Author: Gordon Smith

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HCC 15th Birthday Party

  • Klepper Assembly
  • Setting off from Finnart
  • Group Photo
  • Firepit
  • Paddleboarding
  • Under the Rainbow

18/19 Sep 2021 HCC Birthday Party

To celebrate 15 years of HCC, we had a get together at Carrick Farm courtesy of Vonna and Jai. We paddled over from Finnart on Saturday with a BBQ and very pleasant evening round the fire. Steve assembeld his Klepper for the occasion. Those who camped over got the opportunity to try SUPs. Huge thanks again to Vonna and Jai for hosting us, providing wonderful facilities and the SUPs.

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Loch Sunart 3-4 July

Gordon, Colin, Harry, Ruth, Lorna

F2, 21.2km Saturday 15.3km Sunday

An overnight trip from Resipole Campsite (OS 723 639) into Loch Teacius. We left the cars at the campsite by prior arrangement (and small fee) and paddled West along the South Shore of Loch Sunart, crossing over to Dun Ghallain (OS 648 600) for lunch – a recommended spot. We carried on into Loch Teacius to the East of Carna and explored round the Southern end of Carna and into Loch ne Droma Buidhe via drying channel at Doirlinn we only just got through, suggesting that you need at least 3m of tide.

We tried a new camping spot on the beach (OS 623 568), a quiet spot but when the wind died, the midges were pretty intolerable. On previous trips we’d camped at OS 625 582, a grassier spot but overlooked by the cottages on Carna.

On Sunday, we had a leisurely paddle back along the South Shore of Loch Sunart and were treated to a display of at least three otters, including some cubs jumping clear of the water.

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Gare Loch 27 Jun 2021

Gordon, Colin, Rachel, Jonny, Sharon

F1-2 SW, 17km

A short daytrip from RNCYC to Kilcreggan where we had lunch. Back via Kidston for an ice cream.

Some transit practice while crossing the tide between bouys – photo below gives and idea angle required to keep a straight line over the ground, and how far you drop down if you just point at the bouy.

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New Years Paddle 2020

Paddlers: Martin, Andy, Hugh, Vonna, Harry, Steve W., Colin, Mason, Matt, Gordon

Weather: Overcast, light breeze. Winds significantly less than the forecast F3 even to south of Inchmoan

Route: Luss, Inchtavannach, Inchconnachan, Inchmoan, Ichcruin, Inchmoan, Inchconnachan, Luss

Gentle paddle round the islands. No wallabies spotted. Andy won the prize for best, hottest (and only) mince pies!

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Lower Orchy Trip; 11th Nov

Paddlers: Steve Thomas, Graham, Tom, Gordon, Jamie, Harry, Rowan

River Level: 2.5 at Falls of Orchy

Original plan had been to paddle the River Awe but it was was on release so we did the lower Orchy instead.  Weather was clear and cold with a fair amount of snow on higher hills.   We put in just above the steel bridge at the Falls of Orchy.  The bridge is about to be removed and upgraded incidentally – contractors were erecting fencing prior to the work starting.

Having all got on the river without mishaps (see video here), we dropped over the weir and started making our way down.   A series of rapids followed, some quite challenging (enough for me to take a swim).   We stopped for lunch just past the Catnish carpark/bridge and from there, it was a fairly long flat paddle to the next set of rapids and then on to the take out at Dalmally bridge.