A sunny mornings kayaking from Poolewe with the Websters. Louise, Murray and Lorn where keen to get out on the water whilst Geoffrey chose to visit the cafe.
We headed off to learn some skills and see what we could see. We found some seals playing in the water when we got up to the Inverewe bay, always a nice sight.
Gairloch Harbour this afternoon as well. This time with Wico, Christine, Irene, John, Cathy and Mathew.
We spent some time learning and practising skills in the harbour before having a paddle out into the bay a little. Those piranhas joined us again for some fun splashing around.
Jon, Max and Sam came down to Tollie Bay for a kayak session. They had all kayaked before so it was an easy start to the session, it just took them a short while to get used to the boats. A vicious game of ‘Piranhas’ was had, I think a few where even aimed at my head – but I suspect I got my own back!
We had a good paddle along the upper part of the river Ewe, with all their paddling skills improving as the session went on. At the end of the session we tried out a few challenges, ending with both lads in the loch!
The sun was back when the Gelly family met me at Tollie Bay for a fun mornings paddling. We started the session canoeing, with Keith and young Jamie in one boat and Alison and even younger Ciaran in the other. Both boats managed to paddle around despite the wind blowing up the loch. After a good game of ‘Piranhas’ and testing our balance in the boats we headed to shore for a hot chocolate and swap of boats.
After another paddling briefing on shore we soon took to the water and tested the boats out. Just as we did in the canoes we practised some paddling strokes in preparation for a game or two. Keith was good enough to show his lads how easy it was to fall out of a kayak and how there is no need to worry if you do!
With everyone paddling well we got on with the important stuff – some games! We played the tails game, Ciaran managing to grab my tail in the very end but not without getting very wet! To end the session we tested Jamie and Ciaran’s balancing skills, making them do lots of rafted challenges.
The sun kept shining for a while, but dark clouds gathered as we got ready. Helen and Jessica wanted to come out in the kayaks for a paddle from Gairloch Harbour. Helen’s son had brought along a sit on top boat after deciding that he was too good to paddle with us.
They both picked up the skills to turn the boat left and right very quickly – but they did seem to keep practising those turns a lot during the session! Helen decided to overcome her fear of capsizing by, well… capsizing. She did it very well, and worked out how to get back into her boat without too much effort.
We went for a good long paddle, with heavy rain at times making the sea feel nice and warm. The rain made me envious of Helen and Jessica in their wetsuits – maybe I should have put one on too!
Jessica’s brother (sorry, can’t think of your name – it’s not on my piece of paper!) on the sit on top kayak joined us for a game, trying to win by jumping off his kayak – cheat! The session ended with everyone soaked – either from falling in or the rain.
Back over to Gairloch today do canoe and kayak. The Morris family had such a great report from the Wood family (all part of the same family group up here) they wanted to get out with me too. We set out initially in canoes, testing our communication and teamwork skills. After practising our skills we got straight into a good game of ‘Piranhas’, followed by some fun testing rafted games.
After that it was time to stretch the legs and swap to kayaks. We paddled about, leaning just how easy it is to turn the kayaks (often when not wanted!). We played some attack & defend games, then in my pursuit of getting them all soaked we played some rafted games where they had to swam boats along with a host of other challenges. Sadly they where all a bit too good and I had to resort to splashing them with my paddle!
Gairloch Harbour was the spot for today’s paddling. The Wood family had seen me out the day before having fun with a group on the water so they wanted to get out and splash about as well.
We headed out in the kayaks, some of the boats seemed to go in a straighter line than others – maybe some of the boats where broken? Everyone managed to get to where they wanted to, even if it did take some longer than others.
Christine took it upon herself to show everyone how easy it was to fall out of your boat when you capsize, having her shoes float away in the process. It wasn’t long before everyone else – Calum, Frazer, Cara and Iain – had a go at falling out themselves. Again and again.
This session turned out to be a very wet session! No body minded since it was another glorious day.
Another Monday morning and a fantastic start to the week, the sun shone down warmly as the Hartree joined me in Badachro for a mornings paddling. They where staying on the other side of the little bay in one of Sue and Tom’s Ceomara Cottages.
We headed out in kayaks to paddle around and hopefully cool down with a bit of splashing around. We saw a number of seals, they followed us for a while but didn’t join in on our games sadly. Finley nearly got stranded on a buoy – he hopped up onto one, easy to get on but tricky to get back into your boat without falling in!
It’s been ages since I paddled from Gairloch Harbour so since we where due a nice high tide I thought it would be a great spot to take the Young family. They nearly missed out on paddling with me because they where due to be heading home today, but because the weather was just too good to be going home in they opted to hang around.
We headed off in kayaks, quickly getting used to their spinny nature. Being a hot sunny day no body minded getting sodden piranhas in the face (well, not too much). We paddled a good distance before stopping for a biscuit snack and stretch of the legs, after that it was time to paddle back into the harbour. We where able to head up the river slightly, under the new and old bridges, and alongside the Old Inn.
Jacqui, Mike, Olivia and Douglas left me after a good session to get some fish and chips and hopefully find a B&B for the night.
Another sunny morning at Tollie Bay, this time I was joined by the Galvin family – Grace, Daniel, Emmet and Helen. We set off in the canoes initially, heading across the bay. Manoeuvring skills where picked up well, enabling a good game of ‘Piranhas’ to be had.
