Himalayan Balsam

 Much of the summer, we've been using the canoe to helping Cam Valley Forum's project to eradicate the invasive weed, Himalayan Balsam, from  the downstream section of Bourne Brook

We're making good progress, but there will undoubtedly be more to do next year
 

Ben Lawers

 We went over to Ben Lawers national park.  Stayed a night at a farm B&B near Killin, then had a lovely walk over Meall nan Tarmachan

 It was a bit challenging finding somewhere to camp, but we ended up at a lovely, tho somewhat stony spot at the north end of Loachan na Larige

 

Once again, the kayak stayed on the car.....  and remained there till we got home.

 

Mull

 Still hopeful of some more kayaking , we took the kayak over to Mull. 

 

The weather forecast was still to windy for us, so we cycled out to the "Wilderness", wild camped a couple of nights near Berg and walked along the beautiful coast path through the SSSI to  the fossilised tree.  

 

 

 

Then dried ourselves out, staying in the lovely youth hostel on the harbour front at Tobermory

We thought we'd wild camp near the lighthouse at Ardmore Point but with nowhere that looked attractive to camp, wind strength steadily rising towards a gale and increasing rain, we decided we'd prefer to be indoors!  Luckily we had some mobile coverage, so I used Booking.com to find a nearby B&B. 

 

We came back to the mainland the next day..

 

Loch Arienas

 Weather forecast still Force 4+ so we decided to go over to Loch Arienas, and paddle across and tale a couple of days to explore the ancient woodland hills and caves on the far side

This was lovely

 

 

  

Beautiful (tho windy) views from the top

and a cave

 

which was useful shelter when the showers came through

Then time to pack up the car again..

 

We didn't know it, but this would be the end of our Scottish kayaking this year...

Coll

 We'd hoped to do some kayaking round Coll, but the weather forecast was Force 4 + so we just took the bikes.

After a couple of nights in a very pleasant B&B we found a nice wild camp site on the blustery north coast, near Feall bay at the western tip

 

 

 

  

 

Walked to the western tip, looking over the channel to Tiree.   We've long hoped to kayak through here when the basking sharks are around.  But nothing visible today.

 

Travelling up to Scotland

 We set off on 28th May, with the car laden with bikes and kayak

 via a few days with our friends Karin and carl near Berwick, then visited the amazing Jupiter Landart on our way up to Oban

 

Self rescue practise

 We took the K2 on the Cam, with our full protective gear and practised capsizing and getting back in.

 

 There were a few "hazards" we wouldn't expect to encounter off the Scottish coast..

We had to reassure a flotilla of Chinese students in canoes, who were very anxious that we might need them to rescue us!  

Then a duck  brought her flock of ducklings along to have a look at what we were doing.