….tired from 2 weeks of back to back wild camping kayak adventures north of here off Harris and the Uists I am somewhat lacking in inspiration to write.. luckily however I have some photos I can simply throw at you while I go off for another coffee. I have a day off today, hurrah.. and I’m not likely to get sidetracked into taking any day trips out from here in Castlebay either thanks to the gale-force winds that are howling across the bay as I write :-)
The first week was characterised by high winds and heavy rain which did limit options for exploring to the many sheltered sea lochs on the east coast and made cooking for 11 an awkward affair huddled under a flapping tarp each day not to mention sorting out the food for the following week in driving rain one night in Leverburgh… Week 2 on the west coast of Harris with a small group of just 5 was magic… very high winds at the start meant hiking in fabulous mountain scenery rather than kayaking but things improved wonderfully as the week went on.. with lighter winds and just one very wet day.
I didn’t bring my own sea kayak up here, preferring instead to bring my surf boat. No bad thing, working boats take a hammering on these trips so I am paddling an Island Kayaks Expedition model belonging to Chris, my employer. It is the largest volume boat I have ever paddled which means empty with just my light frame on board it is quite amusing to paddle as it floats so high. Loaded however it is superb. The volume is handy as it swallows up everything needed with ease which makes squeezing food and gear into the other boats a less stressful affair. At the beginning of a trip it is something of a floating larder.. and by the end it is a floating garbage truck. I find it quite amusing how other paddlers are so resistant to carrying garbage once space has been freed in their boats by meals eaten…
Anyway, enough.. on with some photos. I never did replace my waterproof camera so not so many on-water pics but I hope they give a sense of this wonderful part of the world nevertheless. Captions where I could be bothered….
As a footnote.. these trips are hard work physically and logistically… non-stop 15 hour days and it takes me a week to earn what I could in a day in my past life as an aeronautical engineer… but up here I feel complete contentment and the satisfaction at the end of a trip when everyone goes home with a big smile on their face is beyond putting a value on. My season ends in a couple of weeks.. I plan to stick around a while to carry out essential kayak repairs and so do some surfing… as for the winter, don’t know yet… not worried about it :-)
Mike – that all looks fantastic and you change peoples lives – what a reward. You ever biked in Cuba? – thinking about that for the winter.
haha, I don’t know about that.. I cook ’em some good grub and take them around some islands for a week… nothing more .. we have a good laugh tho :-)
I haven’t made it to Cuba yet, nope.. it is on the list however… hmmm, you definitely set on going? I should probably try and earn some proper wedge this winter.. will see ;-)
Ahh… you in a good space Mike.
love the photo of the foam pattern…..looks like taken from outer space!!
:-)
hey, lovely to hear from you.. how is your shoulder?
Mike, your images are too beautiful to be viewable as small size only. Any chance to make them “right klickable” and be able to see them in a larger size?
hey, thanks for the words :-) as for the images, probably not in the very short term, I am short of time as it is at the mo.. maybe when I get back to Cornwall :-)
Great places of selection Mike. You might have enjoyed a lot the stormy evening and a wild camp, haven’t you?
Awesome!@ Pics
oh yes, I do enjoy stormy weather in my tent :-) There has been plenty of it this summer…!
We saw your tents wind-bound opposite Scarp, and I have a photo of the blue boat, also.
Best wishes,
Mark R
hehe, cool :-) was a tad blowy.