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News items or reports on club activities should be sent to website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk |
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Day 1: Loch Beag to
Day 2: Lussa bay to Craighouse – 26.1km
Day 3: Craighouse 0km
Day 4: Craighouse to
Day 5:
Day 6: Luing to
Total: 129.3km
Some
photographs have been posted on the site.
Click
to view them…….
Saturday 28th May
/ Sunday 29th – A wild weekend in Oban
Oban –
Gallanachmore campsite
Saturday morning its’ raining and the wind forecast isn’t looking too favourable, but hey I am on holiday! Meeting up at Brian’s talk turned to paddling options and the weather forecast over bacon butties provided by Brian. (sadly Brian couldn’t join us but made sure we set off fully fuelled for the long journey)
After padding
and faffing the trailer was loaded with boats and Simon’s van filled with
bags and people and the convoy to Oban began, only 2 hours behind schedule.
Apart the
silver Clio that literally stopped on the bends on the way past
Sunday
morning arrived wet and windy and waking to hear Keith calling a meeting under
the tarp to discuss the days plans did raise some of us from our snug comfy
tents so with little prospect of
paddling, after meeting under the tarp preparations for the day began .An hour
back asleep was great prep for contributing to the Oban economy, but first a
visit to view the Falls of Lora in the wind and rain. Following this a party of
us intrepidly explored Tesco and the outdoor shops of Oban and lunched in a
cafe for shelter. Back at camp the discovery of the campers’ kitchen made
for a pleasant evening cooking and eating with a little planning thrown in.
This was now the Jura trip. The weather forecast and late start meant this was
a better option. As I sit doing this write up on a campsite by the Jura
distillery - good plan is the thought that springs to mind. Frankie
Monday 30th May
– Is there any tide in the Sound of Jura?
Craignish Point to Lussa
Point 
Armed with an AA
road map we waded through what smelt like the devil’s excrement with
copious amounts of rotten fish thrown in (putrefying kelp), and after much
balking at the smell we were finally on the water with the Paps of Jura in our
sights.
We crept down
the west side of the Craignish peninsula with the tide pushing against our bows
and the stiff breeze wafting against our salt matted hair and gleaming pates.
Our progress
over to Jura was brought to an abrupt halt by a feisty little tide race that
was steaming past the tip of the peninsula. At this point we took an extended
lunch stop for three hours and waited for the tide to slacken off. Much mooching, munching and boat
spotting ensued.
Three o’
clock came and we were finally in business. The tidal stream had slackened and
it was all hands on paddles. The views
across the sound of Jura were stunning with the spectacular Paps of Jura in the
distance. It took us roughly two
hours to cross the sound in breezy yet pleasantly bouncy conditions. From near
the top, north end of Jura we paddled down the calm and sheltered east side of
the island towards the tranquil
After all the
initial stops and starts we were finally on our way and cooking with gas, so to
speak.
Helen Siertsema
Tuesday 31st May
– The Distillery
Lussa Point to Craighouse
Light was just
dawning over the 
Sound of Jura as I awoke at 0520 so as to
catch the early morning shipping forecast. Oh well, the report sounded
favourable, and as I couldn’t hear any rain on the fly, it was promising
to be a lovely start.
A quick
breakfast, and then just as I started to take my nice dry tent down, along came
a shower. Darn! The rain soon passed, boats were loaded and we set off for the
second day of paddling, with a rainbow leading us on to journeys end. I
wondered if there would be a pot of gold at the end?
The group zoomed
along the coast, staying close in to try and catch sight of any wildlife. We
were soon rewarded, a group of deer were foraging close to the sea shore,
however, they were hard to spot as their colouring provided excellent
camouflage.
Elevenses, which
is more a state of mind than an actual time, was taken in a delightful old
harbour. The sea wall steps providing a perfect sun trap of a pit stop, but all
too soon it was away with the munchies and back on to the sea. From this point
on, the scenery changed as we began to get sight of the Paps of Jura for the
first time, and a change in the geology meant the coast line frequently was
devoid of anywhere to land. Also we were now no longer in the lee of a headland,
and the sea had changed slightly in character.
We reached a
beach, perfect for 
lunch, but were advised that an even more
perfect spot was only a short paddle further. This second beach was full of golden
sands, protected from the increasing wind and had guaranteed perfectness. We
paddled hard and soon arrived, to find a windy stinky, gloopy, knee deep
landing through rank kelp. Nice! But we stopped anyway, we had paddled far
enough!
