Scotland Sea Kayak Trip June 2021 by Roger Colman
I normally go kayaking in Scotland during early May or late September/October with the sole intention of avoiding the ‘Midges’. Therefore, this June trip was to be a new experience for me and one I was both looking forward to and dreading in equal measure. Horror stories from my sons, ‘Midges’ walking across your eyeballs, kind of stuff, hadn’t helped. Now the date had arrived and time to find out for myself just how bad they really are.
Sunday 27th June. (Kerrera ferry to NE Luing about 25Km)
Catriona, Andy and I started out from the Oban / Kerrera Ferry slipway about 10am Sunday morning. Ally and Sheena were travelling from Skye and intending to join us later that day, while Jon hoped to be with us Monday and Ian Tuesday.
That is a lot easier and quicker to write than it was for Catriona to arrange. No doubt numerous plans A, B, C etc. were developed as individual circumstances changed through the week, prior to the trip. We are all very grateful for the time and effort it must have taken Catriona to accommodate everyone’s needs.
Our paddle was gentle and uneventful, in smooth seas and warm sunshine, with the added bonus of a sea otter sighting within the first 90 minutes. Into Barnacarry Bay for elevenses, then on down the coast, a quick peek at the Bridge over the Atlantic (Clachan Bridge) through a number of small isles above Rubha Garbh Airde, to a lunch stop just below it.
After lunch we stayed close to the shore line, through the Sound of Insh and on to Easdale Harbour. Here Andy had a successful ‘urban foraging’ trip and gathered together some alcoholic beverages, a table and chairs. Excellent.
Andy – ‘Urban Foraging’, Easdale
Catriona had been in regular contact with Ali and Sheena monitoring their progress and this was an appropriate meeting place. After saying hello to our new friends and goodbye to our beers it was a well-timed paddle through Cuan Sound and into a little bay on the Isle of Luing, opposite Torsa Island to our first wild campsite.
Tents up, supper on and time for Andy to explain to Ali and Sheena, who had been up early and travelled far, that it was a 4:30am start in the morning. (Possibly not what they wanted to hear!)