Janet Jones Diary  A first sea cruise by sailing canoe    

Page 1:   Loch Duich to Knoydart                                                                         1 2 3  Next >

March 1^st   Thinking about joining Dave & Co. for their annual expedition in the Hebrides. Must get fit though!

April 1^st:  Sound of Sleat this year. They admit trip would be different; have to take into account my lack of cruising experience.  Really must get fitter.

May 1^st:  Trip getting nearer, thinking about food and gear. Must go for a run.

May 17^th :  Bought gas adaptor for Trangia. Went for fast walk up Hampsfell.

May 25^th Wed:  Whole house piled with gear, dry-bags and food. Have to get four outrigger canoes ready by Friday night.  Daves are still doing orders. No time for a run.

Thur: 26th  Forecast very cold but settled with light winds. Doesn't sound too bad but will need warm gear.

Sat. 28^th 9 am:  Whew! We’re packed and off.

Sat. 28th 9 pm:  11 hours to get here, jams on M8. Found campsite at Ardelve with beach access near Eileen Donan Castle, Loch Duich.

Sun 29th  11 am: Frenzied activity while we put outriggers on canoes, rigged up and got everything to the water over boulders. Sore feet now.

On the sea! Bit fraught getting launched as didn’t want to hold everyone up. Had to wait for Steve in the end. Some discussion about time of high water due to different info from tides website. Important - as current sets north through Kyle on flood, against us if we get it wrong. Didn’t take sides.

Sun  12.40 am: At entrance to Kyle Rhea at right time so should have tide with us.

1.30 pm:  Stopped for lunch just past Kylerhea ferry crossing.

Plenty of tide with us, had to paddle hard to get in, never mind running - should have done press ups.

Steve making some adjustments.

3.30 pm: Ahh… this is the life! Sunshine, light westerly breeze taking us easily towards the Sound of Sleat, horizon full of mountains and seals popping their heads up all around us.

5.00 pm: Landed on Knoydart, v.  remote. Short shower and freshening breeze sent us past lighthouse and entrance to Loch Hourn, got here in no time. Place called Camas Garbh, means Rough Bay - can say that again, pebbles get bigger as you go up the beach. 

Wellies too soft, really sore feet now. Had to carry canoes out of reach of tide and put out anchors. Why did I pack all those tins of tomatoes?   

Fantastic place this though! Steve’s pitched his tent on pebbles ours are higher up on grass. Dave S made a driftwood fire and we ate pancakes while the sun went down over Skye.

Perfect day.

2.10 am: Quiet night, just woke up as a quad bike roared past. Not such a remote place after all.                               Wonder if we put our tepee on the path?

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