Tuesday 2nd April 2013
Crinan Ferry beach to Ardfern
Having arrived in Kilmartin (Argyll & Bute) last night. We awoke to another amazing, sunny & perfectly still day.
I'd brought the kayak up with me, but hadn't really got any solid plans. We had some work to do at the barn first though......
Logging, splitting and stacking firewood!
A little shooting first though, Connor taking his first few shots.
'Zero-ing' in the sights, not fired the air rifle for years, I can still hit a 6" nail at 15metres :)
So, on with the kayaking.....
We drove to Crinan Ferry beach as the kids wanted to dig! I planned to leave there, paddle North up Loch Crinan & then up through Loch Craignish to Ardfern, and Crainish Village hall, where Adele & the kids would collect me.
It was lovely and warm in the sun light, but with a slight NE wind I knew I'd need to get wrapped up on the water.
I was right about the wind! crossing the first bay in a Northerly direction, I had the wind biting at me from my right side making the kayak weather-cock, and me get a rather cold face.
Looking West, the Gulf of Corryvreckyen in gap in the distance - no wirlpool action for me today though.
Looking back at Crinan itself, the white building is the Crinan Hotel right next to the Lock that leads to the 8.4 mile Crinan canal.
Looking South, down the Sound of Jura with The Paps of Jura prominent in the distance.
I decided to paddle up the Eastern side of Loch Craignish to try and stay out of the cold breeze. Entering the Loch here was my first experience of paddling in this sort of landscape. Navigating through the ever changing scenery and the many Islands requires a constant watch on the map.
I took a rest in a little inlet, and looked back again, The Paps are getting smaller - but the view today is amazing.
Its a little wierd sitting an rotating through 360 deg, land in all directions - definately not used to that!
Gulf of Corryvrecken in the far distance again.
Zooming right in for a closer look - its about a 6mile paddle just to get out there, will have to come back and do it one day though....
Sitting resting again, I had been hearing the sound of an engine now for a good ten minutes but couldn't locate the source.
Then the Sea Leopard II apeared, leaving the biggest surfing waves behind it!
The boat belongs to Craignish Cruises, apparantly carrying upto 60 passengers, they will take you on wildlife spotting adventures into the Gulf, and around Jura & Scaba islands.
If you look carefully, theres a ruin nestling away just beyond the shore - a potential renovation project anyone?
The wind wasn't effecting my kayak at all, but was making me uncomfortable, constantly blowing cold on my face, and if I was in the shadows, making me feel the cold throughout. I passed through between the islands of Makaskin & Eilean Righ, and got myself tucked in under the Western shore.
Having to rely on my navigation through the islands, I knew I didn't have far to go, but couldn't see my destination.
I could just make out a tiny little island in the middle of the Loch, and knew I'd have a bit of a slog across to it out in the open - I was right! The wind had picked up a fair bit whilst I'd been 'hiding' behind the islands and made my tired arms feel the work.
Her's the tiny sland, Sgeir Dhubh.
Yatch masts at Ardfern, I was quite relieved to have made it up here, as I was a little chilly. I was well wrapped up, and in the sun earlier had got a bit hot n sticky, now I was feeling the effects of damp merino wool.
Approaching the village hall, I started scanning for a silver car in the car park, I couldn't see it though, looking East, I could see the road snaking down, I was desperate to see the car winding down the hill. It wasn't to be!
I packed up my gear and started to shiver a little. whislt wondering where the wife was, these guys came out to go for their first coldwater swim of the year - I declined to join them! Reaching for my mobile phone to see if it had any reception, I discovered it had 33 missed calls! (all from Adele)
I quickly phoned her, she had just had to walk 5 miles from Crinan Ferry to Kilmartin after I had taken the car keys with me! (Hence the title). A lesson to be learned there I think.
So, first paddle for almost 6 months and i do 11.3 miles with now tidal assistance - slept well that night!
