4* Frolics

A couple of weeks ago I travelled to Skye to undertake 4* training with Gordon Brown.  The weather when i arrived in Skye was perfect, pity about the low pressure than came in over night……The weather started OK…..

The first day of training was spent indoors doing tidal planning and navigation work while the wind howled and the rain poured.  On arrival back at the tent, it was at an ‘interesting’ angle so I retreated to a warm and dry B and B.

The second day of training was spent at Armadale where we did blind leading around the skerries and played in  and around some interesting gaps and rocks.The Armadale to Mallaig ferry

The next day we visited Kylerhea where the tide was still noticeable despite it being neap tides.  We did loads of wet work trying to stand up in our boats  and getting out in very awkward places.The Kylerhea community owned ferry http://www.skyeferry.co.uk/

Thursday and Friday were 4* assessment, I chickened out of doing my assessment but decided to guinea pig while I had the chance.  I enjoyed playing the unconscious casualty! Casualty landing

After all that excitement, I went back to my parents house (via B and Q).  The weekend weather was great again and I spent Sunday helping my friend with an open boat session in Inverness.Eleanor in full flow  Open boat x rescue

Back home, Tuesday night was an induction evening for club trips.  Despite the  calm conditions, unfortunately several of us inadvertently capsized and had to be rescued. Jackie rescues Peter

The view from above

Scapa weather

This afternoon was not an afternoon for paddling, instead I went to Mull Head in Deerness for a walk.  The path around the top of the cliffs follows a well kent kayak route but everything looks different from above. The Gloup

The path first makes its way to above the Gloup where there is a viewing bridge allowing you to look down over the waterfall.  From above it looks vast and impressive.    The seas beyond the Brough of Deerness

Next passed is the Brough of Deerness.  This was once an important early medieval settlement and is covered by the foundations of houses and workshops.  The church was excavated a while ago and this has been restored partially.  To reach the brough, there is a steep path from the mainland down to the sea and up the other side.  Earlier in the year some friends of mine worked on the most recent excavations here, carrying tools and equipment up and down wasn’t fun and I only had to do it twice!  I didn’t visit the brough today but instead looked wistfully at the seas beyond.

From the top of the cliff, I got a better view of some of the local residents. Gulls on the cliffs

I carried on my walk and soon rounded Mull Head itself. After a few hundred metres further, I found myself looking down into a familiar lunch spot.  The tide was clearly out today and the tunnel access to the beach was high and dry. Lunch spot

I could have carried on my walk to the Covenanters Memorial but instead took the shorter route back towards the car.  I’ll save a trip to the memorial for another day.Covenanters Memorial 

I did see anyone apart from a farmer in his tractor during my walk but I did happen across a pair of ‘paddlers’……Winter visitors

The Lonely Lomo Boot

For some time I have had only one Lomo boot which really wasn’t very useful.  I searched high and low but its friend was never discovered and I had given up all hope of finding it again.  Eventually I gave in and bought a new pair.  However after our paddle yesterday, a lomo boot was spotted inside a lobster pot by the side of the road.  It was the missing boot!  Discovered at least 7 months since it was lost!  The boots are now reunited and very happy they are too. Happy boots!

Yesterday we paddled around Deerness in the east mainland from the fantastic slip at Newark to the beach at Halley.  Although on Friday we had a huge westerly storm, there was still a bit of sea on the east side.  Rather than a slow easy swell, there was a fair amount of clapotis around coming off the cliffs.  I did a little bit of rock hopping, getting right into the soup on one occasion (brace, brace, brace……).  We carried on up the coast and made our way to The Gloup. Under the waterfall at the back of the Gloup

We then carried on northwards towards Mull Head, pausing beneath the Brough of Deerness for a quick snack.  Once we rounded Mull Head the swell and clapotis lessened considerably.Ansgar and Jackie rounding Mull HeadCathy off Mull Head

We rounded the head and then made our way to a beach in one of the geos reached by a tunnel.  Often the end of this is difficult to get through but the high tide made it easy for us to pass all the way through.  Tunnel

After a warming cup of tea, we had a good run back to Halley where we spotted the famous missing boot.

Last night was another sea boat session in the pool.  I was rolling OK but I still don’t feel bombproof.  I suppose all I can do is keep practicing…… Malcolm tries out Mackayak’s Isel

More indoors

Last night was another rock and roll Friday night with us having another sea boat session in the swimming pool.  My roll started off badly when I tried to use an extended paddle but failed miserably.  After being instructed that I needed to give things a bit more oomph I duly did so and the roll improved greatly.  I practiced with extended paddle, hand by the blade and normal screw roll position and was happy with my progress.  Until Sunday…… NK in the pool

Conditions in the pool were a whole lot better than conditions outside yesterday, Scapa Pier looked a little different from last weekend.  Strangely, we were neither out in kayak or canoe in those conditions!A few waves at Scapa Pier – Photo PJF from OSKA galleryA much calmer sea

Not a day for paddling

'nough said.