the sailors to overtake and choose a perfect spot for a break, with deer and otter footprints along the shore. By then the wind had performed its usual trick of changing direction by 180 degrees, so the kayakers forged on while the sailors drifted a bit and lost contact, taking lunch at separate locations. After a comfortable and scenic lunch just beyond Rubha nam Fasaichean the kayakers sortied into the islands in search of the sea eagles seen earlier in the year - unsuccessful on the eagle front but, as always, a lovely meander - before heading back to the cars. The sailors, temporarily becalmed, had lunch then managed a single tack back to their vehicle not too much later.

21.4kms. Paddlers/sailors Chris, Iain, Joan, Gill, Arthur, Sheila, Anthony, Adam

Sunday 16 August - Dornie to Balmacara

Conditions were perfect for the club’s first day trip of the season. A small group of four paddled from Dornie with wind and tide east past Ardelve and the new housing developments at Nostie. Good views from here of the Cuillins and the Skye bridge and by the time we reached Balmacara we were ready for lunch.
As forecast the winds turned to blow us back with a rising tide to Dornie.
We weren’t sure if the tide had risen enough for a circumnavigation of Eilean Donan Castle but Karin pioneered a route through the seaweed! The original castle was destroyed in 1719 and recreated in 1912-32. It seems very popular with big groups of paddlers.
We finished the day with a side trip up Loch Long for second lunch.

Distance paddled 20km.
Paddlers : Karin Piegsa, Iain Donnelly, Elvire and Bill Scott

Paddlers: Iain, Gill, Arthur, Bill, Elvire, Sheila

Eilean Shona - 6th. September

After some confusion about the launching spot nine paddlers set off from Kinlochmoidart on a beautiful, calm September morning to paddle round the island of Eilean Shona.  This is an old favourite of the club and never fails to delight!  Leaving at high water allowed the group an easy paddle up the north channel which dries out at low tide leaving some very “sucky” mud with which to struggle in a portage.  After leaving the sheltered waters of the North Channel the group paddled in close formation along the two kilometre more exposed west coast of the island, past Eilean a Choire and into the turquoise waters of Aonach bay for lunch.  This bay feels almost Caribbean and affords magnificent views of Eigg and Rum to the west.  After lunch the group set off along the south shore of the island past Eilean na t-Sabhail and onwards down the South Channel with Tioram Castle coming into view.  They paddled round the north of Riska Island in order to get a view of Shona House owned by Vanessa Branson, sister of Richard.  She has written a book “One Hundred Summers” which tells the story of the Branson family and her stewardship of Eilean Shona.  She once swam from Aonach bay back to Shona House and nearly died in the attempt! 
The race was now on for the paddlers to get to the take out before the water dried out and left them exposed to acres of mud!  All was well and after hugging the south shore of the loch and passing Tor Port a Bhata they crossed in shallow waters to the stone slip just west of Kinacara.  After sorting boats and gear and saying farewell to those who had to be away, the rest of the group finished off the day with a cup of tea and some lively craic on the warm stones of the slip. A great day out!

Distance travelled: 19km
Paddlers:  Joan, Roger L., Gill, Arthur, Rob, John, Jerry, Chris and Iain.

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