Fully revitalised,
we headed on. However someone decided that they needed to put reins on Helen
just to stop here form running off. Her race was a picture!
With uncertainty
over the next days paddling prospects, the group split. Some went to the shop, whilst
others looked for a campsite. We touched lucky, very lucky! The small shop had
an amazing stock, whilst the local hotel allowed us to camp on their front
lawn. No charge, but donations gratefully received at the bar. NB, they also
had showers and washing facilities that we could use.
That night I
found my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, a delicious venison pie in the
pub. Fantastic! Mike
A
Wednesday 1st June
– Any Port in a Storm
Woke up
Wednesday morning to strong winds and rough seas meaning no paddling today and
a forced stay at our campsite below the Jura hotel within the shelter of
Craighouse bay.
Not a lot to do
around hear other than a tour of the distillery or feed the midges some took
the opportunity to dine in the Jura hotel we all had a drink or two in the bar,
although not all alcoholic (in content I mean). Thursday’s weather report promised
to be good so to bed early for a 7am on the water start. Although Glad of a safe haven I think we
all will be keen to get paddling in the morning – Anthony Vaccaro
|
Jura is famed for its spectacular
raised beaches. Abandoned shoreline caused by dramatic sea level drops,
some of these beach lines can be seen some 30 metres above the present sea
level. This island (and all of |
Thursday 2nd June
– the Sound of Islay and the west Coast
Craighouse to Rubh an
t-Sailein - Edge of
It
was with rested arms (storm bound in Craighouse for 24 hours - thank
goodness!) and full bellies (venison
pies, sticky toffee puddings, apple pies and 16 year old malts) that we
broke camp from our delightful spot, bathed in the gentle spice/honey/ peaty
aromas of the Jura Distillery. We were all keen to get back on the water and
following our master and commanders' (Keith and Ian - poetic licence only,
don't let it go to your heads…) instruction we were on the water by
7am.
My
boat considerably lighter now for having offloaded several tins of gin and
tonic; the sun shining and the wind at our backs, we enjoyed a glorious paddle
round the bottom of Jura into the Sound of Islay. Scenery to die for; seals
playing alongside the boats, deer watching from the shore, cormorants drying
their wings on the rocks, the conditions perfect as the tide turned to push us
along to elevenses (flushing toilets and running water!) at the Feolin
Ferry. It doesn't get much
more idyllic than this, I thought to myself. …..that was until Helen
broke the magical poetry of the moment with her delightful pirate talk (this is
on a need to know basis, suffice to say, the magic was gone, replaced with much
laughter and hilarity…….).
We
surfed out of the Sound of Islay on the Cal-Mac ferry's wake under the shadow
of The Paps. Briefly exposed to the winds and big swell as we crossed the mouth
of Loch Tarbet it was noticeable that Helen's usual position (20 feet out to
sea from the rest of the pack) was wavering, her powerful strokes were no
longer forging her certain path through the waves…..John M went to her
rescue, only to find that her skeg had disappeared…. Thankfully, we soon
reached the lea of Colonsay and everyone was back on a straight line through to
our next idyllic wild camp at Rubh an t-Sailean. Nearly 35 km under our belts, we set up
tents and then spent an afternoon relaxing in the sun/exploring the headland.
John
M set off as team photographer (thanks John) to capture more of the island's
beauty and soon found a magical storm beech of flotsam and jetsam. Tony chose a
pair of shorts to explore in, only to return covered in ticks, thankfully, he
avoided the adders. The rest of us had the weighty decision to wrestle
with…..when to cook dinner to avoid the midges vs lying around in the
sun. I think we all timed it to perfection (other than my falling backwards off
my cooking rock) and after washing up in the harbour with a seal for company,
we all retired for an early night and well deserved rest, to be back on the
water again at 7am. Another perfect day. Kathy M
Friday 3rd June
–
Rubh an t-Sailein to
My day started a bit damp getting the dew wet tent stowed and getting under way a little too slow (sorry guys). The seal, that had checked us into the little harbour we camped next to was breakfasting somewhere else, so off we went.
With pleasant following Atlantic swells we made excellent progress up the west coast. There were seals and deer right at the shore to enliven a morning that already had sunshine and blue skies. What would be next? I kept looking out to deeper sea to the west hoping for a square silhouette on the waves. This, I understand, is the shape the basking sharks fins make when they are on the surface.
