Saturday 26th November - Cuil Bay To Ballachulish

As the weather recently has been freezing cold and foggy some may be forgiven for giving this trip a miss. As it turned out it was beautiful, calm, clear and sunny. Stephen, Paul and Peter teamed up to do a shuttle, leaving cars at Lochside Cottages, Ballachulish and taking kayaks down to Cuil Bay. We launched into mirror smooth conditions. Round the Rubha Mor there was a slight headwind and chop but by the time we got to Kentallan it was back to smooth. Rather than have lunch in shade we opted to paddle accross to the Onich beach. Then with the tide we finished off under the bridge.Where, according to Stephen's magic machine, we were doing 10 kph. For the record 18.4 km paddled.

Cuil Bay looking towards Balnagowan

 

 

Off Ardsheal looking towards Ben Nevis

Off Onich looking towards Glencoe

The Pap of Glencoe

Dornie & Loch Long

Cracking wee paddle up Loch Long saw Colin M, Paul and Steve 2 take to water from Dornie. Flat calm conditions all the way to end of Loch where we tried to get further up river but with tide heading out was not happening. Quick stop for lunch before heading back to have quick look around castle Donan.
 

   

Glenuig Sunday 9 Oct 2016

Glenuig 9 Oct 2016

Five of us enjoyed the fantastic October weather on a paddle out from Glenuig to Shona Island. Stephen, Gavin, Anita, Liz and Ken met at Glenuig and launched at the beach opposite Samalaman Island. The sun shone most of the day and the water was calm, except for a long rolling swell which was no problem offshore but made for some very interesting rock hopping close inshore. We enjoyed glorious views over to Rum and Eigg and the Cuillins of Skye as we paddled to the lovely beach at Smirisary and then on round Shona Island. We regrouped back at the beach for afternoon tea in the sunshine before heading back to Glenuig.

Tues Eve paddle 25th May Loch Leven

A nice fine evening with an easterly breeze to keep the midges away.

Only five took to the water, Ken, Steve, Dave, Clair & Paul. We had a gentle paddle across to the burial isle then along to the river Coe against the breeze and as far up as we could go on the high tide. Then we followed round the shore to the boat house below the Glencoe Lochan - a long time since I have seen it - not a dilapidated shed but a "des res". Back across the loch and along to the launch site just down from Callert House. 6.3 km.

Caledonian Canal Paddle

Colin M, Colin T, Peter, Joan, Gavin and Anita all set off from Banavie heading to Gairlochy. Colin T after half hour went all white water on us and left  to go over to river lochy. We carried on ,stopped for lunch and bit of sun bathing before heading back. A nice gentle afternoons paddling was had by all. Total distance covered was 21 km. Sorry no pics but Joan going to put some on facebook.

Tues Eve - Corran Narrows

10th May Tuesday Paddle - Corran Narrows

A lovely fine day with a brisk wind from the NE and an incoming spring tide, ideal conditions to test the tidal waters of Corran Narrows. A group of 10 gathered for the evening paddle. We all managed to get cars and kayaks under the anti campervan barriers - Steve with only 49mm to spare!

 

We started by paddling out into the loch but quickly retreated to cheating the tide by paddling up the shore as far as the Corran Ferry. Then it was out into the main flow to be swirled around. Choppy but not too lumpy and an easy ride back to the picnic site. Packed up in a liesurely fashion - not a midge in sight.

Tues Eve - Loch Arkaig - Or trial by Bike

The first Tuesday evening paddle of the season was well attended - 10 took to the water. First we had to get there against the flow of 6 Day Trials Bikers coming in the opposite direction in the middle of the road. Who'd want to be a biker and get cold, wet AND MUDDY!
Fortunately we got to the foot of Loch Arkaig just as the bikers were finishing otherwise we would not have been able to park.
A pleasant evening, the earlier showers and rain had departed. We paddled up past the islet and fish farm and across to the mouth of the river Mallie.
A gentle paddle back with almost flat conditions. Chris finished off with a roll. Distance for the outing 7 km.

AGM

Our AGM was held in the yacht club. It was preceded for four cold proof paddlers by a quick trip accross to Stroncreggan. In theory the tide was coming in so the return should have been easy. But the surface flow kept going out so we only just made it back for the meeting.
The new committee is more or less unchanged from last year but we welcomed three new members Oliver, Paul K, and Calum. Russell presented the accounts which look healthy mainly because of the well attended pool sessions. A good discussion followed over a wide range of topics. With luck we are headed for a full and active paddling programme.
Tues evening sea paddling and Thursday white water should follow throughout the summer. Look at the programme page on this blog, watch out for emails, or consult the facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/neviscanoeclub/

first day in Oliver & Naomis new boats, Glenuig out to the bothy & back - mirror calm and pretty cold

 Winter updates:

A few hardy folk headed out semi-regularly over the winter, Oliver & Naomi to test new boats with trips at Arisaig & Glenuig - the first christmas meet was a roaring success with roaring winds ensuring we made full use of the drying facilities after our 35 minute battering.

First day of the Christmas meet, Oliver 'just checking' it was as windy as the force 9 predicted. Others wisely stayed ashore, till the following day where everyone had a go with Peter & Charlotte being introduced to staying upright in massive breaking waves, plus some sideways surfing practice

Sound of Shuna to the Creagan Inn 26^th of March

Colin, Oliver, Naomi, Peter, Charlotte, Megan and Tracey left in light rain for a calm and picturesque paddle up Loch Creran. Beautifully calm waters up until the last hour where the wind picked up giving sufficiently soupy paddling conditions with a severe pull to the right! Enjoyed by all finishing up the day with a coffee at Cafe Stalker.

Glen Uig Inn round to the north channel of Eilean Shona and back 2^nd of April

Colin, Oliver, Naomi, Peter, Charlotte and Megan had a great paddle in lovely sunny weather. Some good swell at the nice calm start with good introductory rock hopping opportunities, paddling around the corner into reasonable swell with somewhat more advanced rock hopping opportunities... Lunch on a sandy beach with some challenging landing and launching conditions. Great flat paddle down the north channel to then return the same route due to the tide and our uncertainty over conditions at the mouth of the south channel leading us to not attempt the full circumnavigation of Eilean Shona. Choppy paddle back with some rolling practice to finish off. Coffee and cake in the car park before another coffee in the pub.