Loch Morar 13th April
The first paddle of the club calendar was due to take place on the weekend of 11/12th April. However, the weather had different ideas and decided to throw a wind bomb our way! By Monday the gale had tired itself out and the wind had abated to a manageable F3/4, so it was decided to go ahead with four members signed up.
On the day one paddler pulled out and another had a last- minute padlock emergency and only two members left the sheltered bay of Ceann an t- Saideil and island hopped across the loch to the south shore which was sheltered from the southerly winds. After a brief stop at Lettermorar the pair headed round Eilean Allmah before crossing back across the loch to Brinacory Island. A quick lunch was eaten as the wind was gathering itself again to gusting F5 and the paddlers encountered some large waves coming at them broadside. After 7km of constant adjustment to the wave patterns the pair made it back to the take out. A good workout and some great scenery along the way!
Distance paddled: approx.16km
John Clube
Paddlers: John Clube & Joan Smith
Samalaman 19th April
Eight club members arrived at Samalaman for our first Incident Management / Practice Rescue session of the year. The weather was good but the water was cold and no-one was looking forward to getting wet. We practiced various towing scenarios with and without towlines. Some of us also tried out high and low braces. After lunch we practiced rolling, self rescue and various deep water rescues. After all that we had a long carry back to the cars due to the low spring tide. Fortunately the Glenuig Inn was nearby and we enjoyed a ‘debrief’ in comfort.
Paddlers : Joan, Jill, Ruth, Elizabeth, John, Chris, Elvire and Bill.
Loch Maree 24th – 26th April
On Friday 24th April five paddlers met at Sands Campsite, Gairloch ahead of Saturday’s paddle on Loch Maree. The original plan was to put-in at Slattadale at the North West end of the loch and paddle to the take-out at the Beinn Eighe Trails car park, however, on arrival at the put-in, contrary to the near perfect forecast, there was a stiff breeze blowing up the loch so it was decided to do a loop instead and return back to Slattadale for the take-out which prevented having to shuttle cars back and forth. The route would take the paddlers North and clockwise around Eilean Ruairidh Mor then South along the shore of Garbh Eilean and onto a beautiful sandy beach on Eilean Dubh na Sroine and the perfect spot for 1st lunch. The wind had dropped and the sun was shining which made for a very pleasant afternoon to meander and explore the labyrinth of channels, nooks and crannies of the many islands that form the Loch Maree Nature Reserve, all the while being flanked by the majestic mountain of Slioch. Some Black Throated Divers were spotted and observed from a distance. The paddlers eventually reached Isle Maree which would provide the perfect spot for 2nd lunch and a chance to stretch their legs whilst exploring what was once a sacred island hosting an 8th-century medieval chapel, a graveyard, holy well and “wishing tree” of which, had died from copper poisoning due to the hundreds of coins that had been hammered into the bark. One coin bearing the face of Queen Victoria and dated 1869. The last leg of the trip would take the paddlers past the grand house that is Letterewe Lodge before returning to Slattadale for the take-out.
Sunday’s forecast wasn’t looking at all favourable for a paddle so it was decided that after striking camp, a walk along the beach and a visit to the local cafe would suffice before setting off on the long journey home.
Distance paddled: Saturday 20km
Paddlers: Joan, Bill, Kirsty, Mike & Iain
