Day 5 - the final 14k

So after being woken up by drunk teenagers on the beach at 2:30am the nights sleep hadn't been as good as it could have been but all our kit was dry and the sun was shining and not too much wind.

So by 10am when we were all packed and set the wind had got up a bit and so had the swell - we would have had to paddle into the wind and then across the swell for about 1k and then we would have rounded the point to head up the Loch again - all in all too risky...

So a portage was called for which meant walking the five canoes and all out kit about 1.5k across the point on land. As the canoe hire company had only provided 3 sets of wheels this meant that it would be a forward and back job, as portages often are.. So we loaded 3 canoes on wheels and the kit into them. Two of the canoes headed off without issue but the one Ed and I were pushing veered off into the bracken... After a little investigation it was found that one of the Tyres on the trolley was no longer containing any air ... The portage got a whole lot longer with 5 canoes and 2 and a half sets of wheels...

About an hour and a half later we were all on a beach round the point and ready to go...

There was then some easy paddling for around 7k to the lunch stop at Dochgarroch Lock - we did have a few boats pass us on the way whilst we were rafted up (where the canoes all come together and are held together by the paddlers to allow for a rest, drink, snack or just to talk rubbish to each other - just must look a little strange to the other boaters on the Canal.)

Due to the portage we were running behind time for the day and one of the group had a fight at 5pm so she jumped in a taxi and was gone... That left one canoe with two people kit and only one person to paddle it... So Ed and I helped by towing Richie which did get a few odd looks from people on the towpath..

As we headed on the k's left where dropping as the landmarks getting more urbanised. At the 2k to go point there was the Tomnahurich swing bridge. As we got closer and closer the clearance under the bridge was starting to be questioned. "that's low... That's very low..." so we got the kit as low as possible in the canoes and then rafted up and lay back an hope that there would be enough room... Luckily there was but you would have got a sore head if you hadn't laid-down..

So the final push for 2k went quickly and a down hill portage at the muirtown locks to the carpark to had back the canoes.

And then it was over... A mighty challenge in some poor weather but that sense of achievement and exhaustion from paddling from one side of Scotland to the other..

Time for a long soak in the bath and a shave and then back to day to day life..

Please check back for more photos and video when i have got home and had the chance to upload them

Thanks all
Nik

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