Manuela and Wolfgang joined me at Gairloch Harbour for a kayaking session in the sunshine. They were spending a few weeks travelling around Scotland, having some fantastic weather. 

Arnold booked a full day of paddling with me. He has recently bought himself a kayak and wanted to learn some skills. We spent a lot of time chatting about suitable equipment for both safety and comfort when paddling. On the water we practised different strokes and even had a practice with self rescue, even though the water felt freezing. Self rescue, the ability to get yourself back on your boat after capsizing, is an important skill to master if you’re going to go paddling by yourself.

Julia is working at Inverewe Garden this summer, on her summer holiday from university in Glasgow. Her sisters and dad where visiting for a couple of days and what better way to see the area than from a kayak. We would have set off  from the slipway in Ormiscaig next to where Julia is staying, but the wind argued with us about that so instead we headed off from Poolewe where we where due to be a little more sheltered. We had a good paddle, with Malin paddling very well being  just 10 years old. Some fun games where played and a lot of hard paddling was done.

The wind continued into the afternoon for the Wilson family, but as with the morning we where able to shelter from it by using the shoreline to protect us. Alison, Alex, Rachel, Christopher and Katie had been postponed from Monday when I had to call off paddling due to the wind conditions, the wind today wasn’t as bad and we succeeded in getting out. Lots of seals and jelly fish where seen, much to Rachel and Katie’s displeasure.

Today it was due to be a little windy from the south west, so Badachro looked to be a suitable place to go for a paddle from. Rob now lives in South Erradale, so it was a short drive for him, Tom, Sarah and Robert. Paddling around from Badachro and keeping tucked in against the shoreline meant that we where nicely protected from the wind, letting us enjoy an nice morning paddling seeing the scenery and seals.

After a quick bite to eat it was time for the afternoon session with the Redfern family. Simon, Clare, Jessica, Ellie and Richard arrived keen to get out on the loch. The forecast was due to be wet but this didn’t dampen their spirits, as it turned out it wasn’t as wet as it was due to be – well apart from when they capsized that is!

This morning Stephen, Patrick, Annapurna and Blythe joined me to get out in canoes and kayaks from Gairloch harbour. We set off initially in canoes, with Stephen and Blythe in one and Patrick and Annapurna in the other, both boats working well in their teams and getting where they wanted to go. We swapped over to kayaks part way through the session so that everyone could get a go in both types of boat.  Just in case they weren’t wet enough at the end, all the young folk decided to go for a swim.

This evening Sara, Imani, Sami and Riz joined me for a quick canoe session. Sami joining me in the front of my canoe and Riz, Sara and Imani paddling the other. We paddled around the Gairloch harbour to practice our skills and then set off to look for seals and find an island to have a hot drink on.

The Taylor and Costello families came to meet me at Gairloch Harbour for an afternoon paddling. Combined they where a good sized group of 7, 2 adults and 5 young folk. The session was filled with skills, games, seals, hot chocolate and more games. A fun filled session with everyone paddling well.

The Thompson’s have a holiday cottage down in Mellon Charles and where up for the week. We paddled from Gairloch Harbour in kayaks. The session went well with seals, lots of piranhas, a good brew on the beach and then it was time for some wetter stuff. Even after getting Matthew’s head under water he kept grooming his hair every ten seconds!

Due to a few changes of plan my afternoon had been free… that was till Patick and Janelle jumped on me as I was heading up the slip way with my morning group. They where down from Ullapool for the day and had seen me out having fun with the Eglin family.

Without a change of clothes with them I half promised that they might stay dry… We jumped on the water and went straight into a game of piranhas – there goes that staying dry! Apart from a few wet piranhas and splashes they did keep reasonably dry. We had the normal sightings of seals, cuppa on the beach and a good paddle.

This morning Gail, Trevor and young Theo arrived in Gairloch to have a good morning paddling.  We had a fun session with lots of games, everyone playing vigorously – Trevor capsizing in the process!

Theo’s boat seemed to want to be a submarine at the end of the session – I can’t think how that happened….nothing to do with me…

The Rhodes where back again, this time Allison and William persuaded Ian go jump back in a boat. Previous times we had always paddled from Poolewe, so for a change we set off from Mellon Charles. The coastline from Mellon Charles is quite different from Poolewe with sandy beaches and rocky cliffs.

We had a good time paddling around, Allison nearly becoming a convert to the sit on top boats and Ian loving their stability and staying dry. William was in his normal little boat, being as adventurous as ever!

The weather brightened up a bit for the afternoon, Peter, Kodi and Paula came along for some kayaking. Paula being persuaded to take to the water even though being a little unsure of it. Using one of the nice stable sit on top kayaks Paula was able to gain confidence on the water, and even enjoy it!

Kodi was drenched from playing with the piranhas, but after a hot drink and an extra layer he soon warmed up ready to get wet again!

It was a grey but still morning at Gairloch harbour today, the sort of weather midges enjoy. The few midges around weren’t going to dampen the high spirits of Katrina or Susan. Both had paddled before so after a quick recap on skills we where off on the water.

Being on the water meant we escaped any more midge attacks. We practised our boat handling skills before heading around the coastline a little to see the seals. The seals didn’t disappoint and came out to say hello as we paddled past. A stretch of the legs on a beach and a nice cuppa was had before heading back.