After a short break we swapped over to the kayaks, it was such a hot sunny day no one minded splashing around in the water at all. Grace and Daniel both performed well in the kayaks, being only 8 means it’s hard work for them.
Haven’t paddled from Badachro for a while, so since the Barnett family where staying in one of Sue and Tom’s cottages in Badachro I thought it would be a good spot to go.
Alan, Carol and Ross joined me for a session of canoeing and kayaking. We set off initially in two canoes to explore the area and see what we could find. Seals where spotted in the bay – a common occurrence here, and a possible otter sighting on one of the beaches.
When we had mastered the art of canoeing it was time to switch boats and jump into the kayaks. A good game of ‘Piranhas’ was had, testing everyone’s skills to the limits!
This morning saw a windy start to the day in Poolewe. The wind didn’t deter Grant, Connie, Katie or Rhona in the slightest and they where all keen to get onto the water. After getting going they picked up the skills despite the wind trying to push them around.
Connie reassured herself that she would simply fall out of the kayak if she capsized by trying it out. Once getting back in she kept going, not letting the fact that she was soaked get her down. The wind chose to calm it’s self towards the end of the session, giving us a nice gentle end to the paddle.
This sunny afternoon was spent with the Cummings from Laide. Iain is a teacher at the local High School, he had won a half price voucher for a family paddle with me from the school’s S7 year fundraising event in aid of them going on an adventurous activities week.
To get the most out of this beautiful afternoon we set off initially in canoes. Soon everyone picked up the canoeing skills and after a few games we nipped back to the beach for hot chocolate, biscuits and to swap boats.
It wasn’t long before we where back out on the water, all in individual kayaks. The skills that had been learnt in the canoes where put to good use in the kayaks, with everyone zipping around like natural paddlers. By the end of the session everyone was fairly damp from the energetic splashing and games.
Rose and Jim wanted to get out for a bit of kayaking to see the scenery from a different angle and hopefully see some wildlife.
It was a glorious day, so the scenery was, as ever up here, outstanding. We had a good paddle along from Poolewe, Jim getting back into the swing of it all and building his confidence in the boat.
On our return towards Poolewe we where followed by a seal, inquisitive as ever to what we where up to in his territory.
Yet another glorious hot and sunny day came along so today the Higgon’s wanted to do a spot of kayaking from Gruinard beach. We got out on the water and all three of them picked up the skills very quickly and could turn and move their boats well.
Bethany appeared to have the best stablity of them all, with Connor and David both managing to fall out a few times! Capsizing on such a great day didn’t matter, so I’m not sure David didn’t do it on purpose!
Bethany and Connor where keen to practice some capsizes and rescues, so at the end of the session we threw ourselves into the water and played around getting back in. I had already put on my wetsuit in preparation, however I’m not sure I needed it with the warmth of the sun!
Paul, Emily, Coll and Anita arrived on a sunny afternoon in Poolewe ready for a canoeing session. After our initial chat about the boats and getting kitted out we set off to see how the canoe’s paddle. Both teams, Paul & Anita and Emily & Coll, soon got to grips with the way the boats could be manoeuvred through the water and we set off for the shores of Inverewe Garden.
We improved our turning strokes and then put them to test with a good game of Loch Ewe Piranhas. After a relaxing hot chocolate and biscuit break we jumped back on the water for more fun and games.
Towards the end of the session we put Coll’s skills to the test by sending him off in a kayak. He coped well, being able to paddle his kayak just where he wanted to go. With Paul & Anita still zipping around in their canoe and Emily and Coll both flying around in kayaks it was time for another game of Piranhas.
Coll claimed he didn’t get hit in the face…the photo makes it look like he did! Both Coll and Anita paddled well for such young folk – well done.
We had a self rescue session in Gairloch Harbour for all the local paddlers to come along and practice their skills. The morning went well with everyone bobbing about in the water happily.
It was a great opportunity for folk to remember their skills and learn new ones. Everyone was able to share their experiences and techniques, helping each other out.
Thank you to everyone who came along, especially Andrew Johnston and Miles Wood who are two other paddle-sport coaches in the local area.
Poolewe today, and a nice high tide to start with – always makes life easier.
I arrived to meet an enthusiastic family ready for the water. We started the morning out in canoes, with the plan of staying dry as long as possible. Both teams coped well, manoeuvring their boats just about where they wanted to go. With a little coaching they where ready to chase the piranhas across Loch Ewe.
We chose to have a hot chocolate on the shores of Inverewe Garden (luckily the family are NTS members so we weren’t chased for money). Then it was a paddle back to the trailer to get some kayaks out. Maureen decided to stay on the bank and take pictures whilst Jon and the two lads, Patrick and William, jumped into the little kayaks. Patrick being the expert paddler showed us his skills. William having never been in a kayak solo before soon picked it up and had no trouble zipping around.
Nobody fell in, so it was time to do some rafted games – all three showed their expert balancing skills by standing and jumping in their boats. Since they where still all dry it was time to make them rub noses with their kayaks…still they remained dry (well apart from their noses!). One last attempt to get the lads soaked – I set them the task of getting out of their boats and moving all the way around the rafted kayaks and back in to their own. This must end in wetness…… nope, they where just too good. We ended the session with another round of hot drinks all still dry.
William gained his Paddle Start Award, and Patrick improved his skills ready for the next paddling course he’ll be on later in the summer. Well done lads.