No sharks though. Then, John calls from the back of our
group “I think there’s a dolphin here”. Between us and the shore we are gifted
with a pair taking a breath or two. A big one and a little one, maybe mother
and calf. Thanks John, I’d paddle round the island just for that moment. 
A sprint to catch the group up had me doing the cooked lobster in my drysuit, salopettes are the way forward. A bit later, Keith and Ian lead us into a lovely sheltered bay for a nice long lunch in the sun with a couple of nice yatchs and the opportunity to see what Corrievreckan looks like in flow.
Yes, big impressive standing wave. Then we see the high powered tourist boats ferry gliding in front of the wave. Their motors sounded big and yet still being challenged by the flow. Glad we waited for the slack water.
Mind you, an elderly gentleman, who had escorted us into the bay in his aluminium dinghy and tiny outboard tells us that it’s possible to make passage using the little refuges and a locals knowledge of the eddies and currents. He wasn’t crossing, but he did leave well ahead of us. Motoring close to the shore and puttering away round the headland.
Much preferred our leaders plan and later cautious departure, up the south side of the strait to the east end and then after a good look, across we went. Big eddies some more than fifty feet wide pushed and pulled us in a weaving path. Good that these were just the ghosts of the forces when the tide was in flow.
Then we were across.
The bothy camp site on Scarba was a bit too exposed and small, so we made a second little crossing with an oblique following sea to the next island, Luing. This wave pattern was a new challenge, Helen had fun without her Capella’s skeg. I certainly learned improved technique with my Thatcherite (as in, not for turning) Icefloe. Stable and sea kindly the boat looked after me, really well. Might not use a wing paddle next trip though, ahem.
Wild camping again, we were visited by some locals. Seems John had pitched next to a favourite scratching post for the Angus herd sharing our accommodations and we were between them and their evening drink. They were gentle, though, and left the tents alone.
Last night,the two pleasant nights in the haven at the Jura 
hotel
meant a lovely big dinner as the sun went down beautifully, we even drank some of the wine I’d
hauled round all week!
Amazing day, great sights, the best company. Lifetime memory.
Thanks everyone. Paul Hanley
The Corryvreckan is the
third largest whirlpool in the world, and is on the northern side of the gulf,
surrounding a pyramid-shaped basalt pinnacle that
rises from depths of 70 m to 29 m at its rounded top. Flood tides and
inflow from the Firth of Lorne
to the west can drive the waters of Corryvreckan to waves of over 30 feet
(9 m), and the roar of the resulting maelstrom can be heard ten miles
(16 km) away.
more
information……
Saturday 4th June
– a short hop home
Having run the 'tongue of the Corryvreckan tide race; breaking out into the Sound of Lung we were left with a 45minute ferry glide across to Lung Island. That evening it was time to reflect on a week of paddling and enjoy the setting sun surrounded by water and amazing panoramic mountain views. We were also joined by the resident Angus herd who seemed to know the tide times as much as us as they munched their way through the camp and cross a small inlet exposed by the low water - the bull being most impressive. John`s tent narrowly missed being mistook for an expectant heffer!
As we sat around our stoves cooking our evening meal (to the
sound of I've got some broccoli left does any one want some) I carried on
stirring my pre packed soup and pasta with an inward chuckle. The weather
again transformed the view as a blanket of cotton wool cloud enveloped the
landscape blotting out the whole of the isles of Scarba and
We all zipped up our tents encouraged by the chilly wind and incoming rain
ready for a 7am start. We woke up to a clear sky and the stillness of an early
morning slack water, 7am had been an significant number as it corresponded to
high or low water, the crossing took no more than an hour or so with relatively
flat water for most of the way; for most of the time we were immersed in our
own thoughts reminiscing on the weeks events and experiences. Eventually I
began to recognise some familiar features, namely the stone boat house and
slipway the point of our departure some 6 days ago. Thankfully the
tide was still high so we could paddle over the kelp field that we had to
negotiate on the first morning we had reached Craignish Point and the end
of a great sea trip - thanks guys for making this happen and being part of a
great group of people.… John P
Ian Bell, Keith Steer,
Frankie Annan, Mike Alter, Paul Hanley, Simon Howlett, John Pegram, Kathy
Morton, John Maddock, Helen Siertsema, and Anthony Vaccaro Click
for more Photos….