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

Sent from my iPhone

Day 4 - a great day with a film ending

So after a day of little paddling we had slot to make up... 26k to be precise...

So packed and off at 9am we made great progress in high spirits - so much so we made it to the site we meant to camp at in great time and had an early lunch there - the swell was ok but still slightly choppy for an open canoe... But the sun was out and all was progressing well

After lunch we Congo uberaba again found some choppy water so did it in 2k chunks and then rested which continued for most of the way until we went the wrong side of a fish farm (no signs pointing us in the right direction) so we landed on the beach to asses the situation and also quizzed the people found nearby - some polish gentlemen working for the farm - "just paddle across those pipes - they will drop as you cross" they said...

After a little discussion we sent a test canoe towards the pipes (whilst another got the camcorder out) and a test crossing was a success... So on the rest followed

This was about 2k from our camp for the night and with the fish farm behind us we had a bit of slack water which made easy paddling for a while...

Nobby then said there was a rouge wave coming and be ready and we all had no issue but then the 6 or 7 of it's friends arrived and we were back in the swell again.. As we got closer to the shore it became clear we just had to land the canoes straight on the beach in the swell. Fine until you get closer and they grow - about 1.5m swell.

So looks were exchanged and it was every canoe for itself - we went in one by one - it was like the d day landings with craft landing on the beach at a rate of knots and people jumping from them and securing the canoe before the wave behind filled the canoe to the top... (did have a couple of full canoes in the end)

What a way to end an epic paddle across such a large loch

So camp was set - the sun was shining - the kit was dried and a few beers had in a local pub...

Now to bed to finish the final 12k in the morning

But I have to say I have the best view from my hammock looking down the length of loch ness.

Night
Nik

Day 3 - our first day on Loch Ness

So after a very long day with great distances covered yesterday today was the opposite...

We woke to rain and wind which had die down over night but not enough just to leave at 9am as planned - instead we had to pack wet kit and finally left at 11ish...

We paddled to the south side of the Loch crossing the path of the wind and thus had to deal with the swell as well.. Finally we got to the slack water near the southern shore and started paddling up that side.

We made about 3k in about 70 mins which was slow and risky going and we decided to head to shore, have an early lunch and wait until it calms slightly. We measured 17mph winds gusting to 22mph - which is too much for a canoe in our eyes. The challenge is the side of the loch are very steep in most places and it is very hard to land 5 canoes and all our kit on a 45 degree slope...

We finally moved on at about 1730hrs and slowly paddled through the swell which had now dropped to about a foot.

We finally made it to our intended venue for lunch today at almost 1900hrs and set camp as we weren't going to make our planned camp for the night until gone 2200hrs with good paddling.

So in contrast to yesterday's 30k we managed 7k - all in all we are back on track but we have lost our advantage we had built...

We really need to manage 26k tomorrow to get us to Dores for the night.

Fingers crossed for less wind and thus less of a swell.

Night all
Nik

Day 2

Well where do i start - we packed camp and were on the water by 9am with most well rested... (some were very cold during the night... Me personally I just had cold toes as my hat was to wet)

We paddled to the top of Loch Lochy which was about 8k from our camp and then had the first of many portages of the day. After that portage around the lock at Laggan we found a floating Inn called the eagle and opted for a quick drink and a snack for lunch - well it wasn't quick and the customer service was somewhat lacking...

After that we had a 2.5k paddle to the bottom of Loch Oich and the highest point on our trip - the swing bridge at that point is 33m above sea level... At least all the portages will be down hill now...

On to Loch Oich a lovely little loch that seemed to pass by very quickly and at the top of which we would attempt to find a camp for the night. We had the wind at our backs so I explained to Ed how to rig a sail our of his coat and two paddles which work quite nicely with the canoe almost surfing along the wave tops...

Out of that Loch and on to the Canal again and a portage around a lock... Here we met for the first time a couple of old men from inverness doing the route as well...

We had now done our 20k for the day an were keeping our eyes open for a suitable camp... Having look at the map there appeared to be one just beyond the next lock so we pushed on...

At the next lock it all got a bit busy - a couple of large sail boats arrived with a Swiss Crew who it turned out were on their way to Glasgow.. Here much to everyones amusement we perfected the loaded canoe down the grassy bank launch... It always looks like the bow will go under doing it. We didn't attempt it with people in however - maybe do the seal launch later...

So on to our camp we hoped... When we reached the point of camp from the map there was no easy place to get out so we paddled on and on and on. By this time the wind was really getting up and the weather was only getting worse and so couldn't camp just anywhere we needed some natural shelter too...

On and on we paddled with the choppy waters lapping at the low sides of the canoes - people getting hungry and very tried. We rafted up for a while for snacks and just floated down stream whilst we reviewed our options...

The around the corner was Fort Augustus and it's flight of 4 locks which lead to Loch Ness - a long but down hill portage - a review of the map showed a possible place which was confirmed by admit the locals - with our canoes back in the water as it was now almost 9pm and people needed to eat we opted for Fish and chips

Having all eaten that to quickly and with the light fading fast we paddle the 0.5k around the southern shore of the loch to a wooded area where our only neighbour was a sewage treatment works... Camp was set a quick "wet" (hot drink) and off to bed..

Next we have the 23miles of Loch Ness to paddle and the weather doesn't look that lovely

Signing off for now
Nik

Sent from my iPhone

Day 2 update to follow

As we are all shattered due to paddling 30k instead of the planned 20k

Will update more in the morning
Nik

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End of day 1

So today has been a long day... We didn't start paddling until gone 1pm due to some delays getting the canoes and transferred to the start point. But we got there in the end.

So off we set the 10 of us and just as we paddled away from the top of neptune's staircase the rain started coming down...

In the end we paddled around 8km and in that time had bright sunshine, big black clouds, heavy showers and hail... And all we the sight of Ben Nevis with snow on top.

Around 4pm we had our first portage where we have to take the canoes and all of the kit out and walk them around the locks.

An hour later we set off again after a hot drink and a snack and paddled for about 4km to find our camp for the night. Around 18:30 we found a narrow beach and set up camp, our hammocks and a small fire..

So now I lay in my hammock the sun not quite gone listening to the sounds of the outdoors, looking out across the water... It doesn't get better than this...!!!

Well they let us on the plane