Spey Canoe Descent oct 09

I went 106km down the river Spey, wild camping good weather and lots of rapids and white water, over the oct hol week.

It's a big river !

Approaching the sea, nearly there.

A wee Fake tiltshift Miniature of a lunch stop.

A wee Grade 2 rapid before lunch, literally ! Video clip

Trying to catch a Salmon leaping on film.





Tarp and tent up for tea, the first night wild camping outside Aviemore.

Arisaig

Spent a while paddling around here, great scenery and clear water. Seals following me.

Sentier Martel

The Gorges du Verdon, deepest gorge in europe. We did the interesting Sentier Martel along the gorge base. Named after the first surveyor of the gorge.

What is it ?

Give way to Ascenders !

This sign shows how you must give way to ascenders going up the Echelles (ladders) on the sentier Martel in the Gorge du Verdon, French Alpes-Maritimes.

Quecha base tent

Just waiting for showers to stop to get the tent dried off. Drove back yesterday from France. Avignon to Glasgow in 24hrs. this Base tent by Decathlon worked well for shade, living space and in a thunderstorm. The campsite above was the Municipal one in la Palud high up on the Verdon Gorge plateau.

Kayaking on Loch Lomond

We got six brand new boats at work, Perception Arcs. So, time to get them unwrapped ! DJ eager to get them unpacked and out on the loch.

Sunny Seal watching

Seal watching at Rhu Marina, Clyde Gareloch. Nine seals in total. We drifted past using a tidal eddy.

The Navy Navigation Lighthouse at the end of Rhu spit.

Do I still have to paddle ? No, we can just drift on the wind. You can just make out the wee trolley, cheap in Decathlon.

A wee ruined tower, just past the RNCYC pier.

The canoe tied up.

Wee trolley came in handy for the 100yds back to my parents hoose. Now time for flapjacks.

Ben Lomond - Winter's still about

Up Ben Lomond today, very icy on the upper path. Chap asked which was down when we were taking photos at the top, told him, it is easy every way was down.

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Rimed up summit butresses.

Last day of the School hols.....

Last day, so headed up Ben Cleuch, not quite a munro but you start at nearly sea level. Very cold, numb face. The Law was very slidy with icy snow so a few feet off the path was fine. Very warm sun though. Perfect on the summit for half an hr, cooked up some soup, using an MRE flameless heater and hot choc. Back to work tomorrow.

Loch Ard Canoeing

A bit chilly, 1degs C, when we left, and a bit choppy but with a Windsurfer as a bow paddler we made no time up to the island, with the bothy. A quick setup of the Volcano stoves and tea and beans, not mixed, was ready. No need for gloves and a warming sun.