Nibby, Jake and Tom met me for a trip to explore the rocky shoreline and wildlife. We set off in a canoe and a kayak, having a great time learning how to paddle them. As well as the normal wildlife of seals, star fish, etc etc we happened to spot a badger on the shore – a first for one of my paddling trips!
Sarah and Sophie joined me for a lovely calm morning on the water. Opting for a sit on top and a sea kayak between them we set off to explore the scottish coastline from the ‘other side’. They’re on a big trip around parts of the west and north of scotland, seeing the water from the land up till now!
Neil and Flora have their own kayaks and wanted to get out to learn a few skills. We had a lovely morning paddling just south of Gairloch from Loch Shieldaig.
Alan, Pam, Imogen and George came paddling with me this afternoon, a sunny and calm afternoon. Alan and Pam have been canoeing with me before, having a house near Poolewe means they’re in the area a lot. Alan and George decided to use the sea kayaks and Pam and Imogen opted for the more stable sit on top kayaks.
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John has recently bought himself a kayak and wanted to get out in it to learn some skills. We’d had some pretty wild and windy weather lately but this morning was the start of a nice calm period. After trying out some stokes we practiced them by exploring the exciting coastline around Mellon Charles.
Sofie, Bart, Andrew and Tom’as met me for an afternoon paddling from Badachro. It was a unusually warm and calm, a welcome change! They opted for canoes to explore the craggy coastline and search for seals. We spotted a range of wildlife above and below the surface, from tiny starfish to huge seals lounging out on the rocks.
David had a slightly damp start to the morning but it didn’t keep the wildlife away. We had a very inquisitive seal who swam all around us, under us and next to us. It’s always a great sight to see a seal swimming right underneath your kayak. As we paddled gently around the shoreline we came across an otter swimming along and then pottering around on the shore.
Kevin, Elisabeth and John joined me in rafted canoes to explore Loch Shieldaig. The rafted canoes mean we have a very stable craft and it enables us to all paddle together. We were able to spot plenty of tiny starfish scattered across the seabed along with the normal seals swimming around the loch.
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Kathryn, David, Pete and Helen spent the morning paddling around the coastline on calm, clear water from Gairloch harbour. A nice range of wildlife came to see us, including this big barrel jellyfish.
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Max, Pippa, Fraser, James and Fiona came paddling with me from Gairloch harbour. The lads had paddled with me last year but it was Pippa and Fiona’s first time with me on the water. We had a fun time around the coastline from the harbour, plenty to see above and below the water.
Peter, Liz, Millie, Tasha, Amber and George came for a kayak. Half of them had paddled with me last year and still seemed to remember me pushing them in vividly – I’m sure I’m never that nasty!
Kath, Darran, Thomas and Rebecca came kayaking with me in the afternoon, it might not have been a sunny blue sky day but the seals brightened up the day by popping up to watch us as we paddled.
Nick, Louise, Adam and Chloe spent the morning with me exploring the coastline from Gairloch. Louise chose to join me in a canoe whilst the other opted for kayaks, my small person kayaks being ideal for Adam and Chloe.
Arnie, Gina and Ossian spent a damp afternoon on the water with me from Badachro. Despite the liquid sunshine we had a great time exploring the rocky coastline and spotting seals watching us.
Sarah, Simon, Isabel and Isaac met me for a fun session learning to paddle, having fun and exploring the seas and wildlife.
Michael, Paul, Tom, Grace, Lisa, Jayne and Oliver spent the afternoon having fun in kayaks with me. Michael and Jayne have been out with me before, Michael’s B&B being a little south down in Lochcarron.
Katie and Spencer both chose different boats to use on our trip, Katie deciding that the canoe was for her and Spencer opting for a sit on top kayak. We had another day of calm seas which made it easy for us to explore the coastline.
The Mitchell group came out for an afternoon exploring the area by water on a mixture of sea kayaks and sit on top kayaks. They all had different levels of experience in kayaks but everyone soon got to grips with their boat, controlling them easily around the rocky coastline.
